ANOTHER Fantasmic Question!

[nunzia]

OK, so Vaction Planning came thorugh with the tickets for the Fantasmic buffet (kinda knew they would) Anyway, since the last time we did this I think they have added other viewing areas? Did someone say there was an A, B and C? Can I get the run down again on where they are located and the best one? Also, when you check in do you check in at the same place for all three sections? How do they determine which section you are in? And they are now just doing a cardboard box thing, right? does it have the cheese and crackers plus sweets or just the sweets? It seems totally different than from when we did it before...

 

[Disney Dreams]

Okay, first, there is no longer any Fantasmic! buffet. The special dessert/reserved seating for Fantasmic! is a chair and a dessert box along with beverages and servers. The dessert box includes cheese, crackers, fruit, and sweets.

I am not sure what tickets Vacation Planners got you. If it is for this ($69/adult), you check in down near the haunted mansion by a churro cart. There will be a CM at a podium there. You select your seat assignment at that podium. There are 2(?) seating areas for the reserved seating. You check in for all sections at the same location (described above). Did Vacation Planners get this for you for free? ("Wow!" if so.)

There is also a coupon that some travel packages have for premium viewing. This is simply a reserved steps area near the center of the riverfront and does not include any dessert, drinks, treats, etc.... (Friends of ours got this through a AAA packages, for example.)

Hope this helps,
Dreams

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

This has definitely changed since the last time we did Fantasmic! two years ago. It was still the buffet back then. I'm torn about spending the money this time around, but am very eager to hear the experiences of people who have been recently. Do you prefer the box or the was the buffet better?

Last time, I made the mistake of not checking in as early as possible at the podium and we ended up towards the back of the reserved section. Oops. So don't forget to go the sign up podium as soon as it's available.

 

[Kauinohea]

We did this on July 25...and am so glad that we did. I ahve 3 children (one is 1.5) and I did not want them lost in the masses of people who camp out for hours before the show. I got in line at 7:00 and confirmed front row seats while DH took them on rides. There are a couple of sections to choose from and they have it mapped out for you. The seating is first come first serve for both shows...so no matter what show you have get there at 7:00.

There were grapes, crackers, cheese and WAY TOO MUCH sweets. We barely touched the sweets.

 

[blackjackdelta]

This has definitely changed since the last time we did Fantasmic! two years ago. It was still the buffet back then. I'm torn about spending the money this time around, but am very eager to hear the experiences of people who have been recently. Do you prefer the box or the was the buffet better?

Last time, I made the mistake of not checking in as early as possible at the podium and we ended up towards the back of the reserved section. Oops. So don't forget to go the sign up podium as soon as it's available.

We did this August 2007 so this is probably pretty close to when it changed. They had the dessert boxes then. Made ressies the other day agin and it was 59/person for an adult. We hate to try and do it with the masses, major waste of time and I do not sit well on the ground.

Jack

 

[Hester]

We're thinking about doing this ... what's the price for children (3 year old?)

 

[tvguy]

Glad we did this when it was still the buffet on the balcony of the Disney Gallery. It was awesome. I can't see spending a penny for anything less.

 

[nunzia]

Okay, first, there is no longer any Fantasmic! buffet. The special dessert/reserved seating for Fantasmic! is a chair and a dessert box along with beverages and servers. The dessert box includes cheese, crackers, fruit, and sweets.

I am not sure what tickets Vacation Planners got you. If it is for this ($69/adult), you check in down near the haunted mansion by a churro cart. There will be a CM at a podium there. You select your seat assignment at that podium. There are 2(?) seating areas for the reserved seating. You check in for all sections at the same location (described above). Did Vacation Planners get this for you for free? ("Wow!" if so.)

There is also a coupon that some travel packages have for premium viewing. This is simply a reserved steps area near the center of the riverfront and does not include any dessert, drinks, treats, etc.... (Friends of ours got this through a AAA packages, for example.)

