Fantasmic 2.0 Review
Disneyland’s Fantasmic is still the king. Let’s just get that out of the way up front. Anaheim had the best version of Fantasmic before, and Fantasmic 2.0 (I’ll call it that even if Disneyland does not) remains the best. Arguably, it’s the best nighttime spectacular at any Disney theme park in the world.
Hopefully that’s reassuring to the many Disneyland fans who worried that Disney would try to fix something that was not broken. While there was definitely some tinkering with the show that could be good or bad depending upon your perspective, the heart of Disneyland’s Fantamic remains, which is the most important part.
As for whether the changes are an improvement or downgrade, it depends. I’d say at worst, the reimagined Fantasmic is a lateral move. At best, it’s a solid refresh that should extend the life of a Disneyland classic by at least another decade…
My perspective is that Fantasmic is better than ever. Fantasmic 2.0 modernizes the show’s technology to create some beautiful, dream-like imagery and also retains the original’s best and most iconic scenes. It also has a few hiccups and changes that are not upgrades, but the improvements outweigh the issues.
For me, Fantasmic 2.0 is a net gain, and a show I’ll make a point of watching with regularity for years to come. With this returning to a Disneyland Resort nighttime spectacular lineup that also includes World of Color, Remember… Dreams Come True, and (soon) Paint the Night, the amount of evening awesomeness that can be had in Anaheim’s two parks is almost unfair.
Let’s start with the good about Fantasmic 2.0. The technology has also been upgraded across the board, which makes for a more visually-impressive show. It seems like a lot of the tech upgrades follow lessons learned from Disneyland Forever and World of Color.
In the case of the former, you have more projections on Tom Sawyer Island, and although I’m not sure I’d call them projection mapping, they’re an unequivocal upgrade. This gives the show a lot more vibrance and enhances its impressionistic, dream-like qualities.
The projections on the mist screens are also much crisper, and feel as if they are better layered. This is no doubt the natural consequence of upgrading technology, but it’s a very welcome improvement.
As for the World of Color-esque upgrades, they’re interesting. Colored water fountains are laced throughout the show, and these are mostly superfluous to the action, but are nonetheless pretty. Since this show is a dream, I’d say “superfluous but pretty” makes them a perfect fit.
I appreciated that Disney did not go overboard with the fountains, leaving a clear distinction between Fantasmic and World of Color. The water jets enhance Fantasmic, but in no way are the focus of the show.
In other situations, new technology enhances the staged scenes. The best example of this is Mickey Mouse’s showdown with Murphy the Dragon. Mickey actually shoots some of his ‘magic’ at Murphy, and there’s a flurry of flashy visuals during the course of the scene. At the end, you actually see the death knell of the dragon, as it fires off a last bit of fire into the sky.
This was Fantasmic’s best scene before, and it’s even better in Fantasmic 2.0.
Prior to that, I feel the new films added were mostly done in an effective and seamless way. Tangled, in particular, struck me as a strong addition, and also feels like a better fit than Snow White on these barges.
The flying carpet scene is a nice change of pace, and I think this scene will be great once the effect works properly.
In other cases, the additions are more subtle, but work beautifully. It’s a short mist screen sequence, but I love the way that Mickey swimming shifts to Little Mermaid which flows into Finding Nemo which transitions into Pinocchio before going back to Mickey, this time as Sorcerer Mickey submerged in water.
It’s hard to describe the seamlessness of this, but it’s perfect. It’s also the way dreams work, with fleeting sequences of one thing morphing into other, related things. This is one of the reasons I’ve always loved Disneyland’s Fantasmic: the ‘dream’ premise is perfect for a montage show like this.
It’s easy to buy into the narrative thread of Fantasmic because (I assume?) we’ve all had bizarre free form dreams that flow exactly how the show flows. One visual triggers a related one, and things just sort of go wherever from there. With one exception, Fantasmic still perfectly conveys the feeling of being inside Mickey’s dreams and nightmares.
In talking with other Disneyland fans, it seems the two most “controversial” aspects of the reimagined Fantasmic are the music and the Pirates of the Caribbean battle scene.
