Trying not to have to stand in "the pen" for Fantasmic again

[auntpolly]

How early must you really show up for a decent seat for Fantasmic? Last time we were there an hour early (Spring Break) and had to stand in a kind of "pen" for the losers who got there too late!:D I think we've settled on a trip in August. How early do you think for that time of year?

[WDSearcher]

Why don't you try a dinner package? Then you're assured good seats without the long wait.

If you don't want to go that route, then about 90 min out is probably the norm for decent seats during a busy time.

:earsboy:

[kilee]

Depends on when in August. Some of the travel begins to decrease that month-- so you may get away w/ a 60 minute arrival. I have never gotten there any earlier than that-- but I try to go when it's no more crowded than "regular" season-- I try to avoid peak at all costs. Which has almost worked out for me.

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by WDSearcher
Why don't you try a dinner package? Then you're assured good seats without the long wait.



:earsboy:

Have you tried this? I was kind of thinking they made you have dinner too early, and requiring you to arrive very early anyway. But now that I think of it, I'm not sure where or when I got that or how reliable was the source.

[BrerMama]

You do have to eat early, usually between 4-4:30, but then you have lots of time to tour the park while others are eating. You have to show up for your seats a half hour before the show starts, so you avoid waiting in line for hours or being relagated to standing room only. We're doing Hollywood and Vine. We'd have to eat dinner that night anyway, so why not do the package (it doesn't cost any extra at H&V). We won't eat any lunch that day, just snacks so we'll get our money's worth at the buffet.

[auntpolly]

Originally posted by BrerMama
(it doesn't cost any extra at H&V).

Does it cost extra at the other restaurants?

BTW, thanks for the input, you guys. The last time we went we were so uncomfortable in the pen, we were in a bad mood and said we hated Fantasmic!:eek: I'd like to give it another chance.

[msr709]

No Aunt Polly it doesn't cost extra at any of the other restaurants but you do have to eat early. I made the mistake of making reservations at Mama Melrose for 5:30 thinking it was a Fantasmic package to find out that you have to have dinner by 4:30 (the latest) to get the package but it was slow that day and they gave me a break and gave me the pass anyway. What happens is you go to the restaurant and tell them you want the Fantasmic dinner package and they give you a slip of paper that has the Fantasmic Stamp on it and that is your pass to get in the reserved seating. It is so worth it, planning on doing it this upcoming trip with a party of 11! (And just an FYI, a pizza entree at Mama Melrose is considered a full dinner so you can get it with that, which is the cheapest at this restaurant, and they are very good!) Good luck and have a wonderful trip.

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by msr709
No Aunt Polly it doesn't cost extra at any of the other restaurants but you do have to eat early. I made the mistake of making reservations at Mama Melrose for 5:30 thinking it was a Fantasmic package to find out that you have to have dinner by 4:30 (the latest) to get the package but it was slow that day and they gave me a break and gave me the pass anyway. What happens is you go to the restaurant and tell them you want the Fantasmic dinner package and they give you a slip of paper that has the Fantasmic Stamp on it and that is your pass to get in the reserved seating. It is so worth it, planning on doing it this upcoming trip with a party of 11! (And just an FYI, a pizza entree at Mama Melrose is considered a full dinner so you can get it with that, which is the cheapest at this restaurant, and they are very good!) Good luck and have a wonderful trip.

Actually this isn't the case anymore. You now have to reserve the dinner package specificly at WDW Dine and its a set price for each of the restaurants. You can not just dine at the restaurant with a regular ps or walk up and get the pass to the reserved seating.

Brown Derby, Mama Melrose and Hollywood and Vine offer the package. You have to reserve with a cc'd and there is a cancellation policy. I don't know all the prices and meal offerings off hand but the main page here at the dis as well as the restaurant board have all the details.

In busy times people start arriving 90 minutes to even 2 hours early for seats. In February we were just over an hour early, got something to eat in the staduim and had good seats.

TJ

[eamgio]

Actually this isn't the case anymore. You now have to reserve the dinner package specificly at WDW Dine and its a set price for each of the restaurants. You can not just dine at the restaurant with a regular ps or walk up and get the pass to the reserved seating.


I have a question about this.......if I have not made a PS for the dinner pacage, I can go to one of these resturants that day and make the reservation for the package if it is still available for that day?

[BrerMama]

The dinner packages are getting popular and I've read several cases of people not being able to get one when they wait until later. Since they changed to cc hold and 2 day cancellation period, I don't think you can just walk up and get a package.

