Fantasmic!  HOLLYWOOD HILLS AMPHITHEATER
A 25-minute dream made real - a fantastic, extravaganza featuring Mickey Mouse, lighting, famous Disney music, sound, lasers, fireworks, water animation, and more...
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ATTRACTION
Pre-Show - Because of this show's enormous popularity, it's best to claim a seat early - during busy times, as much as an hour or more before showtime!
FANTASMIC! begins its 25-minute extravaganza with a dreaming Mickey Mouse on a darkened island. Mickey acts as a conductor as music fills the air and the waters surrounding the island begin to dance. Suddenly, screens of water emerge and a multitude of images are displayed upon them: Sorcerer Mickey in his famous "Sorcerer's Apprentice" scene from Fantasia, Simba and Nala romping from the Lion King, and the undersea creatures from The Little Mermaid.
The mood shifts when a frantic Jiminy Cricket becomes trapped in a large bubble, then is pursued by Monstro the whale. Monstro lifts himself out of the water and lands with a crash, which splashes unsuspecting front row Fantasmic! guests with real water!
The waters calm, but a cannon blast erupts. Live characters re-enact battle scenes from the movie Pocahontas, followed by John Smith and the Native American heroine dancing to Colors of the Wind.
Mickey's dream continues on its nightmarish journey as eerie music begins and the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs concocts a spell amidst pyrotechnics and other special effects. She invokes some of the most infamous Disney Villains: Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Scar, Frollo, Jafar, Maleficent and Hades each make an appearance, cackling menacingly. But these bad guys are no match for Mickey - not even Jafar, who turns into a writhing black cobra.
Maleficent unexpectedly transforms into a 40-foot-tall fire-breathing dragon who sets the waters ablaze - guests as far as half-way back in the theater can feel the heat! Mickey manages to create a wall of water around the island, smothering the flames and defeating the dragon.
Finally, a celebratory atmosphere prevails amid a flurry of fireworks. Beloved Disney characters glide past the audience aboard the Steamboat Willie River Boat, as Fantasmic! concludes with a triumphant Mickey rejoicing at his victory over evil.
Mini-Review: Having seen Fantasmic! about a half-dozen times now, I have to admit that I like it better with each viewing. If you're uncertain about whether you'll enjoy it, I'd recommend that you see it at least one time. But, in my opinion, it's *not* worth waiting hours for, especially if you have antsy young children who may be frightened by the dark and all the villains. The first 10 minutes or so of the show are very good and so are the last few minutes -- the Pocahontas segment in the middle, though, really doesn't seem to fit the overall villains theme. The Jafar/snake and the Malificent/dragon are very impressive technically, but I think they overdo showing all the villains (as I overheard someone say, "is there a villain they *didn't* include?"), and I think they overuse the gimmick of projection on the water screen. Overall, though, it's definitely worth seeing for yourself.
For current Fantasmic! show times and more information on Disney-MGM Studios Live Entertainment, visit Steve Soares' WDW Entertainment Website.

Dinner Package FAQ. This plan works really well, especially if you don't like to waste time waiting to see a show or have children who would have trouble sitting in one place for an hour or more before the show started.
Guests seated toward the front of the amphitheater are likely to get wet from the mist sprayed by the water screens and from splashes during several scenes. Sitting a dozen or so rows back is probably a wise choice if you prefer to stay dry.
Although many people try to sit in the center of the amphitheater, there really isn't a bad seat in the house. The action is staged all around the island, so you're pretty much guaranteed a good view no matter where you sit.
Fantasmic! takes place during the night-time hours and is very dark in some places. Some scenes, especially those including the giant snake and the black dragon, may be too intense for children and some adults.
Fantasmic! is wheelchair/ECV accessible. Guests using wheelchairs or ECVs have the option of wheelchair seating on the bottom row or the top row of the theater. There are NO center seating areas available for wheelchair guests. I would recommend the upper area to sit in. There is wheelchair parking and seats for your party. I have heard some guests tell me they were not able to sit with/near the person in the wheelchair. I believe it has a lot to do with how early you are seated. You will not want to move your wheelchair once you get situated -- it's just too crowded. See Tips for Touring Disney-MGM Studios in an ECV for more information.
Guests with strollers must park them in the designated stroller parking area on the right before you enter the amphitheater proper. Retrieving strollers after the show is a bit confusing and time-consuming -- patience is definitely called for here.
Assistive Listening Devices from Guest Services Can Be Used Here.
Restrooms are located in the rear of the amphitheater.