With regard to music, I take no issue with the changes. The original fanfare and iconic theme song are still used, what’s changed is mostly different recordings in some places, and new pieces (from the films that are featured) weaved into the show.
The new elements of the soundtrack are perhaps a bit more pop influenced with a slightly more uptempo vibe, but this is far from anything like Paint the Night. If the aim was to keep the heart of the original soundtrack intact while also giving it a slightly more contemporary twist, I’d say it’s a success.
On that note, I also wonder if some fan qualms with this pertain to familiarity, and as people see the new show more and more, they will become more comfortable with the new music.
The Pirates of the Caribbean scene is a different story for me. Prior to seeing the reimagined Fantasmic, I was on board with this change, as rumors pointed to an impressive moving projection mapping technique being used to transform the Sailing Ship Columbia into the Black Pearl. Unfortunately, that rumor did not come to fruition–or at least has not, yet.
I’ll admit that I’m generally against the inclusion of live action movies alongside animated ones in these montage-centric nighttime spectaculars. In the absence of a good transition, the shift is jarring for the audience. I find this transition to be jarring as you go from serene underwater visuals and a subdued soundtrack to Captain Barbossa’s face and lightning.
Now, I realize there’s nothing to say Mickey Mouse cannot be dreaming in animated imagery and then start dreaming in live imagery. I guess there’s also nothing to say that a change in tone of dreams cannot be abrupt. That still does not mean this is a good fit for the show, and flows well with the other dream sequences. It doesn’t.
Moreover, I don’t really see what’s gained by using Pirates of the Caribbean over Peter Pan. There is no wow-factor (like the Black Pearl projections) and the choreography of the action seems nearly identical. The only real differences are that it’s harder to follow the action since you can’t clearly identify the characters, you no longer have Tick-Tock Croc, and there’s a jarring transition. None of these things are changes for the better.
Without the Black Pearl projection mapping to offer wow-factor, what’s the point of this change? I don’t even think Disney can argue that it adds to the synergy of the show, as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales did not perform well at the U.S. box office. Generally, synergy does not extend to films that underperform–that’s why we don’t have John Carter, Tomorrowland, or the Lone Ranger tie-ins to…anything…at Disneyland. They realize Disneyland is located in California, not China, right?
Honestly, this Pirates segment reminds me of the interminably long scene during Pocahantasmic in Walt Disney World. There’s really no justification for its presence in 2017.
My other quibbles mostly pertain to smaller details, and I wonder whether these will be corrected via tweaks that will be made as testing and adjusting continues. First, the Evil Queen has no cauldron and does not transform into the Old Hag. Those were nice touches before.
Second, the night we saw Fantasmic 2.0, the rigging for the flying carpet was clearly visible, while the faces of Aladdin and Jasmine were mostly obscured by mist. I’ve seen photos from other nights when this was not an issue, though. Generally, it seemed like some mist/fog effects are not always appearing where they should, but this was the most glaring instance of that.
Finally, due to the new lighting, you can see Murphy the Dragon slowly rising. One of the wow-moments before was seeing human Maleficent growing in size, and then dramatically “transforming” into her dragon form when the lighting went out. The dragon visibly rising ruins the illusion and eliminates the inference that Maleficent transformed into a dragon.
These last few things seem like pretty easy fixes that should eventually be ironed out. From the sounds of it, Fantasmic 2.0 was rushed to debut, so it wouldn’t surprise me if the show is still a work in progress. I hope part of that extends to the Black Pearl, but I’m not holding my breath there.
Overall, Fantasmic is still the excellent show that Disneyland fans have come to love since its debut in 1992. This represents the most significant refreshing of Fantasmic that has ever been made, and it’s a refresh that is mostly for the better. Most of the best scenes are still there, and have been enhanced. Only one iconic scene has been downgraded, and even that’s a (mostly) lateral move. Other minor quibbles can be made, but those are little things that (hopefully) can be tweaked. Given that Disneyland’s Fantasmic was pretty much perfect before, it’s pretty impressive that Disneyland managed to improve the show.
