Fantasmic Dinner Package Changes

[justhat]

Yes, they do close the park-no food or rides are open, but you're still able to see the Lights if you want to. I think it's a nice time to see them cause it's usually not as crowded since most of the park is gone. Plus, when you're finished with the lights and get to the bus/boat there isn't a huge line waiting ahead of you.

 

[spitfire]

We're going to WDW 12/22 to 12/29 and were able to book ALL of our ADR's today for our entire stay. We did inform them that we're on the Dining Plan and we were able to book the Fantasmic Dinner at Hollywood/Vine....which we were going to eat at anyway. We also booked our sleigh ride at Wilderness Lodge today, even though we were tole we couldn't book it until 10/24 previously. It's so nice knowing I'm done with making ohone calls. Merry Christmas to me!!

 

[Belle5]

We're going to WDW 12/22 to 12/29 and were able to book ALL of our ADR's today for our entire stay. We did inform them that we're on the Dining Plan and we were able to book the Fantasmic Dinner at Hollywood/Vine....which we were going to eat at anyway. We also booked our sleigh ride at Wilderness Lodge today, even though we were tole we couldn't book it until 10/24 previously. It's so nice knowing I'm done with making ohone calls. Merry Christmas to me!!

Wow! Sounds great! Did you have to pay a deposit on the sleigh ride?

 

[spitfire]

No, we only had to "reserve" it with a credit card. We'll get charged if we don't cancel within 24hrs or we "no show".

 

[twinkle]

I have a question. I don't know if this was answered all ready.

I am trying to book a ADR and the week I wanted it they are all booked up at the H&V. I was trying to book a Fantasmic pkg.

Is it different if I just say I want to book a dinner res instead of a Fantasmic pkg? Would I be able to still get a voucher to get into Fantasmic without waiting in line?

Or wait for a couple of days before I leave and try to book then?

Thanks for any info.

 

[spitfire]

I'm not sure. I said upfront that I wanted the Fantasmic pkg and told them my time frame (I wanted to eat between 4:30 and 5:30). They had multiple openings. I guess you could try it one way and if that doesn't work ,try it the other way. I also wonder if you hung up and called back and got another person on the opposite end, maybe you'd have different results? Then again, there's your phone bill!

 

[TAKitty]

I wonder what is going on? I easily got the Fantasmic dinner package for December 10 at Mama Melrose. I had three times to pick from. I was worried that it would be full. While I know that I can just walk into the show, my DH HATES lines.

 

[MyGoofyfamilyandme]

Hi we book our Fantasmic Dinning package at H&V and we used our dinning plan and we didn't pay for anything but i'm changing it from H&V to MR's casue i'm not to found of H&V food.

 

[stimpsy]

wow...

 

[Mazzy]

I rang to book the Fantasmic Package (Hollywood and Vine) for New Years Eve and the latest reservation time they could give me was 4.20 which is a lot earlier than we had planned to eat. I booked it anyway, just so we have something, and they said to ring back Nov 5/6th and they should have later times available. They didn't know what times Fantasmic was on that night yet either.

I really hope we get a later seating. Anyone else who has booked for New Years Eve - what time did you get?

Thanks

 

[scanr]

I agree with the suggestion above that you try another CM as they often will provide different answers.

But I also would encourage you not to stress too much over this. If 4:30 is the latest you can get, go with the flow. Take your afternoon break a little earlier, eat at 4:30 and then hit some rides before the show. This is actually a very good time for rides as many people are trying to dine at 5:30-7:00 so the lines can be substantially shorter. Really, an hour or so doesn't make that much difference.

In our experience, we find that by having an early morning breakfast (7-7:30) and a late morning lunch (11:30 or so) we are definately ready for dinner by 4:30-5:00!

Planning a trip, for me, is at least half the fun of our vacation so I can appreciate your wanting everything perfect. You set out a basic plan - know which parks to hit and when - set your PS times - get the best prices you can on hotels and park passes - then you go forth and enjoy. Sometimes the best things about a trip are the little unplanned surprises. You'll have a wonderful time because after all in the grand scheme of things, IT'S DISNEY WORLD - how could life get any better?

