Fantasmic Dinner Package Changes

[EEyorelover22]

Stars in Cars parade? I need to call tomarrow for the package but we really want to see this parade.

Check your date on the Disney World site. In June, I think they are all at 5:30, but it moves times.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...ex?id=MGMCalendarDailyViewPage&date=6/12/2005

 

[grandma jan]

I got the ps for 4:00 pm so I hope that gives us time to eat and see the parade. I may try to call back closer to time and see if lunch opens or a later seating for dinner. I just hope that parade is at 5:30.

 

[beattyfamily]

I got the ps for 4:00 pm so I hope that gives us time to eat and see the parade. I may try to call back closer to time and see if lunch opens or a later seating for dinner. I just hope that parade is at 5:30.

They won't let you do a lunch with the Fantasmic package. Depending on your Fantasmic time you can book between 4:00p and till about 2 hours before the show. I got a 6:30 for an 8:30p show but I had to call at 25 days for that later time to open up. I was able to see the parade.

The restaurants are very close to the parade route.

 

[UrsulasShadow]

Is this sticky still relevant? The date seems old, and don't have the patience to go back all 53 pages...

 

[John's Mom]

I would like to do the Fantasmic Dinner Package at the Hollywood Brown Derby. I am also considering the Magic Your Way Dining Plan. Does anyone know if it is possible to combine the two?

Kathy

 

[Midgettdawg]

I was told while making reservations for the Fantasmic priority seating option at Hollywood and Vine that I would NOT be able to use the Dinning Package to pay.

 

[spectrums]

I called last night and they were booking the Fantasmic packages for H&V, if anyone is interested! (But just FYI - they also told me no Disney Dining Package - which isn't right IMHO)

 

[Pixie]

Does anyone have a current price for Fantasmic?

 

[MaryannF]

There is no cost associated with viewing the Fantasmic show, anyone can line up and see the show for free. People who want to sit in a reserved seating section for the show and not line up for hours take advantage of the Fantasmic dinner packages at various restaurants within MGM. The cost associated with the dinner package is for the meal only. The cost of the meals depend on which restaurant you choose. At the end of the meal you are given a pass that allows you to enter the show through a different entrance, about 30-45 minutes before the show, that takes you to a reserved seating section.

 

[2ofUs]

During our last trip in February, we had a Magical Moment with regard to the Fantasmic show. There were 4 of us all together, myself, DH, and Jan & Jim, a couple from Iowa with whom we vacation yearly. They were also 1st time WDW guests.

We had planned to use the dinner package, but decided we really wanted to use our Lunch Vouchers and eat at Hollywood Brown Derby. We were 2 couples and we always split meals, so this was a cost saver for us.

As it happens, this day was also Jim's 60th birthday. Our server that afternoon was a young man from Iowa so Jan & Jim struck up quite a conversation with him. I mentioned to him we had cancelled the dinner package (originally scheduled for Mama Melrose) because Jim wanted to eat here for his birthday. About 5 minutes later he returned to the table and gave me a "Dinner Package Seating Pass" for that evening. It was his gift to us for coming to HBD.

Mind you, this wasn't during busy season (second week in February) but we had seen people lined up to enter the show BEFORE we came in to dinner at 3:30 p.m. (the show was for 7:00 pm that night).

We presented our pass at the entry gate by Oscar's at around 6:00 p.m. and happened to be the "1st guests" of the day at that entrance. They called ahead to tell the people at the other end to let us sit WHEREVER we wanted!

We opted to sit slightly off-center at the top - right in front of a wall upon which we could lean back! There was a pole down front that slightly obscured our view, but the relief of having back support was well worth it! These seats (there is another area just like it on the left side of the arena) happen to be in the handicap section, but Jan has a knee problem and the CM's were really pleasant about letting us sit there regardless. The handicap section is the last to fill and just before the show they usually allow others to take empty seats anyway.

It was great fun talking to the CM's as they directed other guests to seating areas - NONE OF WHICH ARE BAD. We also got well acquainted with the couple in front of us that was from Las Vegas.

One down side of top-row, aisle seating was discovered when a 'gentleman' slopped his beer onto DH as he was bumped by a small child. The stairs get very crowded and people are looking around to pick seats instead of looking where they are walking. Sad part was the guy didn't even realize what had happened so there was no apology. But, DH is a wonderful guy with a great sense of humor. He casually lift up his beer drenched arm, sniffed to see what had been spilt, then pretended to gleefully lick his arm!

