Fantasmic Dinner Package Question

[dassjs]

Hello,

We're off to Disney in 10 days! We had a reservation for the Fantasmic Dinner Package at Hollywood & Vine. I haven't heard good things about this restaurant but couldn't get into Mama Melrose's (even though I booked 180 days in advance!). I didn't want to use 2 TS to eat at Brown Derby. I heard this week that they aren't letting folks into the back of Fantasmic with the dinner package and that you have to wait with the rest of the folks to get in. Does anyone know if this is true? If so, do you think it would be worth it to cancel this reservation? Also, do you think ESPN would be too crowded to dine at on a Sunday night (11/9) with the football games going on? Thanks for the help!

11/8-11/15 Pop Century YEAH!!

 

[minnierocks]

First...I want to say that we love Hollywood and Vine...It's our kids "can't miss" meal...
But back to topic...this is the first that I've heard of that and I am interested in the answer, seeing since we have this package booked for Thanksgiving. There is NO way I want to wait in line with everyone else during that week!
I will be very disappointed if this is true because then there is no longer an advantage to booking a Fantasmic package...

 

[insoin]

I had a dinner package at Hollywood and Vine this past Sept. The food was fine, I found several things I liked. As for how I got into the show, we had to meet up by the front of the park, and you were allowed in through a different gate than the rest of the people. You do have to have everyone in your party when you want to enter, so maybe that is what people are saying you have to wait for.

I also did not find the seats bad for the reserved area. I sat pretty far up the stands, and had a good view of everything.

So unless things have changed, you do not have to line up for an hour or hour and half with the general public to see it.

 

[kimpossible]

I just hear about this too on All Ears. I am going Thanksgiving week as well and feel the same way. Hmmm...what to do???

 

[lucas]

I just read the All Ears newsletter but did not see this mentioned. Can you tell me where you read it?

You are right, what would be the advantage of the dinner package if you have to stand in line with everyone else?

 

[TDC Nala]

The only report I see of anything is that the prices have been raised. Where do you see that they no longer admit package guests through a different entrance?

 

[lucas]

The only report I see of anything is that the prices have been raised. Where do you see that they no longer admit package guests through a different entrance?

Yep, the only thing I saw was about the prices, too.

 

[MHSweb79]

I saw the note about entering Fantasmic "with the masses" on Allears. Maybe "Allears Hears" in the newsletter?
Anyway, we liked Hollywood & Vine MUCH better than Mama Melrose. It's a buffet so you're sure to find something you will eat, which was not the case at Mama Melrose - blech...
The special side entrance for Fantasmic is a long, long walk so I don't really think it's such a big deal to enter with the regular audience.

 

[mystia97]

I was there on Oct. 5 and they are now using the same entrance as the general masses. However, the fantasmic seating filled up considerably slower than the general seating. No complaints here.

 

[jlcd]

I was there on Oct. 5 and they are now using the same entrance as the general masses. However, the fantasmic seating filled up considerably slower than the general seating. No complaints here.

Was the reserved area as large as it used to be? The note on All Ears made it sound very small. Was going to book this for April and now am trying to decide if its worth it.

 

[rosiep]

I just returned from WDW and had the exact same problem as you. I could only get H&V and the more I read about the place the less I wanted to eat there. I really didn't wnt to deal with the crowd or wait an hour before the show..but in the end that's exactly what I did and I'm really glad for it.

I just resigned myself to doing a lot of restful waiting at Hollywood Studios.

I ate a nice sit down lunch at Prime Time, waited stand by for Toy Story Mania, Rode Tower of Terror (several times), picked up some counter service food for dinner and then entered the Fantasmic queque about 45 minutes before show time. We got great seats center stage, and enjoyed the feeling of excitement that built as the arena filled up. One young woman got the whole stadium to do the wave. It was facinating to watch as she started with our section, got the next section involved and then ran across to the first area and got them to join in until the whole place was laughing and cheering. It was really fun.

 

[kimpossible]

I'm wondering if I can still show up a half hour before it starts while using this new procedure. I have never had a problem getting a seat a half hour before with the old entrance. I wonder what will happen now.

 

[KatMark]

If you have to line up with everyone else but still get your "reserved" seating, you might want to keep the reservation if you feel it is going to be very crowded. If it just "general seating" then I, personally, would get rid of H&V--one of two Disney restaurants that we will never step foot into again.

 

[Brian Noble]

Assuming that this is a permanent change, and not just something that happened short-term for that guest...my read was that they still have the reserved section off to the side, with the same arrival timing (30 minutes prior) but using the main entrance rather than the backstage amble from Oscars.

 

[mom2aandj]

Assuming that this is a permanent change, and not just something that happened short-term for that guest...my read was that they still have the reserved section off to the side, with the same arrival timing (30 minutes prior) but using the main entrance rather than the backstage amble from Oscars.

yes, it's not really pertinent what entrance you enter through but rather that there is still a reserved section that you are directed to and can get in 30 mins prior to the show, vs. waiting 1 or 2 hours to get in. So that's the question.

 

[jlcd]

Are they still showing Fantasmic every night? I know for our week in April its only showing 2 or 3 times. I think that is going to make the crowds awful and was the reason I was going to book the package.

 

[Zekanoid]

Last night I booked the H & V Fantasmic Dinner Package because it is the only thing available for early Dec. and I was told that I will get confirmed, advanced seating at Fantasmic. Once I finish my dinner, I arrive 30 minutes prior to the show and enter through Oscar's Gas Station. I hope the Disney rep is correct since I'll have a 2 and 5 year old with me. I do not want to wait in a 2 hour line with them.

 

[minnierocks]

I just hear about this too on All Ears. I am going Thanksgiving week as well and feel the same way. Hmmm...what to do???

Where did you read this?
I found this on the allears site...

Where do I enter the theater?

Do NOT enter the Fantasmic! line that starts at the amphitheater's Sunset Boulevard entrance.

Present your Fantasmic! Dining Experience voucher 30 minutes prior to showtime at the Fantasmic! sign located on Hollywood Boulevard next to Oscar's Super Service (inside the turnstiles at the front of the park). Guests arriving less than 30 minutes prior to showtime will be offered standing room only, if available.

 

[kimpossible]

Where did you read this?
I found this on the allears site...

Where do I enter the theater?

Do NOT enter the Fantasmic! line that starts at the amphitheater's Sunset Boulevard entrance.

Present your Fantasmic! Dining Experience voucher 30 minutes prior to showtime at the Fantasmic! sign located on Hollywood Boulevard next to Oscar's Super Service (inside the turnstiles at the front of the park). Guests arriving less than 30 minutes prior to showtime will be offered standing room only, if available.

It was in their newsletter. It was a quote by someone who wrote in.

 

[lucas]

Finally found the blurb. Here is the quote from the ALLEARS® HEARS section (right before the ANITA ANSWER section):

"We just got back from the World on October 18. Very crowded but fun. We had a party of 10 and I had made reservations for the Fantasmic Dinner Show Package. It has changed. They no longer let you in the back way. You have to enter with the HERD of people. They only have a small roped off place to sit, so in my opinion it is not worth booking the package. No real advantage. The only reason I booked it was because there were 10 of us and it would have been much easier to go in the back instead of with the herd. Just some information to anyone thinking about booking that. We ended up not even sitting in the reserved section and had wonderful seats!"