Fantasmic Dessert Package - worth it?

[Angel Ariel]

DH and I may be planning a last-minute trip to DLR from 4/10-4/14 this year. We booked a room a BWPPI today, and I'm looking at budgeting out the rest of the trip to make $$ decisions before we buy our tickets (we'd use the Armed forces Salute tickets).

DH has never seen Fantasmic at DLR - and the last time I saw it there was 2004. Since the ROA and all its attractions were being refurbished when we were there last April, we didn't get a chance to see it then. This will likely be our last trip to DLR for a few years, as we are moving back to the east coast sometime in the next few months. We are trying to be a little more frugal than we have on past trips (no Napa Rose or Blue Bayou this time), but I also want to make sure that we have a great experience.

So, is the Fantasmic Dessert Package worth it? Or should we just plan to camp out for an hour before the show? Fantasmic will show twice each night of our stay...i'd assume the later one would be less crowded?

Related question - WOC also wasn't open yet the last time we were there. Should we get a reserved seating package for WOC (if one is available) instead of Fantasmic? It's probably a one or the other kind of deal - so which one would be better?

Since this is the last trip for the foreseeable future, I want to make it the best one possible Any suggestions are welcome!

 

[DizNee Luver]

I, personally, think doing both is worth it!! But here are some cheaper options.

If Fantasmic is running 2 shows, get to the Critter Country side of the crowd before the first show ends. When the crowds start leaving (90% of them will head towards Frontierland/Adventureland).......walk on down & get a seat for the 2nd show.

World of Color, you can do for free as well, by getting a FP when DCA opens on the day of the show you want to see or you can do the WoC Picnics for $14.99 & get a pretty good viewing area to see the show & you have either your lunch or dinner paid for.

The Fantasmic Dessert Seating is wonderful, but $59.99 isn't always in everyone's budget. You get to sit in a chair, given a choice of beverage & a platter of assorted desserts, cheese & crackers. If you do the first show, you are able to stay seated to watch the fireworks.

The WoC Dining Package we've done at Ariel's Grotto for $39.99 per person. It was a fabulous meal & the viewing area is fantastic......dead center!!

So it's kinda up to you on how much you want to spend on "Free" shows. I would highly recommend that you see both shows, as they are different & both wonderfully done!!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Oh we'll definitely be seeing both shows...and I'm open to doing one of the reserved seating options..we just won't be doing both shows w/reserved seating.

If you had to choose one of them to have the reserved seating for - which would it be? Fantasmic or WOC?

If we get the dessert package for fantasmic, and a FP for WOC, how early should we plan to arrive at WOC to stake out spots? (There are also 2 showings of WOC each night we're there...9 somthing and 10:15)

If we get the reserved package for WOC, how early should we get seats for Fantasmic?

My biggest concern is just having good viewing for both shows, and how to reasonably go about doing that without spending hours staking out spots at both shows.

 

[Angel Ariel]

oh..and as a follow on question - if we're going with non-reserved seating for either Fantasmic or WOC, what areas should we be looking at for the best viewing we can get for each show?

 

[Dobie]

The Dobies are cheap by nature but we LUUUUV Fantasmic seating....

Ahhh, the not having to sit on the ground, but on a nice, comfy chair with a back...

Ahh, the not having to fight for space on the ground with the great unwashed, but being able to stroll in to our reserved seats about a quarter to showtime...

Ahhh, the hot chocolate and yummy goodies....

It is our favorite splurge.

 

[HydroGuy]

Is the Fantasmic dessert package worth it? From Fantasmic! Superthread - Or Everything You Need To Know About Fantasmic at Disneyland

What do I get for my $59?

A seat with a good view and a dessert box with a generous selection of tasty items and fruit. And unlimited non-alcoholic drinks broughts by servers. We did not come close to finishing our boxes and took them back to our room to munch on over the next couple days.


How many seats are available in the reserved area?

I do not know the exact number but it is somewhere in the 40-80 range per show.


Is reserved seating popular?

Yes, even at $59 it sells out quickly.


When should one make a reservation for reserved seating?

8AM Pacific Time one month in advance of the night you want the seats.


Is it worth it?

To many people, no. To those who snap up all the seats one month in advance, yes.

You may already be too late for April 10. Seats tend to sell out farther in advance.

If you are feeling like you have money to do both then the WOC dinner is the way to go to see WOC. Otherwise you will have to decide between the two. Which would be a tough call for me. Per dollar spent I think you get more with WOC dinner. But only if you show up for WOC early enough to get a prime spot. Otherwise it is wasted IMO.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Oh we'll definitely be seeing both shows...and I'm open to doing one of the reserved seating options..we just won't be doing both shows w/reserved seating.

If you had to choose one of them to have the reserved seating for - which would it be? Fantasmic or WOC?

If we get the dessert package for fantasmic, and a FP for WOC, how early should we plan to arrive at WOC to stake out spots? (There are also 2 showings of WOC each night we're there...9 somthing and 10:15)

If we get the reserved package for WOC, how early should we get seats for Fantasmic?

My biggest concern is just having good viewing for both shows, and how to reasonably go about doing that without spending hours staking out spots at both shows.

Personally I would go with the WoC dining package. We did the dining & the picnic this last trip in early March & the view is really fantastic for the preferred dining area. For the picnic viewing area, we were really off to the side.

The show time was 8:15 & I believe they started letting people in at 7pm. People will start lining up as soon as the CM's rope off the line area. We got in line about 6:30 during our summer trip & got on the railing.....had no one in front of us (except the people on tier lower than us in the "Wet Zone").

