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Fantasmic! debuted at Disneyland in 1992. I can remember Tom Sawyers Island before Fantasmic! (and before the pirates took over) but my best memories are of seeing Fantasmic! the first few times. The music was enchanting, the story was magical, and the dragon was totally new. Even when I had to stand on my tiptoes to see the show (I’ve always been short) I never missed it.

Fantasmic! now plays at both Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The shows are not identical but they are similar. The biggest difference is the location. Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has its own outdoor theater. This is nice because everyone gets a seat and a good view, but I still like Disneyland’s version the best because of the boats. Both the Sailing Ship Columbia and the Mark Twain Riverboat are used in the show and it is really cool to see these huge ships lit up and filled with Disney characters.

If I was to make a list of top ten things to see at the Disney parks Fantasmic! would be number one on that list. New shows have been designed but since 1992 Fantasmic! has always been the best. Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: If Fantasmic! is playing twice when you are at Disneyland consider seeing the second showing. People start finding seats for the first show hours before it starts but when the first show is over the Cast Members clear the area before allowing Guests in for the second show so you don’t have to wait as long to find a good spot. I waiting at the rope about fifteen minutes and was able to get a spot front and center. I would never have had such a good view if I had watched the first show.

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I don’t know what to think about the movie Maleficent. She is my favorite Disney villain because she is really evil. In Sleeping Beauty she causes major havoc because of a small slight. This always worked for me. Prince Phillip is good and noble and Maleficent is mean and evil. I like knowing where the lines are drawn.

Now my favorite villain is getting her own movie and we’ll learn how she became evil, mean, wicked, bad, and nasty (thank you, Smothers Brothers for the adjectives.) Angelina Jolie is playing Maleficent and I am sure she will to do an amazing job.

But I am torn. I liked Maleficent being a villain. I don’t need to know how she became one. Plus, unless they are changing the basic story we know she doesn’t live in the end. So either they are changing the end or this is going to be hard to watch. Or maybe we feel her inevitable death is justified. I just don’t know what I think about all this.

There have been other movies where the bad guy takes the lead role. Wicked may be the most popular, but Star Wars Episodes I, II, and III basically tell the story of the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the rise of Darth Vader. I haven’t seen or read Wicked but I really hated the first three Star Wars movies.

If you would like to watch the trailer for Maleficent click here. I loved the trailer and thought everyone was playing their roles perfectly. However, I learned nothing about how the story is going to be told so I still don’t know what to think. It is not coming out until May 2014 so I’ll have time to learn more. I wish Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather (she was always my favorite) could give me a hint before then.  Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: Is Maleficent your favorite Disney villain? Unlike a lot of  Disney villians that only come to the parks occasionally you can see Maleficent most nights at Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. She is the live-action villain in Fantasmic! that Mickey Mouse has to battle at the end of the show. My favorite part of Fantasmic! is when she turns from human to dragon. It is really impressive. I am glad the good guys win.

When I was growing up I lived near Disneyland. Because we could go whenever we wanted we tended to go when the park wasn’t crowded. We avoided summer and busy school holidays. We had no desire to stand in long lines and fight the crowds.

The Disneyland Half Marathon is on Labor Day weekend so we had no choice but to visit during a traditionally busy time. I prepared myself to deal with lines and crowds. With good planning we avoided most of both, but I didn’t realize that some special things happen on the busiest days and I would fight the crowds just to experience these magical attractions. I hope you can visit on a busy day. It has its ups and downs, but like the Robin Hood song says, “Sometimes ups outnumber the downs.”

3 reasons to visit Disneyland during the busy times:

1) The Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes. This attraction is one of the rare rides that does not run on a track. If the Guests don’t row the canoe doesn’t go. The Cast Member standing at the front of your canoe teaches you how to paddle and then tries to get everyone to paddle in unison. This is easier said than done. Our guide, Ben, said that we looked like a drunken caterpillar. I might have paddled better if I wasn’t laughing so hard. Ben was very entertaining. We did manage to get our canoe around the Rivers of America with Ben’s help. If only my daily workout was this much fun.

