Fantasmic Dinning Package

[Imagineer22]

We have the dinning plan and were planning on doing the Fantasmic dinner package in July. This is the first time going to DW since 2009. If I remember correctly the old dinner package was not really worth it because the seats were not in the best section. Has the dinner package improved over the years?

What section should we be expecting to sit in?

How early do we need to get to the show?

Since we have the dinning plan it just seems to make sense to do the Fantasmic dinner package since we will have a table service dinner anyways, so why not throw in Fantasmic as well. Any reason NOT to do the dinner package for Fantasmic?

 

[Planner2012]

We did the Fantasmic pkg in March. Our seating area was in the centre section of the theater. We got there about 30 minutes before the show started, and were about 15 rows from the back. We thought our seats were good, but showing up a little earlier would have gotten us closer.
With the fantasmic pkg you also get an appetizer, even on the dining plan. We ate at Mama Melrose's and could order any appetizer and entree we wanted. The only drawback we felt was the dessert platter. None of us liked any of the desserts, but not sure there were any better options on the regular menu.
If going to Fantasmic again we would definitely do the package.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

You are correct; when we went around that time I did not like the viewing spot but we asked a CM if we could sit anywhere and we moved to the front center. I'm not sure if the seating is still in the same place but the Restaurants board has quite a few topics about it, under the Dining Reservations forum. Based on your name, have you considered trying for a Dine with an Imagineer dinner? We have done the Fantasmic package but based on availability I don't know that I would pay the extra or use 2 credits, unless the seats were really good.

ETA: Sorry, Planner posted while I was typing, lol!

 

[CAS239]

Dining plan sits in the middle section. And they start to let people in to the first show an hour and a half before showtime.

 

[Imagineer22]

Is the fantasmic package extra table service credits? We have reservations for Mama Melrose and thought it was only 1 table service? Will doing the package take 2 table service credits?

 

[Planner2012]

It's only 1 table service at Mama Melrose

 

[Imagineer22]

Thanks for all of the great info. So is there a reason NOT to do the dinner package when on the dinning plan? It seems almost too good to be true. Get extra food at the meal (appetizer and desert) and special seating for Fantasmic at no additional cost to if we were eating at the restaurant anyways. Am I missing something? I wouldn't pay the extra cost out of pocket for the package but on the meal plan it seems to be a no brainer to do the package for 'free'.

 

[Mikie]

Thanks for all of the great info. So is there a reason NOT to do the dinner package when on the dinning plan? It seems almost too good to be true. Get extra food at the meal (appetizer and desert) and special seating for Fantasmic at no additional cost to if we were eating at the restaurant anyways. Am I missing something? I wouldn't pay the extra cost out of pocket for the package but on the meal plan it seems to be a no brainer to do the package for 'free'.

No reason not to, but the F! package does book up even when there are still regular reservations available. I wanted to do the F! package at Mama Melrose on my Oct trip, got many other hard-to-get reservations, but had to settle for H&V because mama Melrose was already sold out. H&V is a buffet, so of course there's no "appetizer" or difference in the meal vs a regular reservation there. We had a large group, though, so I hope you have better luck.

 

[Angc77]

We did Fantasmic! Package in 2013 and ate at Mama Melrose and was one of our favorite restaurants at Disney. It was definitely worth it and to not have to worry about getting seats for the show. We will definitely do it again

 

[Robo]

We have the dinning plan and were planning on doing the Fantasmic dinner package in July. This is the first time going to DW since 2009. If I remember correctly the old dinner package was not really worth it because the seats were not in the best section. Has the dinner package improved over the years?

What section should we be expecting to sit in?

How early do we need to get to the show?

Since we have the dinning plan it just seems to make sense to do the Fantasmic dinner package since we will have a table service dinner anyways, so why not throw in Fantasmic as well. Any reason NOT to do the dinner package for Fantasmic?

What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.
If you DO get a F! FP+, you can choose to sit in either the FP section (virtually the entire left half of the theater)
or the Standby section (virtually the entire right half of the theater.)
So, whatever section has the better seating at the time you arrive, you can go there.

Without a FP, you can only choose a seat in the Standby section.

There is a very good chance that you can get a FP+ for F! as a 4th or 5th FP of the day because they issue SO MANY of them (enough to cover nearly the entire left half of the seating.)
On many nights, it is possible that you can gat a FP+ for F! as you are walking to the theater.

As to when to arrive at the theater, I'd get to there 45-60 minutes before the show-time.
Even with a FP or Dining Pkg. reservation, don't wait too late.
On busy nights, the CMs will stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time,
and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Map Below-
Arrows indicate the center of the seating.

Shaded areas:
(First or Only F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red= Dining Plan Reserved
Blue= FP+ Reserved
Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.

(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved
(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)