Disney's Hollywood Studios Announces Operational Changes for Late 2008 and 2009

[Polynesian Dweller]

I'd love Fantasmic every night of the week, but I also know that Disney keeps very close track of the number of guests entering an attraction and then compares that to the operational cost. They are obviously seeing a decline in Fantasmic attendance, not surprising since every attractions attendance starts to decline at some point. With the number of performers its got to be expensive.

I remember when it started, you had to be there more than a hour ahead to get a seat. Recently, you didn't have much trouble getting in even coming just a few minutes before the show started on many nights. So, it seems to me that the crowds are eroding just as you would expect for an older show.

They do say more often in busier times so one has to wait to see what that means.

[CaptainDisney]

I remember when it started, you had to be there more than a hour ahead to get a seat. Recently, you didn't have much trouble getting in even coming just a few minutes before the show started on many nights. So, it seems to me that the crowds are eroding just as you would expect for an older show.

They do say more often in busier times so one has to wait to see what that means.

These are both excellent points IMHO. I LOVE Fantasmic - I am upset by this announcement. But attendence is noticably lower than in the past.

Also, I think we'll have to wait and see where this goes. Fantasmic very well may be performed more than two nights a week during a majority of the year. Here's to hoping!

[Stich8818]

I really dont understand cutting one of the most popular attactions the one that people plan their day around, to focus more attention to an attraction that has not entertained one guest yet . Not to mention the ratings for AI has gone down the last 3 seasons. But i guess they are looking at the bottom line and may save some money but then they may bring more shows back in the future to meet the demand. But I just dont like the fact they think that the AI attraction will be the best thing since the TOT

[DisneyDudet]

I haven't seen WDW's Fantasmic since 2002, and we left before it was over. Its long, and we've seen it before.

Even though I don't normally go to Fantasmic, I find it a great experience and great show. I think that cutting it to TWO nights a week is a little much. I would think that MAYBE every other day, or 4 nights a week, but TWO? Is attendance really that low, that out of 7 nights, you could fit everyone who would see it in that week's time, into only 2 nights? I can't fathom that.

It will be a logistical nightmare on these days. I will avoid the Studios on the "Fantasmic Days".

It also means that Illuminations and Wishes will be even more crowded. People will want to see nighttime shows, so they will have to go to these. Fantasmic isn't a Spectro, that takes up a portion of a park's crowds. Its a LARGE show, that draws most of the Studios' guests (in my experiences anyway). I know they used to cut MK nighttime events during the slow times, but they at least had them on WEEKENDS!

Thanks, Disney. You've just created a mess.

[Spaceship Tigger]

I think that cutting it to TWO nights a week is a little much. I would think that MAYBE every other day, or 4 nights a week, but TWO? Is attendance really that low, that out of 7 nights, you could fit everyone who would see it in that week's time, into only 2 nights? I can't fathom that.

It will be a logistical nightmare on these days. I will avoid the Studios on the "Fantasmic Days".

Cutting a show from seven nights down to two seems very strange. AI is certainly no replacement - sure it gets high TV ratings, but in the real world I would say as many peeople despise the show as love it.

We saw Fantasmic last year and loved it (in September, slow time of year, yet the theater was full), but I certainly won't go anywhere near that theater during one of two weekly performances. In fact, we'll make sure we find out for our trip in January what nights it is offered and totally avoid the Studios on those days.

[WinnipegDisneyFanatic]

Mark another one for the disappointed. I LOVE Fantasmic, and see it 3-4 times if I'm there for a week, and at least twice if I'm there for only 5 days. I'm extremely disappointed in this decision.

This, along with the closing of PI, makes me not want to go down there as much any more. They're taking away a lot of what I really enjoyed.

Maybe I'll just have to try Disneyland or something.

Seriously...I'm not impressed by this at all.

Chris

[Crow]

any numbers? It can seat a lot of people. when i was there in Feb it seemed pretty full. had to sit in next to last section.

[elmjimmlm]

Why would they take such a popular attraction like Fantasmic and cut it back...IMO this is the best attraction in HS for those of us who aren't big ride fans...I just hope that it will not be impossible to get in on these nights...I can't imagine going to Disney and not being able to see Fantasmic because of the crowds...

[hokies4life]

Looks like I'll have alot of careful planning to do for our next trip. I was really looking forward to taking DBF to Fantasmic, now I'll just add that to the list of things to work around when making ADRs. Hopefully things won't be as bad as they are planning for, and by summer it will be up to at least 4 or 5 nights a week.

[JPL]

This is very simply a cost cutting measure. Fantasmic costs $30,000 a show to put on according to a few sources.

