Fantamic Dinner Package advantage?

[marylouwho]

I hadn't heard of the free appetizer until now.... that's a nice touch!

 

[pta-mom]

Is that a free appetizer per person on the DDP?

 

[TDC Nala]

Yes, the package (at Mama Melrose or Brown Derby; Hollywood & Vine is a buffet) includes one appetizer, entree and dessert plus a nonalcoholic beverage (specialty drinks not included) per person. So far this has also been applied to guests on the basic dining plan which generally does not include an appetizer.

Should probably also be specified that you don't get a specific assigned seat at the show. The reserved seating is an entire section. As it gets closer to showtime they'll start filling up the section with people who don't have the reserved seating, so walking in at the last minute will not get you your preferred seat.

 

[pta-mom]

Does anyone know the hours they allow for being part of this package? I assume it's only dinner & not lunch. What would be the latest time they would allow for a dinner to qualify for the package deal?

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

And was told by the CM to use the separate entrance for the Fantasmic Dinner Package. UGH... I'm so confused!!!

I know...the CM that I spoke with when I made my ADR insisted that the Oscar's entrance is still being used. When I told her that I'd heard that entrance was no longer used for the FDP, she laughed and told me not to believe everything I read on message boards. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I'll take the collective word of the DIS before the phone CMs anyday.

 

[mass02703]

The CM that I talked to about a month ago told me the same thing, that they were still using the seperate entry.

 

[TDC Nala]

The dining line CMS are wrong so much of the time that I always look for independent corroboration on the boards from people who've been there.

 

[KigerKat]

We just did this package in November. Our reservation was for 4:30, which I admit, was pretty early for dinner. We ended up eating a big breakfast and had a small snack instead of lunch.

There was no separate entrance for the people who did the dinner package, but we were given tickets for the show. We had a large group with us, so by the time we all finished eating and took our time getting over there they had already opened seating for the show. We walked right up and handed them our ticket and a CM pointed the way for us to go. The section was wide open, so we sat down near the front. We had a wonderful view of the entire show! Sure, it would have been nice to sit near the center, but we could still see everything from where we were.

To me, I would rather sacrifice good seats during a show than waste so much time waiting in line. There's so much to do there, it just seems so pointless to spend hours sitting or standing there so you can get the best possible seats. The Fantasmic dinner package is a way to get good seats without having to sacrifice time. It was definitely well worth it for us!

 

[mickey2minnie1]

We did the package and enjoyed it in '07 and did enjoy it, but the kids do not want to do it this time around. I do not know what to do because we are taking my parents this time. What does everythink?? The are in their mid 60's. I am planning to do the Illuminations cruise for them.

 

[asmit4]

I've only been to Fantasmic once...so I'm no expert but my mom and I didn't think the seating-the special seating that is was all that great. They seemed to be marooned on 1 side. WAY better seats to be had.

Maybe it's b/c we went in Sept. but we had no problem getting entrance to Fantasmic. We were seated just left of center in the middle of the seats and we didn't even get to our seats til 15 minutes before the show. Waiting in line for an hour just never happened b/c it wasn't necessary. I will say that it was INSANELY crowded though. My mom and I left Fantasmic about 3 minutes before the show ended and got on the 1st bus back to our resort. I am presuming that some people ended up waiting an hour for a bus...we were in no condition to do that at the end of the day and were happy to miss the last 3 minutes or so.

Not to say that I wouldn't take the pkg though- I'd do it for the free appetizer! We'd just avoid the special seating as we didn't think it was special at all.

 

[EEyorelover22]

Remember though that's when Fantasmic was running more than 3 times per week or 2 times per week. We were in the line during a busy time...Christmas and they showed Fantasmic each night and almost twice per night. We went to the 2nd show. There were a lot of people in line and it was HOT even in December. I cannot imagine June, July or August standing in the heat shoulder to shoulder with all those people.

Again...with it only having 3 times per week, I think a lot more people will be wanting to get in. There are not two shows per night either.

 

[mom2rtk]

So if you don't plan to do Fantasmic, I guess we can assume it's better to attend DHS on a non-Fantasmic day. I but the crowds in general spike on Fantasmic nights now!

