2012 Best Attraction Tournament: Fantasmic! vs. Festival of the Lion King

March 9, 2012 at 10:04 AM · Lion King FTW!

March 9, 2012 at 10:39 AM · I have only seen the Disney's Hollywood Studios version of Fantasmic and it has a lot of problems. One of the issues is that there are no back rests on the banches and a lot of the effects don´t work. Further more it´s a weird collection of effects and ellements and the sum isn´t bigger then it´s parts.

The Lion King is the total opposit and I love it!

March 9, 2012 at 10:54 AM · Fantasmic! wins since the DLR one is phenomenal from beginning to end.

Festival of the Lion King is great, but I can't help but compare it to the Broadway show and it pales in comparison.

March 9, 2012 at 10:54 AM · No malace towards those who like Lion King, but Fantasmic blew me away the first time I saw it and receives my vote.

March 9, 2012 at 11:08 AM · Voted for Fantasmic. Really liked the DHS version of the show save for the crowding and found FOTLK a bit overrated.

March 9, 2012 at 11:10 AM · Have yet to see Fantasmic! but have heard great things about it. On the other hand, I loooove Festival so an eager vote from me!

March 9, 2012 at 12:38 PM · I LOVE Fantasmic! Especially the version at DLR with the VIP package! FotLK is OK, and I leave feeling entertained, but it doesn't blow me away, and it definitely doesn't rank as a "must-see on every trip" for me. On the other hand, I'll often see Fantasmic! two or three times on a single trip! Sorcerer Mickey is my hero! :-)

March 9, 2012 at 12:55 PM · Lion King is one of my favorite live shows, but I voted for the Disneyland version of Fantasmic! (when Murphy makes an appearance). That show is still loaded with charm and magic.

March 9, 2012 at 1:55 PM · Haven't seen Lion King, but Disneyland's Fantasmic is the best theme park show I've seen anywhere except for Aladdin at DCA (which isn't in the tournament). It's the only nighttime spectacular type show that I care for. However, I wouldn't be surprised if those that have only seen the Florida version (which I've heard isn't that good) prefer Lion King, as that definitely looks like a pretty good show from videos I've seen.

March 9, 2012 at 3:31 PM · Both are terrific and still feel fresh. Lion King plays like a Greatest Hits collection but pulls it off seamlessly, like Forty Licks. Fantasmic! is all icing, but the icing is really delicious.

I give it to Fantasmic! The audience interaction and character elements of Lion King distract from the stunning vocal and acrobatic numbers while Fantasmic is nonstop excitement from front to back. Bonus points for the lame pre- and post-show Mickey-incorporated remixes of awful '90s pop songs.

March 9, 2012 at 4:02 PM · My vote goes to fantasmic because is the best night time show at a theme park.I love the fireworks and all the characters at the end I love this show
I still love lion king but fantasmic is superior

March 9, 2012 at 4:22 PM · This was another hard choice and a very good matchup. I'm considering mainly DL's Fantasmic, as DHS's seems to be of lesser quality and loses the magic of being performed right on the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer's Island where guests were walking/sailing/canoeing just hours before. As good as Fantasmic is, it is getting a bit old and upstaged by World of Color. Festival of the Lion King exceeded my expectations. I figured it would just be another stage retelling of the movie like many other Disney stage shows, so I was surprised to see that it was original. Maybe it just benefited from low initial expectations and freshness in my perspective, but it got my vote. I'd be happy with either winning though.

March 9, 2012 at 8:52 PM · I have only seen Fantasmic! at DHS, and I enjoyed it immensely, but it is the Festival of the Lion King (arguably the best live show at WDW) that should be called "fantasmic!"

March 10, 2012 at 2:21 AM · I consider Fantasmic the best thing at Disneyland. Period.

March 10, 2012 at 2:30 AM · My vote for Fantasmic! is specifically for the Disneyland version. It is superior in every way to the DHS version. It seems more intimate, has a more coherent through-line to its story, and makes excellent use of the environment by repurposing the end of Tom Sawyer Island. Plus Maleficent is the superior villainess, and the dragon is so much more impressive.

Festival of the Lion King is very good and I like the show, since I have always had a love for theater in the round (I've directed plays in this style), but Fantasmic! is just such an amazing combination of elements....

March 10, 2012 at 8:47 AM · Now here is a better head to head!

I went with Lion King because it includes live singing. Any attraction that can do that, gets my vote!