I also think it's a lack of faith in the attractions at the Studios especially AI so they feel Fantasmic will take the crowds away from it. They figure if Fantasmic is not showing more guests will go to see the final show of the day of AI. I think that's where the big conflict is. I think before cutting it back to 2 nights a week they should cut it 1 show a day instead of 2. If it will conflict with the final show of AI cut out which ever show does.

[GrumpyFan]

Hmm... I wonder if this is cost-cutting in response to lower projected bookings for early next year or is this in response to declining numbers/popularity for the show?

The only way to fight this is to stop by guest relations when you're there on the days it's not showing and voice your complaint.

[KAJUNKING]

Hmm... I wonder if this is cost-cutting in response to lower projected bookings for early next year or is this in response to declining numbers/popularity for the show?

i think its probably a little of both, year before last we went in sept and fantasmic was very empty

[Momof2boys]

Fantasmic! is our favorite attraction at DHS . . . very disappointed to see it reduced to 2 nights per week.

[Reedy Creek Buccaneer]

Maybe they will get rid of Fantasmic and turn it into a Wipeout! zone. Who here wouldn't pay to see WDW guests bounce off the big balls.


Fantasmic is a great show, but now you just have to do better planning if you want to see it.

[GrumpyFan]

Maybe they will get rid of Fantasmic and turn it into a Wipeout! zone. Who here wouldn't pay to see WDW guests bounce off the big balls.

Ummm... NO, NO, NO!!! I assume you were just kidding. Right?

However, that does lead to a good idea. An interactive show such as this, where people would get wet, not necessarily muddy, would be a good idea, whether it's in the studios or in one of the water parks maybe. The Studios or even Epcot could use a "wet" attraction. Or, another idea might be to have a show like this at the newly renamed ESPN Wide World of Sports.

I'm getting off topic here, but why not build a sports themed park at WWS or somewhere on WDW property with water sport games similar to Wipeout or American Gladiator, plus, baseball, football, soccer, boxing, rock climbing, etc events that people could compete in for prizes. It probably wouldn't be a huge draw, but there are enough sports competitors that visit WDW on a daily basis who would probably give this a shot.

[Lizzie]

This all makes me sad. It just cutback after cutback. With nothing exciting planned. Getting to Fantasmic is going to have to be a carefully planned event. I don't have any desire to see any American Idol show. I hope they don't raise the cost for the dinner with seating for this show.

[Vito]

I tend to agree about the American Idol thing. It doesn't really make sense to me. It feels like they're trying to hop on the bandwagon of something that's "trendy" (TV's highest rated show) but it just doesn't seem like a good fit. Why would I want to watch everyday park guests sing what's in essence karaoke?

I'm not quite sure I get what the appeal is. Kinda seems like Disney wasn't thinking this one all the way through, which in and of itself is somewhat scary. I hope they didn't invest too much in this.

On the positive side, the building that's housing it hasn't really been used for a good attraction in I don't know how long, so it's not replacing something I was interested in. And I don't think the cost of running the attraction will be all that much - at least not compared to putting on a show like Fantasmic.

And even though they try to make it sound like American Idol is an "alternative" to Fantasmic, I still think it's more about $ than anything else. (And of course, as I've laid out earlier, I completely understand why it has to happen at this point, and still firmly believe that during peak times Fantasmic will be a nightly event).

[elmjimmlm]

Do you think that since Fantasmic will show more often at busier times, will it still be every night the week between Christmas and New Years?

[Vito]

Do you think that since Fantasmic will show more often at busier times, will it still be every night the week between Christmas and New Years?

Oh definitely. These cutbacks won't even go into effect until January, so throughout the fall and the rest of 2008, Fantasmic is scheduled to go on every night (and 2 times on certain nights, especially during the holiday season).

I imagine the cutbacks will extend through January, but you'll likely see several shows each week during the February peak season (presidents week - winter vacation for schools).

[Stickey]

This news is very disappointing. Reducing a headliner like Fantasmic to two nights a week is an extreme measure. One new attraction and some low level entertainment are a poor substitute.

Slow seasons? There are no slow seasons, unless economic pressures bring them back to WDW. Every Fantasmic show I have seen has been at 90-100% capacity, in September and December. Lack of demand is not the issue.

DHS will be packed on the Fantasmic days. A 180 day ADR may be needed.

It is understandable for Disney to look for ways to reduce expenses. However, rising ticket prices combined with a reduction in attractions results in a decrease in value.

The trend of cutting-back services and attractions and selling-off land for third party development will not provide long-term benefits for WDW, or its guests. These are simply steps to improve short-term profitability. The assumption is that people will continue to return to WDW. It looks like the many criticisms of Mr. Eisner were greatly exaggerated.