One last thing–if you’re looking for strategy, I’ll be back with an update to our Best Fantasmic Viewing Spots & Tips post next week after we have a chance to see it a couple more times. I’ll also (hopefully) have more photos; since this was our first time seeing the new version, I didn’t want to see the entire thing through the viewfinder.
If you’re preparing for a Disneyland trip, check out our other planning posts, including how to save money on Disneyland tickets, our Disney packing tips, tips for booking a hotel (off-site or on-site), where to dine, and a number of other things, check out our comprehensive Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide!
Your Thoughts
Have you seen Fantasmic 2.0? What did you think of the show? Better or worse than the original Fantasmic? Any particular scenes you thought were highlights or lowlights? Any questions about Fantasmic at Disneyland? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
One of the worst expiences if you don’t have a fastpass. Seated in back 40 where can only see 1/3 of the show. At the show 30 minutes early. Not very magical. Have 2 kids and was very upsetting. Disney you can do better than this!
I am disappointed with the new fantasmic changes. Don’t subtract, add. For starters, why did they eliminated Peter Pan? Like, NO. Bring him back. They can even do a little crossover where Peter and Jack Sparrow join forces or something.
Also, Aladdin. Jasmine, that dress? It looks like a cheap, party city knock off. I’ve seen cosplayers wear a more convincing outfit. And WHY DID THEY EVEN CHANGE HER OUTFIT? I swear if it was because some parents thought it was offensive I’m gonna flip. It’s exactly like it was in the movie, so it should make sense for the character to be that way. It was very beautiful too. Another guess would be that the characters got harassed often, which is kind of sad and disgusting. Seriously people, this is a kids movie and a family park. But l guess they could have do something to keep her original dress and make the face character feel safer. They could have added a new guard to watch over them on case something went wrong. What is changing her outfit to avoid unwanted attention teach girls? That you have to dress a certain way in order for people to respect you? Lol. I want the original outfit back, as it’s the most accurate to the movie and it looked beautiful on Jasmine. Also, their sequence was too short. Make them sing the whole song or at least half of it, like in World of Color; And change their singing voices too. Make them sound more soft, yet captivating and chilling like in world of color, or the original song.
That also applies to the princess medley. Those deep loud voices? HELL TO THE NO. If l were to guess, l say they changed the singer and added a black woman to sing it for the sake of diversity. l would approve, but their voices just ugly compare to the original fantasmic. The old one was better because it was smooth, and captivating and beautiful. Their voices went along with that of the characters in the movies as well. It was much more beautiful and sentimental.
Lastly, WHY REPLACE SNOW WHITE, the most classic and original princess, with Tangled? Couldn’t they just have them both?? I DON’T UNDERSTAND. I feel like Snow White doesn’t get the respect she deserves. They replaced her ride, Snow White’s scary adventures, with the seven dwarfs ride, whom she only makes a brief appearance. AND NOW THEY the deleted her from the fantasmic show. Her movie may be “outdated”, but she was the FIRST DISNEY CHARATER, princess and animated film in the entire cartoon history. SHE DESERVES MORE RESPECT. The classical princesses may not be feminist icons, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy their films for what they are. They have good values and morals that we can apply in this time of age, like kindness and stuff. Also, they were made ages ago. At the time, they were pretty creative and original. And put back the sequence where the evil queen uses the cauldron to change into the old hag.
This is such a hilariously unrealistic and inept criticism of Fantasmic! that I almost hope this is satire. Really highlights how the hardcore Disney fanbase has gone off the rails…
Tom, what are your suggestions for what to do while everyone else is watching late Fantasmic and fireworks? Any tips for the holiday season?
i have been watching this show since it debuted. I travel to Disneyland every year. This has always been my favorite show. Nearly all they changes I’m fine with. But as a professional musician, the new music replacing the classic no iconic music is an epic fail. Totally unforgivable. Star Wars would not be Star Wars without the music. This is a downgrade. One that I cannot nor ever will be able to get past. Why break what was perfect before? You took the most iconic aspect of the show which is the music and ruined it. Wonder what people would think if you played the electoral parade on a cello? if you have never seen the show before your missing out and have been robbed by an imposter.
