Fantasmic Dinner Package...any difference between the two restaurants packages?

[Granny]

I am booked for a short trip to DLR in April and want to book a Fantasmic Dinner Package to make sure my wife and I can be seated during the show. Looking at the website, they offer two restaurants (Blue Bayou and River Belle Terrace).

I see that the pricing is about $24 more for Blue Bayou than River Belle. Is this driven only by the menu being more expensive there?

Or is there something else such as better preferred seating for the show if you book Blue Bayou?

I think we would actually prefer the menu at River Bell Terrace but I don't want to regret anything as far as the show experience goes.

Thanks in advance.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

The BB package is the most centered as far as the seating area and I think you get a little cushion to sit on, as well.

There is a third option too, which is the Hungry Bear to go package. This is $30 per person. I did this last week and I felt that the seating area was fantastic as far as the view goes. In fact, if you were one of the first people to arrive to the section you could sit all the way to the right of the Hungry Bear section and you would be sitting next to people in the BB section.

 

[Geemo]

I am booked for a short trip to DLR in April and want to book a Fantasmic Dinner Package to make sure my wife and I can be seated during the show. Looking at the website, they offer two restaurants (Blue Bayou and River Belle Terrace).

I see that the pricing is about $24 more for Blue Bayou than River Belle. Is this driven only by the menu being more expensive there?

Or is there something else such as better preferred seating for the show if you book Blue Bayou?

I think we would actually prefer the menu at River Bell Terrace but I don't want to regret anything as far as the show experience goes.

Thanks in advance.

When you read the information in the dining sections for Fantasmic! Dining Packages, you see "reserved viewing area voucher ".
The term “reserved viewing area voucher” does not mean sitting on a chair or bench.
Fantasmic! viewing areas are ON GROUND SEATING.

Fantasmic! Dinner packages come in a few different options
When you go to the Disney website for ADR’s be sure you are on the correct “Dining Experience”, Service Type “Dining Event”

There will be two Dining Events for Fantasmic!

1. Fantasmic! Dining Packages (three options)
Here you’ll have an option for River Belle Terrace or Blue Bayou Restaurant.
Seating for these two will be ON THE GROUND.
1.1 The BB package generally includes a small cushion.
1.2 The RBT doesn’t provide a cushion.
1.3 For additional $25 RBT has an 8pm seating, you'll eat & sit at dining table during the show.
This is the only one I have heard of that provides you a chair.

2. Fantasmic! On The Go Package at Hungry Bear Restaurant
Seating is on the ground.

Wasn't sure if you were aware of on the ground seating for F!


Geemo

 

[Granny]

When you read the information in the dining sections for Fantasmic! Dining Packages, you see "reserved viewing area voucher ".
The term “reserved viewing area voucher” does not mean sitting on a chair or bench.
Fantasmic! viewing areas are ON GROUND SEATING.

Fantasmic! Dinner packages come in a few different options
When you go to the Disney website for ADR’s be sure you are on the correct “Dining Experience”, Service Type “Dining Event”

There will be two Dining Events for Fantasmic!

1. Fantasmic! Dining Packages (three options)
Here you’ll have an option for River Belle Terrace or Blue Bayou Restaurant.
Seating for these two will be ON THE GROUND.
1.1 The BB package generally includes a small cushion.
1.2 The RBT doesn’t provide a cushion.
1.3 For additional $25 RBT has an 8pm seating, you'll eat & sit at dining table during the show.

2. Fantasmic! On The Go Package at Hungry Bear Restaurant
Seating is on the ground.

Wasn't sure if you were aware of on the ground seating for F!


Geemo

Geemo...first of all, thank you for your detailed response.

I have to admit, I didn't know that seating meant "on the ground". And as far as ground seating goes, it sounds like BB might have a little better view and the cushion would be helpful to us.

It might work better for us to go with the RBT 8pm option to sit at a table during the show. We are celebrating our 30th anniversary during this trip so a little splurging is in order!

Thank you Geemo and @SOCALMouseMommy for the input.

 

[Wilsonfamily4]

where did you eat the hungry bear to-go box?

 

[Geemo]

Geemo...first of all, thank you for your detailed response.

I have to admit, I didn't know that seating meant "on the ground". And as far as ground seating goes, it sounds like BB might have a little better view.

It might work better for us to go with the RBT 8pm option to sit at a table during the show. We are celebrating our 30th anniversary during this trip so a little splurging is in order!

Thank you Geemo and @SOCALMouseMommy for the input.

We haven't seen the new show, so I'm learning too.

Here's a thread with more info on F! show.
I'm following this so I'll know what to do when we're there at the end of the month.

You might start a thread about the RBT 8pm dining to see how people feel about their experience with it.

