Fantasmic dining

[leebi]

Hi, Can someone please explain the Fantasmic dining to me. We are going with our 5 year old twins and thinking about seeing Fantasmic this time around. Is it worth it to doing and is it better than just getting a FP for it Fantasmic?

 

[sharonabe]

I believe seating for both the pkg and FP+ is the same, so that's an equalizer.

The pkg is a set price. You get app, entree, dessert and drink along with your guaranteed seating for the first showing of F! If there happens to be a second showing, you won't need the pkg or a FP+. Kids still have to order off the kid's menu, so they're not really getting anything extra. If you're on the DDP, Hollywood & Vine and Mama Melrose are 1 credit; Hollywood Brown Derby is 2 credits.

If you use FP+, that will lock you out of getting any additional FPs for that day.

 

[Tom P.]

We did the package recently by doing lunch with the Disney Junior characters at Hollywood and Vine. We really enjoyed the character meal at H&V, which is I think the only place on property you can do a meet and greet with those characters. The day we were there had only one Fantasmic showing, and it was absolutely packed. However, with our package tickets, we were able to walk right in and to the reserved seating area with no wait. It was super-convenient and the seating area was a good one, with excellent views. I would recommend the dining package to anyone.

Having never done a FP+ for Fantasmic, I can't say how the dining package experience compares to doing the FP+, though.

 

[Nancyg56]

We book the package a lot and enjoy Mama Melrose. Igenerally try to book the meal earlier rather than later because CS is not that great in DHS, and we like a nice break.

I think if you are going to eat and you are going to se Fantasmic, it makes sese to book this meal.

I know that H&V is on the package, as is HBD, but we avoid character meals in the middle of the day. I want the beak, and a character meal is no break for us. HBD is two credits, and I am too cheap to pay that for an early meal.

 

[minnie mum]

We've been doing the F dining package for years. Like Nancy, we know we'll be having a TS meal that day anyway, and the reserved seating means we can show up 20-30 minutes before showtime, avoid the standby queue, and have a guaranteed seat right in the center section. We never go for the DDP ( it is not a value whatsoever for our family). However the 1 TS credits at MM or H&V are a good use of your credits. HBD is borderline. We have eaten at all 3 participating restaurants, and prefer HBD. MMs is also good. I can't recommend the food at H&V. Frankly I think it's awful, but some like going for the characters.

I won't waste one of my first 3 FPs on F. It's possible to get it as your 4th on most days according to some reports I've read. But since they open the FP seating area quite early, you have to get there early to get a decent seat.

 

[JZCubed]

Hi, Can someone please explain the Fantasmic dining to me. We are going with our 5 year old twins and thinking about seeing Fantasmic this time around. Is it worth it to doing and is it better than just getting a FP for it Fantasmic?[/QUOTE
-- FP+ seating is not as good as the seats offered by the dining package.
-- Makes little sense to use FP+ for this, unless you are completely willing to forgo Toy Story Mania (and I wouldn't).
-- The hour of the day for Fantasmic! can impact your enjoyment. My soon to be 7 y.o. has never been able to stay awake.
-- Fantasmic! can be scary for some young children.

A weird suggestion - punt.

Enjoy Hollywood Studios with your daughters and then go to Swan & Dolphin for dinner. For the price of two entrees at their Signatures, both your daughters can stay for free at Camp Dolphin for up to two hours (their food is free too - mac'n'cheese, nuggets, self-serve ice cream - at Picaboo).

So, if you and your spouse drop off the kids at Camp Dolphin, enjoy a nice meal alone, go to Fantasmic!, your girls may actually have a better time and so might you. Hollywood Studios is less than 15 minutes away by foot.

My wife & I love our daughter and felt guilty the first time we ever did this. But our daughter would prefer (requests) going to Camp Dolphin versus sitting through a multi-course meal for the Fanstasmic! package only to then fall asleep at the show. She also prefers hanging out with her 'friends' knowing that mommy & daddy had a nice meal.