Fantasmic Dining is More Popular than I Thought

[Mortlives]

We decided last night that we would like to try the Fantasmic dinner package, and called Disney Dining. The first 3 nights we tried were completely booked at both locations we asked about. We were lucky to get an early ADR for August 26. I guess we should have thought of this sooner.

 

[beattyfamily]

It's really due to Free Dining rather than being the Fantasmic Package popularity.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

We actually thought that the seating locations at Fantasmic with the dinner package were not as good as when we went and found our own seats.

 

[beattyfamily]

We actually thought that the seating locations at Fantasmic with the dinner package were not as good as when we went and found our own seats.

I agree that I'd rather see Fantasmic without the package off season having done it a few times with and without it, however, I do still think the package is worth it in very busy times like peak season (July or Christmas week, Thanksgiving, for example) or maybe on an EMH evening.

 

[Katiebell]

We actually thought that the seating locations at Fantasmic with the dinner package were not as good as when we went and found our own seats.

The seating is off to the right side, but we saw everything just fine...and didn't have to wait in that lonnnnnng line for an hour or more; we went to the other gate and they just let us in right away to go find a seat in the reserved section.

 

[beattyfamily]

The seating is off to the right side, but we saw everything just fine...and didn't have to wait in that lonnnnnng line for an hour or more; we went to the other gate and they just let us in right away to go find a seat in the reserved section.

Yes, but in off season there is no long line. I've entered at one hour or 45 minutes before and gotten a seat right in the middle and ate where I wanted to with no line.

I've never been when there was a line however, I think that happens during peak season.

 

[bradk]

i sat in the reserved space, once thinking the only bad spot would be between the screens and i was wrong. it's pretty not great.

even during peak seasons, there are at least 2 performances. i'd opt for the 2nd performance.

 

[Katiebell]

Yes, but in off season there is no long line. I've entered at one hour or 45 minutes before and gotten a seat right in the middle and ate where I wanted to with no line.

I've never been when there was a line however, I think that happens during peak season.

The OP said they were going 8/26, and with Free Dining, I assume it will be pretty busy. We went 5/13-5/19, and the parks weren't ridiculously busy, but the stadium for Fantasmic was packed, and I was very grateful to be able to walk right in and sit down, even though it wasn't the best seat in the house.

 

[beattyfamily]

The OP said they were going 8/26, and with Free Dining, I assume it will be pretty busy. We went 5/13-5/19, and the parks weren't ridiculously busy, but the stadium for Fantasmic was packed, and I was very grateful to be able to walk right in and sit down, even though it wasn't the best seat in the house.

I was speaking in general terms however, I've been during free dining and the end of August and was able to walk in at 1 hour before and got the best seats I've ever had. I did the same the end of Sept also during free dining.

With the package you are still told by the waitress to head to the special entrance by 45 minutes before. At 30 minutes before, the package seats are no longer guaranteed and can be released to the general public.

I also always walk right in and sit down even without the package.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I just want to tell the OP to keep trying...I think they open up later times and a bigger selection of times as the weeks go by. Not sure why they do it that way, but I have heard others say they have had the same experience with ADRs for the FDP. I have done FDP twice, both times at HBD, and both times I had to book a ridiculously early time, then I called back and a later time became available, that was not available the first time I called.

I also wanted to ask if the OP tried to book at the HBD? Because that is 2 TS credits, so it is not as likely to get booked up. I think it is a great deal to get the FDP there and order the most expensive app, entree and dessert! But this is when I paid OOP. If you are on the DDP, I am not sure how you would feel about it.

End of Aug I would DEFINITELY do the FDP! We have been twice at the end of Oct and were grateful that we decided to do it. I was happy with the seats we had.

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

We're going to see Fantasmic end of August - something like the 22nd. We decided not to do the package as we really wanted to eat at Sci-Fi and 50sPT. We are now the proud owners of a 12.10 Sci-Fi ressie, and 6.05 50sPT ressie - I just hope there's enough time after 50s to go and queue for Fantasmic. The showing's at 8.30pm, what time would you start queuing?

 

[beattyfamily]

We're going to see Fantasmic end of August - something like the 22nd. We decided not to do the package as we really wanted to eat at Sci-Fi and 50sPT. We are now the proud owners of a 12.10 Sci-Fi ressie, and 6.05 50sPT ressie - I just hope there's enough time after 50s to go and queue for Fantasmic. The showing's at 8.30pm, what time would you start queuing?

You won't see a queue if you arrive an hour before. They open up the statdium so guests can sit and wait (if you go during peak season like July, you might see guests lining up before the stadium is open so they can get good seats but that's not the norm off season and that would be about 1 1/2 - 2 hours before the show). If you can head over to the show by 7:30p, you should be fine.

