Do I really need the Fantasmic Dining Package??

[blue_eyes5212]

I have an ADR for H&V (Fantasmic Package). I'm not really looking
forward to eating there. I only picked it because we were not crazy about Mama Melrose last time and I didn't want to use 2 dining credits on Brown Derby.

My question is do I really need the package?? I would like to try the late Fantasmic showing w/o the package, as i have read on the DIS that the late showing is not as crowded!

We are going Labor Day week so that might factor into the crowds as well!!

I know I will have a hard time replacing H&V with something else, but I am willing to try to change it to somewhere that I really want to eat!

Thanks

 

[DLR29]

I say keep the package and see the earlier show. Even though it's more crowded, with the package, you're guaranteed a seat, and there are no bad seats. We showed up 45 minutes before showtime in the middle of July and got perfect seats with the package. Plus, it allows you to enjoy the rest of the park later in the night, or even go back to the hotel to get a longer rest to wake up early the next morning.

 

[angelmav]

Keep the package, we had great meal at H & V recently and not having to wait as long for fantasmic is great! too bad we got rained out

 

[blue_eyes5212]

Keep the package, we had great meal at H & V recently and not having to wait as long for fantasmic is great! too bad we got rained out

That is what happened to us in December!! I was so upset! And it was our
last night there! This time, I have it planned in the middle of the trip, so that if it gets rained out again, we will have other opportunities to see it!

 

[Tess'smom]

Drop the package and eat somewhere that you will enjoy. We have done it with and without the package and have had no problems getting seats for Fantasmic. We did not enjoy the food at all at HV.

 

[blue_eyes5212]

My main concern is having to stand in line for over an hour for a seat! I think maybe it is worth it to try a new restaurant and not have to wait in line.

 

[PatsMom]

Could you even get a reservation anywhere else this late? Isn't Labor Day week part of free dining?

 

[pumba]

I am one that says keep the pkg because the time you are going is busy.......we went a few years ago labor day weekend and we were unbelievably mobbed trying to walk around the parks.....we had a ressie at H&V and thank goodness we got into the back door for the Fantasmic show.....otherwise we would not had been able to stand in line that long and then sit on those horrible seats if we had gone earlier.....

 

[kldmom2000]

The first time we saw Fantasmic, they didn't have the pkg.... we waited a couple of hours to be seated Everytime thereafter, we did the pkg, but the stadium was not awfully mobbed as it was the first time we saw it.... I've opted to skip the meal pkg. this year as I'm not overly excited about any of the 3 restaurants on the plan (we do like Mama's, but prefer to dine at other restaurants on our trip this time) I'm going to wing it in hopes that it's not too horrible a wait... we'll grab something to eat and bring it into the theater and have a snack or something in there I just assume skip it altogether since I've seen it enough but my DD's want to see it again

 

[mickeysaver]

I have a coworker that is going around the same time as you are. I told her to book the FDP. She wanted to go to the HBD, so I told her to pay OOP for that meal since it's a package deal, it makes no sense to waste 2 TS credits on a specially priced package deal. Also, I doubt that they are going to eat an appetizer each and a dessert each, so it would just be a huge waste of their money, but the FDP is going to be essential to letting them get the most out of their park time.

Please don't cancel your FDP.....keep it...consider switching to HBD and paying OOP. You are going to need all of the help you can get to maximize your pixie dust! Maggie

 

[marivaid]

My main concern is having to stand in line for over an hour for a seat! I think maybe it is worth it to try a new restaurant and not have to wait in line.

You don't have to wait in line if you go to the first show. They open the theater about 2hrs before the show (at least that's what they did in December & July). For the later shows though you'll have to wait in line.

Personally I'd drop the package. Even in July we did not need it, got there around 7.40 for the 9PM show and sat very close front & center.

 

[beattyfamily]

I'd also drop it and go to the second show.

I've done the package many times (off season) and finally did the show without the package the last 3 times (end of August, end of Sept and end of Oct). We walked in an hour before and got great seats and ate where we wanted. One of the times was a Saturday night. No problems.

PS...I have never waited in a line. I have always entered one hour before and found a great seat in the center, half way back. I always go to the first show.

Good luck!

 

[diskids2]

You don't have to wait in line if you go to the first show. They open the theater about 2hrs before the show (at least that's what they did in December & July). For the later shows though you'll have to wait in line.

Can other people confirm this.....I thought I had to wait in line for the early show as well....but that was quite a while ago.