Hope this helps,
Dreams

Oh..I mis spoke saying 'buffet' as I know it's been changed to a box..it was a NICE box awhile back and now it's just disposable. The last time I did it it was a buffet and very nice.
Nooo..I didn't get this free..I just had VP call since last time I did this the seating was much more limited (they still had the balcony and I tried for that the very second the phone lines opened and those seats were already gone, so I figured VP might have an 'in'. I have no idea if seats are still hard to get since it's a bigger area, but thought why not just have them do it?) It is expensive, but hey, it's my birthday and I want to make sure the grandkids see it in a nice setting since last time they missed the show all together. ( I still can't believe some people whine about 20.00 for the HUGE dessert and drink spread at WDW for the Wishes viewing)
OK..so only 2 areas and the CM checks them both in..you can bet I will be there EARLY, since last time we were early but not early enough
We got the reserved area without snacks on our VBD trip, which was still nice, but we had to sit on the concrete, just in a reserved area..no complaints though!

 

[nunzia]

We're thinking about doing this ... what's the price for children (3 year old?)

it is only 10 dollars cheaper..so 49.00...do they get he same box or a kidded down one? Also, the bonus about the box is you can take it with you..when we did the buffet one we had a large dinner before and I could hardly get down one chocolate covered strawberry...but I did shove a few cookies into my fanny pack for later..some of which did not hold up well The shortcake with raspberry filling was wonderful and I really need to find one of those when we're there..

 

[avalon451]

There's an old thread that I keep linked which shows pictures of exactly where you're sitting, pictures of the snack box, plus LOTS of opinions on whether it's well worth it, or highway robbery. We loved it and came down on the side of "well worth it."

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1815941&page=4

Hope that helps!

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

We did this August 2007 so this is probably pretty close to when it changed. They had the dessert boxes then.

We actually did the Fantasmic! PS in October 2007 and it was a buffet (not boxes) at that time. A little strange that it went back and forth, but maybe they were still working out the logistics. Or maybe it's different for different times of year?

There's an old thread that I keep linked which shows pictures of exactly where you're sitting, pictures of the snack box, plus LOTS of opinions on whether it's well worth it, or highway robbery. We loved it and came down on the side of "well worth it."

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1815941&page=4

Hope that helps!

The old thread actually really did help me, but it helped me decide to probably not do PS. Unless something has changed, it sounds like you end up needed to line up pretty early to get a good spot in the reserved section and, to me, the whole benefit to the PS for Fantasmic! is to have great seats without spending the time waiting. The desserts/food is a nice little gesture, but not worth the money...it's the time saved that would be worth the money.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We actually did the Fantasmic! PS in October 2007 and it was a buffet (not boxes) at that time. A little strange that it went back and forth, but maybe they were still working out the logistics. Or maybe it's different for different times of year?


The old thread actually really did help me, but it helped me decide to probably not do PS. Unless something has changed, it sounds like you end up needed to line up pretty early to get a good spot in the reserved section and, to me, the whole benefit to the PS for Fantasmic! is to have great seats without spending the time waiting. The desserts/food is a nice little gesture, but not worth the money...it's the time saved that would be worth the money.

I would guess that if you did it during the summer you may find out that the time saved would be a bit different than the fall or spring. Just my guess.

Jack

 

[ballarinamom]

Dh hates buffets but loves F! PS. He loves being served after walking all day. He and DD rode Pirates while I was getting our seat assignements. No big deal. We are booking it for our next trip as well

 

[Brady's Mom]

DH and I did the Fantasmic seating for his B-day. It was totally worth it to us. I saw all of the people camped out for hours waiting for the show to start. It was just so crowded and uncomfortable looking. We lined up at 7:30 and waited 30 minutes to get our spot, left and went to ride Pirates and walk around a little more and came back at 8:40 to take our RESERVED seats and get some drinks and snacks.

For us it was totally worth it for the time saved and not having to sit on the cement and try to hold your space from all of the people sitting around you that keep inching closer and closer. (can you tell I am a little claustrophobic?)

We will definitely do it again when our little boys are older - we think the show would scare them right now.