Fantasmic Dining Package Problems

[Lizzy Lemon]

I've read through all the posts and still not sure of the answer. Looking at the aerial map there looks like 2 lines entering the theatre. Even though its the same entrance is there 2 queues one for non dining guests the other for reserved seating or do you enter the theatre in one queue? Have seen Fantasmic before and this sounds like so much hassle I don't know that I want to spend so much time queuing. Have got a reservation at H&V.

 

[shera]

so you guys are saying you don't have to wait in the long line to get into the theater ,you just walk past everyone else and hand the cm your ticket ?Are there 2 cms at the entrance,one for the regular line and one for people with tickets ?

 

[Robo]

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.

The "old special entrance" is not shown on my map.

Below is the
FORMER Dining Pkg. Entrance

NOTE: This entrance is no longer in use.

NOTE: This entrance is no longer in use.

 

[dcherry]

How on earth do they expect you to be IN the theater at least 30 minutes prior with throngs of people crowding the entrance? I can't imagine trying to get the entire family through it all despite having our fantasmic dining ticket. And it really doesn't seem fair after you've gone to the trouble and expense of setting up the package. Seems with the drastically reduced shows they need the separate entrance all the more. I think we'll skip it in September.

 

[Robo]

How on earth do they expect you to be IN the theater at least 30 minutes prior with throngs of people crowding the entrance?

By showing up 50-60 minutes before show-time and walking up the ramp.

 

[dcherry]

By showing up 50-60 minutes before show-time and walking up the ramp.

But that didn't seem to help the OP

 

[Robo]

But that didn't seem to help the OP

According to the post, they went to the wrong entrance at 60 min. before the show.

There have been many complaints about the new system.

(I think it STINKS, myself.)

But MOST guests with the Dining Pkg., in general, (I read a LOT of posts here, and keep track of the "trends") who have arrived at the proper gate and walked in by 50-60 min. before the show-time were seated in the DP area (or elsewhere.)

There are always extenuating circumstances.
Many could be avoided if all the CM's knew what they were doing (as if)
and I am very sorry about what happened to the OP.

 

[maggiew]

The "old special entrance" is not shown on my map.

Below is the
FORMER Dining Pkg. Entrance

NOTE: This entrance is no longer in use.

NOTE: This entrance is no longer in use.

Yes Robo! That is exactly what I remember!!

And I went back and reread your previous map and I notice it says "Auxilliary EXIT" not "Auxilliary ENTRANCE" which is how I read it the first time.


Maggie

 

[Lynn5700]

I cannot tell you how disappointed I am with Disney and how they are handling Fantasmic Dining Packages.

We just visited the first week of May and booked the Fantasmic Dining Package. We went to dinner and received our reservation "ticket". We arrived 60 minutes prior to the 8:30 show time which is what was recommended by our server and what was printed on our ticket.

We arrived only to find out there is no more separate entrance for the dining package. So we had to head over to the main gate and try and get through the mob that had congregated there. By the time I made it to the front they had already filled the stadium and told me they had filled the reserved section with people who didn't have the reserved seat tickets to begin with and that we could not see the show! The CM told me they had filled the stadium to capacity at 7:10!!

What is the point of a "reserved seat" if they are just going to fill it with anyone to begin with--and an hour before the show even starts on top of that??

Please be aware that your seat WILL NOT be held for you and you should line up 1 1/2 prior to show time JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE has to!

What a waste of an evening at DS--especially since quite a few of the rides/attractions we wanted to do were already closed by the time we arrived at 4. Evidently, many of them close at dusk (told to us by a CM) and Disney classifies 4 in the afternoon as dusk.

We could have overlooked the lack of attractions if we had only gotten to see Fantasmic. The crowd to get into the show was ridiculous...It's not worth it--go see Wishes or Illuminations instead. I just don't want other families to be dissapointed like we were.

On a happier note--that was the only damper on our vaca. The rest of our trip was magical!

Were you the family I met on the bus with the little boy and little girl? The bus going to the MK. I heard this story while on the way to the MK and I think it was you. Lol.

 

[Goofy4]

So, for eating earlier and spending more money than I might normally be inclined to for a meal, I get to queue up in the general admission line.

 

[g-dad66]

And I went back and reread your previous map and I notice it says "Auxilliary EXIT" not "Auxilliary ENTRANCE" which is how I read it the first time.

When we went on March 18, I'm pretty sure that's the route we used to exit from the second show. It made for a nice uncongested exit (unlike the entrance route).

