Fantasmic Dining Package Problems

[TJM1976]

So if there is no separate entrance anymore, do you go to the main Fantasmic entrance? then what? Is there a separate line there for the Dining Package?

I booked H&V for the Fantasmic Package in June and ADR is for 3:45

I just dont want to be at the wrong place at the last minute.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I wonder why they quit using the seperate entrance for the Fantasmic Dinner Package. Anyone have a clue?

 

[j&t]

I'm really glad that I saw this thread - I had no idea that the separate entrance didn't exist anymore. Where is Oscar's garage (or something like that) - is that the main entrance? When I booked my Fantasmic pkg, the CM told me to report there 45min before show time.

We're going in July - do you think they'll start the separate entrance again in the summer? Is Fantasmic even worth the hassle? We're gonna be on our honeymoon & DF isn't much of a 'show' guy. It's our first time going...is it a must do?

Sorry so many questions!! Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts!

 

[MUDisneyCouple]

We were there on May 7th. I'm glad you guys had luck. The crowd when we were there was outragious. And not many crowds at any of the other parks the whole week we were there. Just at DS b/c of the show and the reduced show times each week.

We were there that night too and were AMAZED by the crowds! We went to line-up for the 8:30p show at 7:10p and were turned away inside the stadium b/c it was standing room only. So, then we showed up at 8:18p (my DH timed it) and there was already a line formed for the 10p showing! We got in, but not without almost getting stampeded. It was a little worrisome and no breeze in that small walkway to the stadium.

On a side note, my BIL and his GF are planning to attend Fantasmic via the dinner and show...I'm going to let them know that this might not be worth it. I sure hope they reinstitute the reserved seating until at least 45 mins prior to show time. Also, when we got into the stadium that evening, there were NO ropes up in the usual section for those with the "ticket". Even if there were ropes I don't think the very few CMs could have contained those who wanted to rope hop anyway. Disney really needs to relook this...May 7th was the low point of our vacation too.

 

[g-dad66]

I am relatively new to the boards and am just finding out that there is no separate entrance with the package. How disappointing! That is the only reason I booked the dinner package. So do you still have to wait in the line? What is the point of the package then? Or is the reserved section roped off so you will supposedly be saved a seat? So glad I saw this thread.

I don't know this from first-hand experience, but what others have said is that the section reserved for those with the Dining Package is roped off until 45 minutes before the show -- at which time it is opened up to everyone.

That's why they say to go to the reserved section 60 minutes before the show starts.

 

[danielle.st]

But this other thing - I'm confused - what time did the park close this day? Attractions don't close until the park closes and the parks have never closed at 4 PM that I ever heard of. So I'm just wondering what kind of crazy CM told you that? That just sounds odd to me. Did you actually try to ride things that were closed or just were told that by a CM somewhere?

Edited: Which reminds me - I did read yesterday (a quote from Steve Soares' site) that One Man's Dream is only open 10-4 now - maybe due to the staffing cutbacks. But that's the only thing I've heard like that.

Not the OP, but I think there might be a few other things done by dusk. The playground is for sure. Also, I think some of the shows? Like the Lights, Motor one and Indiana Jones and perhaps Beauty and the Beast?

 

[tgrundy]

I was told by the dining line that I would have to have dinner around 3:30 or 4pm for the show. I thought that was too early so I decided not to do the dinner and show, and just go for regular seating.

 

[vicki_c]

Not the OP, but I think there might be a few other things done by dusk. The playground is for sure. Also, I think some of the shows? Like the Lights, Motor one and Indiana Jones and perhaps Beauty and the Beast?

Yes, that's true - I wasn't thinking about shows and they do often end by late afternoon/early evening. So that makes sense. I didn't consider those things because the operate on a published schedule. And of course the playground at dusk, too. So I guess it just depends on what the OP was looking to do - I was just afraid they got some kind of bad CM info (and we know that never happens - LOL)!

 

[georgina]

I was there on May 7th too. We went in to Fantasmic at 7:30 and did the standing room only. I was surprised it was so full already. We got to the park around 4PM and didn't notice anything we wanted to do was closed. We did TOT and got fast passes for RnRC (for after 8:30), did Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Star Tours, and Muppet movie before heading over to Fantasmic.

The last Beauty and the Beast was 5:45, Indiana Jones 5:30, Lights, Motors, etc 4:30. Walt Disney closed at 4:00, Backlot Tour and playground 5:00. We went back another morning to do TSM, RnRC, TOT again, and Indiana Jones

 

[dobtia]

We did both Fantasmic and the dining package for the first time last year. Awesome show. We are going in early June. Only two shows right now for that week. TWO in June. We have talked to people with good and bad experiences latley.

We decided that for us the package, time, hassle, and potential crazy June crowds just not worth it. Not this year.

 

[MinDE]

Now I am getting really worried. We have a 3:40 ADR for Mama Melrose and Fantasmic! is one of the few things that is on MY must do list....

I guess I will wait to see how those going ahead of my are faring. We have our ADRs for Monday 6/15 and I did the package so that I would be guaranteed a seat to the show!

Here's hoping Disney gets this under control....

 

[Robo]

The Dining Pkg. Reserved section has ALWAYS been turned over to General Admission about 30 min. before show-time.

They DO reserve the seats, but you must be IN the theater at least 30 min. (safer at 45+ min.) before show-time to get those seats.

Jan. 2009 was when they started the 2-3 nights per week Fantasmic schedule. The "separate DP entrance" next to Oscar's Service Station was closed long before Jan. 2009.

The current set-up is seen below.
There are times when the "breakout" to the Dining Section is
at the TOP of the ramp, just before the theater seating entrance.

