Fantasmic Dinner Package Changes

[rocketralph]

In my experience, although you do start out leaving the way you entered, they change part of it and you end up exiting with the masses and you do not exit by the entrance. No advantage in exiting for us.

I agree too. That was the only thing I didn't like about the FDP.

 

[2ofUs]

We found the same thing - you enter seperately but depart together. It was crowded but we waited just a few minutes for the big crunch to depart and then the walk was slower paced.

Special pixie dust was sprinkled on us though. We had booked the dinner package and cancelled it to save $$$. We booked a regular lunch at HBD and split our VKL coupons (2 couples). I asked the waiter how much ahead of time we should stand in the regular line and he said about an hour. (There was only one show at 7pm on our night and they begin letting people in at 5pm.) Before we left our dinning table, our waiter brought us a blue card for the "Dinner Package" admission. He saw it was Jim's birthday and they were from Iowa as was he, so he gave them the 'gift' of special admission.

When went to the package gate at around 5:45 there was a CM standing there and no one else. She opened the gate and used her walkie-talkie to call ahead and said "we have our first guests - give them their choice of seats please." So cool. The center section was already full, but there happened to be 'handicapped seating' off to the right (but not as far over as the dinner package) that had a wall behind it - just perfect for leaning back. Jan has a bad knee and we had made arrangements for a wheelchair to take her back down from the show (also through the gate CM) so we asked if we could sit there. Again we were told take 'any seats you want' so we did. The large support pole somewhat obstructed the view, but for the comfort of having something to lean on, it was a great trade-off.

We had a BUNCH of pixie dust moments on this trip - things happened that have NEVER happened in any other trips. Absolutely a perfect (and then some) trip all round!

 

[allisonwonderland]

how early should you show up IF u have the dinner package?i have no idea what time the show is...I guess that will show up later..anyway...say the show STARTS at 9 pm,,what time should I make the PS for AND when should we leave the restaraunt in order to make ths show?thanks!!!

 

[rocketralph]

I believe they have different times depend on the season. Normally, the Winter months they'll close the park earlier during the week day.

 

[beattyfamily]

how early should you show up IF u have the dinner package?i have no idea what time the show is...I guess that will show up later..anyway...say the show STARTS at 9 pm,,what time should I make the PS for AND when should we leave the restaraunt in order to make ths show?thanks!!!

The waiter will tell you to show up 45 minutes before but you can probably get away with 30 minutes before because we have. But the later you show up, the further to the right you'll be.

So if you have a show at 9:00p, show up at the special entrance between 8:15p and 8:30p.

 

[SnowWhiteIsDreaming]

I have a 4:20 fantasmic package PS at the H&V, but wanted to make it later due to eating lunch at the Sci-Fi earlier in the day (4:20 is a little early for dinner for me!). I am going to call at the 60 day mark and 30 day mark to see if anything later opens up. Fantasmic is at 8:30 and 10:00 that night; we will be going to the 8:30 show since we have little kids. What is the latest PS we could get and still get good seats for the 8:30 show? Do you think 6:00 is a good time to try and get? Or is that too late?

-Karen

 

[beattyfamily]

I have a 4:20 fantasmic package PS at the H&V, but wanted to make it later due to eating lunch at the Sci-Fi earlier in the day (4:20 is a little early for dinner for me!). I am going to call at the 60 day mark and 30 day mark to see if anything later opens up. Fantasmic is at 8:30 and 10:00 that night; we will be going to the 8:30 show since we have little kids. What is the latest PS we could get and still get good seats for the 8:30 show? Do you think 6:00 is a good time to try and get? Or is that too late?

-Karen

Nothing will open up before 30 days out...for me it was at 25 day out. Last August the Fantasmic showing was 8:30p also. We had 4:20p and then I finally got a later time at 25 days. I got 6:30p and we still had time to kill before heading in to the show. They won't let you book anything later so you won't be late for the show.

 

[justhat]

Fantasmic is at 8:30 when we're there and the latest PS we could get was 3:40. We called at the 90 day mark and again when teh park hours were released, and on our 2nd call we were told 4pm was the latest and was sold out. So we'll be calling again at the 30 day mark and everyday thereafter thanks to you beattyfamily, in hopes we can get something later. I'd be thrilled with 4:20 though at this point!

 

[allisonwonderland]

well...can ua actually make a LUNCH request and STILL get the coupns for the show?This would make my panning easier.....if we can do lunch there,,,and have time after to spend it the park and still get to see the show,,,that would be great,,thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[justhat]

No, they'll only do the package for dinner.

 

[crash4895]

Is that just the way it always is? At the 90 day mark, we can expect a fairly unreasonably early dinner time? Is it a fairly certain thing that later times will open up at the 30 day mark?
Sam
Austin, TX

 

[beattyfamily]

Is that just the way it always is? At the 90 day mark, we can expect a fairly unreasonably early dinner time? Is it a fairly certain thing that later times will open up at the 30 day mark?
Sam
Austin, TX

In my experience the last year and in reading others experience here on the DIS yes, it's the case. They release some really early times at 90 days and for some reason open up the rest at around 30 days.

It has happened that way for me twice now. Last August and last October. There was a thread on this very subject back then. Many had the same experience.

 

[offtheice]

In my experience the last year and in reading others experience here on the DIS yes, it's the case. They release some really early times at 90 days and for some reason open up the rest at around 30 days.

It has happened that way for me twice now. Last August and last October. There was a thread on this very subject back then. Many had the same experience.

Now I just called today for the entire week of april 21 to may 2 and was told they are sold out every night? Is this true or do I have to wait?

 

[beattyfamily]

Now I just called today for the entire week of april 21 to may 2 and was told they are sold out every night? Is this true or do I have to wait?

Well, it isn't 30 days yet right? I would try at 30 days and each day after 30 days.

I booked at 90 days a very early time. I read here that they open up later times at about 30 days out and for me it was day 25 and I had a few choices.

So give it a try. It's been the case that Disney holds some later times for Fantasmic and releases them at about 30 days. For me it was 25 days.

Good luck

 

[justhat]

We were basically told that weeks ago, around 10 weeks before those dates (I think we're going 4/24). We have a 3:40, which was the latest time available for the FDP at BD and we booked at the 90 day mark. When we called back 2 weeks later (when park hours came out) they said they had a 4pm, but it was all booked. So we're hoping the 30 day mark brings us some later times.

 

[MazdaUK]

We've got a 4.00 and I don't hink it will be a problem - we'll have a huge breakfast that morning and snack until 4.00, then stuff ourselves at H&V and walk it off until we can go into Fantasmic.

We'll still be converting from UK time so will be well ready for food!

 

[antbritt]

I just got off the phone with WDW dining and the CM said that they had opened up more times for the time frame iw ill be at disney! I got a PS for Mama melrose .
YEA!

I will be there in 21 Days

 

[elsa2304]

For as much as you are spending on the Fantasmic dinner package, you could do so much more! When we do Fantasmic, we have one person go in and save seats, and then we take turns rotating so that we aren't all being bored. But there are always fun people to talk to around. Besides, you save a lot of money and get to decide where, when and what you eat!

 

[justhat]

I agree that it costs a lot, but we'll be with our 1yo daughter, so waiting 2 hours (like we used to cause my husband wanted prime seats) is no longer an option for us. So I'm thrilled to be doing the FDP-makes life so much easier!

 

[missypie]

I followed the steps to get CRT and got a CM at 6 am on the nose with no wait...but still a 4 pm PS was the latest available.