Dinner before Fantasmic?

[airin.exe]

So this is our first time in DisneyWorld, and many months ago we booked a dinner in the 50’s Dine Cafe ay 7:20 PM. The thing is, we booked Fastpasses+ for Fantasmic! the same day at 8:20/8:35 PM. I called by phone the cast members to see if they could help, they told me we could arrive 15 minutes early to our dinner reservation, and because we are celebrating our first time in the parks, the cast member who attended me said she put a “note” in our reservation saying we were celebrating something. Other than that, they haven’t been able to move the reservation to an earlier time. My question is: Will we make it to Fantasmic! in our FastPass+ window? I really don’t want to miss the show especially since we’ll watch it on our last day there.

 

[Robo]

So this is our first time in DisneyWorld, and many months ago we booked a dinner in the 50’s Dine Cafe ay 7:20 PM. The thing is, we booked Fastpasses+ for Fantasmic! the same day at 8:20/8:35 PM. I called by phone the cast members to see if they could help, they told me we could arrive 15 minutes early to our dinner reservation, and because we are celebrating our first time in the parks, the cast member who attended me said she put a “note” in our reservation saying we were celebrating something. Other than that, they haven’t been able to move the reservation to an earlier time. My question is: Will we make it to Fantasmic! in our FastPass+ window? I really don’t want to miss the show especially since we’ll watch it on our last day there.

It'll be tight.

If Fantasmic! is the more important thing to do,
if you cannot move up the 50's PT reservation, I'd dump the dinner.

In fact, I'd show up for the F! FP by 8:00pm.
You will be let into the theater and you will have a much better choice of seats at that time.

What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.

With a F! FP+, you can choose to sit in either the FP section (virtually the entire left half of the theater) or the Standby section (virtually the entire right half of the theater.)
So, whatever section has the better seating at the time you arrive, you can go there.
Without a FP, you can only choose a seat in the Standby section.

There is a very good chance that you can get a FP+ for F! as a 4th or 5th FP of the day because they issue SO MANY of them (enough to cover nearly the entire left half of the seating.) On many nights, it is possible that you can gat a FP+ for F! as you are walking to the theater.

As to when to arrive at the theater, I'd get to there 45-60 minutes before the show-time.
Even WITH having a FP or Dining Pkg. reservation, don't wait too late.

On busy nights, the CMs can stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time, and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.

Guests who learn how to take advantage of the various available "tools" and timing strategies will be able to take more control over their WDW experiences.
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Map Below-
Arrows indicate the center of the seating.
Shaded areas:
(First or Only F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red= Dining Package Reserved
Blue= FP+ Reserved
Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.

(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved
(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)

 

[gharter]

I doubt it will work.
Even if you arrive 15 minutes early, that doesn't mean you will be seated right away.
Fantasmic FP is a large area reserved for people with FPs. However, it is a large area and people will be in the FP 30-45 minutes before the show starts. If you get in just before the show starts, you most likely will still be in the FP area, but it does fill up. Most likely you will be way up top or on the side of the FP area.
I also wouldn't want to be eating and worrying about the time, knowing you need to leave to get to Fantasmic. I'd rather enjoy the meal.
I would pick one or the other unless you are able to move 50's to an earlier time.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

We stopped going to 50s because of how slow the service was. 90 min from ADR time would be the minimum, as they often (always?) are running behind and you’ll have to wait for a table well beyond your ADR time. Even if you are seated by 7:30, and take only 60 min at the table, and then walk to F!, it’ll be too late.

You’ll have to choose 1 or the other, if you can’t find an earlier time.

 

[chris benton]

Knowing what I know -
Don't put yourself in that situation being too close together and stressing.
Your reservation doesn't mean you will be seated immediately AT ALL.
50's P/t is a tough-ish reservation, but ppl change plans ALL THE TIME. Is today the day? If so, and even if not, I'd be checking to modify your reservation. If today is not the day, set up a res finder over on Touring Plans. I'd consider F! more important than the food, but neither is worth the possible stressing. I wouldn't worry about eating at 50's vs stressing about F!. That's me, though.