 

[Goofy4]

They DO reserve the seats, but you must be IN the theater at least 30 min. (safer at 45+ min.) before show-time to get those seats.

I was thinking that Robo reported a long time ago that the alternate entrance was no more.

How long ahead of the show do they open the theater? Do they still hold everyone at the gate if they *think* it might rain? I'm just wondering how one is supposed to be able to judge how to be IN the theater 30-45 minutes before show time.

 

[familyatdisney]

I had a MM Fantasmic Package booked for May 7th (for 11 people) and canceled it before I left for my trip. It seemed like to much effort to go see Fantasmic plus I knew it would be busy because there were only 2 shows last week. We would have to hop to DHS because it is too busy Fantasmic day, eat an early dinner and still wait in line for Fantasmic.

I am so glad I did cancel now. Our week went almost perfect, except for the heat, and this would have really annoyed me to get the package and not get into the show.

Thanks for the report.

Tim

 

[Robo]

I was thinking that Robo reported a long time ago that the alternate entrance was no more.

1- How long ahead of the show do they open the theater?
2- Do they still hold everyone at the gate if they *think* it might rain?
3- I'm just wondering how one is supposed to be able to judge how to be IN the theater 30-45 minutes before show time.

1- About 2 hours before the show-time they begin letting guests into the long walkway ramp.

2- They never did that to my knowledge. They just opened as usual, but kept playing recorded announcements about the possibility of a rain-out.

3- You'd arrive at the gates at least 50-60 minutes before show-time and walk up the ramp.
Disney recommends arriving 60 min. before show-time WITH the Dinner Pkg.

 

[terribm]

This post got me worried about my Fantasmic plans. We have the dinner package (MM) booked on June 18. I just called DD and asked them to explain how it works. Was told that you could just arrive 30 prior to show and enter without waiting in line (separate line). Is she just clueless. What would you do?

 

[natebenma]

We have the MM Fantasmic package for mid July. We have never seen the show before and my family is looking forward to it. Last August we booked H&V, but my son was sick and did not even go to the parks that day, so we cancelled. OK, I have no problem getting to the theater 45 minutes before the show to get to the reserved seating. Will it be a problem getting INTO the theater area- I realize people maybe be waiting for more than an hour or two, and I don't want to "cut" them. Are you wading through people, or is everyone in the theater, just waiting to get seats? I guess I just can't picture the process without the seperate entrance. Or is it that theoretically, all of the seats EXCEPT reserved may be filled by 45 minutes before the show, and at 30 minutes they will release the seats to standing room/general admission crowds.

 

[Robo]

This post got me worried about my Fantasmic plans. We have the dinner package (MM) booked on June 18. I just called DD and asked them to explain how it works. Was told that you could just arrive 30 prior to show and enter without waiting in line (separate line). Is she just clueless. What would you do?

The CMs on the phone are notorious for giving out WRONG information.
Many of them have never even set foot in WDW.

Ignore what you were told, in this case, for sure.
It is incorrect.

Ask your questions here.
There is MUCH experience on these boards.

 

[maggiew]

I think there needs to be some clarification about what people mean by "separate entrance". Previously, you used to be able to enter the Fantasmic stadium WITH A DINNER PACKAGE TICKET at a Totally separate area (not in front of the stadium). We entered in a location right past the main gates and to the right. It was sort of a "backstage" area. That's what most people mean when they say there is no longer a separate entrance.

NOW, you need to go to the Fantasmic stadium and then there is one line for those without package and one line (supposedly not a line, but just a walkway up to the top of the stadium). So you won't be wading through the mob of people saying, "Excuse me. Let me through. I have a magic ticket." etc.

The way its SUPPOSED to work is you get to the main entrance of Fantasmic stadium between 2 hours and 1 hour before the show. You walk up the way to the top of the stadium and then hand the CM your ticket and you will be able to sit in the roped off section. At 30 minutes before the show, they will open the roped off section for everyone.

See the nice map posted above. Although I think when we entered with the old special entrance it was via Hollywood Blvd and not Sunset Blvd as shown on that map. But maybe I am just not reading that correctly because I am not so good at visualization.

Maggie

 

[dvcdisney]

On our last vacation (March'09), when we were given the Fantasmic tickets at Mama Melrose, the waitress made it a point to let us know that the separate entrance is no longer available. She said we need to be at the General Entrance no later than 1 hour before show and to stay on the right hand side where a CM will be there to let us in the reserved section for the dining plans.

Although we were aware of this already before we went on vacation (because I read it here), it was great that she reminded us. I then asked her why we had to be there so early because in the past, we usually wander in about 30 min before the show and there were plenty of seats. She said, it's been mentioned to her that they open up the seats at about 30 min to the standby. She said that most are not aware of this and has gotten quite upset about it, so she has made it a point, (and I suppose some of the other CMs as well) to inform the guests as soon as they are given the tickets.

However, I think there is some miscommunication going on where the CMs are not informing the guests and the guests are not really paying attention to that information. I noticed that when our waitress told the family next to our table, they said that they have done it before and know where to go. She proceeded to ask them where they would line up. And of course the woman said at the separate entrance near the front of the park. The waitress then proceeded to explain that it has changed. Believe me, that woman wasn't about to be corrected in front of her family, so she just shrugged it off. I don't know if they followed the intructions by the waitress but it does also show on the ticket. But most of us has seen this ticket before and have not read it carefully. Hopefully, that family had read the ticket and went to the General entrance.

I think, maybe, they should provide more notices of the change. I was not told when I booked the ADRs, but that could be because I may have booked it before the changes. But now, the computer system should pop up an alert when the Fantasmic Package is being booked and so they are then made aware of the change. That way, the waitstaff is not the only one giving the info.

Just a thought.