Fantasmic dinner package?

[disney4me4ever]

Don't know if this is the right board, but looking for suggestions as to what time to make PS/book this in order to have leisurely meal and adequate time to get to reserved seating? We would be at Brown Derby for dinner.

TIA,
Nancy

 

[bassoongirl]

We are doing the Fantasmic dinner package in February. I was told that for the 7:00 Fantasmic show the latest dinner available is 4:30. I booked that, but it is pretty early for my family to eat dinner. I am planning to call WDW Dining back at the 30 day mark and see if I can move the dinner time up to at least 5:00. We are eating at H&V. Since it is a buffet, I don't think we need as long to eat as a sit-down restaurant.

Gayl

 

[canwegosoon]

I believe the latest time you can book a PS for Fantasmic is 4:30...(I could be wrong) I booked 4:30 for Easter Sunday!!! Good luck... I would think 4:00 yould give you plenty of time for a nice meal, and extra time incase the PS isn't available immeditaly.

 

[mom23boyz]

I just called last night (they answer phones until @11:15pm) and got a 5pm H&V PS for Fantasmic.

 

[scran]

I'm totally confused!!!!! I called Tuesday am, was talking with CM at 7:02 and was told there was not a table at H&V that would hold our family of 7 (could split up but that defeats the purpose of dining together). They did have a 4pm at Mama Melrose's so I took that......skipped my plans for 50's at lunch...too much food in too short a time. Thought about this for a couple of hours, realized my grandsons will probably not like the MM menu so decided to call back and do a Lunch and cancel the Fantastic Dinner Pkg at Mama Melrose. Well........... first I did the lunch for a 12:15.....then I canceled the pkg..........then just for the fun of it, I asked if there was anything left at H&V...never hurts to ask. The CM said he had a 5:30, table for 7 but (now get this) the times for March's Fantasmic Shows had not been released yet. So what did does that mean? He said all I had to do was call back around Jan.15th so they could "link" my PS with the dinner pkg. Whew.
SOOOOOOOOO, did they take your credit card for the 5PM?
I'm guessing they'll do two shows that week because of the crowds........not to mention that it gets darker later the end of March than at 7pm in Jan. and Feb.

Ok......what do you think? At best, I'm at H&V for dinner.....at worst, we stand in line to see the show!

 

[MazdaUK]

I was also told that the times for March Fantasmic had not been released, but the person I spoke to just looked up the feb times and said "March will most likely be the same".

We've got a 4.00 reservation - two DS both slow eaters so not too worried about eating a bit in advance (need time to walk it off a bit before sitting down anyway!)

 

[scran]

I'd think there would be a huge difference between Feb. hours and the large crowds expected in March. I noticed in Feb. they posted the closing at MGM at 8:30 on the weekends instead of 7pm. Since Fantasmic is at closing, I wonder if this means they'll only do the show at 8:30? My grandsons are gobble and go kind of guys (7, 5, 3) so an hour of dining is plenty of time. I'm just happy with the H&V buffet instead of Mama Melrose....

 

[disney4me4ever]

I'd think there would be a huge difference between Feb. hours and the large crowds expected in March

This is exactly the problem I'm having. When we are going (mid April) it should be after the spring break rush, so hours may be changed. Then you try to factor if there will be an evening EMH night. It's enough to drive you crazy! I think I will request a 4:30 PS and start with that.

Thanks everyone!
Nancy

 

[MadisonMom]

If you want a slightly later time, call 25-30 days before the night you want to do the Fantasmic dinner package. Originally we had 3:30 ressies for the Brown Derby. I called about 28 days before the reservation and got 5 pm. This turned out to be perfect for us. We were able to go on one ride between dinner and Fantasmic at 7:30 pm.

 

[scran]

I'm hoping that all I have to do is request "to link our PS with the Fantasmic Dinner Package" like the Cm said I could do. I do think I'll call just as soon as they publish the March hours....then if that doesn't work, do the 30 day. Oh, the "fairy dust" we must use to magic our family!
By the way, has anyone, ever, "upgraded a PS to a package" or am I totally following the advise of a CM?