KIDS AND CHARACTERS
During the show, kids will be delighted to see Mickey in a few different costumes, in a tuxedo, as the Brave Little Tailor, and of course as Sorcerer Mickey. Some favorite Disney character couples -- Cinderella and Prince Charming, Belle and Beast, Aladdin and Jasmine, Ariel and Eric, and Snow White and her Prince -- drift by on brightly lit floats during one dreamy sequence. During the finale, a parade of characters sail by, ranging from classic favorites like Donald Duck, Minnie Mouse, Geppetto and Pinocchio, to more recent faces such as Philoctetes and Mulan.
As mentioned above, the theater can be very dark -- parents of children with a fear of the dark should be aware of this. In addition, there are lots of people crowded into the theater -- please be sure to keep your children near to you at all times.
Check your daily Guide Map for times and locations of other Character Meet and Greet opportunities.

DINING
There is a concession area at the back of the Fantasmic! amphitheater that sells sandwiches and soft drinks. Also, vendors walk around selling sodas, pretzels and popcorn, as well as souvenirs, throughout the amphitheater prior to the show.

INTERESTING FACTS
Fantasmic! premiered at Disneyland in California in 1992. It debuted at the Disney-MGM Studios in October 1998.
The Disney-MGM Studios version of Fantasmic! features some unique elements, incorporating scenes from recent animated releases such as "The Lion King," "Pocahontas," "Hercules" and "Mulan."
The Fantasmic! island features a 59-foot man-made mountain, making it the fourth highest "mountain" at the Walt Disney World Resort.
The moat surrounding the Fantasmic! island holds 1.9-million-gallons.
The water screens in Fantasmic! pump 2,400 gallons of water into the air every minute and, if called upon, could fill the 500,000-gallon Earffel Tower in less than three hours.
Fantasmic! features 50 performers. In the grand finale, at least 26 Disney characters cruise across the moat aboard an 80-foot replica of the Steamboat Willie boat.
In the scene where the villainous Jafar turns into a cobra, he is 100 feet long and 16 feet high. The mechanical Maleficent dragon in the climactic good vs. evil scene weighs an astonishing 32,000 lbs.
In addition to seating 6,500 guests, specially designed Hollywood Hills Amphitheater also can accommodate 2,500 standing guests.
Mickey and friends fight a night-time battle against Disney°s most villainous Characters. The music, pyrotechnics, stunts, water-bound floats, and laser-projected images will keep you spellbound!
Fantasmic! Details
Official Opening Date: October 15, 1998
Show Length: 26 minutes
Theater: Guests can view the show in a new amphitheater located behind The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror≥ and off Sunset Boulevard.
Encircling a newly created waterway and island, the theater can accommodate:
6,900 seated guests
3,000 standing guests
Description: "Fantasmic!"--an all-new festival of lasers, lights, dancing fountains, and dazzling special effects -- lights the skies of Disney-MGM Studios. The show takes Guests inside the dreams of Mickey Mouse -- into a world where magic creates dancing waters, shooting comets, animated fountains, swirling stars, balls of fire, and other amazing wonders. When Disney villains intrude on Mickey's fantasy and turn his dreams into nightmares, he uses the power of good to triumph over the evildoers. The enchanting performance is synchronized to the melodies of favorite Disney classics such as "Pocahontas," "Fantasia," and "The Lion King."

