Fantasmic! being cut to just two shows per week in January 2009

Disney have this information on the sad news of Fantasmic! being cut to just two shows per week

"We are continually focused on providing the best possible experiences for our Guests who visit the Walt Disney World® Resort. Within the last six months, we have added significant new attractions and shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™, including Block Party Bash, Toy Story Midway Mania!, Pixar Place and Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian.

Coming in October 2008 will be the recently announced “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” and later this year, Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ will host the annual Night of Joy event for the first time and welcome back ABC Super Soap Weekend. At the same time, we have continued to update existing offerings such as Playhouse Disney—Live On Stage! Next year, the park will unveil The American Idol Experience, host the first Grad Nite events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ and welcome back ESPN: The Weekend and Star Wars Weekends.

We regularly evaluate and refine our operations. At the same time we unveil The American Idol Experience in January 2009, we will make an adjustment to our operation by offering Fantasmic! on select evenings each week. Fantasmic! will be performed two times weekly –generally Mondays and Thursdays - and more often during our busiest times of the year.

On nights when Fantasmic! is not performed, Guests (with appropriate ticket media) will continue to have the opportunity to enjoy nightly fireworks spectaculars such as Wishes at the Magic Kingdom® Park and IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot®.

Showtimes will be published for Guests in the Times Guide, which is available at the theme parks, and online at disneyworld.com."

 

Wow. ; I can't believe this... Fantasmic always draws such huge crowds.

 

Yes, and I heard they're contemplating closing each park for a day a week .... and consequently, making all park tickets hoppers (therefore increasing their prices) because they can no longer advertise "one park a day." It'll be interesting what will be announced when the rates/ticket info comes out next month.

Apparently, WDW is worried about the drop in attendance due to the price of gas, and the changes/increases in airfare. They're looking at making drastic cuts. They were never that drastic after 911.

I guess we won't be seeing Fantasmic anymore .... it was a hard enough crowd to manoeuver with my 2 DDs when it was daily. This will also guarantee a drop in attendance at DHS. Disney is shooting themselves in the foot - or is that another thread. ; ;D

 

I can't imagine Disney cutting back Fantasmic in DHS. It is such a popular show and in the busy times they put on two shows a night. What will they do now for a fireworks show? They must have additional plans for the theatre, I can' see them leaving all of that space theatre space there and only having two shows a week.

Just my thoughts. I'd hate to see it go because I absolutlely love it. If it does get cut back to only two shows a week - I doubt if I will ever see it again. DHS will be really crowded and the wait to see it will be even longer.

 

The show is always packed. I haven't had a chance to analyse this yet but the headline attractions will be awful to get onto in the evenings now. Anyone that only do weekend trips are screwed too with the showings only being on Monday to Thursdays? I think they are overestimating the draw of the American Idol experience.