Are the Fantasmic Dinner packages worth it?

[diskids2]

It seems to me that even though I have the FDP I will need to get in line 2 hours ahead of time. I'm going to do it because:

a. Saw the show three years ago and haven't seen it since....it is (IMHO) the best night time show on property.
b. Will be vacationing for 12 days and have the time and want to....wait in line/in arena for 2 hours.

If I was going for a short trip or I had just seen Fantasmic I would NOT wait in line with or without the dining plan for 2 hours.

 

[MHSweb79]

We did the Fantasmic dinner package a couple of years ago. Had a pretty "meh" meal at H&V, got our tickets and got into the package seating area. Then the weather got iffy and they ended up cancelling the show. No rain checks so all we got out of it was a very expensive case of indigestion.
This is one scenario.
Now, fast-forward to reduced showings of F! and we have had several reports here of people with the dining package not getting seats at all, for various reasons due to poor crowd control and/ or poor communications (servers giving out incorrect information, for example.) They were also out of luck, since having the magic ticket does not guarantee you a seat.
So for my upcoming trip in September, we are not going to book a dinner package. If we decide we must see F! on the two nights it is showing (in a 9 day span!) then we'll simply bring a picnic supper and show up early. If we get sandwiches from Earl of Sandwich, at least I know I'll be getting a decent meal out of it.
I guess the silver lining, if it can be called that, is that all those people who can't get an ADR for the dining package really aren't that much worse off than those people who were able to score ADR's.

 

[geenerbell]

We did the Pkg in 2007 and in March of this year 2009. This year we arrived one hour before the show. There was no line as the people waiting had already gone in. We walk right in and got to the reserve section and had our choice of seats. I actually like going in the main entrance better than the Oscars entrance. In 2007 the "special entrance" seemed like a long walk and kinda spooky at dusk.

 

[ekatiel]

We did the package on May 3rd. We arrived about 50 minutes before the show (our tickets did say to arrive an hour before hand). We walked right in and were able to get seats in the reserved section. They opened the reserve section to the general public 30 minutes before the show. From what I can tell, our experience was what is supposed to happen. HOWEVER, I read reports on here about those who had the package on May 7th (the same week), and the "reserved" section was overrun by the general public at least an hour before the show (according to the reports I've read on here). So, those people with the package that night were out of luck. It seems that it's been hit or miss lately as to whether the package will work like it's supposed to or not. --Katie

 

[JOEYDIS]

We have never seen Fantasmic, and don't want to miss it this year, as I am not sure how soon we will be coming back. Is it worth getting one of the dinner packages, just to have a seat at the show?

It is no longer worth it. We did it in Sept of 08 and it was great. We got to go through a special entrance and go to a special section. I was there last week May 24 and they no longer have the special entrance by Oscars, that was the whole point of the dinner package so you didn't have to wait in the herd of people trying to get in. So we waited in the herd and didn't even sit in the special section because we got a better seat. And we had to eat dinner at 335 in the afternoon to get the package. SO NOT WORTH IT.

 

[catne]

we went on May 28, with the FDP...that week, they had Fantasmic 3 nights, two shows each night...so 6 shows total in a one week stretch. At 6:30 - 2 1/2 hours before the show, people were lined up all the way down to the Beauty & Beast entrance. 15 minutes later, the line crossed the street & went down almost to where that fancy old car is set up. They opened the theater right around 7 or so for a 9:00 show. We went in at 8:00 p.m.--there was no "line" at that time, just a steady stream of 100s of people walking in. The reserved section still had plenty of seats, but rest of the place was full except for far left section. By 8:15, everything but a few seats in the reserved section was full. At 8:30, CMs allowed people in the standing room only section to fill in the few remaining seats in reserved...the place was jam-packed, for the 5th performance in a 6 show week...in the rain. It was raining steadily by 8:30, yet the place was 100% full, including the standing room only sections. Even when it started pouring and some people left, their seats were immediately take by others from the standing section. When they announced the show was cancelled and would be a "taste of Fantasmic" shortly after 9, theater was still full.

That's what happens during early Summer with big crowds & six shows a week. Don.t think it'll be any easier when they go back to just two shows total a week...which is the schedule starting the first week of September. If you can get the dinner package, I'd recommend it. Going in & sitting an hour before the show is much better than standing in line for an hour and then sitting inside for an additional hour & a half.

 

[tinkgurl]

I honestly think it's worth doing the Fantasmic Dinner Package!

 

[trivial]

If you can get the dinner package, I'd recommend it. Going in & sitting an hour before the show is much better than standing in line for an hour and then sitting inside for an additional hour & a half.

It's my understanding that whether you have the dining package or not, you now use the same line, and wait just as long, as everyone else.

 

[twinklebug]

It is no longer worth it. We did it in Sept of 08 and it was great. We got to go through a special entrance and go to a special section. I was there last week May 24 and they no longer have the special entrance by Oscars, that was the whole point of the dinner package so you didn't have to wait in the herd of people trying to get in. So we waited in the herd and didn't even sit in the special section because we got a better seat. And we had to eat dinner at 335 in the afternoon to get the package. SO NOT WORTH IT.

This is what I'm thinking too. We've done the FDP twice now and loved the separate entrance. Now with that having been removed I see no point in spending the extra $ and time in a restaurant only to stand in that waiting line. And yet, Disney has convinced many they need to do so.

