Fantasmic Dining Package

[jlundeen]

Hi, all. Last April, my traveling companions and I booked the Fantasmic Dining Package at WDW and ate a great meal at Hollywood & Vine. The trouble started when we approached the entrance to Fantasmic, and for the next 2 hours, we were told many different things, and ended up standing in the "regular" line for about 45 minutes (it was all the way back to the main intersection of the park with nothing to keep people from just jumping in the middle!). Seats were great once we finally got in, but I was livid that we were told we'd get right in with the vouchers and still had to stand in the regular line. Previously, when we had done this package, they let the Dinner Package people in right away....this last time, they didn't let ANYONE in until right before, and when we finally DID get in, the pre-show was almost over. Horrendous crowd control, and I swore to never again bother with this.

My question to you is this: Have they fixed they mess?

I also noticed on one of the maps that the seating area for the Dinner Package folks has been moved from the far right side to the middle...is that right? It would be great to have middle seats!

I'm trying to help another family with their planning for their first visit to WDW, and don't have current info on this, just the fiasco we went through last April.

Thanks for any current info in advance!!

Jeanne

 

[mesaboy2]

The seating has been moved towards the center. I can't answer your other question, sorry.

 

[ses1230]

We just went in January and walked right past the SB line and into the theater.

 

[Itinkso]

This is how they now load the amphitheater. It's not a "mess" for Dining Package and Fp+ holders:

- Fp+ enter on the left side of the pathway and sit in the Fp+ area - all sections to the left of dining are filled one by one with CMs overseeing this process.

- Standby guests enter on the right side of the pathway and veer to the right entrance. Each section to the right of Dining is filled one by one until the complete standby area is filled.

- Once standby is filled, all waiting standby guests are held in the entrance pathway until 5 minutes before showtime. At that time, they are allowed to fill in the Fp+ area.

 

[jlundeen]

Thanks for the info on filling the theater. Sounds like they have fixed what was a terrible experience....

Do they make everyone wait to enter at the same time as the standby line, or do the FP+ and Dinner folks go in as they arrive (that's how they did it the first time we did the dinner, and it was much nicer to wait in our seats and get snacks, than to stand in that line)...

Thanks for your input!

 

[Itinkso]

Everyone enters at the same time, an hour before showtime. It's only the late Standby guests who have to wait because the Standby Area fills up at least 30 minutes before showtime.

I went in twice with Fp+ but always arrived 45 minutes before showtime, after the line had already been moving in. I'm not sure where they have Dining enter...

 

[Mrs Green]

So if I have a dining package can I just arrive like 15 minutes before Showtime to get my seat? To me, the whole point of the dining package is to not have to sit and wait for the hour with sb guests.

 

[larie21]

How early do you need to arrive for Fantasmic if you have the dining package?

 

[Corey127]

This is how they now load the amphitheater. It's not a "mess" for Dining Package and Fp+ holders:

- Fp+ enter on the left side of the pathway and sit in the Fp+ area - all sections to the left of dining are filled one by one with CMs overseeing this process.

- Standby guests enter on the right side of the pathway and veer to the right entrance. Each section to the right of Dining is filled one by one until the complete standby area is filled.

- Once standby is filled, all waiting standby guests are held in the entrance pathway until 5 minutes before showtime. At that time, they are allowed to fill in the Fp+ area.

So what entrance do the Fantasmic Dining Package People use? The same as stand by? Or the FP or do they have their own?

If it's SB, then it doesn't make sense to go too early right?

 

[jlundeen]

Every time we've been there, the line (standby) was HUGE. This place holds thousands of people, and even the reserved section is first-come-first served. It's all bleacher seats, and they ask several times for people to slide in close and fill up every available space.

So, I guess, if you want a seat, (reserved or standby) you need to stand in line...the reservation (dinner or FP+) just lets you sit in the middle section, not in an "assigned seat".

Also, I have heard that at some point they release all the remaining RESERVED seating to standby folks...not sure how close to showtime that happens.

 

[Itinkso]

So what entrance do the Fantasmic Dining Package People use? The same as stand by? Or the FP or do they have their own? If it's SB, then it doesn't make sense to go too early right?

The entry from the street level is separated. Fp+ enters on the left side while at the same time, Standby guests enter on the right side. I didn't see signs for Dining so maybe the voucher tells them to enter at street level near the side of Beauty and the Beast.

If you are choosing not to get a Fp+ for Fantasmic, you are considered "Standby" and once all the sections of the Standby area are full, the waiting Standby guests wait by standing in the entry pathway. Fp+ guests have until about 10 minutes before showtime to enter their area. Then, the remaining seats are filled by the waiting Standby guests.

Other DISers have reported the Standby area filled within 30 minutes and all others who walked up without a Fp+ had to wait in the entry pathway. The CMs allow the remaining/waiting Standby guests to fill any areas that may still be open in the Fp+ area.

 

[Itinkso]

So if I have a dining package can I just arrive like 15 minutes before Showtime to get my seat? To me, the whole point of the dining package is to not have to sit and wait for the hour with sb guests.

Dining Package seating has the two center sections. It looked like most Diners arrived 30 minutes before showtime. You'd have a better selection of the middle to upper seats by arriving that early.

 

[Mrs Green]

Dining Package seating has the two center sections. It looked like most Diners arrived 30 minutes before showtime. You'd have a better selection of the middle to upper seats by arriving that early.

Thanks!

 

[whitney37354]

We had the F! Package last October & walked right in, to the left, with the Fastpass group. No problems.