DDP with Fantasmic, extra cost?

[HansLeuschner]

I've looked at the Disney site and I know that I can exchange a table service for the Fantasmic dinner package. (2 if I go Brown Derby)

My question is, is there any additional charge for the show?

 

[firsttimer2007]

I've looked at the Disney site and I know that I can exchange a table service for the Fantasmic dinner package. (2 if I go Brown Derby)

My question is, is there any additional charge for the show?

We were not charged extra when we went last year. So, unless they changed, the answer is no.

 

[septbaby]

There is no extra charge for an Fantasmic package meal (1TS or 2TS).

Fantasmic is a show open to all park guests, no additional charge for the show. The Fantasmic dinner pkg simply provides an easy entry and guarantee seat for the show.

 

[disneyin2008]

If you're on the Dining Plan than the cost is one TS and you get an entree, dessert, drink same as always, plus special seating for Fantasmic.

If you're paying out of pocket, however, there may be a higher price to pay for the Fantasmic dining package. For example....

Hollywood & Vine....the package costs $26.99 adult for the buffet Fantasmic dining package. If you were to schedule a non-Fantasmic ADR and eat here, you would be eating the same buffet but charged $24.99. So in essence your Fantasmic seats will cost $2.

Mama Melrose the Fantasmic dining package is $32.99. This is NOT a buffet, so you order off the menu. Entrees range from $11.99 to $20.99; desserts range from $3.99 to $6.99 so depending on which entree and/or dessert you order, you could be paying just $2 or so for the Fantasmic seats, or if you order one of the lower priced entree it could be as much as $11 extra for the seats.

Brown Derby the Fantasmic dining package is $46.99; entrees range from $18 to $29, desserts from $7 to $9. So again, it depends on what you order, how much "extra" the seats actually cost.

But....as OP mentioned they were on the dining plan, it's simply 1 TS credit so it's the better deal than paying out of pocket for this package.

 

[fn2bfree]

There is no extra charge. Fantasmic Dinner Package is a great value on the Basic DDP because you get appetizers.

 

[catne]

If you're on the Dining Plan than the cost is one TS and you get an entree, dessert, drink same as always, plus special seating for Fantasmic. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT CORRECT
If you're paying out of pocket, however, there may be a higher price to pay for the Fantasmic dining package. For example....

Hollywood & Vine....the package costs $26.99 adult for the buffet Fantasmic dining package. If you were to schedule a non-Fantasmic ADR and eat here, you would be eating the same buffet but charged $24.99. So in essence your Fantasmic seats will cost $2.

Mama Melrose the Fantasmic dining package is $32.99. This is NOT a buffet, so you order off the menu. Entrees range from $11.99 to $20.99; desserts range from $3.99 to $6.99 so depending on which entree and/or dessert you order, you could be paying just $2 or so for the Fantasmic seats, or if you order one of the lower priced entree it could be as much as $11 extra for the seats.

Brown Derby the Fantasmic dining package is $46.99; entrees range from $18 to $29, desserts from $7 to $9. So again, it depends on what you order, how much "extra" the seats actually cost.

But....as OP mentioned they were on the dining plan, it's simply 1 TS credit so it's the better deal than paying out of pocket for this package.[/QUOTE]

At the menu restaurants, on DDP and paying OOP for the Fantasmic Dinner Package you also get an appetiser per person...so your "cost" estimate is not correct...you actually get more for your money or DDP credit than your estimate.

We did the Fantasmic Dinner package twice this year, including just a few weeks ago during the Free Dining DDP. We ate at Mama Melrose, one TS credit per person and we got appies, entree, dessert and non-alcohol beverage (although we chose some lovely alcohol concoctions in addition.)

 

[disneyin2008]

If you're on the Dining Plan than the cost is one TS and you get an entree, dessert, drink same as always, plus special seating for Fantasmic. THIS INFORMATION IS NOT CORRECT
If you're paying out of pocket, however, there may be a higher price to pay for the Fantasmic dining package. For example....

Hollywood & Vine....the package costs $26.99 adult for the buffet Fantasmic dining package. If you were to schedule a non-Fantasmic ADR and eat here, you would be eating the same buffet but charged $24.99. So in essence your Fantasmic seats will cost $2.

Mama Melrose the Fantasmic dining package is $32.99. This is NOT a buffet, so you order off the menu. Entrees range from $11.99 to $20.99; desserts range from $3.99 to $6.99 so depending on which entree and/or dessert you order, you could be paying just $2 or so for the Fantasmic seats, or if you order one of the lower priced entree it could be as much as $11 extra for the seats.

