I see that the Brown Derby has a lounge with a decent menu...
Maybe we will plan on that and FP for Fantasmic.
FP for F! is a good plan.
Be sure to arrive at the F! theater 60-75 minutes before show-time.
The F! FP will have a time much later for a return window.
Ignore that and (as I said) show up 60-75 minutes before show-time and walk into the FP entrance to the theater.
Guests don't really wait in line for the first (or only) F! performance of the evening.
The CMs open the theater over an hour before show-time.
Guests at that time will simply walk slowly through the very long pathways to the theater and file in to find a seat.
What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.
If you DO get 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.
Normally, 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. BUT... during Easter time (shockingly busy) I'd get the F! FP as one of your first 3, just to be sure.
As to when to arrive at the theater, even with 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.
There is sometimes a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.
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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.)
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