Anyone get a later fantasmic dinner package?

[tjmw2727]

I booked a last minute trip over Columbus Day weekend and I knew it would be crowded so I was hoping to get the package any one of our 5 days.

The CM booking me said the dinner package can only be booked for ADR's between 3:30 and 4:00 for Brown Derby and 4:00 and 5:00 for H&V and MM. FWIW they didn't have anything available. I have done the package before and don't remember it being that early!

Do later seatings become available closer to the date and has anyone had success getting a Fantasmic Dinner Package 2-3 weeks in advance?

Seems strange when Fantasmic is at 8pm to have to eat dinner at 4 especially with the set menu and set price and all that food!!

TJ

 

[Bob P]

Yes, later times will become available as you get closer. Keep trying!

Bob

 

[Kaycee]

As Bob said, later times will be made available - usually somewhere between 30 days and 3 weeks before the date you are dining there. Since you are just now getting into that time period, I'd suggest calling every couple of days until the later times are released.

 

[tjmw2727]

Oh good- I guess I will keep trying then, thanks. Just out of curiosity does anyone have a later seating for FDP over the Columbus day weekend?

And thanks for making me count the days..........20 days, yippee.

TJ

 

[keishashadow]

Not really that strange...I've never been seated @ H&V without a lengthy wait (anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes), and we like to eat early in connection w/Fantasmic Pkg. CR did indicate that more openings probably would be added 3-4 weeks out.

Even with a 4:00 ADR, you'll be lucky to be done eating by 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. In June once we had a 5:30 seating & had to run to the theater. Not the best thing after a buffet. In December, CR told me that Fantasmic starts @ 7:30 p.m. This means you've got to be in your seats by 7:00 p.m (they do open up the seats to the public near the start time).

If you've dragging @ the end of the day, it's a long walk up that steep hill, usually takes us 15 minutes from the garage. I'd much rather have some time after eating to work in a FastPass or just shop.

 

[tjmw2727]

Wow - 45 minute wait at H&V with the package, I don't like the sound of that. I guess if I have to have a 4-4:30 dinner with a 45 minute wait and then try and eat a full dinner earlier than usual its going to be a bit of a waste for us. Especially if we have to get to the theater 45 minutes early.

Making me re-think my plans, 45 minutes to wait for dinner, eating at a less than ideal time + 45 more minutes in the theater?? I may reconsider and take my chances without the package and wait an hour + in the theater

Fantasmic is showing at 8 every evening we are at WDW, I think I will keep trying for something more in the dinner hour but I will be much less dissapointed if we don't get the package.

I must be remembering wrong as I remember a 5:30 ish dinner at Mama Melrose with our package and even with our family of 4 and bil's family of 6 we had plenty of time to eat and hit fantasmic with great seats 1/2 way down and on the aisles, this was april 04.

 

[keishashadow]

Somewhat surprised Dis isn't adding on a 2nd show considering Columbus Day is a holiday. Even with the Fantasmic res. seating section, I always try to sit near the back for a hasty retreat.

Depending on your party size, you might get seated sooner. IMO there must be less tables available for parties of 2 or 3. Parties of 4 & up, with the same ADR time, seemed to get seated before we did. Good luck.

 

[tjmw2727]

Somewhat surprised Dis isn't adding on a 2nd show considering Columbus Day is a holiday. Even with the Fantasmic res. seating section, I always try to sit near the back for a hasty retreat.

Depending on your party size, you might get seated sooner. IMO there must be less tables available for parties of 2 or 3. Parties of 4 & up, with the same ADR time, seemed to get seated before we did. Good luck.

You read my mind as I was going to post on the theme parks board about a 2nd showing!!

Also thanks for the explanation about large parties, unfortuantely this time its just a party of 3, my 2dd's and I.

Actually that is the biggest reason why I was leaning toward the package to get the seats more last minute.

Nothing like waiting an hour with two kiddos when one has to use the bathroom. They are too young for either to be left alone and we have lost more parade seats this way, it has happend so much we rarely do parades anymore!

Unless some friendly neighbor in Fantasmic helps save our seats we may have to wait an hour and loose them

Oh well at least we are at Disney and if we don't get to see the show the first night we will try again another. Its my dd 8yo's favorite show so I am determined to make it happen!! (Even if I have to eat a $150.00 dinner for three at 3pm, YIKES).

TJ

 

[Bob P]

A quick look at historical hours from 2002-2004 shows that there has never been a second showing of Fantasmic in October (at least not in that time frame).