 

[MelanieC]

It's a shame the old Fantasmic entrance is not in use - I used this years ago and it was easy and nice. This year I'll make sure we go early to avoid the hastle.

 

[Robo]

When we went on March 18, I'm pretty sure that's the route we used to exit from the second show. It made for a nice uncongested exit (unlike the entrance route).

Yes. It takes you past lots of "un-themed" backstage areas.

But, it also dumps you out onto the same congested street as the other exit.

 

[*disgal*]

So, for eating earlier and spending more money than I might normally be inclined to for a meal, I get to queue up in the general admission line.

Yea, great. We did the package a few years ago and ate the absolute worst meal we've ever had (12 trips) at WDW(mama melrose).

And......Fantasmic is not my favorite show anyway so it made it really easy to give up both the show and the meal package. We might think about going another time, for the kids, IF we could get a decent meal with the package and IF they brought back the separate entrance. Guess that won't be happening anytime soon.

 

[jennyf10]

so you guys are saying you don't have to wait in the long line to get into the theater ,you just walk past everyone else and hand the cm your ticket ?Are there 2 cms at the entrance,one for the regular line and one for people with tickets ?

Does anyone know the answer to this? I have a MM F! package scheduled for July 2nd and would like to not have to wait in the main queue if F!DP people can enter on the right and avoid the line. Anyone?

 

[eliza61]

This seems to be happening more and more. Folks, please contact disney, unfortuantely I don't think yelling at the cm's will help. I think (and this is only my take on it) it was a cost cutting move. get rid of the seperate entrance and you have less cm's to pay.

I'm skipping the dining package altogether.

 

[eliza61]

Does anyone know the answer to this? I have a MM F! package scheduled for July 2nd and would like to not have to wait in the main queue if F!DP people can enter on the right and avoid the line. Anyone?

It use to be with the Fantasmic dining package, at your meal every one in your party got a paper voucher. You then went around to grovers garage at the entrance of HS and entered the arena through the back "door", avoiding the main crowd.

Evidently, they have done away with that and now you get a worthless voucher and head over to the main entrance.

 

[dvcdisney]

I can only tell you what our experience had been.

We went twice to see Fantasmic on our last vacation, both times on the Fantasmic Package. The first time, we arrived about 45 mins to show at the front of the entrance. There was no line up, a few people were walking up with us. At the top, there was a CM standing on the right hand side taking the Fantasmic Tickets. She took ours and we asked her if we can get half of the ticket (in the past, they have always given us half of the ticket in case we went to the washroom and get some food), but now she said that we wouldn't need it. When we sat down, now about 35 mins to show, there were plenty of seats. 5-10 mins later, there was a whole crowd of people making their way over to the reserved seat from the general seating. At this point, they had opened it and there were no longer any CMs standing on the side. (This is why we didn't need the half of the tickets anymore.)

The second time we went, we arrived about 60 mins prior to the show, and found a lot of people walking towards the top, not necessarily a line, but definitely more than our previous experience going through this way. When we got to the top, again, they took the tickets and there were again, plenty of seats available until they opened it to the general seating.

I believe they must have let the people in a lot earlier than 60 min prior to the show. So, for those who have the fantasmic tickets, we don't necessarily have to line up, we just have to enter through the general entrance 60 mins prior to the show and we don't have to wait in line, although, we do have to wait in the seats.

I suppose, the advantage is still somewhat there. If you don't have the fantasmic package, they suggest that you line up no later than 1.5-2 hours prior to the show. With the package, you don't necessarily have to line up, you just go around 1 hour prior and by that time, most of the people have already moved in and you can go to the reserved area knowing that you have a seat.

I will admit they should have been more vocal about opening up the reserved section at 30 min before the show. And as I mentioned in my other post, they should communicate this to everyone who is booking the Fantasmic Package.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Please please please everyone who has had nightmare experiences with the reduced Fantasmic showings, please contact Disney about this.

Fantasmic is one of my favorite events and feel that it has been marred by the reduced showings.

I can't seem to find the email address for Disney Guest Relations. Could someone post it please.

TIA!

 

[Robo]

Please please please everyone who has had nightmare experiences with the reduced Fantasmic showings, please contact Disney about this.

Fantasmic is one of my favorite events and feel that it has been marred by the reduced showings.

I can't seem to find the email address for Disney Guest Relations. Could someone post it please.

eMail-

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com



Snail Mail-

Walt Disney World Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040