I’m slightly hesitant about this change. I’ve basically grown up with Fantasmic!, it debuted the year I was born and it has always been my absolute favorite thing to do when I visit Disneyland. Even before the new version debuted I haven’t seen the point of changing the AWESOME Peter Pan scene to Pirates, and so your review does come as an slight disappointment and confirmation that that should’ve stayed the same as it was before. I am excited about the other few changes, like Tangled, Aladdin’s carpet, and using better tech though. I hope to be able to go soon, seeing as I no longer live in the Tijuana/San Diego area and visiting is slightly more complicated than before. Thanks for you awesome review!
Just got to see this the other night, and I agree with your views. I think with better scripting and improved choreography the Pirates scene could be awesome, but I’m not gonna hold my breath for that to happen. One thing to mention is that if you see the 9:00 pm show, you can stay to watch the fireworks and they do the projections on the Rivers of America.
I’ve only seen the recent updates on a few YouTube videos so far, but I am at the moment inclined to say I prefer it before the change.
While the newer 3D projection technology to put images on buildings has been advanced so much in recent years is a nice high tech thing, I feel like it is being applied everywhere now, almost just for the sake of doing it to say it’s in a lot of the night time shows to prove the investment was worth it.
I realize my thoughts here may be biased since I visit WDW more regularly (more 3D projection examples) – and to be fair, I do like it for most of the Castle projections during and after the fireworks shows, and I find the new Star Wars projection show at DHS to be quite good.
For Fantasmic specifically, I feel all the 3D projection on the building is a distraction from all the live action and other non-projection effects on the Island or River. (I have no problem with the water projections) The other show examples I mention above don’t compete with live action when using 3D projections, since the show consists of only the projections mixed with the fireworks that are for the most part entirely above the buildings.
Pirates 5 has now made over $750 million and still climbing! Not sure how you would group that with John Carter or Lone Ranger? Most Marvel & Pixar movies are not even in that range. So yes Pirates is still going strong! I enjoyed the new Pirate scene but would like a giant Kraken float chasing Jack and the Black Pearl!
That’s its global box office number. Pirates is still a *huge* franchise in China (hence my comment), but domestically, it has only made $170 million.
Pirates 5 flopped in the United States.
Hi Tom, another great and balanced review.
I have to say that I only saw the DL version of Fantasmic on DVD/Youtube. When we were in Anaheim we didn’t want to deal with the humongous crowds waiting for the show. We saw the Orlando version twice and also the Tokyo version. I am not a huge fan of this show but I must say that I loved this new version. I also think that for a casual visitor to Anaheim, like myself, the changes are great with the exception of the redundant Pirates scene. I understand that people get attached to certain things in the parks but really….the show was starting to show it’s age. Especially the lights, fountains and music benefitted from this closure. And now let them rework the WDW version…..it is long overdue.
Did you notice the princesses dressed as belly dancers in the Genie sequence? What was your opinion?
I didn’t like it. I also thought it an odd choice after the announcement to remove the auction scene from PotC.
What is the correlation between an ancestorial dance style that have nothing to do with objectifying women and an auction for sex slaves ?
I have only seen streams so far. It does look like a great show compared to 1.0 but I feel that we’re constantly given the same character sets in each show – Disneyland Forever, World of Color, now Fantasmic 2.0 – Lion King, Aladdin, pirates, throw in a little jungle book, Nemo, etc. While I get the point that most of these are the “modern” themes it does make for repetitive ideas – just done in different ways. I’m also sad to see the Brave Little Tailor costume going away for Mickey. That was a nice touch to the old school Mickey era. The relationship curmudgeon in me says “what’s next – replacing Fantasyland rides?”. I know that’s not on the list… Yet.
I saw Fantasmic for the first (and only) time at Tokyo Disneyland, and wasn’t a huge fan. I may have to give the Disneyland version a try, however!
