Disneyland Fantasmic! 2025 Guide – Viewing Areas, Times, Dining Packages

Disneyland Fantasmic! is the most popular nighttime spectacular at the Disneyland Resort. The show takes place on select nights on Rivers of America in Frontierland.

Fantasmic at Disneyland is popular for a good reason! The show brings together incredible performers, the latest in special effects technology, and the incredible Disney songbook to tell the story of good vs evil inside Mickey Mouse's imagination.

This show is steeped in Disney history, nostalgia, and features fabulous special effects. This Fantasmic! Disneyland guide has information on the nightly showtimes, tips on Fantasmic! viewing areas and map, the pros and cons of the Fantasmic dining packages, and information on the history of this beloved Disneyland show. This is truly my favorite nighttime entertainment at Disneyland and my top can't miss if the show is performing.

This article has been updated with information for 2025 including an updated seating map reflecting the seating arrangements for the dining packages that are currently being offered for the show.

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Disneyland Fantasmic! Show Times 2025

Fantasmic! showtimes varies throughout the year depending on the anticipated crowd levels and seasonal events. Just like how fireworks at Disneyland are not shown every night throughout the year, daily showtimes for Fantasmic! vary too depending on the season.

While predicting the schedule isn't always an exact science, you can expect to see daily showtimes or the potential for two nightly shows of Fantasmic! during these periods of the year:

• Spring break season (March through mid-April)
• Summer (mid-June through mid-August)
• Halloween Time (most likely October)
• Holiday Season (November through December)

When Fantasmic! is shown twice a night, the first showing of Fantasmic! will run at 9 pm, then the Disneyland Forever! fireworks will be presented, and then the second 10:30 pm show of Fantasmic! will perform.

During less busy times of the year, Disneyland will drop the Fantasmic! showtime to once per night. When Fantasmic! is shown once per night, the showtime is usually at 9PM. You might even see Fantasmic! regulated to weekends only which is something similar to World of Color at Disneyland.

To check the showtime for Fantasmic! during your trip, check the Disneyland daily calendar.

How to Watch Fantasmic! at Disneyland

Fantasmic! takes place on Tom Sawyers Island and looks out over the Rivers of America in Frontierland. The length of the show is 27 minutes and during peak times of year there are two show times at 9PM and 10:30PM. If you're visiting during a peak time of year (summer, holidays, spring break) you can expect nightly showings and multiple shows. During less crowded times of year (January-February) you might see only one evening performance or in rare cases only showings on the weekends.

Your best bet to plan for watching Fantasmic! is so check the Disney website calender for the entertainment schedule on the day of your visit. You can also easily find this information in the park by asking a cast member or consulting the Disneyland app or park maps.

Disneyland Fantasmic! Viewing Areas

The below viewing area information has been updated now that Fantasmic! has returned. There are two options for seating to watch Fantasmic! at Disneyland: open seating or dining packages.

Fantasmic! takes place in and around the Rivers of America. In the graphic above, the Fantasmic! main stage is directly under the “AS” in the title on the graphic though boats and projections can be seen all along the river.

Guests who secure a dining package have the best view of the show directly across from the main stage. General viewing areas are highlighted in yellow above.

Those with the dining packages have the best view with their area roped off right in front of the main stage. Dining package viewers are also guaranteed to be able to sit during the show which is a nice perk in itself.

1. The Rancho del Zocalo Dining Package seating is located on the left in the viewing area with ground seating.
2. The River Belle Terrace Standard Dining Package is to the right of the viewing area and guests sit on the ground.
3. The River Belle Terrace also offers a premium dining package where guests are seated at 7:15 pm and then remain in their seats through the first 9 pm showing of Fantasmic!
4. The Cafe Orleans premium dining package is in the center of the viewing area. These guests sit on the ground.

We'll go deeper into all of the Fantasmic! viewing area options in the following sections. A note that the Blue Bayou Fantasmic! dining package is not currently being offered. This was previously the best premium viewing for the show which is now where the Cafe Orleans dining package is. It is not clear if this is a permanent change.

General Disneyland Fantasmic! Viewing Tips

Your options for viewing the show are staking out a spot along the Rivers of America or getting a reserved dining package.

Our key tip for avoiding spending a lot of your time waiting for a seat for Fantasmic! is to see the second show of the evening. For that show you'll want to watch the fireworks from the Frontierland area and then join the mass of people moving into the Fantasmic! viewing areas.

For general viewing if you are willing to line up a little bit early, we like to get up close to the fence along the water. If you are arriving later for the first show, line up on the bridge over Pirates of the Caribbean for a nice view of the show.

As you can see in the map shared above, the Disneyland Fantasmic! dining packages take up a large chunk of the prime viewing for the show (the best prime seating for the show is where the Blue Bayou section is listed on the map, directly across from Tom Sawyer's Island).

Here is a view from that prime spot. You'll locate this spot within the section as it is directly in front of the light board.

For guests who want to experience the show without a dining package and are aiming for the second show, you should follow these key steps.

1. Watch the Disneyland fireworks from directly in front of the River Belle Terrace restaurant. This is in the area along the waterfront between Frontierland and Pirates of the Caribbean. You'll want to be lingering a little ways from this area during the show to be able to move in.
2. When the fireworks end, move up into the general viewing area closest to center right here. Make sure to ask a Cast Member where you are able to sit for the show as you are doing this. Sometimes the dining package reserved area is not clearly marked and you'll accidentally end up there and have to move.
3. Hang out for the ~hour or so until the show starts. You'll be fine having members of your group head off to grab a churro or nighttime treat (use the Disneyland dining mobile order) while a majority of the group stays here to wait.

