Can someone explain the Fantasmic Dinner Package?

[sher92]

I've noticed that there is no option to book online. Is it a whole package deal that needs to be booked together so we get both the dinner and the show tickets?

Thanks!

 

[love4wdw]

Pretty much! My family did this last March. We chose Mama Melrose's (fantastic Italian food IMHO), and when I made our ADR for dinner, I mentioned that I wanted the Fantasmic Dining Package. Remember though that Fantasmic doesn't play on every night so you have to make sure the day you're going has a show. We were on the DDP so Mama's was only 1 TS credit (Hollywood & Vine is also 1, whereas Brown Derby is 2). Our waitress must have seen the Fantasmic note on our ressie because she inquired about it at the start of our meal. All very, very easy. We chose to do an earlier dinner, rode RnRC & ToT before we went to the amphitheater. They had a special line for FDP tickets to funnel you into the designated section. Here's a link for anything I might have missed! http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/fantasmic.htm Good Luck!

 

[saintstickets]

We also chose Mama Melrose's as the restaurant in our Fantasmic dining package reservation. The meal is an appetizer, entree, dessert and non-alcholic beverage. If you have the dining plan, you still get the appetizer at no extra cost. Your CM will give you a pass at the end of the meal for reserved seating to Fantasmic. There are some pics of Fantasmic at the trip report link below.

 

[sher92]

When I called WDW direct to speak to someone about booking the package, they told me there was no availability for it. Would I be able to book a dinner at Mama Melrose's on it's own and type in under special requests that we want the Fantasmic Package, or must I book the whole thing as a package over the phone?

Is this the only way to see Fantasmic? Is it also open to the public and we would have to wait in line and just not get the priority seating?

Thanks so much!

 

[love4wdw]

When I called WDW direct to speak to someone about booking the package, they told me there was no availability for it. Would I be able to book a dinner at Mama Melrose's on it's own and type in under special requests that we want the Fantasmic Package, or must I book the whole thing as a package over the phone?

Is this the only way to see Fantasmic? Is it also open to the public and we would have to wait in line and just not get the priority seating?

Thanks so much!

If there is no availability for the package then I personally would just eat at Mama Melrose's and wait in line for Fantasmic, especially if you've never seen it before. The "priority seating" is only on one side of the amphitheater so if you wait for the show you will still get a good seat!

 

[JerseyJanice]

When I called WDW direct to speak to someone about booking the package, they told me there was no availability for it. Would I be able to book a dinner at Mama Melrose's on it's own and type in under special requests that we want the Fantasmic Package, or must I book the whole thing as a package over the phone?

Is this the only way to see Fantasmic? Is it also open to the public and we would have to wait in line and just not get the priority seating?

Thanks so much!

The reasons why you have to call in an ADR for the Fantasmic package are because 1) there is a limited number of seats and 2) it must be guaranteed to a credit card. If you must cancel, you need to do it within 48 hours of your ADR or you'll be charged a $10 per person no-show fee.

Fantasmic is open to every guest of the Studios theme park. It's like Illuminations or Spectro Magic--if you're in the park, you can see it. One big difference, though, is that the show takes place inside a small stadium, so it's a limited number of seats. People wait in line to make sure they get seats. The sooner you get in line, the larger number of seats you can choose from, since the seating is first come, first served.

Getting the restaurant package gets you free appetizers if you're on DDP and ensures that you will have a seat in the section cordoned off for Fantasmic package ticket holders so you don't have to get in line too early.

The seats are over to one side of the stadium--not the center of the stage, so they're probably not the best. Our experience has been, though, that the closer you sit to the stage, the better the show. Lots of people don't sit all the way upfront because they don't want to be the last leaving the stadium. We used to sit near the exit for this reason, but one time, we had to sit all the way down front, then found we really appreciated the show more. We just linger and allow the crowds to pass us up.

If you don't have small children, the best way to see it without the package is to go to the second showing on a night when they have two shows. Those are always in less demand than the first show.

If you do wind up in Mama Melrose, get the honey hazelnut cheesecake. It's to-die-for!

 

[B-Ride]

People wait in line to make sure they get seats. The sooner you get in line, the larger number of seats you can choose from, since the seating is first come, first served.

If you don't have small children, the best way to see it without the package is to go to the second showing on a night when they have two shows. Those are always in less demand than the first show.

These two points cannot be stressed enough.

If there is only one show that night you must get there early! I would recommend at least one hour before if you really want to see the show.

If there is a second show and you can stay up later then go to it. But even though it is less crowded you need to still show up 40 minutes before the show.

 

[sher92]

Thanks for the advice! I did make reservations for Mama Melrose's on the day that the show is playing. So, even though that I did not make the reservations with the Fantasmic Dinner Option, would I still get priority seating at all or have to wait in line with the public?

 

[MHSweb79]

You would wait in line with the great masses. ONLY those who booked a Fantasmic Dinner Package will get the tickets to enter the priority seating area. (Robo has a map of the stadium and the dinner package area that makes it very easy to see.) Basically, one section to the far right of the stadium is reserved for the dinner package, and the rest of the seats are open to anyone.

I would not call this a "small" stadium so there are thousands of other seats available to you. Don't eat at Mama Melrose expecting it to have anything to do with the show - you can even bring sandwiches into the stadium with you and eat while you wait!