It's Not Over Yet!

[bpgstudios]

(Or How Fantasmic! Experiences are Ruined)

So last night I stopped by the studios for a few quick spins on what used to be Coaster (thats a rant for another time, once they finish destroying it), and decided to catch F!. Well, I arrived around the 1 minute mark of the show expecting standing room only on the right side. Well, there was still some seating over there so I picked out a bench where I wouldnt block anyones view entering and crouched down so I wouldn't be in the way. I'm good so far.

Well, a few more latecomers such as myself show up and find seats with little difficulty as well. Everything is pretty good in the show (except the old hag switch, but it happens). Malificent rises up.

So when did that become the end of the show? well, last night apparently a large group of about 45 sitting in the 3 rows in front of me thought it was. Not only did they all leave mass exodus style, they decided to stop and walk over the benches. I'm thinking to myself "wow...how rude. I'm just glad I seen this before or I would have missed the entire dragon sequence". Well, not more than 30 seconds after they all are out of sight, everyone in my section decides to move up for the remaining 3 minutes of the show. So, Everyone stands up, walks down the benches to fill the void left by the group of 45. So by the time everyone is comfortably seated, Mickey pops out of the top of the mountain, sets off some fireworks, and quick-changes into his tux before turning into a column of white light.

Now, I'm not one to really rant like this about a minor annoyance (which it was to me). But this really was something that struck me as odd... Who (in a party of 45) goes to a show and leaves before the ending like that? How did they all coordinate this? It looked like a protest or walkout...strike on F! due to the mass amounts leaving at a similar time. All across the theatre people seemed to think that this group knew it was time to leave...

Weird. Ive never seen it so far in Philhar (My theatre attr.) or really any other venue.

[BRWombat]

(Or How Fantasmic! Experiences are Ruined)

So last night I stopped by the studios for a few quick spins on what used to be Coaster (thats a rant for another time, once they finish destroying it), and decided to catch F!. Well, I arrived around the 1 minute mark of the show expecting standing room only on the right side. Well, there was still some seating over there so I picked out a bench where I wouldnt block anyones view entering and crouched down so I wouldn't be in the way. I'm good so far.

Well, a few more latecomers such as myself show up and find seats with little difficulty as well. Everything is pretty good in the show (except the old hag switch, but it happens). Malificent rises up.

So when did that become the end of the show? well, last night apparently a large group of about 45 sitting in the 3 rows in front of me thought it was. Not only did they all leave mass exodus style, they decided to stop and walk over the benches. I'm thinking to myself "wow...how rude. I'm just glad I seen this before or I would have missed the entire dragon sequence". Well, not more than 30 seconds after they all are out of sight, everyone in my section decides to move up for the remaining 3 minutes of the show. So, Everyone stands up, walks down the benches to fill the void left by the group of 45. So by the time everyone is comfortably seated, Mickey pops out of the top of the mountain, sets off some fireworks, and quick-changes into his tux before turning into a column of white light.

Now, I'm not one to really rant like this about a minor annoyance (which it was to me). But this really was something that struck me as odd... Who (in a party of 45) goes to a show and leaves before the ending like that? How did they all coordinate this? It looked like a protest or walkout...strike on F! due to the mass amounts leaving at a similar time. All across the theatre people seemed to think that this group knew it was time to leave...

Weird. Ive never seen it so far in Philhar (My theatre attr.) or really any other venue.

Ah... the old "beat the crowd out of the parking lot" syndrome. I've seen it in movie theaters and sadly, in churches on Sundays, too. Pretty pathetic. I've never understood the mentality that says that shaving a few minutes off your exit from the parking lot is worth rudely inconveniencing or distracting others.

[darph nader]

They probably figured " We've seen this 75 times,we know how it ends. So F-U while 'we' leave". At least they didn't yell out " The butler did it ".

[ziggyfmt]

I actually worked at Fantasmic! for the past 4 months and can attest to the fact that, yes, about 1/8 of the crowd will have exited their seats to the back of the theatre before the steamboat makes it half way around the stage. When I started there, I always tried to tell people to stay, but I have to admit that after a few weeks of it, I gave up. Most people leaving said they had seen it before, and/or simply wanted to beat the crowd. Yes it was very frustrating, not only for the guest that haven't seen the show, but also for anyone who ran to the restroom and tried to make it back to their family for the end of the show, and also the CMs as well due to the fact that everyone that has begun leaving suddenly stops where they are (or keeps walking while looking behind them, thus running into anyone or anything in their path) to see the fireworks and Sorceror Mickey.
Absolutely, I agree that a large group like that seems very odd, but it does not surprise me either. Sometimes groups of people have to leave and make it to a bus at a certain time, or else they are stranded. So if there was a large tour group (*COUGH*flags*COUGH) which we often had (groups of 75+ saving seats in the Mickey or Pocahontas sections was not uncommon) they may have needed to exit to beat the crowd and make the "long" trek out of the park.
I also agree that it is very, very annoying and I can't stand it. Hope this helps ease the pain! :p:

[Sioban]

Ah... the old "beat the crowd out of the parking lot" syndrome.

HA! That's what I thought too! We better get going before everyone else tries to leave and we have to wait an extra few minutes to get to the car.

[DLRFantasmic!Dan]

Ah... the old "beat the crowd out of the parking lot" syndrome. I've seen it in movie theaters and sadly, in churches on Sundays, too. Pretty pathetic. I've never understood the mentality that says that shaving a few minutes off your exit from the parking lot is worth rudely inconveniencing or distracting others.

It's lie par closing, guests rushing to the trams to get home and there is a very looooooong wait!!

[leftcoaster]

Personally, I like to be the last person out of the park. Or the very least, let the crowds rush out of the park first.

What would really be cool is if they did something "special" after the F! show that would want to make people stay. Like they do with some movies now - stay until the end of the credits.

[Main Streeter]

Personally, I like to be the last person out of the park.

Oh no! Another guest lager. :mad: So glad left you are going to WDW & not my coast. ;) :D:

[IndyandMarion]

I thought everyone knew that Fantasmic! is where the lemmings hang out at. . .

[DLRFantasmic!Dan]

Before the end of Fantasmic!, I get the question, "Is it over yet?" It's like they have someplace to go and they are already bored!