2) The Sailing Ship Columbia.  The Mark Twain Riverboat runs most days, but the Columbia only runs on the busiest days. Unlike the easy-going paddle boat the Columbia is a powerful ride complete with a cannon blast. Once you have enjoyed the view topside you can go below and explore the maritime museum. I saw a scuttlebutt but I don’t know what that is. My favorite attractions are the ones that teach me something new.

3) The second showing of Fantasmic!. On the busiest summer nights there are two showings of Fantasmic!. If you can stay I suggest watching the second one. We rode lots of rides during the first showing and then watched the fireworks from the Frontierland side of the hub. We hurried over to Frontierland just before the fireworks ended and found a rope up between Frontierland and New Orleans Square. The Cast Members were letting Guests leave the Fantastmic! viewing area before letting the next group in. When the rope dropped we were able to get a great seat with only a half hour wait.

Busy days have their good and bad points, but if you get a chance to discover these three busy day treats you may decide that busy days are great! Happiness squared.

Goofy Tip: I can not stress this enough. If you want to have a successful visit on a busy day then eat early. We ate between 11 and 11:30 each day and had no lines at the register. By 12:30 there were long waits. So eat early and then enjoy the great attractions available on the busiest days.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has some of the best attractions in any of the parks. From Tower of Terror to Star Tours the most thrilling rides can be found here. Does that mean that Guests who don’t like fast scary rides should avoid Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Absolutely not. For every breathtaking (literally) attraction there is a breathtaking show that you must not miss. The shows only play a few times each day so be sure to check the event schedule so you can arrive early and get a good seat. Save one for me.

5 Disney’s Hollywood Studios attractions for people who hate rides:

1) Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show. If you have ever wondered how they make those awesome chase scenes in movies than don’t miss this show. Under the guise of filming a car chase scene in France you will learn a lot of secrets that make these movies so fun. Have your camera ready because you will want to capture the action as cars leap over each other and drive in amazing and dangerous routines. Oh yeah, and Lightning McQueen makes a guest appearance to greet all the Cars fans.

2) Muppet*Vision 3-D. If you like the Muppets on TV then you will love seeing them on the big screen in 3-D. The gags are just as funny (or not) and everyone’s favorite Muppet gets a scene. The ending is as chaotic as any Muppet show should be and the 3-D gags will have you trying to touch the screen. This show is on my must-see list whenever I visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

3) Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular. Stunt shows are always fun, but toss in everyone’s favorite fedora wearing adventurer and you get something special. Scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark are used to show off the stunts and members of the audience get to participate. This is a fun and heart-stopping look at what makes a great action movie.

4) Magic of Disney Animation. I always say I can’t draw good stick figures and that is true, but with the help of a Disney animator I can sketch a pretty accurate Disney character. This unique class takes place on the hour and the half hour and at the end you will have a sketch made by you. I’ve drawn Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Daisy Duck, and Minnie Mouse. I have so much fun doing this that I recommend everyone give it a try. Besides the great experience you have a fun souvenir to take home. Too cool.

5) Fantasmic! One, don’t miss this imaginative show about Mickey’s dreams and nightmares. Two, show up early to get a good seat and beat the hoards of Guests who will try to get in at the last minute. The best viewing area is directly in front of the stage and it is worth it to get one of these seats. Bring a snack and relax. This is the best show in the park and the combination of favorite Disney memories, water effects, pyrotechnics, and great story will have you remembering Fantasmic! for years to come.

I said before that Disney’s Hollywood Studios has great thrill rides. I hope you see now that it also has great shows. Fill your day with these events and you’ll want to come back again and again. Happiness Squared.

Goofy Tip: If you have a little time before arriving at Fantasmic! but don’t want to go on a ride then I recommend seeing Beauty and the Beast -Live on Stage. This show brings the movie to life and the stage is right next to the entrance to Fantasmic! You can enjoy the show even if you are toward the back, so watch the show and duck out quickly to get a good seat at Fantasmic!