Hollywood Studio Fastpass+ Decision

[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]

Due to the tiered Fastpass+ selection for Hollywood Studios I couldn't book everything I want for the same evening. I booked a Fastpass+ for the second showing of Fantasmic! but I understand that it's a lot less busy... so I am wondering if I should drop it for Toy... but we have never seen Fantasmic! so it is important for us to see...

I have Star Tours, ToT, and Fanstasmic! (late show)... we'll be there in the evening from 5-11pm for EMH.

We will be back another morning and I booked Star Tours, RnR, and ToT...

Any advice would be very much appreciated! How have you organized the tiered selection for HS?

 

[Flippin'Flounder]

Switch F! for Toy Story, you'll get in easily either way, just not necessarily the best seats. If you really want to get the best F! experience, get the dinner package, which will give an assigned seat near the front.

 

[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]

Switch F! for Toy Story, you'll get in easily either way, just not necessarily the best seats. If you really want to get the best F! experience, get the dinner package, which will give an assigned seat near the front.

I should have said I looked at the dinner package... but just not a fan of the restaurant options. We also have an ADR at Sanaa for a late lunch so I didn't want to tie us up with two ADRs and all those evening Fastpass+ selections so close together. I want to take it easy and not feel too rushed.

Normally DH & I would keep Fastasmic! because we've never seen it... and we've done all the other rides in HS. It would be nice to do everything but we would survive if something was missed. However, that being said we have two Disney first timers coming this time and I am trying to ensure they can try most of the popular things at least once...

So I am trying to be smart about the Fastpass+ because I have seen the lines for RnR and Toy... and have never done them without a Fastpass...

 

[Mickey5150]

Toy Story is my mom's favorite ride and we do it multiple times each trip. We usually have 1 fastpass and the rest of the time we just wait in line. Either early morning or during evening EMH we have seen wait times anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours but no matter the wait time I have never been in line longer than an hour. Besides, the line for Toy Story is fun, especially when you get to Mr. Potato Head.

 

[marni1971]

You'll get 3 minutes for TSMM.

26 minutes for Fant.

Which seems a better waste of a FP?

 

[Flippin'Flounder]

If you have first timers then you need to do Toy Story, like I said, it will be easy to get into F! without a FP, it's practically guaranteed.

 

[sfeinst]

If you are going back in the morning, if you can get there at park opening and head straight to Toy Story, you will probably have a 30 minute wait. Not too bad as things go. You didn't say when you were going (or I missed it). We just went in end of July. The big hits for waits were Toy Story and RnR. We fastpassed Star Tours but I also saw waits of 10-15 minutes. ToT, we fastpassed twice, but at one point during the day, it was down to 20 minutes. We did not do Fantasmic this time so no comment on crowds. We fastpassed Toy Story once and waited in line for 55 minutes (we had nothing else to do that day) for a 2nd ride.

Basically, if there is a ride you want and don't fastpass it, get there at opening and you'll get on with minimal wait.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I would advise against not getting a fast pass or dinner package for Fantasmic. That show can sell out and you'll be left with a pretty awful seat in standby.

 

[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]

If you are going back in the morning, if you can get there at park opening and head straight to Toy Story, you will probably have a 30 minute wait. Not too bad as things go. You didn't say when you were going (or I missed it). We just went in end of July. The big hits for waits were Toy Story and RnR. We fastpassed Star Tours but I also saw waits of 10-15 minutes. ToT, we fastpassed twice, but at one point during the day, it was down to 20 minutes. We did not do Fantasmic this time so no comment on crowds. We fastpassed Toy Story once and waited in line for 55 minutes (we had nothing else to do that day) for a 2nd ride.

Basically, if there is a ride you want and don't fastpass it, get there at opening and you'll get on with minimal wait.

Thank you for your response. We are going September 18th-27th

 

[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]

I would advise against not getting a fast pass or dinner package for Fantasmic. That show can sell out and you'll be left with a pretty awful seat in standby.

I would be really disappointed to miss it or get awful seats... it's on my must do for this trip! Fantasmic! and the MK Welcome Show are going to happen this trip!

 

[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]

We have the Fastpass+ for the second showing of Fantasmic! at 8:55-9:15pm on Monday September 21st. The park is open for resort guests for EMH until 11pm. We are staying at the AKL.

I guess I was hoping it would be like parades where it's always easy to get a spot for the second one... and maybe it was a waste of a Fastpass+ for the second show...

 

[Bairstow]

We have the Fastpass+ for the second showing of Fantasmic! at 8:55-9:15pm on Monday September 21st. The park is open for resort guests for EMH until 11pm. We are staying at the AKL.

I guess I was hoping it would be like parades where it's always easy to get a spot for the second one... and maybe it was a waste of a Fastpass+ for the second show...

