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Fantasmic ?...probably a stupid one!

Wilt Dasney

Well-Known Member
My recollection from working there is that rain will delay or cancel a show, depending on how long it lasts. I think they'll delay it a couple times before deciding either to go on with the show or cancel it.

If they do decide to go ahead, then the CM's in the theater get to pull out the long-handled Squeegies and wipe every seat in the house dry.
 

marni1971

Park History nut
Premium Member
They also have a `weather cancelled` show; just music, lighting and a safe way to discharge all the pyro. Fittingly the score begins with April Showers :D
 

MiceysBestPal

New Member
Does Fantasmic still run if it is raining?

Its not the RAIN they are most worried about (although if its a heavy rain, they won't start).

But its LIGHTNING that they are more concerned about.

Lightning can be very dangerous for the performers and the GUESTS.

They have a recorded announcement that they repeat often during a rain-delay that reminds guests to NOT use umbrellas in the stands.
It could attract a bolt of lightning.

Along with this announcement, they play another that cautions that this performance of Fantasmic! is delayed, and MAY be cancelled.

Finally, if the threat of lightning (or heavy rain) does not clear sufficently, they announce that the show will not be performed.

BUT, they still MUST shoot-off the fireworks (once loaded, they have to be fired, not removed.)
If they cancel the whole show on account of rain, they announce a special "Fantasmic! Light" show.
They play a short music soundtrack and fire (a sequence of) all of the pyro and allow those (damp) guests who are still in the theater to see it.
 

~Tinkerbell~

Well-Known Member
It depends how heavy the rain is, and if there's any lightning. When I was there in the summer in MGM, they still ran the show when it was just raining a little bit. I think it all depends on how bad the weather is.
 
One year we were there and it was sprinkling, then it started raining harder and harder. I did not hear or see lightning, but they stopped the show and sent everyone home.

It stopped just as they were about to say "look, there's John Smith". We got soaked - our feet - on the way to the boat to go back to BWI.
 

MuRkErY

Member
Ok I'll tell you this.

Remember Tropical Storm Ernesto... We ran the show in the middle of that. We held all guests in the Theater Of The Stars till the show started, so they did not have too sit and get wet. Then transported them up to the theatre just before Showtime.

Lightning is the major concern, now that will get a show cancelled 100%, and they will not run taste of fantasmic either (The light, and fireworks show), you will just be told to leave the theatre.
 

TheTruth

New Member
I did attend a show of Fantasmic that was delayed once. It was probably 25-35 minutes late. I heard the announcement about 150 time during that. It was a light to heavy drizzle but nothing major. It finally cleared up and then after about 10 minutes of clear skies they went ahead and played the whole show. UNFORTUNATELY I did notice one dramatic change...Sorcerer Mickey did NOT appear. Which really sucked as it's my favorite part. They ran everything though...with the spotlights but no Mickey. I guess the lightning issue made them want to make sure Mickey wasn't on the top level. The appearance at the bottom was still there and the dissapearance. The Pocahontas act toward the top was still there just no Sorcerer. Which btw was it a fluke this past time down that there was no Steamboat Willie boat? All the characters came out ON the island and no boat sailed by. Any idea what was up with this?
 

MiceysBestPal

New Member
...Which btw was it a fluke this past time down that there was no Steamboat Willie boat? All the characters came out ON the island and no boat sailed by. Any idea what was up with this?

I suppose you could call it a "fluke" that you happened to be there during the extended time that the steamboat is out being serviced.
 

Rob562

Well-Known Member
They also cut back on a couple of the stunts during the Pocahontas sequence when it is (or has recently been) raining. Most notably the wall-climbing Indians and John Smith's rope swing. The wet rockwork can make these stunts dangerous, and thus they are cut from the show. (A similar thing happens with a number of the Cairo scene rooftop stunts in the Indiana Jones show)

I saw one show where John Smith didn't do his swing. The line went "Look! It's John Smith!" and John just stood up on the ledge where he usually swings from. Then his spotlight went out, and he went backstage and around to emerge up at his next spot (I don't recall if the threatening Indian was up there with him or not).

-Rob
 

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