Fantasmic - can't get dinner package - I'm nervous!

[afb]

We can't get a reservation for the Fantasmic dinner package during our upcoming trip - 2.14-2.20. I've never done stand by -- is it as bad as everyone says??? I'm starting to get bummed out -- couldn't get the AP rate this trip either.

 

[cabanafrau]

If there are any nights w/ 2 shows, go to the second one -- much easier to get in. I think you may actually like your seats better, too!

 

[mysparky]

I agree w/ PP who said to go to the 2nd show. We were there during Thanksgiving week and I tried to get the dining package for the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving and I couldn't get it. I was worried!!

We ended up going to the second show - lined up 30 mins prior and had no problem whatsoever getting a good seat. At first I was worried that we'd get bad seats because the line looked so long, but then I remember reading that they hold everyone up while they finish cleaning up from the previous show.

Your other option, if the 2nd show isn't available or if it's too late for you...get in line with everyone else, get a good seat, and eat your dinner while you are waiting. There are some concession stands in the back of the park, or you could pick up some dinner at Rosie's All American (about a 3 min walk away) and bring it in with you. We've done this before and it makes the waiting not seem so long (that, and a deck of cards!)

 

[Lucy6]

afb, We will be down Feb 10-17. There are two shows scheduled on Feb 15(EMH morning) and on the 18th(EMH evening). We are actually planning on going during that week on Monday without the F!package, and did this last year, and we had great seats!! We just came about 1 hour before the show, and had a wonderful time. Good luck.

 

[resol37]

I've never had a problem getting into Fantasmic! During that time period it shouldn't be too bad at all. I worked at Studios during that frame and while it was a little busier than usual on Valentine's Day, Feb is a pretty slow time for that park.

A great tip is to ask a CM in the area. CMs are usually very good at predicting crowds, especially if they've been working in that particular area for awhile.

 

[David R]

Like other people said, if there are 2 shows, go to the 2nd one. Go into the "theater" an hour ahead of time and grab a seat towards the back (that way you can get out faster.) We go an hour early, get the seats we want, and then one of us walks up to the food stands in the back and grabs something to eat like hotdogs and cokes for a quick dinner which also helps kill time.

 

[Floridagram]

I would suggest that you go earlier in the week also. As it gets toward the week end it would be more crowded. If you get there an hour early you should be fine and someone will have plenty of time to go grab some food or you could have an early diiner or a late lunch that day.

 

[afb]

Thanks for the great tips! I feel a lot better now!

 

[Dreamseeker]

I have only done the Dinner package once and while I really enjoyed it, there is absolutely nothing wrong with doing standby for Fantasmic.
Not that the seats you get with the package are really "bad" but I prefer sitting further towards the middle of the theater, rather than all the way to the right anyways (is that still where the seats for the package are located?).

As long as you show up in time, you should be fine.

 

[Buttercup Roberts]

I remember a couple of years ago, I just waited until 15 minutes before the show was supposed to start and walked right up, and found a good seat.

I think this was in September, so it was definitely off season.

There were a lot of open seats everywhere except the Fantasmic dinner package area. They were packed in.

 

[wearegoingtowdw]

Okay, what is the Fantasmic Dinner? I have never heard of it.

 

[elaine and the boys]

The Dinner pkg. goes like this:

You make a dinner reservation at Mama Melrose's, Brown Derby or Hollywood and Vine, requesting the Fantasmic Dinner Pkg. They will give you a ressie within the appropriate time frame, and you will receive a special ticket/voucher at the restaurant that will allow you entrance into Fantasmic at a special entrance area...without the wait. You will then be seated in a reserved section of the outdoor theatre (off to the right). We've done this three times, but this year, we're going without the dinner pkg., but to the second show.

 

[wearegoingtowdw]

What is the cost? I wonder if I could get a res for valentine's day....

 

[pooh2001]

You are going 2-14 to 2-20 to WDW

Here are the Fantasmic dates & times:
Fantasmic!
February 1-9, 11-14, 16, 25, 27-28 -- 7:00 p.m.
February 10, 15, 17-24, 26 -- 7:00 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

So for your trip - and less $$$'s do the 8:30 PM - second show
on 2/15 or 2/17 or 2/18 or 2/19

Have a fun dinner around 5:30 pm @ 50's Prime Time Cafe
menu-> http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/menu_ptcd.htm

Then head over to stand in line for the 8:30 PM Fantasmic show
around 7:30 PM.

You will have had a nice dinner (DDE discount or on dining plan)
and great Fantasmic seats !

 

[elaine and the boys]

Here's a bit more info for you from allearsnet:

NOTE: The price for the Fantasmic Dinner Package will increase as of April 1, 2007:

Brown Derby: Ages 10 and older $43.99 (plus tax and gratuity); children ages 3-9 $11.99 (plus tax and gratuity).

Mama Melrose: Ages 10 and older $32.99 (plus tax and gratuity); children ages 3-9 $11.99 (plus tax and gratuity). You will be able to choose from the regular menu as of this date.

Adult meal includes appetizer, entree, dessert and non-specialty, non-alcoholic beverage. Children must order from Children's Menu, and have a choice of soup or salad, entree, dessert and child's beverage.

There is not expected to be any change in the price of the Fantasmic package at Hollywood and Vine.




What is the Fantasmic! Dining Experience?

The Fantasmic! Dining Experience includes dinner at one of the participating Disney-MGM Studios restaurants and reserved seating in the Fantasmic! amphitheater. As of this writing, only Brown Derby, Mama Melrose, and Hollywood & Vine are participating.

This means that instead of waiting in line for 60-90 minutes outside the theater, you can walk right up to the theater 30-45 minutes before show time, (no waiting in line!) and still have a seat.

Is there a charge for the package?

