Fantasmic Buffet

[JanetRose]

Why would you pay $$ for the Fantasmic Buffet with special seating when you can sit on the Riverbelle Terrace for free?

If you do get reservations for the buffet and Fantasmic is cancelled, do you get a refund?

Thanks!

 

[Scratch42]

Why would you pay $$ for the Fantasmic Buffet with special seating when you can sit on the Riverbelle Terrace for free?

If you do get reservations for the buffet and Fantasmic is cancelled, do you get a refund?

Thanks!

To answer your first question, if you are willing to wait 4+ hours to stake out your spot, sure go for it!

Doing the Buffet is a once must do thing!

janet

 

[JanetRose]

Is it worth paying for if I seen Fantasmic more than a couple of times at WDW?

 

[Scratch42]

This is just my opinion but a definate YES!

I thought that Fantasmic was much better at DL than at WDW!

And if you get the later seating, they may even let you stay for the fireworks!

janet

 

[samkj]

This is just my opinion but a definate YES!

I thought that Fantasmic was much better at DL than at WDW!

And if you get the later seating, they may even let you stay for the fireworks!

janet

I thought the early seating got to stay for fireworks since the fireworks go between the shows.

We did the Fantasmic balconey back when the tickets were only $36. We loved the seating and would've done it again for that price. But at $56 we were priced out.

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

You hit on a very common question and one that always sparks debate. The answer, predictably:
It depends!

It depends on. . .
1. Time of year (slow vs busy)
2. How long you are willing to wait, holding a "prime but free" location
3. How unreasonable you feel the FB prices are
4. Are you willing to call the VERY MOMENT your dates are available to get in on the limited FB seating
5. Are you absolutely positively 100% certain you wouldn't need for any reason to change your plans and/or leave the show

I am one of those that falls into the "no, it's not worth it to ME." In fact, we opted to skip Fantasmic altogether on this trip and save it for another one. These were our reasons, completely unique to our situation:
1. DFather is diabetic and DS is "sensitive" (read: hyper) to sugar and chocolate. Dessert buffet after 8 pm?? I don't think so!
2. Five people x $50+/seat = over $250 for a 30 minute experience
3. DS is a timid kid and gets easily frightened by loud noises, the dark and tense scenes. I wasn't going to fork out $250 and leave in the middle of the show!
4. Fantasmic was only showing Friday and Saturday nights during our vacation window. I knew I wanted to avoid Saturday and if Fantasmic was the only reason to be there Friday, well, it just didn't make sense for us.

Again, these reasons were entirely personal and unique to our situation. I only shared them because there are a LOT of posters who (unintentionally) made me feel like my DL experience would be "incomplete" without the Fantasmic Dessert Buffet. I'm sure it's wonderful, but worth it? Not to me on this trip.

BTW, in late Nov/early Dec there was a post that said RBT empties their terrace between Fantasmic showings on evenings where there are two. Get there during the first show, ask a CM where to stand to get on the terrace after they clear it out, then wait where the CM suggests. Didn't try this advice myself, but it was my plan had we opted to try the RBT for free seating.

Just my opinions, of course. Your mileage may vary.

Happy planning!

 

[Amy&Dan]

Is it worth paying for if I seen Fantasmic more than a couple of times at WDW?

Having seen both versions I guess my answer is mixed! I think Disneyland's is a superior show and yet it is almost the same thing. Disneyland has a wonderful Peter Pan sequence on the Sailing Ship Columbia vs. the Pocahantas one at WDW. Also at DL they use the Mark Twain Riverboat instead of the plywood one they use at MGM so that is a much nicer touch. We did pay almost $250 for the five of us to do the dessert buffet twice but that was before we began going to WDW. Both times I thought this was the last time we would be at Disneyland for awhile and then finally caught on that my family is hooked on DL so no need to break the bank for each visit since we'll always be back in the near future! But I am glad we did it those two times, it was incredibly special just to walk in there 30 minutes before the show and have that incredible vantage point. The desserts weren't bad either! I think it just depends on how comfortable you are with that sum of money. If doing the buffet keeps you from doing other things you want to experience then I would say don't do it. On the other hand if this is not going to stress your wallet, than go for it! Also, if you have plenty of time on your trip and can invest the time to stake a spot out on the ground near the River for free than that would be great. Normally we do short trips to Disneyland so I just don't want to invest 3 hours of one day getting a spot. Even for our 6 day visit in September I opted that we would skip Fantasmic altogether since I knew we would see it at MGM in WDW in October.

 

[simba_one]

I'm really on the fence about doing the Fantasmic! Buffet this Summer. First instincts say YES!! but then I just think that the $168 could bespent in a better way.

I really don't know. We probably will end up doing it though. As many say, it's a must do once thing and at least then we won't have to wait for hours. We were outside the HM once then Pirates then on the bridge to Adventureland in 2004. And I hate waiting for so long. You just don't enjoy it as much if you're just waiting to go back to the hotel.