I think getting over by Critter Country before the end of Fantasmic or by the beginning of the fireworks would be plenty early enough to catch the 2nd show & get great seats......like I said, a majority of the people will be heading out & you can ease right on down to the waters edge (place yourself by the railing in front of the preferred seating areas).

Last summer my son & I did this (and it was busy), we actually sat down on the benches in the smoking area (no one was there) & watched the show from the comfort of the benches......there was a water screen right in front of us.......lol I'm not sure that would work every time.......I imagine you'd get lots of smokers in there but we really lucked out!!!

 

[Angel Ariel]

that's true, we may be too late for fantasmic...we don't usually do spontaneous disney trips like this, but we are both itching to go one last time before we leave the west coast. We're not entirely sure when we'll be moving (waiting on paperwork for a new job)- so we're hesitant to plan a trip in May as we don't know if we'll still be here then. But 2 weeks from now is enough leeway to work out with the move if something miraculous happens in the next week or so and the paperwork finally goes through

Thanks for the superthread link, Hydroguy - I'll be checking it out

 

[newmouse82]

I ordered our 3 seats for Apr.14 on Friday and she said they actually had lots available still for around that date.

 

[Angel Ariel]

thanks, newmouse! We're still looking into what we're going to do...DH is leaning towards the WOC reserved dining (probably AG), and walking up for the second Fantasmic. He's not really a desserts kind of guy, so it doesn't make sense to him to spend that much for dessert. I, however, love desserts So we have to see what we're going to do.

 

[sonnyjane]

that's true, we may be too late for fantasmic...we don't usually do spontaneous disney trips like this, but we are both itching to go one last time before we leave the west coast. We're not entirely sure when we'll be moving (waiting on paperwork for a new job)-

I just found this thread! Booooo! Leaving the west coast huh!?

Since it's your "out with a bang" visit, I'd definitely do the preferred dining for WOC since you haven't seen it before. I'm like you about dessert, so I'd be inclined to do the F! package too, but if your DH isn't then just stake out a good spot, probably for the second show.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We try to do the F seating each time we go. Unfortunately we were unable to do the WOC dining the last time we were there but hope to go when we are there in August. I could care less about the dessert I am after the chair.

Jack

 

[Angel Ariel]

I just found this thread! Booooo! Leaving the west coast huh!?

Since it's your "out with a bang" visit, I'd definitely do the preferred dining for WOC since you haven't seen it before. I'm like you about dessert, so I'd be inclined to do the F! package too, but if your DH isn't then just stake out a good spot, probably for the second show.

Yeah - we're waiting on a clearance and then DH's new job can start in D.C. We have no idea when that'll be though...it could be a few weeks, it could be 2-3 more months....and silly me thought the civilian world might work a little faster We thought we'd travel a little bit before we leave! We're going to drive down and hit up Vegas while we're out & about too Any chance you'll be at DLR while we're there?

The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards the WOC preferred dining. I think we'll head over to NOS area before Fantasmic and hit up POTC or HM during the show and then watch the fireworks from that area one night while we wait for the second show.

The one nice thing about high season is that all the shows are running every night we're there...so one night we can see WOC, one we can see Fantasmic w/the fireworks from Frontierland, and one night we can watch the Fireworks from the HUB. I know fireworks are iffy...but we have seen RDTC enough that if we don't see it from the HUB we'll be OK. I really want to make sure we see WOC and Fantasmic

 

[oc_tony]

We did the F! dessert package last night, and made our reservation for it just a week ago. There were several unfilled seats, and the park was quite busy. We'd never done this before and loved it, but as others have stated, it's not that difficult to get a decent spot for the second show if you plan accordingly.

For WoC, we've done the table service packages at both WCT and AG. While we enjoyed both, we liked the food at Ariel's better. We've also done the picnic option, which gives you a FP for a slightly off-center section. This costs about $15, and there are four picnic choices. We liked this, too. I wrote a review for the DIS blog on our picnic and WCT experiences. Click below, if interested.

WoC picnic

WoC WCT package

 

[HydroGuy]

The one nice thing about high season is that all the shows are running every night we're there...so one night we can see WOC, one we can see Fantasmic w/the fireworks from Frontierland, and one night we can watch the Fireworks from the HUB. I know fireworks are iffy...but we have seen RDTC enough that if we don't see it from the HUB we'll be OK. I really want to make sure we see WOC and Fantasmic

That is why I prefer high season myself. Good luck in pulling it all together!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Oh we'll definitely be seeing both shows...and I'm open to doing one of the reserved seating options..we just won't be doing both shows w/reserved seating.

If you had to choose one of them to have the reserved seating for - which would it be? Fantasmic or WOC?

If we get the dessert package for fantasmic, and a FP for WOC, how early should we plan to arrive at WOC to stake out spots? (There are also 2 showings of WOC each night we're there...9 somthing and 10:15)

If we get the reserved package for WOC, how early should we get seats for Fantasmic?

My biggest concern is just having good viewing for both shows, and how to reasonably go about doing that without spending hours staking out spots at both shows.

I am sure someone along the way has pointed out that it is not reserved seating for WOC. You have a dinner reservation that gets you a ticket for a preferred viewing spot for WOC. WOC is a stand-up show. The dessert option for Fantasmic does get you a seat.

As a newbie to DL recently, I would suggest doing the Fantasmic dessert option, simply because it is so congested during the Fantasmic showings, and you don't have to stake out a spot 1-2 hours ahead.

The WOC option gets you a descent meal and a ticket for a good view at WOC.