** DisneySEA, not Disneyland.
No! Wrong! Bad!
Fantasmic! 2.0 was of a quality serviceable for WDW but not for the Grande Dame that is Disneyland. What was a somewhat coherent story was lost to a hodgepodge of shoehorned acts that didn’t make sense. Small details, such as the moment Mickey entered, changed the meaning of light in the show. the music cuts sounded like they were done by a very talented and dedicated dance mom. The original show used the island; the new show seems vexed by it. I’m so disappointed, as I’ve been watching and loving this show since 1992 (and crewed it a few times 93-95). There were some definite wins and improvements, but most of that was overshadowed by how bad the new show plays overall.
I completely agree! The reviews online have been mixed, as opposed to overwhelmingly positive for the original show. Outof curiosity, what’d you do for the show? Where you a technician? Performer? Or just crowd control?
Thank you for giving an honest and positive review! I am so relieved after reading a negative review this morning. I grew up in CA and Fantasmic was the best part of my childhood. There was nothing more magical than sitting along the Rivers of America and feeling the energy and excitement build with each pre-show announcement (except when the cannon of the Sailing Ship Columbia goes off – hopefully that still happens).
I was impressed with the enhancements for the most part. The projections clearly enhance the overall atmosphere as they appear on the cabin. I am not a fan at all of the new pop music versions of the old show as they floats go by. I don’t need it to sound the same I just think they could have chosen a better vocal arrangement. I also agree about the Pirates layover for Peter Pan. I kept waiting for something bigger and better and when that segment was over I was like…Why?
All in all it was a fun experience.
Why is Fantasmic in California so much better? I don’t mean that as in a comparison to say what the differences are, more what I am saying is, shouldn’t it be better in Florida? Don’t they have a much better set up? I realize it is better in California, I guess what I am trying to say is how did this come to be? It seems like it would be easier to make a superior version in Florida, with the layout, and space set aside for it etc.
Have you ever been to Disneyland? Just go visit and see for yourself. It’s my preferred park but we go to WDW occasionally. WDW’s version is in Hollywood Studios, a park in terrible shape, and Fatasmic is in a corner of the park, you have to plan to go see it, or you may never know it is there. Compared to other nighttime events, which would you rather choose, and most people prefer to be in Magic Kingdom for fireworks or Epcot for Illuminations. DLR’s Fantasmic is in the center of the park. Before they had fast passes for it, locals and guests would sit for hours on the waterfront to get a good seat. If you are in Disneyland, you cannot escape the allure of the show, which makes it that much more engaging to watch. It always has full attendance, and they put the money into updating it because it is a major pull for people to come to the parks. Also, you can see the fireworks and Fantasmic in the same night. Even before Paint the Night went away, you could see all three without ever leaving Disneyland. I remember saving a seat for Fantasmic with a big group in high school, we would take turns going on rides or bringing food back to our spot, and then once Fantasmic was done, didn’t even need to move because you can see the fireworks AND they pipe in the music. No one goes to WDW just for Fantasmic, but AP holders will enter the park just to go see Fantasmic. I was at DLR in April and almost all the merchandise is Fantasmic, locals love it, and the merchandise is selling like crazy, even though the show was gone for more than a year. Many people are excited about it’s return.
Fantasmic at DL is magical because it is integrated into the park. It takes place on Tom Sawyer’s Island and the Rivers of America, and incorporates both the Sailing Ship Columbia and the Mark Twain. It feels like an immersive experience. By contrast, the WDW version feels like a stage show. None of the immersive elements are there because it is performed on a set, so the magic is lost. I think only way they could possibly make a superior version at WDW would be to move it to the Rivers of America in MK. I just don’t see this happening anytime soon.
I totally agree with your comments! The dl version is truly magical because it transforms a space that you were just walking past during the day into a dream version of it. Which what fantasmic is about! That makes it magical and dreamy. I mostly love the new improvements and think some of the kinks will get ironed out.