Brown Derby the Fantasmic dining package is $46.99; entrees range from $18 to $29, desserts from $7 to $9. So again, it depends on what you order, how much "extra" the seats actually cost.

But....as OP mentioned they were on the dining plan, it's simply 1 TS credit so it's the better deal than paying out of pocket for this package.[/QUOTE]

At the menu restaurants, on DDP and paying OOP for the Fantasmic Dinner Package you also get an appetiser per person...so your "cost" estimate is not correct...you actually get more for your money or DDP credit than your estimate.

We did the Fantasmic Dinner package twice this year, including just a few weeks ago during the Free Dining DDP. We ate at Mama Melrose, one TS credit per person and we got appies, entree, dessert and non-alcohol beverage (although we chose some lovely alcohol concoctions in addition.)

I stand corrected then.....but both times I tried to book this for last February I was told it was entree/dessert/non-alcoholic drink.

BUT even if you are correct and both CMs I spoke with were wrong....you are STILL paying $2 extra for the buffet....since a separate appetizer is not available, then you ARE paying $2 for those seats. Granted that's not any great expense in the scheme of things, but it is in fact not "free".

And...if you don't order the higher priced entrees at the other two restaurants, then you will STILL be paying extra for the tickets, just not quite as high as I estimated in my analysis.

At Mama Melrose's the appetizers range from $5.49 to $7.99....so if your entree choice is the lower cost ones, instead of my original estimate of $11 for the seats would be lowered to $5 to $8....still not "free".

At Brown Derby the appetizers are $7 to $11, so again, depending on what you order you could still be paying for those "free" seats.

So, my original premise STILL stands.....if you aren't ordering the most expensive items on the menu, you WILL be paying for those seats with the package (when paying out of pocket). If you're on the dining plan then the cost didn't matter anyway....and of course if the appetizer is included then it makes the package a better bang for your TS credit because of the appetizer.

 

[disneyin2008]

I stand corrected then.....but both times I tried to book this for last February I was told it was entree/dessert/non-alcoholic drink.

BUT even if you are correct and both CMs I spoke with were wrong....you are STILL paying $2 extra for the buffet....since a separate appetizer is not available, then you ARE paying $2 for those seats. Granted that's not any great expense in the scheme of things, but it is in fact not "free".

And...if you don't order the higher priced entrees at the other two restaurants, then you will STILL be paying extra for the tickets, just not quite as high as I estimated in my analysis.

At Mama Melrose's the appetizers range from $5.49 to $7.99....so if your entree choice is the lower cost ones, instead of my original estimate of $11 for the seats would be lowered to $5 to $8....still not "free".

At Brown Derby the appetizers are $7 to $11, so again, depending on what you order you could still be paying for those "free" seats.

So, my original premise STILL stands.....if you aren't ordering the most expensive items on the menu, you WILL be paying for those seats with the package (when paying out of pocket). If you're on the dining plan then the cost didn't matter anyway....and of course if the appetizer is included then it makes the package a better bang for your TS credit because of the appetizer.

One thing though....for people reading this with an eye towards going in 2009.....since starting in January Fantasmic will only be showing two nights a week, the walk-in seats may be very difficult to get, so then it will probably be a better value to get the Fantasmic dining package and pay the small extra fee for the reserved seats. It will then be in the same category as the Candlelight Processional package.....no you don't HAVE to book the CP package to possibly have a seat, but if you don't want to stand in line for an hour or two only to find that the CP seats filled the theatre so all your waiting didn't get you a seat either, then you book and pay the extra for the package to ensure the seats.

And although Disney hasn't announced any changes to it's Fantasmic package....yet........I wouldn't rule out that the number of "reserved" seats will increase (thereby making the number of walk-up seats less)....and eventually the cost of the Fantasmic dining will increase as well, when demand increases. Making it very much like CP...if you really want a seat you will pay for the dining package to get it.

Since we're going in December BEFORE the decrease in shows....we're going to savor it all the more as it may be a long time before my family goes again. I'm not into waiting hours for anything at Disney. I won't do a ride with more than 30-40 minutes....I make ADRs so I don't have to wait for a table...and I won't stand in line for an hour or more only to find out I can't have a seat anyway for Fantasmic or CP.


But the point of my original post is still the same.....to determine whether the Fantasmic seats are included or cost extra, you MUST do the math to decide if what YOU would order will be less than or greater than the cost of the package. My family's choices are the lower/middle cost entrees, so if I were to book the package it would be with the full understanding that I'm paying extra for the seats.