Newbie Question that I can't find in threads. What is the suggested latest time to reserve for BD/FTasmic Pkg? I realize it depends on the time of FT, but how do you find out FT time? Our stay is 12/27, 28, 29/05. Thank-you.

 

[NancyK]

Looks like there will be 3 Fantasmic showings/night while you are there. I've heard that the Fantasmic Dinner Package is only good for the first showing but I'm not sure about that.

 

[Disney Girlie-Wirlie]

Yeah, when I was there in May, there was a show at 8 and a show at 10, we wanted to reserve the show at ten with our dinner package but the girl told us it's only good for the show at 8.

 

[rocketralph]

Disney Girlie-Wirlie,
I see you are a veteran of the Big Red Boat. Have you thought of taking a real Disney Cruise?

 

[genmasjoy]

I just tried to book a Fantasmic dinner package on December 21 or 22 and was told they are already all reserved. I am really disappointed as we are taking our 2 year old granddaughter and don't want to have to wait in a huge line for a long time to see Fantasmic. Is it possible they may have cancellations?

 

[2ofUs]

genmasjoy -

It is always POSSIBLE that they will have cancellations. However, I can suggest an alternative.

One of the adults in your party can stand in the waiting line while your grandaughter and the other(s) do a little shopping or go on a ride. There is no rule of which I am aware saying you cannot 'hold' a couple of seats inside the theatre. If there is a LONG wait in the line, you can trade off adults to relieve the boredom.

And, it really isn't necessary to be at the very FRONT of the line. The theatre is quite roomy and they fill from the center left, then center right, then next to center left and next to center right, and so on until all seats are filled. CM's consistently ask people to scoot over and make room for others, so there are some good seats available even after 100's have entered.

We used the package and were the first ones seated. Once the inital 'burst' of those waiting in the non-package line entered, things slowed down a bit and people came in at a slower but steady pace. HOWEVER, there were plenty of good seating areas after that initial entry - and we had seen how long the line was before they let them in - nearly down to the end of the street.

I guess my point is, even waiting in line is not a bad option if you have a plan. Don't plan to be the first in line as it isn't necessary, but do plan to have someone wait while you entertain your grandaughter elsewhere.

Even if the line goes in before you get back there, it is NOT that tough to find someone inside. Have the appointed 'line waiter' carry a red hanky or something bright that they can wave so you see them.

And CM's really are quite helpful and friendly - as long as you don't get to pushy or rude with them. And we KNOW that no DISboarders would do that, right?

 

[bigmac5]

We were there Sept 1. which was probably less busy. We were given a pass from H&V for the "prefered seating". That area is about 1/4 of the whole seating. It is the right section of the seating(facing the show)There is still a lot of seating, and if you don't get in on the package you have a chance at sitting in the centre if you get in line early. When we there peolple got seats right until the show started. Also when we were there the CM's got people doing the wave, but they had us doing it fast, slow, with hand claps etc. I dont know if this happens every night but it also helps to pass the time and was a lot of fun

 

[speakupjc]

A CM told me that they release some new times 30 days out. You may want to call 30 days before your trip. Good Luck!

 

[Marthasor]

Hi! I have an FDP reservation on 12/16 at HBD at 4 p.m. and I am wondering if I really need or want it now. I am so afraid that no one is going to want to eat then and they are going to want to skip it and then I am going to be out of a deposit. It looks like Fantasmic will start at 7 p.m. that night. Assuming I can even get another ADR in MGM at this point, what is the latest time you would make a regular ADR in MGM and still make sure you could get in the regular line for the show? Thanks everyone!

 

[2ofUs]

During our trips to WDW we generally eat a light-bite in our room and get an early start at the parks. If we have an early dinner planned, we eat a late breakfast or early lunch (10:45-11:00 am) in the parks, or simply snack at lunch so we have a good appetite for an early dinner.

After a day of zipping around the parks, most people are ready to eat an early dinner, unless of course you are late starters. But still it shouldn't be too difficult to adjust by snacking - and there are PLENTY of good munchies at WDW. Or carry a few nibble items with you to save funds.

I promise you will burn a LOT of calories at WDW. Though we seldom eat more than 2 meals a day at WDW, when we do eat I consume a lot and still usually come home 5 pounds lighter! Guess I should get more exercise at home and then maybe I could get back into some of my smaller sized clothes, huh?