Fantasmic Dinner package- 50's prime time?

[cottontail]

Hi: I know that hollywood and vine, brown derby and mama melroses are involved with the fantasmic dinner package. Is the 50's prime time also one of the fantasmic dinner packages?

Deb.

 

[MomofKatie]

No, 50's Prime Time and Sci Fi aren't included in the Fantasmic pkg. Just the places you mentioned- Mama Melrose, Hollywood & Vine, and Brown Derby.

 

[GreatLakes5]

No, 50's Prime Time and Sci Fi aren't included in the Fantasmic pkg. Just the places you mentioned- Mama Melrose, Hollywood & Vine, and Brown Derby.

We'll be heading to MGM for the first time (EVER - for me and kids anyway) this August/September. DS11 has Fantasmic at the top of his list for what he wants to see at MGM. Knowing how very important this is for him, would doing the Fantastmic package somehow be more advantageous for us? We are doing H&V for lunch and had planned a CS for dinner. Is it that tough to get in to the show and should we suck it up and change things around to get the package?

Any advice?
(We'll be eating as a party of five - DH, Me, DS11, DS8, DD6)
Thanks!

 

[cottontail]

Hi: I would definitely change it around to do the Hollywood and Vine for supper.

We did the fantasmic dinner package a couple of years for the first time, the show was great by the way. It was so easy, ate at Hollywood and Vine, early around 5:00 lots of choices, and after made our way to the stadium no problems good seats. The show must have been around 7.30 as it was december and was dark early.

Deb.

 

[Captn Jack Sparrow]

the nice thing about the dinner package is that you can enjoy the park a little longer because you don't have to stand in line for the show. I have seen a line start two hours before show time.

I am going to do the Dinner package the next time I go because of my youngest DS that way there is no waiting in line.

 

[ColleenLovesMinnie]

We did the Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic package last year and I have to say this was the one issue of our whole trip that annoyed me

After dinner we walked over to the show and found a great seat in the reserved section. Even though we knew we had reserved seats we got there early enough to allow time before the show. About 5 mins. before the show started and 5 mins after it started people were coming into the theater and the CM's were making all those in the reserved section squeeze together to fit them in. It kind of annoyed me because we paid for the Fantasmic package and allowed ourselves the extra time, yet spent the entire show crammed into our seats - in fact, my5 yo DD was so squished she ended up sitting on my lap, which wasn't very comfortable for either of us.

Sorry to vent but it was the only part of our trip that was less than magical!

 

[jobie61]

We did the Hollywood and Vine Fantasmic package last year and I have to say this was the one issue of our whole trip that annoyed me

After dinner we walked over to the show and found a great seat in the reserved section. Even though we knew we had reserved seats we got there early enough to allow time before the show. About 5 mins. before the show started and 5 mins after it started people were coming into the theater and the CM's were making all those in the reserved section squeeze together to fit them in. It kind of annoyed me because we paid for the Fantasmic package and allowed ourselves the extra time, yet spent the entire show crammed into our seats - in fact, my5 yo DD was so squished she ended up sitting on my lap, which wasn't very comfortable for either of us.

Sorry to vent but it was the only part of our trip that was less than magical!

So its all about you !!! I'm sure Disney is sorry you had to be Inconvenienced in any way shape or form to allow others the opportunity to see Fantasmic.

You should be a shamed of yourself.

 

[NEWEARS2006]

I'm going to MGM on Aug 27th. Is there still a show at 8:30 and 10:00 pm. I booked the Sci-Fi for dinner because I was thinking that the crowds were not big this time of year especially at the 10:00 pm show. Am I wrong? How early do we need to get in line for the late show?

 

[jobie61]

There will only be one show..... Usually 8:00 - 8:30 I believe at that time of year.

Just don't sit near ColleenLovesMinnie

We don't want to ruin her Fantasmic Dinner Package.

 

[Ragnrok23]

If your going the last week of August, I wouldn't change. (esp if they have 2 shows one night and you go to the 2nd)

As long as you get there 30-45 minutes early at that time of year, I don't see a problem of seeing the show

FYI- It is my favorite nightime show

 

[beattyfamily]

I've done the package several times (end of August, Sept, end of Oct, end of Nov and beginning of December) because I was 'afraid' of a line. I didn't know any better and I was afraid of the unknown.

Well, after eating at H&V and MM many times, we decided to enjoy 50's Prime time and Sci-fi so we tried Fantasmic without the package the end of August and also again the end of October. Both times we arrived about 1 hour before the show and much to my surprise the stadium was open (no line) and there were plenty of great seats so both times without the package we had the best seats ever; right in the center, half way back. I then realized that if I go off season, there's no need for the package.

I have never ever seen a 2 hour line but I go off season. A two hour line might happen during school vacations, holidays or in June/July.