 

[RMulieri]

We did the package on May 3rd. We arrived about 50 minutes before the show (our tickets did say to arrive an hour before hand). We walked right in and were able to get seats in the reserved section. They opened the reserve section to the general public 30 minutes before the show. From what I can tell, our experience was what is supposed to happen. HOWEVER, I read reports on here about those who had the package on May 7th (the same week), and the "reserved" section was overrun by the general public at least an hour before the show (according to the reports I've read on here). So, those people with the package that night were out of luck. It seems that it's been hit or miss lately as to whether the package will work like it's supposed to or not. --Katie

I have heard this too..I think it depends on which and how many Cms may be running the show( so to speak) The crowds I am sure can get ugly .If you have a timid cm or not enough cms I am sure the reserved seating gets overrun.

 

[Robo]

Just want to make sure I understand the "drill" (and thank you Robo for being so patient!)

1. I have the dining package-eat at H & V and get my "voucher".

2. I show up at the theater about 60-75 minutes before the start of the show.

Here is where I get confused...

3. I wait patiently in line with non-dining package crowd and go in with everyone else. I am then shown to the reserved section...or...

3. I go to the front of the already formed line, present my voucher, and am allowed to enter the theater to sit either in the reserved section or any other open section of my choosing...or....

3. There are two separate lines: one for people with dining package vouchers and another separate line for non-dining package people. I wait in the dining package line until they open the theater for seating. I then choose where I want to sit (although I am at least "guaranteed" a seat in the reserved section)

Hope this all makes sense-thanks again for your help!

Depending on the crowd-level and the CM's running the entry line,
any of your "3's" can be the situation for your night.

You won't know until you arrive at the Fantasmic! gate.

When you arrive at the F! gate, be sure to find and ASK a CM what you need to do (hold tight onto your Dining Pkg. voucher.)

I'd be so bold as to ask more than one CM what you should do, if things don't seem "right" to you upon arrival at the gate.

 

[PrincessDreams2]

Based on the advice posted here, I have decided to forgo the Fantasmic Dinner package. We will be there Sept 1-6. It is only DD5 and myself, and I really didn't want to be tied to another ADR (at a restaurants I am not crazy about to begin with), plus if it rains, the show will be cancelled anyways. AND - I never really know how DD is going to be by that time of evening. We will be spending the day at HS, so I guess I will just take my chances. I will make sure to get to the gate at least 90 minutes early. (anyone know if you can bring food into the theater??)
Thank you again....I will be sure to report back after the trip.

 

[Robo]

(anyone know if you can bring food into the theater??)

Absolutely!

We always plan to eat our evening meal IN the Fantasmic! theater.
They have "baseball stadium"-type concession stands IN the theater.
We have a hot dog and a giant pretzel and some soft drinks in our seats as we wait. (There's even beer, sold strictly one-at-a-time, one-to-an-adult).
Kids meal was PB&J sandwich (no crusts) with some "nibble food" to go with it (maybe some raisons and/or fruit) and a juice box.

http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_fan.htm

Just outside the theater entrance is the large "food court".
You are allowed to carry in food from there as well, but remember that its a LONG WAY up the sidewalk from there to the theater itself.

I will make sure to get to the gate at least 90 minutes early.

You might want to at least check-out the crowds waiting at the Fantasmic! gate by 120 min. before show-time.

Nothing ALWAYS happens the same way at WDW.
I would be cautious about assuming anything, as WDW has been experiencing record-breaking crowds over the past couple of years.

If its IMPORTANT to see a particular show, arriving a bit too early will be better than arriving a bit late.

 

[Robo]

Thought I post the links to the MAPS again, since this thread is so long.

Fantasmic! Walking Paths
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/RoboWDW/Silly Stuff/Fantasmic-Walkways-051309.jpg

Fantasmic! THEATER
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c265/RoboWDW/Silly Stuff/Fantasmic-BE-CU-052009.jpg

 

[popsynic]

We did the package on May 3rd. We arrived about 50 minutes before the show (our tickets did say to arrive an hour before hand). We walked right in and were able to get seats in the reserved section. They opened the reserve section to the general public 30 minutes before the show. From what I can tell, our experience was what is supposed to happen. HOWEVER, I read reports on here about those who had the package on May 7th (the same week), and the "reserved" section was overrun by the general public at least an hour before the show (according to the reports I've read on here). So, those people with the package that night were out of luck. It seems that it's been hit or miss lately as to whether the package will work like it's supposed to or not. --Katie

I assume its how well the Cast Members are abale to control the crowds. I guess they literally have to attempt to hold back people from creepting or even swarming over to the reserved side on mass, which on very busy nights I guess is very difficult - after all they are cast members not riot police I suppose.

I can well imagine that if one or two guests slip by them, that encouarges others to do the same, and before you know it you have masses of people crossing the 'dinner package line' - at this stage for health and safety reasons I can imagine that managers just move their cast members out of the way?

 

[mariepapa]

I assume its how well the Cast Members are abale to control the crowds. I guess they literally have to attempt to hold back people from creepting or even swarming over to the reserved side on mass, which on very busy nights I guess is very difficult - after all they are cast members not riot police I suppose.

I can well imagine that if one or two guests slip by them, that encouarges others to do the same, and before you know it you have masses of people crossing the 'dinner package line' - at this stage for health and safety reasons I can imagine that managers just move their cast members out of the way?

Well they should make all of the rude, line jumping guests get up and move but that is what I would do and probably why I could never work for Disney. I would haul off and hit some of those people

 

[Belleandtinker]

I'm reading mixed messages so here's my questions.

How long would you wait with a 4 1/2 year old to see Fantasmic?