any info on fantasmic dinner?

[csgsu]

I was wondering what this is about? What are the prices and is it worth it? Thanks for your help

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

You make a PS as soon as you get to MGM for the fantasmic dinner package, it guarantees you a seat for fantasmic - you absolutley must seethis, it's awesome. It costs around $20 per person I'm not sure what places it's available at. We ate at the Hollywood and Vine - would recommend, it was a buffet with different courses and the food was amazing. Hope this helps. Any more questions,just ask.

 

[csgsu]

I was wondering if it is like every other ps and I can do it 90 days in advance.

 

[Nebsky]

We did this at Hollywood/Vine back in Aug.
The food was ok. The service was ok. However, our waiter told us, go ride your rides, etc and show up about 10 mins before the showing of Fantasmic, you have priority seats and wont have any problems. Well, we knew better. We got there 35 mins before the showing and we got stuck with the "general admission" area. I was really irratated but said nothing.

If I were to do it again, Id show up about 45 mins - 1hour in advance.

FYI. If there are two Fantasmics going on the night your there, you may want to skip the dinner package and catch the second showing. Back in March when we were there, there was a 2nd showing and the place was half empty..

 

[sunking]

there seems to be mixed answers as to if you can do it in advance but we have several times...most recently, they have began to ask for a credit card number to hold the reservation...

you can find out more about the fantasmic dinner plan here:
http://allearsnet.com/din/fantdin1.htm

let us know if you have further questions and have a great time!!!!

sunking

 

[mbcary]

A couple of months ago I was trying to book the package for my family's trip in May and we ended up deciding against it because the only time I could get reservations at Hollywood and Vine and Mama Melrose's was at 4:00 or 4:30pm. That seems real early to be eating dinner.

It could be because we have six people, who knows. We would have done it if we could get a later priority seating.

 

[CamColt]

Yes, you can book it 90 days in advance. In fact, I just booked it today for July 19th.

A while back you could only book it 7 days in advance and in person at Guest Services(either at your resort or a park), but that hasnt been in effect for maybe a year now. It now falls under the regular PS guidelines.

 

[pintrader]

I would strongly urge anyone wanting to see Fantasmic! to do it this way. Call 407-WDW-DINE as early as possible to get PS for your size party so you have have an attractive seating time.

Sunking, they do ask for cc now and as long as you show up your credit card is not charged. A now show does incur some kind of charge (we showed, so not sure) $10 per person or something. Nebsky sorry you didn't know how to use the voucher to its fullest. I would feel as you did if that happened to me and my party.

After eating, with FANTASMIC! voucher in hand go down to Oscars' Service Station near the entrance to The Studios and a CM will escort you right to your seats. No waiting in the maddening crowds, no pushing shoving or mooing. hahahha

Make sure you have either your priority seating voucher or restaurant receipt or something to prove you belong there or else you will likely be sent back to the crowds and the end of the line.

It is a GREAT park perk!

To answer the OPs question, yes it is well worth it, both the food and the show. The escort to the front of the stadium is just icing on the cake.

 

[McCall]

Originally posted by Stitch's Greatest Fa
You make a PS as soon as you get to MGM for the fantasmic dinner package, it guarantees you a seat for fantasmic - you absolutley must seethis, it's awesome. It costs around $20 per person I'm not sure what places it's available at. We ate at the Hollywood and Vine - would recommend, it was a buffet with different courses and the food was amazing. Hope this helps. Any more questions,just ask.

this is incorrect information, you can book it in advance and shoud or it may be sold out. The cost depends on which restaurant you pick to eat at. It can be way more than $20 a person. there are three tiers in the price structure based on which place you eat.

 

[orvilleair]

I went during the week of Easter this year.

8:30 pm show. Filled to capacity. Had dinner package and was seated in reserved area. Very crowded when I arrived 1/2 hour early. Yes, the dinner times are early. Ours was at 4:10.

10:00 show. The park emptied after the first show. Lot's of available seats.

I guess the answer depends on your travel party and what showing to attend. Try for the second show and do not get the dinner package. I ate at Hollywood and Vine, and MGM has a lot of restaurants better than H&V. When I made PS 60 days before our trip, Hollywood and Vine was all that was left. H&V is ok, and the buffet will satisfy most appetites, but the food doesn't stand out.

Finally, see if you can check on the Fantasmic show times for your trip. It seems the showtimes change all of the time, and some nights will have only one showing.

 

[QuickGold]

This page should be helpful: http://www.mgmstudios.org/food/fantasmic.html

 

[Disneylovers]

We did this the end of March (7:30 show, only show of the day). We had 4:20 ressies for Hollywood and Vine. Food was interesting, not what you would expect at a buffet. Price wasn't terrible (I want to say $20 a person). We received a special pass to get into the special seating area, and were told to get there at 6:55. We had enough time to go stand in the stand by line for RnR, and still get to Oscar's by the 6:55. We had fourth row seats which was a totally new experience for viewing the show. Considering last time we saw Fantasmic (a couple of years ago) we waited over an hour and a half, it was definitly worth it!

 

[Aisling]

We went to the second showing of Fantasmic in July 2002, and it was packed. I thought there would be less people since it was so late, but no. The waiting area was jammed with people, shoulder to shoulder, for our 90 minute wait. It was awful. Never again.

This July, we're doing the package.

 

[mickeymost]

Try calling closer to your trip for better dining times. I had called 90 days out and 4:30 was the latest I could get. I called every now and again for a later time just to see if any became available. I called about 2 weeks ago, probably around the 30 day mark and was able to get a 6:20. The CM told me I could have any time I wanted there were lots of available times. I think they only book the early times at 90 days out to fill up times when the restaurant is slow.

My DH is not one to stand in long lines for anything, so this is a great thing for us. Last time we went it was lunch or dinner, and there was no cc hold.

 

[McCall]

Originally posted by mbcary
A couple of months ago I was trying to book the package for my family's trip in May and we ended up deciding against it because the only time I could get reservations at Hollywood and Vine and Mama Melrose's was at 4:00 or 4:30pm. That seems real early to be eating dinner.

It could be because we have six people, who knows. We would have done it if we could get a later priority seating.

You should call again, they release the times after 4:30 once they are firm on the park and event times, which is closer to date than you called. Before that the latest anyone can get is 4:30.
Of course by now they may be sold out but worth a try.

 

[pjlla]

I didn't read all the previous posts, but keep this in mind. If you are going during low season, you probably won't NEED the dinner reservation in order to get seats. And the reserved section is over to the right as you face the stage. Not the best seats, but certainly not the worst.

We originally had made reservations with the FDP for the Hollywood and Vine, but decided to cancel them, as they would have eaten up too much time in our day. We would have had to arrive at the restaurant by 4pm! Way too early for dinner in our book. The show was at 6 pm. We continued to go on rides and see shows until about 5pm. Then we all changed into warmer clothes (this was January and it was COOL after dark) that we had stored in a locker all day. We then went into the FAntasmic theater. They open up the seating section one at a time..... we kind of held back until we saw them open the middle section that we wanted and then we hustled up and got GREAT seats. After we got our seats DH went to the concession stand for drinks and snacks. Plus I had packed a few small snacks for the kids in my bag. We enjoyed the show and then had dinner after on our way back to the hotel, thus giving us extra time in the parks, not wasting it eating!! During low season the parks close so early you have to make the most of your time! Hope this helps.......P

 

[mbcary]

McCall,

Thanks for the tip! I will try to call back again today. I need to confirm other priority seating reservations anyway. I leave three weeks from tomorrow so you're right they may be sold out.


mbcary