 

[Robert and Kelley]

We did it on our trip in December and it was really worth it to us. We called Disney Vacation Planning and they booked it for us ( no sitting by the phone waiting). We were even the first reservation for that night so we were the front seats. My family all thought it was great. My only complaint was the view of the fireworks was a little obstructed.

I say try it you will like it.

 

[rsschneck]

We just did the dessert buffet on January 13th. It was $168 for three of us and DD age 8 did not eat very much dessert. We had front row seats and stayed for the fireworks afterwards. We have seen Fantasmic @ DL and WDW prior to this trip and the Balcony seating would be the only way I would stay to watch it @ DL again! We had a GREAT time and would pay the money again!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[TiffJ]

I am going to DL for my first time in Sept. It is going to be a mother/daughter trip & I am thinking about surprising my mom with this. There is no way I would wait 3 hrs to see anything! How are the desserts? Are they yummy? Do you get drinks (water or soda) with it too?

 

[blackjackdelta]

I am going to DL for my first time in Sept. It is going to be a mother/daughter trip & I am thinking about surprising my mom with this. There is no way I would wait 3 hrs to see anything! How are the desserts? Are they yummy? Do you get drinks (water or soda) with it too?

You get drinks, even moo if you ask. Ask if you do not see something you want.The desserts were great. Everything very fresh. We had front row, the people behind were a little wicked talking about how could they be in the back. I have heard that if you are a resort guest and use planning, you are placed ahead of those that call in.
I called in. It is worth it.

Jack

 

[Michelle2]

No, unfortunately you are not given priority staying on site and calling with the vacation planners over those that do not. (We usually stay onsite.)
I was told by the vacation planners that it USED to be that way. Now everyone goes for it at opening at all the same time. I was #1 on the list for vacation planners and I still ended up being second to last in the order, so everyone else who called in and received tickets were before me. I think it is all a crap shoot, and it really drove me crazy where our location would be since we had young kids. So in that case, it was not worth it for me...(the worrying, and not knowing....)

Thank goodness, I do not know what happened, but we were sat in the entire right hand section of the balcony. I think a party showed up way late or something??? So our kids were in front/center. Then, it was worth it. It was a great show, but probably a one timer for us, since it was 8 in our party, and pretty expensive. We just wanted to show my mom and sister something unique and special while we were there since they had never and will probably never see Fantasmic again.

 

[blackjackdelta]

When we were there in August if you wanted to ROA 3 hours before the show, hang out near RBT and pretend you like to be mobed, then I guess there is some value in that approach. With 6 of us, front row seats at the buffet was much easier and less stressful. This is something that is budgeted a long time in advance. The experience was wonderful and stress free. It all breaks down to what is important to the individual.

Jack

 

[pezpam]

EEPS. I just called and they said that they were sold out of balcony seats, but had a dessert (not a dessert buffet, just a choice of dessert) with seating at ground level for $59 per person. Normally, that would be a big old NO, but I have physical issues that mean we can't wait for 3 hours plus for a spot, plus it's just me and DD8, so if she had to go potty in those 3+ hours, we'd both have to leave the spot anyway. This will be a one-time thing, so I'd be willing to spring for it if it's a big difference......

SO what's the take on this ground-level seating for the show? I'm really not sure if I should have booked or not.

 

[pezpam]

 

[simba_one]

EEPS. I just called and they said that they were sold out of balcony seats, but had a dessert (not a dessert buffet, just a choice of dessert) with seating at ground level for $59 per person. Normally, that would be a big old NO, but I have physical issues that mean we can't wait for 3 hours plus for a spot, plus it's just me and DD8, so if she had to go potty in those 3+ hours, we'd both have to leave the spot anyway. This will be a one-time thing, so I'd be willing to spring for it if it's a big difference......

SO what's the take on this ground-level seating for the show? I'm really not sure if I should have booked or not.

Ground level reserved seating is just in front of the brick wall isn't it? The roped off section with the wooden chairs?! I remember just ONE family being in there when we saw Fantasmic! for the second (? - think it was the second time) time back in 2004. We were right behind the wall but because the reserved area has just one family in it (they were on the left hand side we were towards the right) we had pretty much the same view as them. Except we had hundreds of people behind us with nothing seperating us from them. And a couple of metres (if that) difference between us. And the view was excellent!! I should imagine the balcony seating is farrrrrrr better but this still gives you an amazing view. And some do say that it's better seeing it from the ground rather than from above. And the seating you have is closer to the waters edge. If it's where I'm thinking of. Must be. Hope you enjoy the show and your overall trip!!

 

[blackjackdelta]

A number of folks have posted that they have really enjoyed the reserved seating at ROA. I would search the posts and read what they have to say.

Jack

 

[Razor Roman]

We did the dessert buffet on our trip... we were actually the last ones seated, so we weren't facing front on the balcony, but a little to the side, but because of that we had a straight, head-on view of Tom Sawyer island.



That is a picture I snapped that night.

I loved the mint juleps...