Fantasmic Dinner Package: Please talk me into this!

[MedCruise07]

We will be at WDW during Christmas week. I know it will be crowded. Terribly crowded. I know lots of people will want to see Fantasmic. I know we will have to get there at least an hour early if we wants seats (for the first show; the second show really would be late for us) and do not do the dinner package. But I still don't want to do it! I don't think the seats are that great, and we'd still have to get there early. Logically I do think the pros outweigh the cons, but I can't quite decide . . . Help!

 

[Treacle44]

It's well worth doing, we've done it twice at H&V (didn't rate this place much though, it was just average) and it was worth it to not have to queue for Fantasmic with little ones.

Maybe try mama Melrose's instead?

 

[DLR29]

Well during Christmas week, the most crowded week of the entire year, I would not think otherwise. During that week, lining up an hour early might get you bad seats. 2 hours for average seats probably. With the dinner package you can probably show up 45-60 minutes in advance for average seats.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

We've gone without the package and then decided to try it and from that point, always use the package. You can just walk right up and in and get great seating each time. Well worth it in my opinion.

 

[medicgirl911]

We have done it with both Hollywood and Vine and Mama Melroses.....MM was really good, I was pleasantly suprised!!! Out of a group of nine, no one disliked it! Especially the kids, which I was suprised since it wasn't a character meal lol. I also would never consider doing Fantasmic without the package, I have much better things to do than stand in line forever!!!

 

[kelscross]

We went the week between Xmas and New Years a couple years ago and we didn't do the package, didn't wait in line, walked up and got seats...granted they were in the back, but you could still see the show. Actually I liked our seats better than when we did have the package as those were over to the side and our walk up seats were in the middle. When we did have the package we still waited in line and when they opened it up people starting running and pushing and stuff. So, I didn't find the advantage of it.

 

[beattyfamily]

We have done it with both Hollywood and Vine and Mama Melroses.....MM was really good, I was pleasantly suprised!!! Out of a group of nine, no one disliked it! Especially the kids, which I was suprised since it wasn't a character meal lol. I also would never consider doing Fantasmic without the package, I have much better things to do than stand in line forever!!!

Just an fyi for others, I have done Fantasmic many times and have never encountered a line BUT I have never gone during a very busy time of year like July 4 week, Christmas week etc....

I entered the stadium at 45 minutes to 1 hour before and found great seats in the center. This was the end of Aug, end of Sept and end of Oct that I saw Fantasmic without the package. I also saw Fantasmic Nov and Dec (with the package) and never saw a line and didn't really need the package; just did it out of fear of a line that I kept hearing about. Now I know better.

OP, if you are there Christmas week, I'd do the package for peace of mind.

Good luck!

 

[ElizabethB]

Easy for me to convince you! We'd only done Fantasmic with the package. This year, I suppose due to free dining, we couldn't book a package and decided to go without reserved seating. WDW recently changed the EMH evening for MGM and we weren't aware of it. We showed up for Fantasmic and, surprise, it wasn't showing. To make up for our inconvenience, Guest Services gave us reserved seating for another night. We showed up and sat in great seats. The area is on the side, but actually makes for better viewing of the film clips shown on the spraying water. I don't think the center section would see these clips near as well as we did. We were right at the front as well. And, there was enough room to be comfortable.

As I looked over at the folks being squeezed into the non-reserved areas of the stadium (remember it was at least 90 degrees and everyone was sweating like pigs), I commented to others in my group, "Don't ever let me try to do this without reserved seating. If I even suggest it, just shoot me." They wholeheartedly agreed.

Frankly, I'm not a real Fantasmic fan. We did it about 5 years ago and now won't bother again for at least another 5. But, when we do, it will be with reserved seating or not at all.

 

[RyMickey]

Do it. Even though the seating is to the far right of the stage, I don't think there's a bad view in the stadium.

 

[DISNEYmooner2008]

My fiance and I are honeymooning in January and Fantasmic is a must see for us since neither of us have ever been to WDW. In January, would you recommend the package, or will the crowds be light enough to wear we can find a seat at Fantasmic without lining up two hours in advance??

 

[RyMickey]

My fiance and I are honeymooning in January and Fantasmic is a must see for us since neither of us have ever been to WDW. In January, would you recommend the package, or will the crowds be light enough to wear we can find a seat at Fantasmic without lining up two hours in advance??

It would probably be light enough that you wouldn't have to worry. I'm not familiar with the way they run things in January, but I would only do the dinner package in January if Fantasmic was not offered every night. If it was only shown, say, 4 times a week, it might be a little more crowded on the nights it's shown.

I would still recommend you get there about 30-45 minutes prior to the show start time, although you'd probably be alright arriving 20 minutes or so. I'm sure others have gone in January and they can help you out a little bit better.

 

[lizanne]

I'm not sure you could get the package at this late date. I called last week for the first week in December (I forget the exact date I requested) and nothing was available.

 

[beattyfamily]

My fiance and I are honeymooning in January and Fantasmic is a must see for us since neither of us have ever been to WDW. In January, would you recommend the package, or will the crowds be light enough to wear we can find a seat at Fantasmic without lining up two hours in advance??

January is an off season time of year so it's not so busy. If the night you go is not an EMH night then you really don't need the package and you certainly will not encounter a line. In all the times I've seen Fantasmic I've never encountered a line. They open the stadium for the first show (if there are two) about 1 1/2 hours before the show so you wouldn't be in a line, you'd wait in your seat.

Usually the only tiime you'll see a line is on a very busy night like July 4 or a similar busy time of year and at a second showing because they don't open the stadium till about 1/2 hour before the show (due to the clearing out of the first show).

In January, you could arrive around 1 hour, to 45 minutes before the show and still get great seats with no line; you wait in your seat.

Enjoy!