Fantasmic dinner and seating questions...

[AndiMarie]

I've never seen Fantasmic and am really excited about going with my kids to see it during our April trip. I do have a few questions, it seems like the more I research and read online the more confusing it is!

1st timing...
I can do Fantasmic dinner adr at 4:45 at Hollywood and Vine (we really want to do Minnie's Springtime Dine) or a reg dinner adr at H&V at 7:10pm and do a Fantasmic lunch at Mama Melrose.

Would a 7:10 adr be enough time to do H&V and get to Fantasmic that starts at 8:30 that night? Dinner at 4:45 just seems so early for us.

And my other question is regarding the seating. My kids would love to get splashed and I wouldn't mind but how do you sit up front if you have a F! Dinner package?

Should we switch this to FP+ and skip the dinner package?

Also grandma is traveling with us and might join us for Fantasmic, she is in a wheelchair so would we have to sit away from her? Don't think she'd like that at all so we'd like to sit close by. Is there seperate wheelchair parking with benches nearby?

If you have a FP or dinner package do you still have to sit in a seperate wheelchair spot therefore negating FP or dinner voucher?

With all of that in mind what would work best and what time should we do dinner? We are not big buffet eaters so probably one trip up and a dessert and we're done but we will want to see all the characters!

Thanks for any advice!

 

[bookgirl]

Handicapped areas are in the back at the top of the seating, splash zone at the bottom.

If you want the splash zone line up early so that when they open you can go to the lower seats.

The sections are like pie wedges that go from the bottom (splash zone) to the top of the stadium which is where you enter so every section has a front row sections (all the way down the steps), a middle, and the back rows that are less steps down and just in front of the wheel chair areas that are on the main entry level.

My mom can't do stairs and we always sit on the back or next to back row (only two steps) and the wheel chairs are right behind that.

We always do lunch with our package.

 

[Robo]

I suggest a FP+ .
What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.



If you DO get a F! FP+, you can choose to sit in either the FP section (virtually the entire left half of the theater) or the Standby section (virtually the entire right half of the theater.)

So, whatever section has the better seating at the time you arrive, you can go there.

Without a FP, you can only choose a seat in the Standby section.



There is a very good chance that you can get a FP+ for F! as a 4th or 5th FP of the day because they issue SO MANY of them (enough to cover nearly the entire left half of the seating.) On many nights, it is possible that you can gat a FP+ for F! as you are walking to the theater.



As to when to arrive at the theater, I'd get to there 45-60 minutes before the show-time.

Even with a FP or Dining Pkg. reservation, don't wait too late.



On busy nights, the CMs can stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time, and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.



There is sometimes a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.

-------------------------------------------------------------------



Map Below-

Arrows indicate the center of the seating.

Shaded areas:

(First or Only F! performance of the evening)

Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating

Red= Dining Package Reserved

Blue= FP+ Reserved

Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.



(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)

Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating

Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved

(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)

--------------------------------------

 

[Robo]

Would a 7:10 adr be enough time to do H&V and get to Fantasmic that starts at 8:30 that night?

You absolutely will NOT make that.

You want to arrive at the F! theater 45-60 minutes before show-time, with or without a Dinner Pkg... especially if you want to choose where you sit.

 

[AndiMarie]

Wow thanks a lot for all of that information and the photo! Super helpful!

Guess 4:45 dinner it will be.

And definitely will try to get a 4th FP+!

 

[MinnieMSue]

Agree with Robo - we always sit in front row of dining section and get to the show 45-60 minutes ahead of time and wait in the masses to get to dining section. We love sitting there as long as we have a jacket in cool weather. We spend the time chatting with the employee selling light up stuff. They haven't had the pre show the last couple times we were there but chatting with employees is such a joy for us.

 

[Marlyn]

Wow thanks a lot for all of that information and the photo! Super helpful!

Guess 4:45 dinner it will be.

And definitely will try to get a 4th FP+!

If you do the Fantasmic dining package, you don't need a FP for it

 

[Comeundone87]

In 2014 we did the F! Dining. When we got to the show the first few rows were empty so we sat there. I couldn't understand why no one was sitting up front. I totally forgot about the whole getting wet thing.