I think there are advantages either way.
Midway Mania is a fun videogame, but in no way deserves the amount of popularity it receives at the Studios. You're not really going to want to try to ride this thing without a fastpass unless you rope-drop it first thing in the morning when you come back, and even then you're looking at 30 minutes or more of waiting time. As others have pointed out, it's short and completely screen-dependent, so you're not exactly missing a masterpiece if you can't do it.

As for Fantasmic, we've never had trouble getting decent seats for the second show as long as we've been 30 minutes early. Of course, "good seats" to us usually means front row and off to a side, since we like to look for new little bits of action on the sidelines and get a close view of the various watercraft. Not sure if 30 minutes is going to be enough time for you, but it might help you to know that April before last, we went to the second show and the arena ended up being about halfway full before showtime. We went again in mid-July this summer on a weekend night, sat front row on the very far right corner (which we wanted) and by the time the show started the arena was completely full.

You probably don't need a fastpass to get a good seat for the second show if you arrive early enough, but it might be worth it to you for the peace of mind.

 

[lilclerk]

We got to DHS late one night last year, and were able to get an FP+ for the second Fantasmic show at one of the kiosks as our 4th FP of the day. That would have been some time the first week of October.

I would say check if there are any same-day FPs available for it while you're there. If not, line up a little early. I don't think you'll have a problem getting a good seat at the second show. IMO, Toy Story would be a better use if you have first timers with you.

Just for kicks, I checked right now and there are still FPs available for the second show tonight (I'm only able to check for 2 people.) I don't think it's difficult to get those same day most of the time.

 

[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]

I think there are advantages either way.
Midway Mania is a fun videogame, but in no way deserves the amount of popularity it receives at the Studios. You're not really going to want to try to ride this thing without a fastpass unless you rope-drop it first thing in the morning when you come back, and even then you're looking at 30 minutes or more of waiting time. As others have pointed out, it's short and completely screen-dependent, so you're not exactly missing a masterpiece if you can't do it.

As for Fantasmic, we've never had trouble getting decent seats for the second show as long as we've been 30 minutes early. Of course, "good seats" to us usually means front row and off to a side, since we like to look for new little bits of action on the sidelines and get a close view of the various watercraft. Not sure if 30 minutes is going to be enough time for you, but it might help you to know that April before last, we went to the second show and the arena ended up being about halfway full before showtime. We went again in mid-July this summer on a weekend night, sat front row on the very far right corner (which we wanted) and by the time the show started the arena was completely full.

You probably don't need a fastpass to get a good seat for the second show if you arrive early enough, but it might be worth it to you for the peace of mind.

Yes, I think I will keep it for peace of mind. We hope to do HS at rope drop when we return but since we're doing MNSSHP the night before it might not happen. I won't wait more than 30 mins for TMM... so it might not happen. The first timers are doing almost every other ride plus the Wild Africa Trek and MNSSHP ... so they will still have a great trip I hope!

 

[Bedknobs and Broomsticks]

We got to DHS late one night last year, and were able to get an FP+ for the second Fantasmic show at one of the kiosks as our 4th FP of the day. That would have been some time the first week of October.

I would say check if there are any same-day FPs available for it while you're there. If not, line up a little early. I don't think you'll have a problem getting a good seat at the second show. IMO, Toy Story would be a better use if you have first timers with you.

Just for kicks, I checked right now and there are still FPs available for the second show tonight (I'm only able to check for 2 people.) I don't think it's difficult to get those same day most of the time.

Interesting... do you think there's a possibility of getting a TMM same day? lol

 

[lilclerk]

Interesting... do you think there's a possibility of getting a TMM same day? lol

That I very much doubt, haha. Unless you're checking first thing in the morning, but I don't think you'd be able to get one after you use the other 3.

For tonight, I only see Fantasmic left in Tier 1; Muppets, Star Tours, and Voyage of the Little Mermaid in Tier 2.

 

[Flippin'Flounder]

That I very much doubt, haha. Unless you're checking first thing in the morning, but I don't think you'd be able to get one after you use the other 3.

For tonight, I only see Fantasmic left in Tier 1; Muppets, Star Tours, and Voyage of the Little Mermaid in Tier 2.

But it will also be a Monday in September, vs a Saturday in August.

 

[lilclerk]

But it will also be a Monday in September, vs a Saturday in August.

Ehh, I don't think that matters much for Toy Story, honestly. Those go so fast.

 

[Mickey5150]

We have the Fastpass+ for the second showing of Fantasmic! at 8:55-9:15pm on Monday September 21st. The park is open for resort guests for EMH until 11pm. We are staying at the AKL.

I guess I was hoping it would be like parades where it's always easy to get a spot for the second one... and maybe it was a waste of a Fastpass+ for the second show...

My belief is that if there is something you really want to do, then get a fastpass and then you don't need to worry.