Fantasmic dinner package - worth it?

[kim_o]

Planning on going to see fantasmic on the Sunday of memorial day weekend. Is doing the fantasmic dinner package worth it? I have two small children who aren't going to want to stand in long lines. I am worried about the availablility of seating on a holiday weekend. But there are two shows that day, and I've read that getting in to see the second show isn't difficult. How often is the show actually cancelled? (I'd be rather disappointed if I reserved the package and the show was cancelled).

 

[BBGirl]

Planning on going to see fantasmic on the Sunday of memorial day weekend. Is doing the fantasmic dinner package worth it? I have two small children who aren't going to want to stand in long lines. I am worried about the availablility of seating on a holiday weekend. But there are two shows that day, and I've read that getting in to see the second show isn't difficult. How often is the show actually cancelled? (I'd be rather disappointed if I reserved the package and the show was cancelled).

I say yes. Although not the best seats in the house the not waiting in line will make a huge difference during Memorial Day weekend. I do it the after Thanksgiving every year that I have gone and I have never been dissappointed. I did see the second show over 4th a July one year with no wait but had really bad seats.
HTH

 

[DisJFam5]

Fantasmic dinner package, works for us. We like the early dinner ADR, and then get in a few more rides or a show before we head to Fantasmic. Also, we have never had a show cancel; however we have had long delays due to weather conditions.

 

[Em&Bec'sDad]

We booked it for our trip last June and felt that it was worth it. In order to get decent seats, I would recommend getting to the entrance about 45 minutes before the show. Think of this as better than 1 1/2 hour stand in line with little ones.

We are planning on doing this again in November.

 

[Mkrop]

I say yes. Although not the best seats in the house the not waiting in line will make a huge difference during Memorial Day weekend. I do it the after Thanksgiving every year that I have gone and I have never been dissappointed. I did see the second show over 4th a July one year with no wait but had really bad seats.
HTH

Off topic but BBGirl where did you see Handy Manny? DS5 would just die if we can see him in June.

 

[BBGirl]

Off topic but BBGirl where did you see Handy Manny? DS5 would just die if we can see him in June.

At the White House for the Easter Egg Roll last year. I don;t know if he shows up in WDW.

 

[Mkrop]

At the White House for the Easter Egg Roll last year. I don;t know if he shows up in WDW.

Ahh ok well I wont be hitting the White House anytime soon. Very cool picture and very cool that you got to the WH Easter Egg Roll.

 

[tink fan]

For Fantasmic your waiting is mostly at the theater- waiting for the show to begin rather than waiting in a line. You'll be sitting on concrete benches. This might be easier to occupy your children there vs. actually waiting in a line (we brought a game boy and paper/crayons).

The seats for the Fantasmic package are to the right of the stage. You can still see well, but they are not prime seats. Also, you need to get there at least 35 minutes before the show starts, so you don't eliminate all the waiting by getting these. You'll still be sitting for at least a half hour before the show. We did the package once (we were on the dining plan), but I don't think we would do it again. But we have also seen the show, so it's not a must do.

If I wasn't on the plan and wanted to see the show, I would probably go to the theater about an hour before the show. I'd also stop by a counter service location before going in and get dinner to eat at our seats (bench).

You know your children the best, so you'll have to decide if getting the plan is worth saving 25 to 30 minutes of waiting.

 

[frdeb1999]

We really enjoyed using this package. We did'nt have to rush to get anywhere or stand in long lines. We also thought the seats were just as good as the ones you stand in line for hours waiting on. A very good option....especially if you have little ones that get antsy.

 

[lady danger]

The seats for the Fantasmic package are to the right of the stage. You can still see well, but they are not prime seats. Also, you need to get there at least 35 minutes before the show starts, so you don't eliminate all the waiting by getting these. You'll still be sitting for at least a half hour before the show. We did the package once (we were on the dining plan), but I don't think we would do it again. But we have also seen the show, so it's not a must do.

I agree with this. A friend and I did the Fantasmic Package last trip, and while we might consider doing it again, we would not do it specifically for the special Fantasmic seating. We bought the package for dinner at the Hollywood Brown Derby and considered it to be a good value for a fixed price dinner, considering there were no restrictions on our choices. I think the tab for the both of us had we paid a la carte would have been about the same as what we paid for the package. I had the Filet and the crabcake so, the package might in my case might have even saved me a couple of bucks. And since we were both paying the same price, it saved us having to figure out who owed what.

But we found the seating at reserved Fantasmic to be fairly lackluster. It's near the stage, but it's off to the side and though we changes places twice, our view of the show as partial obstructed by a pole. And it felt like we waited forever to the show to start. So I'm not sure if we had to do it again, we'd choose to bypass the line.

 

[byoung]

It's well worth it.

 

[Simbee3]

What is the earlist dinner you can get in order to get the package?

 

[kim_o]

What is the earlist dinner you can get in order to get the package?

Me personally? I have a 5 o'clock seating right now. (Show is at 9). I actually prefern dinners around 6 or 7, so that is kind of early for me.

If you're speaking in general terms, I'm not positive on the earliest, but I've seen some talk of 3:45 ressies.

 

[3girlygirls]

Trying to decide whether or not to do this package myself. We don't have DDP so it would be about $100 for 6 of us. (at Hollywood and Vine) If you get dinner ressies early, do you just sit around and wait for the show or can you go do something and come back and go right in?

 

[cmwade77]

In my opinion, it is worth it if any of the following apply:

• You are short on time AND really must see Fantasmic!
• You are on the DDP
• You are planning on eating at one of those restaurants anyway (the package costs nothing extra)

 

[DisneyCatMom]

I have ressie's for 4:20 at Hollywood and Vine in April-not the greatest buffet in the World and a little earlier than I would prefer. But with that being said, we have to eat somewhere. We are on the DDP, and with 2 little one's and my parents with bad feet, anything that saves time on our feet is a good thing.
It will be my parents first time seeing the show. If not for them, I wouldn't make the Fantasmic show a priority. My 5 year old can do without it. Still a little scary to her.
And NO you do not have to wait around for the show. You will be given a voucher when you finish eating. You can go do whatever you want, rides, resort, and then show up at the right side of theatre to go to your seats.

 

[Luv4Disney]

After doing the FDP for many years we have found that we can easily do Fantasmic without it.

 

[Tricia1972]

We used it in April and tried to use it in October, but Oct was canceled due to weather.

In April we went to Oscar's when the window first opened. We walked up the back way to the theater. We weren't crazy about the seats to the right, but there were some really nice seats in the back center of the theater. We got up and moved to the better seats. For us we mostly used it to avoid the lines.

PP's who said that you still have to be there early are right. They only hold the seats for so long, and as the theater fills up the will eventually let the reserved seats go to the general public.