There is no additional charge for the package itself. However, the package, which includes a fixed price dinner and the Fantasmic! seating pass, MUST be guaranteed at the time of booking with a credit card, and a $10 cancellation fee applies if not cancelled at least 48 hours beforehand.

Prices for the fixed price dinners are as follows:

Brown Derby $36.99 adult/$10.99 child (3-9) not including admission, tax, and gratuity. Your choice of appetizer, soup, or salad; entree; and dessert from menu. Items include Spice Grilled Filet Mignon, Pan-Seared Grouper, and The Original Cobb Salad. Adult beverages NOT included. Child's meal includes beverage.

Mama Melrose $28.99 adult/$10.99 child (3-9) not including admission, tax, and gratuity. Your choice of one wood-fired flatbread to share from Mama's rustic on-stage kitchen, as well as family style salad, and choice of entree. Dessert: Mama's signature Fantasmic! Tiramisu. Adult beverages NOT included. Child's meal includes beverage.

Hollywood & Vine $23.99 adult/$11.99 child (3-9) not including admission, tax, and gratuity (no characters). All you care to eat buffet. Choose from a number of selections including; oven-roasted Prime Rib, Citrus Baked Chicken, Pan-seared Salmon, and Stir-Fry Noodles with Sesame. Also includes fresh salads and build your own ice cream/dessert bar. Adult beverages NOT included. Child's meal includes beverage.

All packages include a special pass for seating at that night's Fantasmic! and dinner at the restaurant chosen.

Report to your restaurant 10 minutes before your Fantasmic! Dining Experience Reservation, and you'll receive your special Fantasmic! seating pass at that time. Theme park admission is NOT included.

 

[Robo]

There were a lot of open seats everywhere except the Fantasmic dinner package area. They were packed in.

That would not need to be the case.

If you do the Dinner Pkg. you do not have to sit in the Dinner Pkg. reserved seating.
You (and everyone else coming in via any entrance) may choose to sit anywhere in the theater that there are seats availalble.

I don't know that the DP folks are told that, or pay any attention if they ARE told.

I have never once, in dozens of trips to see Fantasmic!, used (or needed) the Dinner Pkg.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just for clarification - Guests who don't reserve a Fantasmic! Dining Package are NOT "standby" for Fantasmic!. The theater seats 6,500 people, meaning almost 80% of the seats are for non-F!DP Guests.

 

[Robo]

Just for clarification - Guests who don't reserve a Fantasmic! Dining Package are NOT "standby" for Fantasmic!. The theater seats 6,500 people, meaning almost 80% of the seats are for non-F!DP Guests.

I think "Standby" used in this context can be considered the same as "walk-in" as that's how its referred-to in the case of other attractions:
Fast Pass line (semi-'priority' advanced prep) vs. Standby line ('walk-in').

 

[wearegoingtowdw]

Here's a bit more info for you from allearsnet:

NOTE: The price for the Fantasmic Dinner Package will increase as of April 1, 2007:

Brown Derby: Ages 10 and older $43.99 (plus tax and gratuity); children ages 3-9 $11.99 (plus tax and gratuity).

Mama Melrose: Ages 10 and older $32.99 (plus tax and gratuity); children ages 3-9 $11.99 (plus tax and gratuity). You will be able to choose from the regular menu as of this date.

Adult meal includes appetizer, entree, dessert and non-specialty, non-alcoholic beverage. Children must order from Children's Menu, and have a choice of soup or salad, entree, dessert and child's beverage.

There is not expected to be any change in the price of the Fantasmic package at Hollywood and Vine.




What is the Fantasmic! Dining Experience?

The Fantasmic! Dining Experience includes dinner at one of the participating Disney-MGM Studios restaurants and reserved seating in the Fantasmic! amphitheater. As of this writing, only Brown Derby, Mama Melrose, and Hollywood & Vine are participating.

This means that instead of waiting in line for 60-90 minutes outside the theater, you can walk right up to the theater 30-45 minutes before show time, (no waiting in line!) and still have a seat.

Is there a charge for the package?

There is no additional charge for the package itself. However, the package, which includes a fixed price dinner and the Fantasmic! seating pass, MUST be guaranteed at the time of booking with a credit card, and a $10 cancellation fee applies if not cancelled at least 48 hours beforehand.

Prices for the fixed price dinners are as follows:

Brown Derby $36.99 adult/$10.99 child (3-9) not including admission, tax, and gratuity. Your choice of appetizer, soup, or salad; entree; and dessert from menu. Items include Spice Grilled Filet Mignon, Pan-Seared Grouper, and The Original Cobb Salad. Adult beverages NOT included. Child's meal includes beverage.

Mama Melrose $28.99 adult/$10.99 child (3-9) not including admission, tax, and gratuity. Your choice of one wood-fired flatbread to share from Mama's rustic on-stage kitchen, as well as family style salad, and choice of entree. Dessert: Mama's signature Fantasmic! Tiramisu. Adult beverages NOT included. Child's meal includes beverage.

Hollywood & Vine $23.99 adult/$11.99 child (3-9) not including admission, tax, and gratuity (no characters). All you care to eat buffet. Choose from a number of selections including; oven-roasted Prime Rib, Citrus Baked Chicken, Pan-seared Salmon, and Stir-Fry Noodles with Sesame. Also includes fresh salads and build your own ice cream/dessert bar. Adult beverages NOT included. Child's meal includes beverage.

All packages include a special pass for seating at that night's Fantasmic! and dinner at the restaurant chosen.

Report to your restaurant 10 minutes before your Fantasmic! Dining Experience Reservation, and you'll receive your special Fantasmic! seating pass at that time. Theme park admission is NOT included.

This is awesome! Thanks for the info. I might call and try for a reservation - price seems reasonable.