change to fantasmic entrance??

[dianemb]

Has there been a change to where you go for the fantasmic reserved seating? I saw several threads that say this but can not find an offical statement.

Thanks

 

[TDC Nala]

There are reports on the boards and elsewhere that on recent days Fantasmic Dinner Package guests are not using a different entrance from the regular guests. Traditionally they entered the theater through a different route.

There is still reserved seating in the same area for dinner package guests.

This has been reported on unofficial websites entirely through observation. There has been no official announcement by Disney to date.

 

[Grandma4ever]

Does it really matter what entrance you use as long as you have a reseved seat? There still would be no need to wait in line as by the time you arrive the line will be all but gone. I just don't see the issue. What am I missing?

 

[mmmears]

The last time we did the dinner package, the CMs at the theater were NOT making sure that everyone who sat in our section had the passes. We got there early, so we had a place to sit, but then it was flooded by people crawling underneath the ropes to sit there. The CMs made one or two feeble attempts to move them and then gave up.

The people who had paid for the dinner package and showed up later than us had a much harder time finding a seat.

IMO the problem with this is that you could pay for the package, then have to wait in line, and then when you get there, you may not find a seat!

One of the benefits of the package was supposed to be that you dont have to wait in the huge line, you just go in the back way and sit down. Having to stand in the line with everyone else (and paying lots of $$$ for the package)just doesn't make sense.

It was bad enough (people who showed up after us were MAD and it wasn't fun to be in the middle of all that tension on our vacation) that we're just planning to skip Fantasmic entirely on our next trip.

 

[Grandma4ever]

The last time we did the dinner package, the CMs at the theater were NOT making sure that everyone who sat in our section had the passes. We got there early, so we had a place to sit, but then it was flooded by people crawling underneath the ropes to sit there. The CMs made one or two feeble attempts to move them and then gave up.

The people who had paid for the dinner package and showed up later than us had a much harder time finding a seat.

IMO the problem with this is that you could pay for the package, then have to wait in line, and then when you get there, you may not find a seat!

One of the benefits of the package was supposed to be that you dont have to wait in the huge line, you just go in the back way and sit down. Having to stand in the line with everyone else (and paying lots of $$$ for the package)just doesn't make sense.

It was bad enough (people who showed up after us were MAD and it wasn't fun to be in the middle of all that tension on our vacation) that we're just planning to skip Fantasmic entirely on our next trip.

I can understand the issue of fighting for seats from people who had not booked dinner but why feel like you paid money for those seats. You pay the same for dinner as everyone else in the restarunt. They just offer reserved seating for a small % of folks in each of three resturants if it is requested. I have done this 3 times and did not have an issue. There was a cast member at the back door and also at the ropes in the theater. This was in September so maybe that makes a difference. Next trip will be in July.

Also we need to remember that some of the anger needs to be directed at the people who do not respect the signs that state the section is reserved. They are the real problem. People who feel if they can steal it it is theirs. Not sure what Diney can do without creating such a issue that it would affect the enjoyment of others. Then those folks would be complaining. They try to hit that middle ground.

 

[maj42169]

I can understand the issue of fighting for seats from people who had not booked dinner but why feel like you paid money for those seats. You pay the same for dinner as everyone else in the restarunt. They just offer reserved seating for a small % of folks in each of three resturants if it is requested.

The price may be the same as others on the dining plan, but it is not the same price when you buy the dining package outright! The cost is more than just ordering off of the menu. You are paying for a PACKAGE that includes priority seating, so in fact, yes- you are paying for those seats.

 

[TDC Nala]

Actually there is no premium placed on the food price depending on what you choose to order. If one were not on the package, though, one could choose to leave out the appetizer or dessert or order a less expensive entree. When you do that package, you give up those options in order to get the Fantasmic seating. (Not counting those on the basic dining plan who are booking the package to get a free appetizer.)

I still wouldn't have a problem as long as they keep the assigned seating clear for package users. If they're not keeping the seating clear, then there is a problem. WDW is offering the assigned seating, and it's up to them to see that those who accept the offer get the seating. They need to be checking tickets.

 

[dzorn]

The price may be the same as others on the dining plan, but it is not the same price when you buy the dining package outright! The cost is more than just ordering off of the menu. You are paying for a PACKAGE that includes priority seating, so in fact, yes- you are paying for those seats.

Not to mention that the ones sneaking in the area may not have purchased a dinner at all. So it is very possible I am spending a lot more than other to have the seats.

Denise in MI

 

[Babsydoodle]

We are scheduled on Saturday November 29th, with Mama Melrose Fantasmic package. I was told when making ressies that those of us with "passes" met at Oscar's Garage. This is our first time using the package. What has changed-do we no longer go to Oscar's Garage?

 

[maj42169]

If I were you, I would check with your server when you arrive to eat. We met at Oscar's Garage, but that was last year. This year we do not have a package.

 

[lingber]

We are scheduled on Saturday November 29th, with Mama Melrose Fantasmic package. I was told when making ressies that those of us with "passes" met at Oscar's Garage. This is our first time using the package. What has changed-do we no longer go to Oscar's Garage?

We were told the same thing. Bumping this up in case anyone has an answer!

 

[TDC Nala]

We were told the same thing. Bumping this up in case anyone has an answer!

No one knows. All we know is that on recent dates, the dining package guests have been entering through the same entrance as everyone else uses, not through the Oscar's entrance. There has been no official announcement by Disney that the change is permanent. At this point all you can do is ask when you get there.

 

[gone2disney]

We had the Fantasmic Dinner Package in about a month ago-we were told to enter the regular entrance with everyone else. Once inside the theater the reserved seating is all the way to the right. No one was watching the section or checking tickets and plenty of people climbed under the ropes to sit in the reserved section that were not on the dinner package. It seem unfair.

In past years we went in by Oscar's Garage.