 

[MeLaNie9]

They did not use the separate entrance in December. We did not know this when we made our ADRs and were surpised when our H&V server told us what to do at the end of our meal - which included going to the general line at a recommended "at least 1 hr before the showtime". No thanks! We only did the dining package to have the separate entrance and not have to wait for a long time to get into the show, our kids would never wait that long for something - especially this show which our older son finds scary. So we ate our meal and headed to TSM and rode twice during Fantasmic!

 

[EEyorelover22]

This is such bad news. I don't want to wait in that line either especially in July! ick...too hot

 

[catne]

This is such bad news. I don't want to wait in that line either especially in July! ick...too hot

if you have the dinner package you don't really have to wait in the line. They open the theater one hour before show time...and the huge line starts filing into the theater at that time. 15 minutes later, that huge crowd is pretty much into the theater...then you show up with your reserved seat pass. At that point it is about 45 minutes before the show. You walk right up to the CMs at the entrance, show your pass & they direct you to where you'll sit. By the time you walk over to that part of the theater, it's now 40 minutes from show time. You sit down & relax while waiting for the show to start. So if you have the dinner package, you're not waiting in a huge line - you're waiting in a seat. BIG difference to me. And you're not waiting for 2 hours...you're waiting for, at most, just over 45 minutes. In a seat

 

[TDC Nala]

as I recall, even with the dining package back when they had the separate entrance, you had to enter at least a half hour prior to showtime or they'd start filling up the reserved seating section. Now, it's probably the difference between waiting 45 minutes to 1 hour for the show and getting a seat, or waiting 2 hours for the show and getting a seat, or waiting a half hour and possibly getting standing room.

 

[EEyorelover22]

So, if you don't go in by Oscars anymore though aren't you waiting with all of those "stand by" people waiting to get in?I'm confused.

 

[jennyf10]

if you have the dinner package you don't really have to wait in the line. They open the theater one hour before show time...and the huge line starts filing into the theater at that time. 15 minutes later, that huge crowd is pretty much into the theater...then you show up with your reserved seat pass. At that point it is about 45 minutes before the show. You walk right up to the CMs at the entrance, show your pass & they direct you to where you'll sit. By the time you walk over to that part of the theater, it's now 40 minutes from show time. You sit down & relax while waiting for the show to start. So if you have the dinner package, you're not waiting in a huge line - you're waiting in a seat. BIG difference to me. And you're not waiting for 2 hours...you're waiting for, at most, just over 45 minutes. In a seat

This is so good to know! I just got the H&V F! package for June 29th (Mama Melrose was unavailable) and was getting nervous reading about the closed special entrance. I'm not thrilled about H&V as a restaurant and booked so we wouldn't have to wait so long for Fantasmic. I can deal with waiting 40 minutes in a seat!

 

[EEyorelover22]

if you have the dinner package you don't really have to wait in the line. They open the theater one hour before show time...and the huge line starts filing into the theater at that time. 15 minutes later, that huge crowd is pretty much into the theater...then you show up with your reserved seat pass. At that point it is about 45 minutes before the show. You walk right up to the CMs at the entrance, show your pass & they direct you to where you'll sit. By the time you walk over to that part of the theater, it's now 40 minutes from show time. You sit down & relax while waiting for the show to start. So if you have the dinner package, you're not waiting in a huge line - you're waiting in a seat. BIG difference to me. And you're not waiting for 2 hours...you're waiting for, at most, just over 45 minutes. In a seat

I think I get it...I wait till the mass moves in and then go up the hill.
Yes?

 

[catne]

So, if you don't go in by Oscars anymore though aren't you waiting with all of those "stand by" people waiting to get in?I'm confused.

The stand-by people get in line 2 hours before the show -- they're lining up outside the entrance and backing up all the way down to the street. At 1 hour before the show, they open the entrance and that huge group of people pours into the theater. Which is a very large theater, so the line moves quickly once they let people in.

So if you wait 10-15 minutes after that - which would mean showing up at 45-50 minutes before show time - then you'll be walking in after most of that huge "stand-by" crowd has filed into the theater. So you're not standing or waiting with anyone. You'll be the tail-end of the line that started moving 10-15 minutes before you got there. Not standing in line for an hour...you're walking in behind them, when most of that crowd has already filed in.

And once you've walked in the entrance, you go right over to the empty seats that are roped off for dinner package guests. And you get to sit down. Hope that makes sense

JUST SAW YOUR POST...Yes, that's it!