All in all it was a terrific night. I do suggest WAITING in your seats for a few minutes until the departing crowd thins down. All these people leaving at once, and many of them having to sort through the strollers, etc., causes a LOT OF CONGESTION on the downhill path. You can accidentally get VERY FRIENDLY with the people around you in the maddening crunch at departure time. We stood and chatted for about 5-6 minutes and it was much easier to navigate our way out.

Sorry to write such a long post, but just wanted to share our Magical Moment!

 

[MickeyMacks]

Glad I found this thread. I've decided not to do a dinner package first week of December and just to go up the hill about 45 minutes before the show. We'll be on the dining plan so if the dinner package isn't included, I'm not paying for it!

 

[Goofy_Rocks]

We did the fantasmic dining pkg last Oct and it was great! The park was really crowded but we were able to get great seats b/c of the pkg.

My question is this. We're planning on going Dec 12-18. Will it be necessary to do the fantasmic pkg again to get good seats. This year we will have 3 kids - DD5, DS3, DD1. I don't want to wait in line for an hour w/ 3 kids!

 

[cheerbop]

I am interested in this question also. We are going the same time in early to mid dec. I do NOT ant to wait in line forever...we only have 2 kids compared to your 3 . our youngest will only be 1, also !

AND, WHY won't Disney put this on the plan? Seems not to make sense, the restaurants ARE on it...just doesn't make sense?!

 

[DawnCt1]

I called today about the Fantasmic Dinner package and not only are they charging for something that essentially used to be "free" but they are using the package plan to fill earlier dinner seatings. The last seating for any of the restaurants is 4:30 pm. Who really wants to eat a $40 dinner at the Brown Derby at 3:50pm. For that time period, that is the latest they are booking for Fantasmic although there are plenty of later time slots available for regular diners. The latest Mama Melrose seating is 4:20pm. To me, on vacation, that is a late lunch. The CM told me that as the dates approach they may need to open up later time slots. I think I will wait until they do before signing up for lunch at dinner prices.

 

[justhat]

I could be wrong with my reasoning, but maybe it has something to do with not knowing what time Fantasmic will be so they wait till later on to release the later times. Like BeattyFamily has mentioned several times (thanks!!), the later times are usually released around 30 days before the date you want. We called at 30 days before the date we were going (4/24) and got a 6pm time (initially had 3:50). They had times up to 6:30 that day (I think) and the show was at 8:30 that night. This was at Brown Derby. We also found the price ($36.99) to be a steal for what we ordered. We each got the steak, which was almost $30 by itself. When you add to that the crabcake appetizer and a dessert, we were way over the $36.99. (Plus we had the DDE card, so really we only paid about $30/person, so even more of a steal for us!)

 

[justhat]

I'm not sure about every early December, but we had mixed experiences with crowds. We went 12/17-12/21 in 2001 and it was empty so you would not have needed the package then. But in 2004 we went 12/3-12/7 and it was packed. So crowded. We didn't have the package and had to wait an hour in the stadium, and it was already crowded by then so you really needed to get there sooner. And no, it was no fun waiting with a 9 month old.

We did the package last month (4/24) and it was much better. Our daughter was almost 14 months then and it would not have been fun to wait with her all that time, not to mention is was very cold that night-everyone was buying towels and blankets. We're going back in December and will definitely be doing the package. If we go back in September with a dining package and can't do the FDP we'll probably just skip the show that trip.

 

[beattyfamily]

Like BeattyFamily has mentioned several times (thanks!!),

I have? I think I DIS way too much!

 

[DawnCt1]

I could be wrong with my reasoning, but maybe it has something to do with not knowing what time Fantasmic will be so they wait till later on to release the later times. Like BeattyFamily has mentioned several times (thanks!!), the later times are usually released around 30 days before the date you want. We called at 30 days before the date we were going (4/24) and got a 6pm time (initially had 3:50). They had times up to 6:30 that day (I think) and the show was at 8:30 that night. This was at Brown Derby. We also found the price ($36.99) to be a steal for what we ordered. We each got the steak, which was almost $30 by itself. When you add to that the crabcake appetizer and a dessert, we were way over the $36.99. (Plus we had the DDE card, so really we only paid about $30/person, so even more of a steal for us!)

The CM also told me that they may open dates earlier. If they do, I will do the Brown Derby. I have Portobello's scheduled for that night, its our first night but am willing to go another night.

 

[justhat]

The CM also told me that they may open dates earlier. If they do, I will do the Brown Derby. I have Portobello's scheduled for that night, its our first night but am willing to go another night.

I think it's more or less a guarantee around the 30 day mark.

 

[blueiis99]

can you tell me how you used the dde card with this promotion? I will be making my reservations soon, and this infomation would be OH SO Helpful!