Fantasmic dining package timing

[NJlauren]

If I get the Fantasmic dining package what time do I need to arrive to get my seat. If we arrive 10 minutes before show time with the package will we still be seated? Or need to arrive X amount of time before the show.

Trying to decide if this package is worth it for us.

My daughter really wants to see Fantasmic, but I also really want to eat at Roundup. We are traveling 2 adults 2 kids aged 8.

Assuming only 1 show, or that we want to see the first show.

 

[CarolynFH]

At our Fantasmic package dinner in January, our server told us more than once, with great emphasis, that we needed to enter at least 30 minutes before show time. We got there about 40 minutes early, and they were just beginning to seat people in the second reserved section. It filled up very quickly. I think they let standby in about 20-25 minutes before showtime, and the rest of the amphitheater filled up well before showtime.

IOW, getting there 10 minutes before showtime is probably much too late, definitely a waste of the dinner package because they don’t save space there - once standby is let in, they can take any available seats including in the package section.

 

[NJlauren]

At our Fantasmic package dinner in January, our server told us more than once, with great emphasis, that we needed to enter at least 30 minutes before show time. We got there about 40 minutes early, and they were just beginning to seat people in the second reserved section. It filled up very quickly. I think they let standby in about 20-25 minutes before showtime, and the rest of the amphitheater filled up well before showtime.

IOW, getting there 10 minutes before showtime is probably much too late, definitely a waste of the dinner package because they don’t save space there - once standby is let in, they can take any available seats including in the package section.

Thank you! This is exactly what I wanted to know!

 

[philharmagic fan]

We went about a week and a half ago, and I'm 99% certain that the tickets said to arrive at least 30 minutes early.

 

[NashvilleMama]

we too arrived about 40 minutes early and were surprised how many people were already seated in the reserved section. It quickly became a madhouse in the top aisles (I had to leave to go use the restroom before the show started) and I was so glad we hadn't waited longer.

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

we too arrived about 40 minutes early and were surprised how many people were already seated in the reserved section. It quickly became a madhouse in the top aisles (I had to leave to go use the restroom before the show started) and I was so glad we hadn't waited longer.

Was this recently / a high crowd level time? Trying to gauge a good arrival time for an upcoming reservation and I'm wondering how much crowd levels may or may not impact this. Thanks!

 

[NashvilleMama]

Was this recently / a high crowd level time? Trying to gauge a good arrival time for an upcoming reservation and I'm wondering how much crowd levels may or may not impact this. Thanks!

Yes, was presidents day weekend and a super high level crowd!

 

[QueenofPrideRock]

Yes, was presidents day weekend and a super high level crowd!

Thanks! I have a res in early May, so it definitely won't be as crowded but there is also only one show that night. I'm thinking 40 minutes might still be a good bet at that point. Maybe 30 if I am feeling risky and wild, lol.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks! I have a res in early May, so it definitely won't be as crowded but there is also only one show that night. I'm thinking 40 minutes might still be a good bet at that point. Maybe 30 if I am feeling risky and wild, lol.

Our night in January wasn’t a high-crowd night either. I was surprised how full the first dining package section was when we arrived 40 minutes before showtime, and I was especially amazed at how quickly the second package section filled by 30 minutes before.

 

[kmsprincess]

For anyone that finds this board later, as I just did. We showed up literally right at show start time for our Fantasmic reserved seating in early May this year (2024) and while it was full, we still were seated in the reserved section (albeit near the top - still great centered view).

They do not open the reserved seating area to regular guests in my experience, they just leave those rows empty if they didn't sell out on dining packages (otherwise it wouldn't be fair to those who did pay, and would cause some people to gamble in hopes of getting a free upgrade). When I did the dining package in February, the place was pretty full, but only about ten rows of reserved seating were filled the entire time, so they obviously had not sold a lot of packages for that night. They never opened it up to the general public coming into the amphitheatre.

I'm not suggesting anyone cut it this close like we did, but we were running late and it was not an issue for us. YMMV.