Fantasmic Options?

[dizzyr]

What does the Mama Melrose Fantasmic package give you vs the regular Fastpass+?

When we went in Nov 2013 Fastpass+ was in testing mode and we got one for Fantasmic. It turns out all the Fastpass+ gave you was guaranteed admission - there was no special section so since we didn't go early we ended up in the third to last row (which still gave us a decent view but I wouldn't have wasted a Fastpass on it).

Does Mama Melrose give you seating in a special area? Have they made changes to the Fastpass+ or is it still just guaranteed admission?

 

[mesaboy2]

The package gets you a reserved area, and FP gets you a neighboring reserved area. Both are near stage center.

 

[dizzyr]

The package gets you a reserved area, and FP gets you a neighboring reserved area. Both are near stage center.

Thanks! Do you need to arrive early for either one of them - do they open them up to the general public at any point?

 

[Robo]

Thanks! Do you need to arrive early for either one of them - do they open them up to the general public at any point?

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 can stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time, and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.

There is sometimes a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.

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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 Package 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.)

 

[dizzyr]

Thanks for that Robo! That makes it very clear I think I'll go for the dining package this time. We were on the aisle of the third last row between Malificent and Jafar last time so it would be nice to be more center and further down this time.

 

[Robo]

Thanks for that Robo! That makes it very clear I think I'll go for the dining package this time. We were on the aisle of the third last row between Malificent and Jafar last time so it would be nice to be more center and further down this time.

Then arrive early, for the most CHOICE in seating.

 

[dizzyr]

Then arrive early, for the most CHOICE in seating.

We're going in January - do you think I still need to be 60 minutes early? Would I have any chance of saving 4 seats if I went 60 minutes early and the other 3 in my party came 30-40 minutes early? If not I'll try and time it with a needed break and snack.

 

[Robo]

We're going in January - do you think I still need to be 60 minutes early? Would I have any chance of saving 4 seats if I went 60 minutes early and the other 3 in my party came 30-40 minutes early? If not I'll try and time it with a needed break and snack.

I'll be there then.
You'll see us already in the theater if you arrive at an hour before.

(The Dining section is busy then, too.)

You don't have to arrive that early, if you don't want to.
But, understand that there will be a lot of Tour Groups there in January, too.

A general unbeatable WDW rule-of-thumb is:
If seeing a particular show is important to you…
It's better to arrive and discover that you're way too early…
than to arrive to find that you're one minute too late.

 

[dizzyr]

I'll be there then.
You'll see us already in the theater if you arrive at an hour before.

(The Dining section is busy then, too.)

You don't have to arrive that early, if you don't want to.
But, understand that there will be a lot of Tour Groups there in January, too.

A general unbeatable WDW rule-of-thumb is:
If seeing a particular show is important to you…
It's better to arrive and discover that you're way too early…
than to arrive to find that you're one minute too late.

I'll see you there then!