Fantasmic Dinner Package - Is it worth it?

[cmaee]

We are traveling the week after Easter, so as soon as the reservation window opens up, then I will be making my reservations. I have been waffeling on my decision to do the Fantasmic Dinner Package. We have 3 young kids, who I know will want to see the Fantasmic show. I don't really want to wait around until the late show due to bedtimes and am concerned about waiting in line for a long time to see the early show. I thought that the Fantasmic Dinner meal would be worth it, but am now concerned that we would rather have another character meal. What would you do? We're on the dining plan so we want to get the most out of our table service meals as possible. Would you do another character meal and wait in line for the Fantasmic show or would you do the Fantasmic Dinner package and walk into the show without waiting in line?

 

[disneystick]

Going during the second busiest time of the year at Disney...the package might be worth it. This way it gives you more times to enjoy the rides and shows instead of standing in line 1 1/5 hr. to 2 hrs. just to get a decent seat.

At slower times then no.

 

[wild4dis]

We are there same time ( Apr 9 - 18). We will be booking Fantasmic package once ADR's open up. We have done it before and it is better than standing in the regular line for a few hours, you "feel" like your time is better spent.

 

[drew64]

Yes it is and does not cost anymore than the meal would anyway - no extra charge.
in the case of Brown Derby, we saved money with the package as the per person package price was cheaper than if we had ordered each item separately.
We do not do DDP but pay OOP.

 

[TDC Nala]

Right now, if you book either Mama Melrose or Brown Derby (2 credits) for the Fantasmic package on the basic DDP guess what you get - an appetizer. The appetizer comes with the package.

There's talk that they may close that loophole eventually but they apparently haven't done it yet.

Just to state that you might get some advantage other than the Fantasmic seating out of the package, assuming you're on basic dining.

 

[catne]

does anyone know if they're still having the Fantasmic Package people go in the same entrance with the crowd? I'm seriously thinking of skipping it on our May trip if they don't use the other entrance anymore...don't see the advantage of going in with hundreds of people. Might as well eat at a later time (our Fantasmic dinner times were always in the 4:30-5:00 range, would have preferred something closer to 6.)

 

[jcemom]

does anyone know if they're still having the Fantasmic Package people go in the same entrance with the crowd? I'm seriously thinking of skipping it on our May trip if they don't use the other entrance anymore...don't see the advantage of going in with hundreds of people. Might as well eat at a later time (our Fantasmic dinner times were always in the 4:30-5:00 range, would have preferred something closer to 6.)

I keep reading this... people don't want to do the package if they have to enter with hundreds of others. But when we've been they open the standby line far earlier than when we'd enter if we were using the package. So won't we just be walking right in? Because all the standby people who were waiting would already be inside? And those just coming up to enter standby would also just be walking in because the entrance is open?

For example, the standby line opens at 90 minutes prior to showtime, but we'd be entering 35 minutes prior to showtime. Something like that. No?

 

[catne]

seems like some of the descriptions of it now that I've read in trip reports indicate that there's a large crowd walking in through the main entrance from the time they open until when the show starts, of course the biggest crowd right when they open, but a steady stream once it's opened

...I don't know,myself, because the last 2 times we saw Fantasmic, we had the package & used the backdoor for package ticketed guests so I honestly did not pay any attention to how the rest of the crowd moved in. I know I did read at least one trip report recently where the people were arriving about 35-40 minutes before the start of show and said they were coming in the main entrance with a crush of people...that poster was really, really not happy with the change. There was some speculation that the change was temporary due to some backstage construction. But I suspect it's a more permanent budgetary change...with the "back door" not used they do not need as many CMs working the single entrance.

 

[jcemom]

seems like some of the descriptions of it now that I've read in trip reports indicate that there's a large crowd walking in through the main entrance from the time they open until when the show starts, of course the biggest crowd right when they open, but a steady stream once it's opened.

Thanks. I'll keep an eye on the reports coming in and decide if we want to keep our FDP or cancel it.

Normally I prefer NOT to do the package. We just get counter service and eat while we wait for the show to start. However, with only two shows per week when we go I'm a little worried we'll need to be there two hours early, or more, or risk not getting a seat.

 

[squirrel]

I would book the Fantasmic Pkg. I booked one in September during Free Dining and was glad as we had two nights to see Fantasmic and the first night was standing room only. So we used the pkg on the second night and were able to see the show.

 

[jcemom]

I wish I would have had the foresight to book the FDP for our second possible Fantasmic night. Then we could have given standby a shot the first night and had the package as a backup if we needed it. I don't want to eat at H&V if I don't have to. But I messed up and booked it for our first possible Fantasmic night. I can't get one now for the other night, so I'm stuck with what I have.

 

[Aliceacc]

Just a word of warning: my 5 and 8 year olds were TERRIFIED by Fantasmic and had to be taken out.

My son and I loved it (my husband had seen it a few months prior while chaperoning Grad night.)

But the girls most certainly didn't.

 

[KatMark]

We always book the Fantasmic Package just to be safe (we do not have little ones traveling with us anymore but still enjoy going to the show). We always dine at Mama Melrose (refuse to step foot into H&V and Brown Derby not worth two credits in our opinion). We always go during free dining in September and when we were there in September of this year it was standing room only.

 

[wendygrace]

Just got back this week and I regret getting the package. It was not worth it. By the time we got out of dinner, the stand-by crowd had already been let in, there was not special entrance for the package people and it was packed. I suppose the only good thing is that you would get a seat but its at the far end of the stadium. That is if you arrive 45 minutes prior to show starting. The place was full by 30 minutes prior and we went during the week, in the week before Christmas. In hind site, I would have gotten counter service and eaten it at the stadium or waiting in line.

 

[all4fun]

We just got back. We were on DDP and had the Fantasmic Dining pkg. We ate at MM and our Ressie was about 3:30 pm. We thought that would be too early but it was all we could get when we made ADR's. It worked out perfectly though. We were staying at the Boardwalk so this allowed us time to walk back to the resort to get our warm clothes for the evening. They said to be back by 45-90 mins prior to show time. We actually didn't give ourselves that much time (about 35-40mins probably). We did not go in the back entrance this time, we had to walk in with the crowd, which I admit was annoying, mostly because of our stroller situation. They used to direct people with wheel chairs and strollers off to one side but they didn't seem to be doing that this time. Don't know why. Anyway, we got the stroller parked and headed into the amphitheater. Right at the top of the entrance, there was a CM standing at roped off section that went right into the reserved area for the people who had reserved the package. The rest of the theater was filling up but there were still plenty of seats in our section. The view was good - just a little to the right of the stage. If we had gotten there a lot earlier we probably could have seated ourselves in the "regular" section more towards the center. But there really isn't a bad seat in that place so we were still happy.

Oh, and the appetizer was included at MM too. We actually had a great meal there, and great service too. I would recommend it.

hth

 

[postmanrings]

We are also going the week after Easter(April 18-26) and just read the park and fireworks schedule that came out. This may help you make up your mind. There is only one showing that week at 8:30 pm. You may want to consider doing the plan then. My concern is with my 2 and 4 year old grandsons going with us. I'm afraid they may be afraid of it all.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Is 50's Prime Time one of the dining options with the Fantasmic Dinner package?

 

[wendygrace]

Is 50's Prime Time one of the dining options with the Fantasmic Dinner package?

No, only Hollywood N Vine, Mama Melrose and Brown Derby.