The Mouse himself leads one of the best shows in Disney World
It’s not surprising that Walt Disney World (and, well, Disneyland) would have a show featuring Mickey Mouse. We have several stage shows across all theme parks, featuring characters from The Lion King, Finding Nemo, Beauty and the Beast and way more names than that. Of course that Mickey would have his own little story to tell and, let me tell you, it's among Disney's finest tales.
Fantasmic is a nighttime show that takes place in Hollywood Studios, usually twice a day. It’s the story of Mickey Mouse using the power of imagination to fight back against several Disney villains, which take the form of real nightmares, including a giant black dragon inspired by The Sleeping Beauty’s Maleficent. The story acts more as an avenue for Disney to include several nods and characters from beloved franchises, like Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and more.
It works.
What I really like about Fantasmic is how epic the whole show feels. The setting is massive and probably the biggest one in Disney World, featuring a main stage with a rocky mountain surrounded by a beautiful river. This show not only has several actors, acrobats and performers - in costume or not - but it also features fireworks, fire effects, water projections and much more than that.
Mickey leads the show, with several easter eggs taken directly from Fantasia. In fact, you can even hear the classic song from Fantasia playing in the background during one of the sequences! Water projections are used in a way similar to the show World of Color in Disneyland, with misty screens rising from the water and displaying dozens of different Disney movies, including fan favorites like Frozen, Mulan, and Hercules. Seriously, there are so many characters that appear in those projections that it would take a while to list them all.
Oh, but characters not only appear as projections, nooope. You also get to see some of them on stage, like Pocahontas, Elsa, Aladdin and even Moana. Some of them dance, some of them wave to the crowd, some of them make a daring escape from guards. There is even a sequence inspired by Animal Kingdom's The Festival of the Lion King, with puppeteers celebrating the wonderful world of Simba and his friends. This show is all about Disney after Disney after Disney and hardly gives you any time to breathe. Love it.
Oh yeah, the Disney villains also make an appearance, after all a lot of them carry a massive fandom on their backs. Ursula, Cruella de Vil, Scar, Jafar… they are all here, although most of them appear only as projections. But, hey, Maleficent does appear in all her glory just to invade Mickey’s dreams and transform them into a real nightmare. You know, real villain-evil stuff right there.
Thankfully, Mickey is there to teach Maleficent some manners. I do love that Maleficent looks awesome in all her dragon-glory, even if the dragon doesn’t spit fire anymore. The costume design here is top notch, after all this is considered by many as THE show in Disney World, so it makes sense that Disney would make everything look pretty and well made.
Another awesome scene happens at the end of the show, inspired by Steamboat Willie. Get your camera ready, as you are going to see the biggest number of Disney characters per square meter in Disney World.
With all that said, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that this is a must-see show. Are you coming to Disney World? Then make sure to secure a spot for Fantasmic. The only downside is that the theater can get really crowded, so it might be a good idea to arrive early and secure a good seat. You should be fine if you arrive 45 minutes before the official show begins, depending on the time of the year.
You know what’s another good strategy? Make sure to make a reservation for the Hollywood & Vine restaurant in Hollywood Studios. Since 2024, they've started offering Disney Genie+ for Fantasmic to guests that dine there, allowing you to secure a great spot for the show and enjoy a great meal on the same day. By the way, this is the only way I know of to get Disney Genie+ for Fantasmic.
Now just enjoy the show and get ready to celebrate the world of Disney.
Will Kids enjoy it?
Yes! Everyone will love this show, from kids to teenagers and adults. The only problem is that you will probably need to arrive early and wait a little bit until the main show starts, so make sure to bring some snacks and something to entertain the little ones. It’s also a good idea to visit a restroom before coming to the theater so you don’t need to leave your seats for a bio-break during the show. Lines for restrooms located on-site can be quite long, so that might also pose a problem.
Just remember that the theater gets really crowded. It’s kinda chaotic there, especially once the show is over and everyone is ready to leave. You will see what looks like thousands of people forming giant lines and looking for an exit. Make sure to keep your kids close.
