Fantasmic dinner package?? Worth it??

[Dan Murphy]

Amphitheater seating sounds like a dream compared to Disneyland's fantasmic.. You basically crowd around rivers of America and hope the 6'5 and taller family with there giant baby's on their shoulders isn't in front of you lol.. Needless to say a good seat is hard to find, maybe I'll just be happy to see anything!

It is. No really bad seats...other than possibly those close, up front rows.

Enjoy.

 

[mggeary]

Could someone confirm for me. FP+ seats on left (facing show) and standby sections on on right (facing show). Correct?

 

[ElizabethDarling]

It might be a good idea to keep the package. Lots of people might park hop over to DHS for the evening due to EMH.....especially since MK is closing early for the party. If you really want good seats without waiting too long, I would keep the dinner package and enjoy

Alright this just convinced me, I'm keeping the reservations! as early as it may be for dinner and expensive (for a menu I wouldn't regularly care for) If it helps even a bit with good seating and I don't have to get in line very early I'll just stick with it. I was just being wishy washy about the crowds, most say September is very slow but then add in MNSSHP and who knows! I know here in So Cal it sells out quickly regardless of what days.

 

[gcrb28]

Is there a set amount you must order to make the package valid? I currently have the package booked but wasn't sure if I could get an entree, my wife a salad and my uncle an appetizer and it would still count? We are paying out of pocket and won't really be that hungry at that time of day and we are only doing it for the reserved seating.

 

[ibela]

Alright this just convinced me, I'm keeping the reservations! as early as it may be for dinner and expensive (for a menu I wouldn't regularly care for) If it helps even a bit with good seating and I don't have to get in line very early I'll just stick with it. I was just being wishy washy about the crowds, most say September is very slow but then add in MNSSHP and who knows! I know here in So Cal it sells out quickly regardless of what days.

Hollywood Brown Derby is about $50 (or 2 credits if on the dining plan) but the other 2 options, Mama Melrose and Hollywood & Vine, are about $35 (or 1 credit). If it's expensive and you're not thrilled with the menu, check into 1 of the other options. I'm going last week of Aug and keep tweaking all my ADRs and had a choice of HBD or Mama Melrose.

Is there a set amount you must order to make the package valid? I currently have the package booked but wasn't sure if I could get an entree, my wife a salad and my uncle an appetizer and it would still count? We are paying out of pocket and won't really be that hungry at that time of day and we are only doing it for the reserved seating.

The package is a fixed price per person so even if you order 1 combined meal, you will still be charged for 3.

 

[wdw&sonny]

could someone describe the locations of the FP+ vs. dining package vs. standby seating locations. Are any locations actually better seating? How long in advance to arrive for each of the three situations?
thanks.

 

[Deanie1]

So, I have done the F! dinner package before and I also used a FP+ for it once when they were in the testing phase. I didn't woory about using a FP+ at that time as we were able to get others with our card. The question is - who gets priority - the ppeople who have paid big $ for the dinner pkg or those holding a FP+ or is it all the same lineup?

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

could someone describe the locations of the FP+ vs. dining package vs. standby seating locations. Are any locations actually better seating? How long in advance to arrive for each of the three situations?
thanks.

We went to Fantasmic on June 1. There were two showings and we attended the 2nd performance.

I don't believe that they have dinner package seating for the late show, so it was FP+ on the left/center and standby on the right.

Fast Passes were available right up until showtime but we didn't pick up any as the standby seating is a little closer to the exit and we were in a hurry to get over the MK for EMH until 3 am.

The crowd for the early show started to gather about an hour before show time. This was the perfect time to ride the headliners over and over for a couple of hours as the lines got really short.

Once the park closed, we strolled into the ampitheater about 10 minutes before showtime and found nice seats in the best standby section. If you were at a football game, this would be the equivalent of about the 40 yard line. The theater was less than half full for the performance.

I like the show, but at least in the summer attendance takes nowhere near the planning and effort that some put in to it. I prefer to eat where, what and when I want, ride a bunch of rides with little to no wait then enjoy the performance.

 

[ElizabethDarling]

Hollywood Brown Derby is about $50 (or 2 credits if on the dining plan) but the other 2 options, Mama Melrose and Hollywood & Vine, are about $35 (or 1 credit). If it's expensive and you're not thrilled with the menu, check into 1 of the other options. I'm going last week of Aug and keep tweaking all my ADRs and had a choice of HBD or Mama Melrose. The package is a fixed price per person so even if you order 1 combined meal, you will still be charged for 3.

My problem was I had to pick hollywood brown derby because it was the only fantasmic package restaurant available, Im guessing its a bit busy because of the late EMH at HS and Magic kingdom closes at 730 for mickeys not so scary party so I think everyone will migrate on over to HS. But the hollywood and vine seemed more up my ally menu wise for sure. I've read lots of good reviews about the Cobb salad (that's the only thing that sounded good to me) but honestly... How could u mess that up? If anyone has another suggestion from the menu I'd be interested!

 

[Deanie1]

We had a great meal at HBD in Dec 2012. With the F! dinner pkg, it is a set price and comes with appy, main course and dessert. I had the lump crab spring rolls which were so delicious that I could have licked the plate, the steak (a filet, I think) and the lemon cheesecake with some kind of honey garnish. Funny, sometimes I can only see 1-2 entrees on this site when I do a seaarch.

 

[ibela]

My problem was I had to pick hollywood brown derby because it was the only fantasmic package restaurant available, Im guessing its a bit busy because of the late EMH at HS and Magic kingdom closes at 730 for mickeys not so scary party so I think everyone will migrate on over to HS. But the hollywood and vine seemed more up my ally menu wise for sure. I've read lots of good reviews about the Cobb salad (that's the only thing that sounded good to me) but honestly... How could u mess that up? If anyone has another suggestion from the menu I'd be interested!

Try lunch times and dinner times. Some days there's a glitch and you could have better luck calling. I originally got Mama Melore @ 3:05 which I wasn't thrilled with because a) we eat good Italian all the time at home and b) I'm planning to go to a water park in the am and didn't want to rush to HS. I tried again 2 days later (yesterday) and was able to get H&V for 4:25 so now I'm happy.

As for the menu, I can't pay $50 to have a salad for my entree. I know people say it's great but it basically sounds like a chef salad to me. Good, but not at that price. LOTS of people rave about the steak.

Keep trying! Not sure which dates you're looking at but I continuously keep tweaking most of my ADRs and am pleasantly surprised that I haven't had any problem doing so.

 

[ElizabethDarling]

Try lunch times and dinner times. Some days there's a glitch and you could have better luck calling. I originally got Mama Melore @ 3:05 which I wasn't thrilled with because a) we eat good Italian all the time at home and b) I'm planning to go to a water park in the am and didn't want to rush to HS. I tried again 2 days later (yesterday) and was able to get H&V for 4:25 so now I'm happy. As for the menu, I can't pay $50 to have a salad for my entree. I know people say it's great but it basically sounds like a chef salad to me. Good, but not at that price. LOTS of people rave about the steak. Keep trying! Not sure which dates you're looking at but I continuously keep tweaking most of my ADRs and am pleasantly surprised that I haven't had any problem doing so.

Thanks for the tip! I spent all day at work barely working because I was finding better times for my ADRs ..which lead to me checking out different restaurants and making even more ADRs lol