Fantasmic Crazy to get into

[LCoulter]

It's been a few years since we have tried to get into Fantasmic....is it still crazy to get into with huge crowd of people lined up 60+ minutes ahead?

Is it worth doing the Fantasmic dining package to avoid some of that? Can you use a dining credit to pay for the Fantasmic dining package?

 

[ErinsMommy]

we were there thanksgiving weekend and found seats for 7 of us with 10 minutes to spare, we were all the way to the far left, but still got in and enjoyed it. and yes, you can use a dining credit to pay for the dining package although i believe the Brown Derby is 2 credits per person

 

[Robo]

It's been a few years since we have tried to get into Fantasmic....is it still crazy to get into with huge crowd of people lined up 60+ minutes ahead?

Is it worth doing the Fantasmic dining package to avoid some of that? Can you use a dining credit to pay for the Fantasmic dining package?

Get a F! FP+.

What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.



If you DO get a F! FP+, you can choose to sit in either the FP section (virtually the entire left half of the theater) or the Standby section (virtually the entire right half of the theater.)

So, whatever section has the better seating at the time you arrive, you can go there.

Without a FP, you can only choose a seat in the Standby section.



There is a very good chance that you can get a FP+ for F! as a 4th or 5th FP of the day because they issue SO MANY of them (enough to cover nearly the entire left half of the seating.) On many nights, it is possible that you can gat a FP+ for F! as you are walking to the theater.



As to when to arrive at the theater, I'd get to there 45-60 minutes before the show-time.

Even with a FP or Dining Pkg. reservation, don't wait too late.



On busy nights, the CMs can stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time, and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.



There is sometimes a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.

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Map Below-

Arrows indicate the center of the seating.

Shaded areas:

(First or Only F! performance of the evening)

Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating

Red= Dining Package Reserved

Blue= FP+ Reserved

Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.



(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)

Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating

Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved

(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)

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[LCoulter]

Thanks, Robo, I didn't think of FP+...I think I will go that route instead.

 

[chris benton]

Just a suggestion:
If you plan on eating at HS, you could do much worse than a 1ts credit F! pkg, and you don't have to worry about seating, arriving early, or holding a fastpass if other fp are available for other attractions. Mama M is the cheapest oop F! pkg, and some like it, some do not...I thought it was way better than I expected it to be.

 

[CAS239]

Thanks, Robo, I didn't think of FP+...I think I will go that route instead.

Still show up 45-60 min prior to showtime for best choice of seats.

FP is nice but your seats are not guaranteed once it's near showtime (same goes for dining package as well)

 

[kniquy]

It worked out great when we did a lunch fantasmic package -- we needed to eat anyways and enjoyed sitting down for lunch at mama melrose. We chose lunch so that we didn't have to worry about being far from fantasmic come show time. It was definitely crowded so if you weren't there early you might have seats way in the back. Our seats were perfect front and center.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

It worked out great when we did a lunch fantasmic package -- we needed to eat anyways and enjoyed sitting down for lunch at mama melrose. We chose lunch so that we didn't have to worry about being far from fantasmic come show time. It was definitely crowded so if you weren't there early you might have seats way in the back. Our seats were perfect front and center.

I agree that if you have the DDP, and planned on a TS meal at HS, F! package is an excellent choice. If you eat at mama Melrose or Brown Derby, you get an appetizer, in addition to entrée and dessert, as part of the package. H&V has the new Minnie seasonal dining, that has gotten good reviews.

As to lunch vs. dinner; if you go during the winter, then, yes, dinner might result in a rush to finish on time. But, in the summer, when F! is at 9, and the last dinner time available is 5 pm (at H&V), there is no rush to finish before the show. If you prefer a dinner after 5, then lunch is the way to go.

 

[clm10308]

As others have said, Even with FP+You will need to be in line early. We showed up at the time listed with our FP and that was too late. fP was seating at the top of the far left section. We gave up and sat in the first row of the standing room section instead.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

It worked out great when we did a lunch fantasmic package -- we needed to eat anyways and enjoyed sitting down for lunch at mama melrose. We chose lunch so that we didn't have to worry about being far from fantasmic come show time. It was definitely crowded so if you weren't there early you might have seats way in the back. Our seats were perfect front and center.

THis is exactly what we plan to do.

 

[joannamet]

The first 2 times we tried to see Fantasmic it was standing room only with almost an hour before show time. The third time we used FP and waltzed right in. I think I waited until the day of the show and booked it as our 4th FP after we used the others. I highly recommend using FP.