The seats for the package folks are not better seats, they are just guaranteed seats, till 30 minutes before. Eventually, they will open them up to the general public if there are guests that still need seats. The package seats are to the far right. The waitress will tell you to get to the special Fantasmic package entrance by 45 minutes before the show.

If it rains and Fantasmic is canceled you are out of luck and will not be able to use your Fantasmic package voucher on another night. At least you had a good meal though.

Have fun planning!

 

[byoung]

Great choice.

 

[jayandstacey]

There will only be one show..... Usually 8:00 - 8:30 I believe at that time of year.

Just don't sit near ColleenLovesMinnie

We don't want to ruin her Fantasmic Dinner Package.

Gotta disagree with you.
The expectation with a Fantasmic package is that you get dinner and reserved seating. While no one would expect the reserved seating to be plush, it should still be reserved, and wasn't. It might even be tight amongst those who had reservations - but should still be reserved.

Jobie - what if you paid for your park admission, and near the end of the day you still had a few attractions you wanted to see. Then Disney (or a CM) decides at 6pm to open the gates - free admission - and a pile of people come in. Now you end up standing in lines that didn't exist before and maybe missing some of the items on your list.

As a paying guest, you don't have an expectation of short lines, but you DO have the right to expect that you are getting what you paid for - and not to get less in favor of a bunch of non-payers who came in at the last minute.

Colleen has evey right to be peeved. And Disney should take note. I was considering the package, but what is the point? I'll keep my money in my pocket and get the seats anyway. I'm fairly sure that Disney would rather I part with an additional $100 than worry that someone who didn't make reservations has a good seat.

Disney isn't a charity. It is a business. If you don't pay, you aren't owed squat.

 

[jayandstacey]

The seats for the package folks are not better seats, they are just guaranteed seats, till 30 minutes before. Eventually, they will open them up to the general public if there are guests that still need seats. The package seats are to the far right. The waitress will tell you to get to the special Fantasmic package entrance by 45 minutes before the show.

OK, reserved and guaranteed are different. Still, Disney should know better than to pack in people like how Colleen describes, especially in a section that is designated for those who have guaranteed Disney a nice food sale.

 

[MomofKatie]

jayandstacy, ITA. That's why we haven't bothered with the pkg. We can get better seats with less waiting by just going during the not-so-busy season. Seems like the pkg people pay all that extra $$ for pretty much no reason- especially when non pkg holders are allowed in to practically squeeze them out at the last minute.

 

[ColleenLovesMinnie]

Thanks jayandstacey and jen for understanding my point of view. I am not begrudging anyone a seat or the right to view Fantasmic - my point was that I endured a mediocre buffet at Hollywood and Vine thinking I would have a decent seat at the show in a reserved section. Had I known they open those seats to the general public I probably would have skipped the package and gotten there early and taken my chances. This was our first time experiencing Fantasmic and I wanted to make sure my kids had a decent viewing spot. I had heard horror stories about people showing up 2 hours ahead of time to secure a seat and I was just erring on the side of caution. Now I know better!

Again, I'm sorry if I gave the impression that I deserved a better seat than anyone else - I was just expecting to get what I paid for.

 

[Kdog]

Again, I'm sorry if I gave the impression that I deserved a better seat than anyone else - I was just expecting to get what I paid for.

I didn't think your post sounded snooty at all. I never did the Fantasmic package because I have heard others mention that same problem with the reserved seating. If I am doing a special package, I would expect that the seats would be in a reserved seating section.

 

[ColleenLovesMinnie]

I didn't think your post sounded snooty at all. I never did the Fantasmic package because I have heard others mention that same problem with the reserved seating. If I am doing a special package, I would expect that the seats would be in a reserved seating section.

Thanks!!

 

[Rustysmom]

I'm glad I'm not doing the Fantasmic package then.

 

[beattyfamily]

While I understand Coleen's frustration, I also understand why Disney might open up that section to everyone after 30 minutes if they felt they needed to.

If the stadium is standing room only and there's still room in the package section then (within 30 minutes before the show) they will seat folks who are standing in the stadium.

Like I said in my original post when I was describing the Fantasmic package and whether its worth doing or not, you are guaranteed a seat only up until 30 minutes before. After that, they can, and sometimes do, open it up to the non-package folks....rather than make people stand while there are still empty seats available in that section.

The package seats are no longer guaranteed after 30 minutes before the show and you are not guaranteed that it will not become a tight squeeze. That's just how it is.

I've done the package many times, (off season) and we've never been squashed together like that. It probably only happens once in awhile, during busier nights.

The package can still be worth it if you want to be guaranteed a seat in buiser times of the year. You just have to realize its a popular show and the stadium just may be full to capacity.