You see, while I agree with the below that there is something magical about this big show happening on the Rivers of America in the middle of the park, I think if some money was actually invested at the WDW version, it could be absolutely amazing- at least the equal of the Disneyland version. Get in the upgraded Dragon (I loved WDW’s dragon when I first saw it, but after seeing Disneyland’s it feels like a sad joke), get ride of the pochantas part and replace it with something that doesn’t drag forever, Do some projection mapping on the stage and upgrade the fountains and projections there. I think the convience factor of having an actual bench to sit on and the better site lines of the WDW theatre is a okay trade off to make up for the location. I think the main problem is Fantasmic has been the victim of the lack of reinvestment that feels like has been going on at WDW for a while. I’m hoping with all the new plans just announced for WDW is showing a new found willingness to invest everywhere in the parks down there, and allow them to really shine.
Glad to read your review. West coaster here, so I have grown up seeing Fantasmic, and am excited about the new show. However, I read a review on Mice Chat that just ripped it apart, and I don’t always agree with what they write. It was refreshing to read your review and gives me hope for seeing the show. Your opinion is very honest about what still works, what has been improved, and what are some faults.
You had mentioned in a previous post you had River Bell Terrace reservations. Was that for this viewing, and if so how was the food and where was the viewing area located? We’ll be doing the same in a f few days, and after reading your review I’m even more excited about seeing it!!
I’ve never seen Fantasmic! at any park so I’m sure I would have loved it anyway. But I’m even more excited, after this review, to see it in September. I look forward to more from you about viewing locations and FastPass strategy. Do you know if it will be available via MaxPass or will it stay a traditional paper FastPass ticket? Thanks Tom and Sarah for all your hard work!
Hi Tom, thanks for all you do… DTB is my fave. I have never been to DLR and have only seen WDW version of Fantasmic, but based on descriptions and reviews, it appears those of us visiting WDW loose out. I saw the show this past May and it was such a disappointment. The dragon didn’t even come out of it’s cave and many other effects were clearly not working. It was definitely not even the show it once was and is not compared to Fantasmic 2.0. Do you have any thoughts about why such a difference between the two and whether or not those of us in Florida will ever be treated to the DLR version? Thanks again for being such a great source of Disney info and entertainment.
I think it largely comes down to the ways locals at Disneyland have embraced Fantasmic. This show is now 25 years old, and yet even before its refurbishment, it was still drawing huge audiences of mostly repeat visitors on a nightly basis. Every little tweak to Fantasmic over the years has caused Disneyland’s local audience to make a point of seeing it again, too.
By contrast, Fantasmic is not an iconic piece of a Walt Disney World entertainment, even among repeat/regular visitors. Beyond that, most first-timers are impressed by the WDW version regardless, and don’t know what they are missing when certain effects are not working.
Basically, there is not as much incentive for Walt Disney World to upgrade its show. Plus, with so many other projects happening around WDW for the next 5 years, I do not see this being a priority in the near future. I could see it happening around 2020 in advance of the 50th Anniversary if WDW wants to market new or enhanced nighttime entertainment for each of the 4 parks.
Thanks for the insight Tom… I guess this means a trip to DLR is absolutely necessary and as good a reason as any to make it happen!
I think you hit the nail on the head with the WDW Fantasmic comments. When I think of WDW, I think of it as a vacation hotspot, whereas I view Disneyland as a local hotspot for people to go weekly. This is why I feel Disneyland was due for a Fantasmic upgrade as opposed to WDW. If WDW is mostly full of visitors that are seeing it for the first time or once a year, whats the need for the overhaul? While there were many Disneyland fans that enjoyed the Fantasmic experience, there were obviously a handful that eventually got sick of it. I believe the author mentioned something along the lines of “The show consistantly filled seats, most of which were nightly visitors”. I believe the overhaul was to give the audience something new to watch, rather than change something that was getting old.
Based on that logic, why overhaul WDW if the yearly visiting audience hasn’t quite gotten sick of it? And with the hundreds of first time visitors that visit WDW, they’re probably expecting the classic show that audiences have been enjoying for years, which is why Disneyland is quick to innovate over Disney World