[alloyd1170]

Just so you know, the rsvp seats are on the far right of the stage-not the greatest seats in my opinion. Some of the boats carrying the characters come from both sides of the stage and arent lt up until theyre front and center. You might miss out on seeing some things. I remember the one time that we did the dinner thing that at the end the big boat carried all the characters. Well it wasnt until the next time that I went and sat in the middle did I realize there were characters on the backside of the boat too! Also, the angle of viewing isnt great during the entire show. Your best bet is to go early, grab some food from the vendors and plant yourself. We went an hour before in Feb (Pres Week) and got great seats in the middle. You dont want to be too close to the stage-you might get sprayed and it can get a bit warm. Its well worth the wait and we do it every time we go!

alison::MickeyMo

[BonnieA]

I have always gotten my fantasmic dinner seating on the same day. What you do is head to the reservations counter at the corner of Sunset Blvd and Hollywood Blvd (near the guest information board). I go there first thing in the morning or right after I go on TOT and R&R coaster. They take your credit card number then and let you choose where you want to dine (if there is room). Waiting until the same morning means you may not get your choice or they could possibly be sold out though it has never happened to me. Of course I go during a less busy time. I don't like to make my reservation in advance because if the weather gets rainy and fantasmic gets cancelled then my dinner pass will be useless.

[auntpolly]

Don't get me wrong but.....this seems like an awful lot of trouble for a show; are you all sure it's worth it? I really don't like having to be 90min+ early for something.

Is it that good? (Like I said, the first time I wasn't in the right frame of mind!)

[McCall]

I did the dinner package last Sept. and after all that, the show was not something I would ever bother with again. Waste of time in my opinion. Glad I didn't have to wait for it.

[eamgio]

auntpolly...........I am with you. Is all of this really worth it?

I am going next week and I didn't make any PS because it is just my teenage son and myself and we did not want to have to be tied to a schedule but I may try first thing in the morning as BonnieA suggested and see if something may be available because I would rather not have to camp out for an hour and a half just for a show.

[PatriciaH]

Last August we made Fantasmic dinner package PS 90 days out and the only time they had was 4:30pm. We called back 2 weeks before and got them switched to around 6pm. I think they hold some of the later times until a few weeks before. This happened at the Plaza Restaurant in MK too. I don't think I would ever wait for Fantasmic again after doing the package! It is not worth an hour wait to us and we liked the seats.

[Treasure]

How about going to the late show (which is scheduled for Tuesday nights during June, I think)? How early do you have to be there then? And do you have to stand and wait to enter the stadium for an hour or do you get to sit down in your seats during that long wait time?

[Danauk]

I would recommend doing the dinner package. We made a PS for H and V in the morning of the day we wanted to see the show in August and made a PS no problem. That night however the show was cancelled do to a bad storm. They gave us return tickets to see the show any other night we wanted no problem. We was the show 3 nights later, arrived about 30 minutes before the show started, got great seats and enjoyed it a lot. I would do that again next time.

[MaryKatesMom]

We've done the dinner package each trip at Brown Derby. They have a fixed price and you pick an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Same with my DD's 6 and 4. It was way too much food, too early. It is a bit pricey there also.

Although this trip we might get there 90 minutes early then just eat from one of the vendors, I really liked the peace of mind knowing I had a seat. I could relax walk around MGM, go on the Great Movie Ride and show up 1/2 hr before the show.

It depends on the crowds that week. If they have two shows, then the second show will be much less crowded but if you have toddler's, they'd never stay awake that long.

Check the restaurant board for more opinions on the package. They've locked a thread at the top of the page on the Package.

[Hersh]

I have made 5:40 reservations for Mama Melrose on 4/16. The dining people could not tell me which show this seating time is for? We only want to go to the early one due to ages of our children. Does anyone know how this works?:earsgirl:

[SillyOleBear]

I'm not positive, but I was told that the dinner package is ONLY for the earlier show. I recommend calling back to the dining line - maybe someone else knows.

I also recommend the dinner package. We just eat a small lunch (or just have snacks) and do dinner around 4-4:30. I thought the seats were great - even if they were slightly to the right. Much better than waiting in line.

[crystalrp]

We will be doing the FDP next Thursday. I called a couple weeks ago for our PS. Our arrival day was the only day out of 11 that there were any openings for the package at H & V. This will be our third time doing the package, and we would not try to see the show any other way. Our PS is for 6:30, and Fantasmic begins at 8:30. Apparently on busy nights, they open some later times for dinner. We liked the seats we had. The first time we went we made the mistake of sitting down front, and were soaked by the end of the show. (Plus all 4 of us wear glasses so we couldn't see half of what was going on!). Last time we sat near the back on the right hand side. Not only could we see everything fine, but we were able to get out ahead of most of the crowds and were the first ones back at the bus! (After waiting nearly an hour for a bus following Spectromagic the night before, this THRILLED us!)