Fantasmic Dinner Package Changes

[crystalrp]

I called this week to make my PSs. We are staying for 11 nights, and the only night available for the FDP was our arrival day. Fantasmic is being shown twice that night. He had an opening at Hollywood and Vine for 6:30. I was worried that this was for the 10:00 showing of Fantasmic, but the CM said no it was for the 8:30. He told me that most nights, when Fantasmic is being shown once, the package books quickly because they only seat people till 4:30. Not sure why I was able to get the 6:30, but, hey, I wasn't complaining!!

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Luv4Disney and crystalrp, please call and verify that you were booked for the Fantasmic Dinner Package. I did my PS's for my trip the first week of June last night and was told that the only times that were being offered were between 3:00 and 4:30. I told the CM that I had read of later times beginning Memorial Day week-end here on the Dis and she said she hoped that they were actually FDP's and not regular PS's because her screen was showing only as late as 4:30 even though there were plenty of PS's available and two shows showing on the night I wanted.

Just a heads-up. They may be, but I know how disappointed you would be if you found out at check-in that they aren't.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I just got Fantasmic package for Hollywood and Vine at 6:30 also.

 

[Terry S]

I sounds like it depends on the restaurant.

 

[alex19951]

We are going in April and would like to know if we can take food into the show? With two little ones we would rather not pay for a meal they will not eat but, if we can get food and they can eat during the show that would work well for us. Once inside can you leave and come back?

Is this a show you have to pay extra for? We have never gone to this and have lots of questions.

Thanks so much!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Alex, it is included in the park admission. I sent you a PM.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

I called again on Sunday, 3/14 and was told that 4:30 was the latest available. I asked the CM to check on 5/30 since it is a holiday week end and would have two shows. There are two shows, but still, 4:30 was the latest FDP in the computer. Unless you are going through Magical Gatherings or some other system, you may not actually be getting the FDP. I am only suggesting that you beware and confirm before it is too late.

Alex, Fantasmic is a great show, but be advised that it is a multi-media presentation with pyrotechnics that include fireworks and well, fire. There is a scene with a 25 foot mechanical dragon that sets the lake on fire (it is in front of the stage and in close proximity to the audience) and there are several scenes with loud thunderous explosions. If your kids aren't too young or aren't too frightened by loud noises they will really enjoy it.

There are two consession stands in the amphitheatre that sell hot dogs, pop corn, pretzels, beer, and soft drinks and there are venders that roam the stands with pop-corn, beer, and soft drinks. There are also rest rooms at the rear of the amphitheatre so you may not need to leave once you enter, but you can. You may also bring food into the amphitheatre. You will pass the Anahiem Produce on your way to the front entrance (only non-FDP entrance) to the amphitheatre.

 

[emmasammy]

The way the cm explained it to me today is... the farther out your request is for fantasmic the chances are they have not opened up any later seatings yet at (i.e.) Hollywood & Vine. As the time drawers closer to your trip the chances are the later seatings may open up and become available for the dates you are traveling.

 

[emmasammy]

Thats draw's not drawers....Sorry!

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Well, I'll keep calling back and see if anything opens up closer to my trip. Being the week after Memorial Day, there is certain to be two shows and I would be happy with the second show.

 

[simbaru4]

I do not see a time for the fantasmic dinner show during the week I am attending DW. My plan was to go to this show the last night we are there which would be 8/2804. Does anyone know if there will be a show that evening and approx what time it will be? Thanks, Janice

 

[mbelec]

I called to book for May 30 and was told there were two Fantasmic shows - at 9 and 10:30 pm. Was also told that the latest I could book dinner would be 4:30. However, the latest "available" was 4:10, so I took it, at Mama's. Maybe I'll keep trying for a cancellation, or perhaps more times will open up as it gets closer. If not, we'll do a snack for lunch and hold ourselves out for an early dinner, hit the park for more fun, then queue up for Fantasmic! Maybe they do take out . . .

 

[cudworth]

Don't worry for our easter trip this year all I could get was 4.10 and not on the day I wanted when i phoned 90 days in advance
so i booked it I phone back on the 19th of march and got 5.00 at H&V for the day I wanted.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

simbaru4, there is a Fantasmic show every night. It begins at the same time as park closing. During the busiest times of the year, usually Holiday Season and Peak Summer Season, there is a second show with one show at sunset and a second at park closing. It seems like there may be a third show at 10:00 or 10:30 the week of July 4th and maybe Christmas, but that's always too late for our kids, so I don't keep up with them.

