Credit: DisneyOne of the greatest things about visiting Walt Disney World Resort is its nighttime shows and entertainment, but now, there are changes coming to what may very well be the most popular nighttime show at any Disney resort.
Of course, there is so much to see and do at Walt Disney World Resort during the day. At Walt Disney World Resort, Guests have access to nearly everything they need at their fingertips (literally, My Disney Experience can help you accomplish nearly anything you need).
There are four incredible theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT, as well as two water parks: Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, and the currently closed Disney’s Blizzard Beach, as well as Disney Springs. That is all just scratching the surface because Guests can also enjoy the 25+ resorts on property, golf, mini golf, visit ESPN Wide World of Sports, and so much more. The large theme park mogul is plotted on a size of land that is equivalent to San Francisco — which means the theme park is truly its own functioning city.
Of course, riding Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Big Thunder Mountain can make any Magic Kingdom day soar, the entertainment there is just as fantastic! From Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire to Festival of Fantasy, you can see all of your favorite characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Rapunzel, Tiana, Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and more come to life.
At night, Happily Ever After lights up Cinderella Castle, creating the best fireworks show that you will ever see! Luckily, guests need not worry about any changes coming to Happily Ever After, as it continues to show each night at 9:15 p.m.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there are also incredible rides. You can blast into the 5th dimension on Tower of Terror, and then hop onto a super-stretch limo to beat Los Angeles traffic while heading to a concert with your backstage passes on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith. Slinky Dog Dash is always bustling with huge wait times, while Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge possesses what might just be Disney World’s most technologically advanced and immersive attraction: Rise of the Resistance.
The rides are fantastic, but the shows here are Broadway-worthy. Since Hollywood Studios is all about the movies, there is more entertainment here than any Disney World theme park. Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage brings Belle and Beast to life as they share a tale as old as time. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! lets you feel like you have just stepped onto the set of Indiana Jones, filming the movie in real-time.
In the evening, guests can watch Fantasmic!
During the pandemic, Fantasmic! was seen to be under heavy construction. While the show remained closed, Disney did a lot of upgrades and maintenance, including draining the iconic lagoon at the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater. Disney would then reveal an updated version of the show, starring Mulan, Elsa, Aladdin, Pocahontas and Moana as new features that would create an even better version of Fantasmic!
The show funnels in massive crowds, with many lining up for hours to get a good look at Mickey’s dreams (and nightmares). Now, things are changing for the show for the foreseeable future as it loses its current time slot.
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As of late, the show has been starting at 8:30 p.m., but on September 19, it will run at 8:00 and 9:30 p.m. This change will be short-lived as of September 20, which marks the new showtime of 9:30 p.m. each night. Disney’s Hollywood Studios typically closes at 9:00 p.m. each night, so this new show time will actually benefit guests who want to enjoy more of the park’s offerings before going to see the show.
That being said, when there is only one showtime of Fantasmic! running, we recommend looking to grab a seat at least 45 minutes prior to show time if you want to guarantee a seat.
At the moment, Fantasmic! in Walt Disney World is the only rendition of the show available in America, as Disneyland’s show has been closed for months after their Maleficent dragon caught on fire, destroying the animatronic, as well as some of the lighting surrounding the stage.
As we recently shared, for a short time, Disney has confirmed that this all-new nighttime show coming to Disneyland will replace the former Fantasmic! that shut down some time ago after a massive fire led to the eventual destruction of the iconic Maleficent Dragon. The Disneyland website does confirm that the Fantasmic! show will return at some point in the Spring of 2024.
The new nighttime show, The Heartbeat of New Orleans – A Living Mural, will begin September 29 inside the Rivers of America at Disneyland Park.
Disney describes Fantasmic! as:
A Legendary Tale
Featuring stunning effects, thrilling stunts, dazzling pyrotechnics and rousing music, this larger-than-life show is painted on a grand canvas of dancing water and light. Overflowing with silly and suspenseful surprises, it will leave your entire family smiling from ear-to-ear!
A Night When Dreams Come True
Fast asleep, Mickey Mouse dreams that he is a mighty sorcerer’s apprentice with the power to control water, color and magic. The Disney Villains—including Maleficent in the form of a towering, 40-foot-tall dragon—turn Mickey’s dream into a nightmare, but don’t underestimate the power of Mickey’s imagination!
The fantastic fantasy includes Disney Characters from some of your favorite animated films:
- Moana
- Frozen 2
- Mulan
- Aladdin
- Pocahontas
- Beauty and the Beast
- The Little Mermaid
- The Lion King
Are you a fan of Fantasmic!? Do you prefer these new, later showtimes?
If you are planning on visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can get ready to enter the movies! Walk down Sunset Boulevard and see the looking Tower of Terror attraction with Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster Starring Aerosmith right next door. The Chinese Theater is now home to the new attraction, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. If you love shows, get ready to enjoy Beauty and Beast – Live on Stage, For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration, Indiana Jones™ Epic Stunt Spectacular! and more. Head into the Wild West with Toy Story Land.
Ride Slinky Dog Dash, and dine at the newly added Roundup Rodeo BBQ. Then blast to a galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where you can meet Rey, Stormtroopers, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, and more. Ride Rise of the Resistance and make your own lightsaber! At night, enjoy Mickey’s dreams as you enter the world of Fantasmic! For more Disney information, information on Disney Genie+, and to look at booking a vacation, the Walt Disney World website is a perfect one-stop shop for all things Mickey Mouse.