I've done Fantasmic with the package many times for fear of a line that I kept hearing about. Finally, we decided to eat where we wanted and not do the package and it was great. We entered at one hour before and had great seats in the middle, half way back. The times we've done it without the package were end of August, end of Sept and end of Oct. Got great seats every time.

Oh and I've done the package also in Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec and almost every time, when I was seated in the package section there were still many many good seats in the middle section still available. Once we just walked past the package seats and sat where we wanted.

The package is great during busy times of the year if you want to be guaranteed a seat, but it isn't necessary off season.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

You won't see a queue if you arrive an hour before. They open up the statdium so guests can sit and wait (if you go during peak season like July, you might see guests lining up before the stadium is open so they can get good seats but that's not the norm off season and that would be about 1 1/2 - 2 hours before the show). If you can head over to the show by 7:30p, you should be fine.

I've done Fantasmic with the package many times for fear of a line that I kept hearing about. Finally, we decided to eat where we wanted and not do the package and it was great. We entered at one hour before and had great seats in the middle, half way back. The times we've done it without the package were end of August, end of Sept and end of Oct. Got great seats every time.

Oh and I've done the package also in Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec and almost every time, when I was seated in the package section there were still many many good seats in the middle section still available. Once we just walked past the package seats and sat where we wanted.

The package is great during busy times of the year if you want to be guaranteed a seat, but it isn't necessary off season.

Thanks for the input. We've always done the package and since we patronize the Brown Derby (2 TS's) we've never had a problem getting an ADR.

However, I've always wondered since we go off-season, if it is even necessary. The package is always too much food.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Thanks for the input. We've always done the package and since we patronize the Brown Derby (2 TS's) we've never had a problem getting an ADR.

However, I've always wondered since we go off-season, if it is even necessary. The package is always too much food.

I agree, it is an awful lot of food! And I am a big eater, trust me! That's one of the reasons the DDP scares me. If I was home and could take my leftovers home with me and eat them for dinner the next day, that would be ok. On the DDP you get an app, entree and dessert at every TS meal, just like the FDP, correct? Yikes!

 

[budbeerlady]

I agree, it is an awful lot of food! And I am a big eater, trust me! That's one of the reasons the DDP scares me. If I was home and could take my leftovers home with me and eat them for dinner the next day, that would be ok. On the DDP you get an app, entree and dessert at every TS meal, just like the FDP, correct? Yikes!

I take the desserts to go if we can (If it is something that can handle being boxed) and dh and I share them on the balcony at the resort while DD is drifting off to sleep. Since we usually eat at 5or 5:30, the snack and a drink is very welcome by the time 10 or 11 rolls around.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I agree that I'd rather see Fantasmic without the package off season having done it a few times with and without it, however, I do still think the package is worth it in very busy times like peak season (July or Christmas week, Thanksgiving, for example) or maybe on an EMH evening.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I take the desserts to go if we can (If it is something that can handle being boxed) and dh and I share them on the balcony at the resort while DD is drifting off to sleep. Since we usually eat at 5or 5:30, the snack and a drink is very welcome by the time 10 or 11 rolls around.

That's a great idea, really. Such an obvious idea, but I honestly never think to do that! Dessert on a resort balcony at WDW sounds delightful!

 

[Mortlives]

To answer the answers:

I didn't try the HBD because its more than I want to pay. Our trip partially coincides with free dining, but we're not on the dining plan. Buying the dining plan would be too expensive for us. We only have two ADRs (and this is one of them) for the whole trip. We never spend anywhere near what DDP costs to buy.

As to why we are doing the Fantasmic package, we want to see Fantasmic, and we don't want to spend a lot of time waiting for it. Last time we were at WDW, in early February (before President's Day rush), we arrived an hour beforehand and couldn't get seats or even a place to stand. This time, we definitely want to see it, but I'd rather buy dinner and show up 45 minutes early than show up 90 minutes early.

Thanks for the suggestion about calling back later to see if anything opens up. Is there a good day to call? If we wanted to see the show on a Tuesday should we phone on a Tuesday? Tuesday morning?

 

[Tink3Belle]

I would try for the 2nd show if there is one - the dinner package wasn't that great and neither were the seats we came in with everyone else and hiked up a hill for quite awhile in September of last year. Mama Melrose was terrible and I hear Hollywood and Vine is pretty sad.

 

[Praying Colonel]

Mortlives, that's a good reason to do the FDP. Everybody has their own personal experiences to guide them. For me, we've done the FDP twice (in early August, when crowds were still around an 8 on the UG crowd calendar) and found it to be unnecessary. People were still finding good seats as late as 20 minutes before the show. So this time around we're not doing the package and seeing what happens.