Fantasmic! Dining Package worth it?

[cherice95403]

Is the Fantasmic! dining package worth the cost? Are decent seats generally very difficult to get?

Thanks...Cherice

 

[Moms]

We did the package several years ago and found it worthwhile ... but we would have eaten at the park anyway so booking the package wasn't deviating from our usual "routine". The seats were great and I guess you could do almost as well without the package during a "less crowded" time of year but during peak times you would likely have to cue up for the show pretty early to insure optimal seating.

What we enjoyed was not having to show up that much ahead of time (about 45 minutes) and still had a comfortable seat with a good view. Fantasmic is a pretty popular show and a "must do" for many (although once was enough for us) so if you really want to see it it might be worth looking at the package.

 

[JZCubed]

If you plan on eating a three-course meal, you are not paying much premium for the tickets at all.

What you receive in return for the cost of the Fantasmic package is the right to sit in some of the best reserved seats Fantasmic has to offer within about a 30 minute wait before the show. The other 'best seats' at Fantasmic will be taken an hour before the performance; FP+ sections offer little benefit.

I know there are plenty of folks who will say it is a great amount of food - It is. But most people can eat three-courses if they know this is their meal choice for later in the day.

We've done Fantasmic when those seats were not the best available. We've also tried (successfully) to get 4th FP+ after Park Hopping. We've just done standby. Sometimes the calculus of any family is not simply about $$ and/or time - it's about 'What?' provides peace of mind so that a family can maximize their enjoyment while on vacation at Disney.

A three-course meal is not for everyone, but if it works for you, then the Fantasmic Package is a worthy purchase.

For the record, my family is returning to Brown Derby for the Fantasmic Package (Mama Melrose and H&V are other options) for our first evening of a weeklong summer stay. FP+ makes possible the afternoon plans for Toy Story & Tower of Terror before dinner and a show. Easy to arrive hungry for three-courses after swimming at the pool or playing in the Parks earlier that same day (my wife & daughter will really be starting at the spa to get their paws and claws sharpened).

We find the package worth the cost (and even with no discounting available).

 

[Farps]

We did it for the first time last August, and we thought that it was well worth it. I think that what was nice was knowing that we did not have to show up and wait in line an hour+ before the show. And we were guaranteed good seats. We chose Mama Melrose and we were pleasantly surprised, the meal was good and my NY strip was done just right. But as I said earlier it was the peace of mind knowing that we had good seats reserved in advance that made it all worth it.

 

[whiporee]

I thought it was okay. We went to Mama Melrose and it was good but it was also $150. The fantastic seats were all right -- and better than we would have gotten without it -- but I'm not sure the show's worth that. But that's just us.

 

[Dis703]

We haven't used it yet and haven't needed to, but if we liked the dining options we probably would. We've never had a problem finding a seat for Fantasmic although it does get packed. The dining package seating is in the center which is pretty cool, but I'm not eating in a restaurant I don't care for just to be seated there. If they had 50s or Sci Fi as part of the package we'd go for it.

 

[mggeary]

In a word, NO. Reason being that viewing from the side sections, particularly the center of the left and right thirds of the theatre is excellent, as there are three water screens and great views from all seats to the physical set. We prefer to be in the right half of the theatre (when facing forward) for a quicker and less hectic exit. This section is currently being filled by standby, so that works for us.

 

[Hootch]

If you have younger children that are impatient in lines, it can very well worth it. The seats are pretty good, better than I would have gotten by standing in line. Mama Melrose can be good. I would stick with the flatbreads and such. The steak and pork chop were mediocre in our opinion. My son and I shared the calamari. It's not as good as Capitol Grille, but we both enjoyed it. I know of people that have booked the F! meal with DDP and gave the passes away since F! has three courses.

 

[Robo]

In a word, NO. Reason being that viewing from the side sections, particularly the center of the left and right thirds of the theatre is excellent, as there are three water screens and great views from all seats to the physical set. We prefer to be in the right half of the theatre (when facing forward) for a quicker and less hectic exit. This section is currently being filled by standby, so that works for us.

This.

 

[Robo]

If you have younger children that are impatient in lines, it can very well worth it. The seats are pretty good, better than I would have gotten by standing in line.

Guests attending the first (or only) performance of the evening of Fantasmic! and arrive at least 45 minutes before show-time generally do not have to "stand in line."