Geemo

edit.... Oppps forgot to add the link to the thread
https://www.disboards.com/threads/fantasmic-dining-package-help-re-seating-locations.3660072/

 

[Granny]

You might start a thread about the RBT 8pm dining to see how people feel about their experience with it.

I'll do some searches first to see if I can find anything.

This is our first (and probably only) trip to DLR which will come after a week in Aulani. So I'm trying to plan for our very short stay and WoC and Fantasmic both look like great shows.

And thanks for the link to that thread.

 

[Athenaa]

Unless things have changed in the last few months, do not assume that buying the Blue Bayou package will get you better seating. We went in early October and were pretty frustrated when the people in the Cafe Orleans line (which had been substituted for River Belle during its refurb) got to sit down before we did. There was one big section for all of us and they let them in first. We were not happy about that. From what I understand, they chose Blue Bayou some nights and Cafe Orleans other nights. I would check the main Fantasmic thread for more recent info to see if that's still the case. It could also have been because it was the second viewing. We always do the second viewing because it's not nearly as crowded and it's easy to get great seats.

For the record, I do think it's worth it to eat at Blue Bayou if you can swing the price, especially if you like steak and lobster. The price isn't quite as painful if you order that dish. The deserts are top notch as well, and they are generous with the bread basket. The gumbo is delicious as a starter.

Ultimately, the food is excellent and the overall experience of being inside Pirates of the Caribbean is unforgettable. If you show up 15 minutes early, ask for a table by the water, and are willing to wait 20 minutes, it's totally worth it.

As for sitting on the ground, I've been sitting on that stone ground watching Fantasmic for for over 25 years and I don't think it's that bad. However, I will admit that the cushions you get with the BB package do make it a more comfortable experience.

 

[10SE]

We got these Coleman chairs for our last trip. They’re meant to go on a bleacher seat but you can put them right on the ground. They were awesome and saved our backs. I’ve done the show without them and this was a huge upgrade. They’re only $14 and they roll up pretty small. We had a stroller so it was easy for us to put them underneath. We got lots of comments from people sitting near us that they wished they’d thought of it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003399114

 

[Sith]

Unless things have changed in the last few months, do not assume that buying the Blue Bayou package will get you better seating. We went in early October and were pretty frustrated when the people in the Cafe Orleans line (which had been substituted for River Belle during its refurb) got to sit down before we did. There was one big section for all of us and they let them in first. We were not happy about that. From what I understand, they chose Blue Bayou some nights and Cafe Orleans other nights. I would check the main Fantasmic thread for more recent info to see if that's still the case. It could also have been because it was the second viewing. We always do the second viewing because it's not nearly as crowded and it's easy to get great seats.

We have done the BB Fantasmic package three times in the last three years, and will be doing our fourth next weekend. Everytime, including this next one, has been for the first showing. The BB seating has been the best section(front and center) everytime so far. Hopefully it will be that way this time, too.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The OP should be aware that reviews for the patio seating at RBT have been mixed. The view from the very front row at the railing is fine, if a bit farther back from the water. There are photos in some of the threads on this package. But others have complained that if you are seated in the rows farther back on the patio, it is hard to see because of the tables in front of you. There is no way to guarantee that you will be seated at the railing, so some people still prefer to be in the viewing areas with ground seating so that they can choose to be in the front row there.

 

[Geemo]

The OP should be aware that reviews for the patio seating at RBT have been mixed. The view from the very front row at the railing is fine, if a bit farther back from the water. There are photos in some of the threads on this package. But others have complained that if you are seated in the rows farther back on the patio, it is hard to see because of the tables in front of you. There is no way to guarantee that you will be seated at the railing, so some people still prefer to be in the viewing areas with ground seating so that they can choose to be in the front row there.

I'll do some searches first to see if I can find anything.

This is our first (and probably only) trip to DLR which will come after a week in Aulani. So I'm trying to plan for our very short stay and WoC and Fantasmic both look like great shows.

And thanks for the link to that thread.

Here's a map from Aug 2016 of the viewing areas, RBT is #6.
Before the reserved seating at RBT, we use to stake out one of those front row table to the far left corner. It gave us a place to sit for the show.
The walkway right in below front of the tables can be distracting at time as the foot traffic is marching through during the show.
Plus you'd have CM's there with flash lights keeping people from stopping to watch the show.
I'd to RBT if I knew I could get one of those spots again.

 

[Granny]

Here's a map from Aug 2016 of the viewing areas, RBT is #6.
Before the reserved seating at RBT, we use to stake out one of those front row table to the far left corner. It gave us a place to sit for the show.
The walkway right in below front of the tables can be distracting at time as the foot traffic is marching through during the show.
Plus you'd have CM's there with flash lights keeping people from stopping to watch the show.
I'd to RBT if I knew I could get one of those spots again.
View attachment 300101

This is a great help. Thank you so much!