Do I need the Fantasmic DP?

[Letsbgoofy]

The one time we used the Fantasmic dining package, there was a storm and the show was cancelled. I was mad because the food was not good and I would not have eaten at the restaurant if not for the show tickets. Can anyone tell me how crowded Fantasmic is towards the end of August? Is it possible to get a seat without waiting in line, or is the package a must? We saw the show the week after Thanksgiving a few years ago and walked in right before the show started and still found seats near the back.

 

[Robo]

No one can predict EXACTLY what will happen on any given day.
It has totally to do with how much time you wish to invest, and the general crowd levels.

VERY Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-90 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
45 minutes before: Good seats
20-30 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests.

Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 50-60 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
40 minutes before: Good seats
25-35 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests. (The crowd of "last-minute" arrivals can be slow to get seated before show-time.)

Off-Season (not busy days):
You should be OK to enter by 10-20 minutes before, but you'll likely be seated to the outer edges, and/or way at the back.

If you do the dinner pkg. you can enter 30 minutes before (or a bit later) and still be guaranteed pretty good seats, regardless of crowd-levels.

If there are TWO Fantasmic! shows in one evening, the second one will have lower crowd level than the first one. You can arrive a bit later and still find a seat.

Be aware that the second show waiting area will LOOK like the show is too crowded.
That's because they HOLD the 2nd crowd outside the theater while the CMs CLEAN it after the first crowd has exited.

Then, they will let those waiting together in that big group IN... all at once, and there will be PLENTY of room.

(The theater holds 10,000 guests!)

 

[timandlesley]

We had one and had it cancelled just like you so this year we just had dinner at Mama's without the reservation. I was soooo worried we wouldn't get in. Well, we got there (this was in June on a VERY crowded day by the way) about 55 minutes before the show and got seats in the center of the Mickey section, AWESOME seats. They had concession stands in there too so the time passed super quick. I don't think I'll do a package again for the reason of the unpredictable weather and now knowing you can get great (even better) seats w/out it.

Lesley

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Thanks for the information. I'm not looking for great seats - we sat in the back before and could see very well (and it's easier to get out at the end) - I just don't want to get shut out if I'm not there waiting an hour before the show.

 

[Eventer98]

I have ADR's for the H & V package on 8/27. I'm confident we would be able to find decent seats on our own since we don't mind getting there early but there isn't really anywhere else at MGM that interests us to eat. So we figured we might as well keep it.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I was there last week. Certainly a busy time of year. I figured I would go to the 10:30 show and not worry about crowds. Well, around 8:30 I was in the area and decided to check it out. While it is a long walk to get to the theater, it was not a line. I got to the theater area, bought a popsicle and went in and got my seat. I had my choice of seating. Front, center, aisle, back. No problem. And not just because I was alone, either. I could have easily found good seats even if my family and friends were with me.

I think it helps to know from TGM what the best days are for each park.

 

[Albertan mom]

What time do they open the seating area?

Is August 24th considered busy season, or off season?

thanks

 

[disneysailor]

Bumping in the hope of getting more replies. We are going the third week of August and would like to cancel our H&V Fantasmic package. Will we still get good seats if we arrive a little early?

 

[Robo]

Bumping in the hope of getting more replies. We are going the third week of August and would like to cancel our H&V Fantasmic package. Will we still get good seats if we arrive a little early?

What, you don't like the first set of answers?

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Well, we cancelled it. I didn't want to eat at the H&V, and didn't really have the time either (only a 1/2 day at MGM).

 

[golden1]

What about if you are going during the off-season but during a EMH night at MGM? We are going in the second week of December and we are trying to hit the first show of Fantasmic. We are currently booked at Mama Melrose with the FDP but the latest seating for our party size (6) is 4pm and I'm not happy about eating that early. Would it be advisable to cancel in this circumstance and book somewhere else at a later time?