As you are thinking about the best spots for Fantasmic!, you'll want to keep in mind that you should be aiming to avoid any obstructions of Tom Sawyer's Island.

At the end of the day, the energy in the area is the most important part of the show and even an obscured view is a nice way to end the day at the parks.

Is there a Disneyland Fantasmic! Virtual Queue? Previously we had expected that Disneyland would utilize a virtual queue for  Fantasmic! in the same way that they are for the World of Color virtual queue process. The virtual queue process is not an extra charge. However, Disneyland does not offer a Fantasmic! virtual queue.

Disneyland Fantasmic! Dining Packages

There are three different dining packages offered for Fantasmic! which include dining at Cafe Orleans, River Belle Terrace, and Rancho del Zocalo.

Each dining package includes a meal and a voucher for the reserved viewing area in front of Rivers of America. River Belle Terrace also includes an upgraded viewing option so guests can watch the show from the patio of the restaurant.

You can read all about Disneyland dining packages in our guide. 

Guests with Disabilities Fantasmic! Viewing

Disneyland strives to accommodate all guests and this includes those with disabilities. There is a special area between the River Belle Terrace dining section and the general viewing area that is reserved for guests with disabilities. This section is typically reserved for those in wheelchairs and ECVs along with their families.

For dining packages, guests in wheelchairs or ECVs are seated near the back of the section so they're not blocking the view of other guests so these areas are all seated.

Pro Tips for Fantasmic! at Disneyland

• The first viewing of Fantasmic will always be the most crowded so similar to the advice we give for fireworks, we recommend watching the later showing if you don't plan on purchasing a dining package. If you have your heart set on the dining package experience, the first show is the best choice since the dining package viewing areas can often be combined for the second showing making your view a bit more crowded.
• If you are at the first show time of Fantasmic! and fireworks are scheduled that night, then stay where you are to watch the Rivers of America put on a magical show with projections that play against the screens of water in sync with the fireworks show.
• Be aware that Fantasmic! may be scary for small children. The show can get bright, loud, and a bit scary at times.
• Since the show takes place on water, guests in the very front may get wet.
• The only option for chair viewing is the upgraded package for River Belle Terrace. All other options, dining packages included, only offer seating on the ground.
• All non-dining package viewers should be prepared to stand throughout the show.
• Always arrive early to the viewing areas- even if cast members aren't allowing guests to line up yet, you will see people hovering about waiting to jump in line when they do.

History of Fantasmic! at Disneyland

Disneyland's Fantasmic! debuted in 1992 and has been a beloved part of Disneyland entertainment ever since.

Fantasmic! includes fireworks, live performers, water effects, pyrotechnics, music, watercrafts, decorated rafts, animatronics, and projections! When Fantasmic! first debuted it was the first of its kind to incorporate so many different elements into one performance. The addition of Fantasmic! to Rivers of America meant that some reworkings of Disneyland had to take place including terracing the walkways to accommodate viewing and changing the front section of Tom Sawyer Island (now named The Pirate’s Lair) with the goal that it could act as a stage for most of the show's live action.

Fantasmic! was well received and now has regular showings more than 20 years later at Disneyland in the Disneyland Resort, Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World and Tokyo DisneySea in Tokyo Disney Resort.

Fantasmic! Synopsis

I never recommend watching YouTube videos or reading a synopsis for any entertainment or ride you're experiencing for the first time. The surprise is half the fun! But since Fantasmic! does have moments that might startle small children, it might be helpful to know what the show will feature so you can be prepared.

Since its debut in 1992, “Fantasmic!” has performed nearly 11,000 shows at Disneyland and has received numerous enhancements such as the fire-breathing Maleficent dragon in 2009 and the addition of new songs from Aladdin, Tangled, and more in 2017. The dragon is not currently part of the show after an incident when it caught fire in 2023, and there is currently a reimagined battle sequence between Mickey and Maleficent in its place.

Warning: The synopsis and video below feature spoilers, scroll past if you'd like to be surprised!

Fantasmic! starts with the imagination of Mickey Mouse set within the water of Rivers of America where he transforms into Sorcerer Mickey and takes us on a trip to some of our favorite Disney movies like Fantasia, Aladdin, The Lion King, and more – featured on state of the art water screens.

Fantasmic! also features beautiful live action scenes such as Aladdin and Jasmine dancing, the Sailing Ship Columbia with action packed moments from Peter Pan, rafts lit up with lights and well adored Disney princesses including Belle, Rapunzel, and Ariel.

The show includes the classic good vs. evil struggle when Mickey is pulled through the magic mirror and enters a world of Disney's most famous villains. The show stopping villain here is none other than Maleficent.

Of course, with all things Disney, the good prevails. In an epic finale, the Mark Twain Riverboat paddles its way along the river dotted with every Disney character imaginable. Words alone cannot materialize the images all the fascinating water effects, lasers, pyrotechnics, fireworks, and live action scenes Fantasmic! brings to life.

For a literal play-by-play of the show itself, check out this Wikipedia article.

Or if you prefer to watch it all play out on video, watch the video below!

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