Fantasmic Dinner Package?

[momslave3599]

Hey everyone,

Hearing from my neighbor the Fantasmic Dinner Package is not worth it. She said they could have gotten the same seating without the package. Any thoughts? Is it worth it? I'm new to this and want to do the best I can!

Right now, we have the following ADRs set up for my son's 6th bday.

15th: Dinner: Hoop De Doo
16th: Lunch: Sci Fi Theater
17th: Dinner: Chef Mickey *his bday!!!
18th: Bfast: Poly w/Lilo and Stitch
Dinner: Hollywood and Vine/Fanstasmic advanced seating
19th: Bfast: Cinderella's Royal Table
Evening: Cirque De Soleil... we got great seats!

My son is so excited!!! He says he doens't care about all the princesses at CRT; he just wants to eat in the castle. Our other boy, age 6, is thrilled too.

How'd I do??? Any other suggestions??? Is the Fantasmic Package worth it?

 

[KatMark]

Hey everyone,

Hearing from my neighbor the Fantasmic Dinner Package is not worth it. She said they could have gotten the same seating without the package. Any thoughts? Is it worth it? I'm new to this and want to do the best I can!

Right now, we have the following ADRs set up for my son's 6th bday.

15th: Dinner: Hoop De Doo
16th: Lunch: Sci Fi Theater
17th: Dinner: Chef Mickey *his bday!!!
18th: Bfast: Poly w/Lilo and Stitch
Dinner: Hollywood and Vine/Fanstasmic advanced seating
19th: Bfast: Cinderella's Royal Table
Evening: Cirque De Soleil... we got great seats!

My son is so excited!!! He says he doens't care about all the princesses at CRT; he just wants to eat in the castle. Our other boy, age 6, is thrilled too.

How'd I do??? Any other suggestions??? Is the Fantasmic Package worth it?

When are you going? December 15? It might be crowded then and you would maybe want to have it rather than waiting in line. We've had success using it and times we haven't used it and have walked in 20 minutes prior to show. Personally, we would not eat at H&V (two really bad experiences and the worse of all Disney buffets), but with a six year old--it might be perfect.

I've also read that even with the Fantasmic Package that everyone is still lining up in the same place and not the special entrance. I don't know if this is true becasue when we were there in September it was still the special entrance.

 

[princess lovers mom]

the seating for these packages is to the far right - they are not front and center and you might think....it saves you waiting in line to get in to get "good seats", but I have seen people walk in 15 minutes before the show and get seats far left even at busy park times - same view different side -

I would not consider it a "must do" - if you were going to need a meal that night anyway and were going to eat at one of the package restaurants then go ahead!

 

[Snork]

My wife and I use it for the peace of mind of knowing we are going to have a decent seat for the show. Every year we book it, and half the time we don't need it. I would say that with the cut backs in the parks because of the economy, I would keep it just in case they cut the shows back while you are going. For example the show is twice a week in January, and I can only imagine the crowds at the show on those two days.

If you get there and you see better seating outside of the roped off area, you can always go sit there. They will give a password to get back in and you can use it or not.

I would stay with H&V. I have had good food there. I would stay away from Mama Melrose. We have eaten there twice and both times was not so great...
Of course I would recomend The Brown Derby, which is my favorite resteraunt at WDW.

 

[starsinnight]

I wanted to do the same thing when we went in August but instead got show tickets for Hoop De Doo (we loved it and the food was great, show was fun!). And I am not sure if it was the same night (probably not) but we had no problem getting seats for the Fantasmic show. We sat near the middle left and the reserved seats were on the other side. So you aren't really getting preferred seats. Its a huge outdoor theather stadium with metal benches going across and the show is big enough for everyone to see since its in the lake in front of you. I don't think I would do a dinner package though, if it were up to me. We got there right when it was starting and went right in. Of course, it'll be different on different days and times of the year.

 

[stashbin]

We have done the Hollywood and Vine dinner package and to me it was well worth it. We walked right in with no line to wait with two small kids. The last two times we went, we did not get the dinner package due to non-availablity and we did not get to see the show at all because of the crowds. This time I am booking advanced reservations to ensure we have a dinner package SOMEWHERE just to ensure we have a seat.

 

[vDunninger]

If you need dinner that night anyway, I'd go ahead a book it just in case. There is no charge for this service over-and-above what you would normally pay for a meal there anyway. As PP said, if you see seating in a better part of the theatre than where they send you for the reserved seats, go ahead and move. There is no risk to do the package, but considerable risk if you don't and it's a busy night.

 

[momslave3599]

Thanks gang! I can't believe I forgot to mention we are going in March. That's Spring Break time!

Sara