FANTASMIC! FUN FACTS
The moat surrounding the show contains approximately 1.9 million gallons of water.
Steamboat Willie is 80 feet long with a 16-foot beam and weighs approximately 70,000 pounds.
Each performance of Fantasmic! uses three mist screens that atomize 800 gallons of water per minute.
There are 350 lights some of which are being used for very first time in a live Walt Disney World ResortΠEntertainment show.
The fire-breathing dragon rises 50 feet into the air and has a wingspan of 50 feet.
The mountain stands approximately 57.5 feet above the water.
The cast of live performers includes 46 cast members filling 78 costumes.
The Show
The 25-minute spectacular "Fantasmic!" features 50 performers and combines dazzling special effects, colorful pyrotechnic explosions, beloved Disney characters, animation and dancing waters synchronized to the melodies of timeless Disney classics. The presentation lights up the sky nightly above a new 6,500-seat amphitheater behind The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror off Sunset Boulevard. The specially designed amphitheater also can accommodate 2,500 standing guests.
The show takes guests inside the dreams of Mickey Mouse -- where his magic creates dancing waters, shooting comets, animated fountains, swirling stars, balls of fire and other amazing wonders. When Disney villains intrude on Mickey's fantasy and turn his dreams into nightmares, he uses the powers of good to triumph over evil.
The opening scene takes place on a darkened island surrounded by a 1.9-million-gallon moat. A faint musical note pierces the air as a brilliant cone of light reveals the star of the show, Mickey Mouse. Mickey's imagination brings the waters surrounding the island to life as he conducts the "Fantasmic!" musical score.
The music builds as animated comets soar across three giant water screens, sprinkling the night with twinkling stars. At the direction of Sorcerer Mickey, the stars dance in unison to the melody of "Sorcerer's Apprentice" while pyrotechnic comets soar across the water.
To the sounds of African drums and the chatter of wild animals, vividly costumed animal characters emerge from behind the water screens. They perform a wild, upbeat version of "I Just Can't Wait to be King" from "The Lion King" while animated characters Simba and Nala splash playfully in the water.
A cascade of bubbles fills the water screens as Disney characters dance to a medley of Disney favorites including "Under the Sea" and "Be Our Guest." More bubbles rise and guests discover Jiminy Cricket trapped inside a large rising bubble. Jiminy escapes the bubble only to find Monstro the whale in pursuit. Monstro's tremendous body sends waves crashing against the rocks and water onto guests seated in the front rows.
With the waters again calm, the silence is broken by the thunder of a cannon. The island transforms into the "New World" as scenes and music from Disney's "Pocahontas" fill the island. The action reaches a climax when Pocahontas abruptly stops a battle and appears face-to-face with John Smith as colored leaves whirl across water screens to the tune of "Colors of the Wind."
The leaves transform into puffy white clouds as the mood turns to love and romance. Disney character couples Cinderella and Prince Charming, Belle and Beast, Aladdin and Jasmine, Ariel and Eric, and Snow White and her Prince float above the water in a magical dream-like setting filled with twinkling lights and Disney love songs.
The merriment fades and the music becomes haunting as the Evil Queen from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" brews a magical spell to defeat Mickey Mouse amidst lightning, flares and smoke effects. She calls on villains including Ursula, Cruella, Scar, Frollo, Jafar, Maleficent and Hades to harness the positive energy Mickey possesses and make it evil. Mickey is terrified when Maleficent unexpectedly transforms into a ferocious 40-foot-tall dragon whose breath ignites the waterway with a sea of flames that overtakes the island.
Mickey rises high above the water, magically creating a giant water curtain which surrounds the island. The fountains begin to dance again, smothering the fierce flames while Mickey defeats the dragon.
The mood brightens in the festive finale of fireworks, sparkling effects and a full orchestral score as favorite Disney characters sail past the audience aboard the Steamboat Willie River Boat in a celebration of Mickey's triumph over evil.