Originally, you could make your FDP dinner for as late as you wanted and go to the earlier show or eat early and go to the second show. You gave your credit card number to hold your PS and would be charged whether you showed up for your dinner or not.

Later, you could make your FDP for a normal dinner time and go to the second show (when offered) and you were given a voucher when you checked in at the podium for your PS or you were given the voucher by your server to get in at Oscar's garage up to 30 minutes before the show time.

Now, it would seem, you have to either make a PS for a rediculously early dinner time and are limited to the earliest show or wait 'til just about the last minute and risk not getting a PS at all during busy season to get a reasonable dinner time. Seems you are being penalized for planning ahead.

 

[emmasammy]

It seems very strange to me that for months now I have been calling regularly, sometimes daily, to be told the same thing. I can book either 3:30, 4:10 or 4:30 for dinner at Hollywood & Vine. How many times and how many people can have reservations for the same times? It is always quoted to me one of these times. MInd you I did book a 4:30 (the latest available) but I have been in this restaurant and it seems impossible to hold as many people as I see getting the same quoted times here. and I always ask regarding the same date....The only other possibility is maybe we will be waiting another hour when we get there. I will keep calling to see if a later time opens.

 

[CaseyJr]

This is the first I've heard of this package, and now that I've been reading your posts, I'm lost....

Would someone mind sort of starting at the beginning and explain what the package is suppose to be about? Then, the later posts might make more sense to me.

Thanks a bunch!

 

[JoshMom5]

The Fantasmic dinner package allows you to get seats in the reserved section at Fantasmic. There are 3 restaurants that offer the package currently, Hollywood and Vine, Mama Melrose, and Brown Derby-I believe. Currently the PS times for the package end at 4:30 PM at the latest but sometimes WDW opens up the PS times for later.
The benefit is that for the price of the dinner (you have to eat anyway), you don't have to get in line so early for seats.

I hope I explained it good enough. I am sure there are others more knowledgable that can fill in more details.

 

[CaseyJr]

Thanks, JoshMom5! Just the simplicity I need. So, basically, you buy a meal which gives you tickets to use later for seating at FANTASMIC. The time of the meal and the FANTASMIC seatings are independent of one another, so the time of the meal doesn't have to coincide with with show (with 4:30 PS, how could they coincide -- LOL!). It also seems that you still have to show up reasonably early for FANTASMIC to get good seats, even in the "special" section, right? What, 60 min. or so? And it's first-come, first-served, so don't wait til the last minute and expect a seat?

OK. Think I've got it. "When" we eat isn't that important for us, but "where" might be. It will be Mom and 8 1/2 y/o DS. Which rest. would be more likely to cater to the palate of a young boy?

 

[JoshMom5]

We are 2 families with 7 people all together. We chose H&V mostly because it was the least expensive. It is a buffet also so there should be a lot to choose from.

You don't line up for the reserved section seats at the main entrance, you go to a separate entrance near a place called Oscar's and it is recommended at least 30 minutes, although we are planning on getting there 45-60 minutes ahead of the 9PM show.

I think if you go the the allearsnet.com website, they have the menus listed for the restaurant Fantasmic packages if you want to check it out before choosing one.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

JoshMom5, unless you are one of the odd few lucky enough to be given a FDP specifically for a later show (something that I have been unable to achieve for our June trip), you will only be able to attend the first show of the evening with the FDP. This has been the frustration for so many of us, we can only get a ridiculously early dinner time and seating for the first show when there are two shows on the dates that many of us want to attend.

I would much prefer to go to the 9:00 show and a 6:00 dinner time or even have my PS for after the first showing (they used to do this), but the FDP is only for the 6:30 or 7:00 show. This is the only reason I can figure that the PS's are for such early times: to give you time to eat a quick dinner and still have 30 minutes to get to Oscar's Garage to enter.

You would think that Disney would be a little more considerate of their patrons that are guaranteeing dinner business and let us have the "privilege" of going to the later Fantasmic.