fantasmic package help please

[detective mickey]

i made reservations for h&w on thurs nov.18 at 420( the only time available) i really dont want to eat that early but will adjust. my brother initially called for ps but was told by the cm that it really wasnt worth it and the seats sucked. the only reason i did it was small children dont sit well for an hour after a full day.

1. is it worth it ?

2. how does it work and where are the seats?

 

[kitkatsnindylou]

For me the package is not worth it, some people will disagree, the seating is on the right hand side facing the stage. It is not Center.

 

[HopperFan]

We also had very early reservations. When we arrived at the park we went to Guest Relations just to verify everything and see if anything later was available. There was not.

They told us that they would just skip the package and try to get in on our own. They also said we could probably get better seats on our own than those they reserve. We decided to try it. We arrived at the show approximately 30 minutes prior to starting, the crowd was going in, we went in and sat down just left off center about half way up. They were great seats !! We did not wait outside the show at all and inside was very easy to do.

Why not keep your reservations, but see how crowded it is when you get there. If you think you can get good seats on your own, just don't use your ps.

Edit - see post below, procedures have changed since we did this and I see now you must make a decision. Thanks for the correction to my post.

 

[beattyfamily]

I've only see Fantasmic with the package (4 times now/off season too). My DH and little girls avoid lines if at all possible.

We like arriving 1/2 hour before the show.

There are basically 3 sections...Center, left and right. The far right facing the mountain/stage is where they seat the package people.

If you wait in the line, center fills up first, of course, then the left and then the far left...they hold the far right till about 15 minutes before and then fill the rest with regular folk.

I don't mind the package seats at all. There's a water screen right in front of us. We can see the mountain/stage just fine. I'd rather show up last minute and sit on the righthand side then wait in a long line and wait in those seat a long time just to sit in the center section.

Well worth it for my family. We don't like lines and do not want to risk a busy night.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by HopperFan
Why not keep your reservations, but see how crowded it is when you get there. If you think you can get good seats on your own, just don't use your ps.

They take your CC now so people do not do this. You must cancel before 48 hours or your CC will be charged.

 

[tink2]

We love the package! For us, it is great not having to wait with DD5 and DS3 in line forever! We had an early time last year, ate, did a few things, and walked to the area where package people are supposed to enter 30 minutes before the show. By the time we sat down, pre-show things were going on and the wait wasn't bad for the kids. We like H&V anyway, so it works out great for us. We like the early time too- we eat breakfast, skip lunch, and eat at H&V.
Good luck!

 

[gigi1313]

we did the h&v package and were glad we did... even though it was a low attendance time, the place reallllly filled up and people waited for an hour or more... we slipped in 15-20 mins before the show started, had great seats, on an aisle, got our drinks/snacks and glow necklaces and really enjoyed the show!

dinner at H&V was excellent... would definitely recommend it... also, i had learned on these boards that if you are given an early ps (like 4:20) and want later, call about 2 weeks before and you have a good chance of getting it changed... we called the day before and had no problem switching it to a later time

 

[AlwaysAPrincess]

We have done the dinner show 3 times now...we feel it is worth it. We also had an early PS at Mamma Melrose...we took our time with dinner (this was this past May) and then walked back up to the fromt of the park....stopped to pick up pics we took earlier that day. Sat down approx. 1/2 hr before show to the right of the stage . Seats were great! You can see everything the way Disney designed the stadium & stage area.

Everything happens on all sides of the stage... water, fireworks, floats, fire etc.

Enjoy it Fantasmic is FANTASTIC!

 

[sdwjones]

We have done the package twice and prefer the view and zero wait time for our kids!

 

[CamColt]

Weve done the package 4 times and saw Fantasmic once without it.
The time we saw it without it we walked in 20 minutes before the show and got 4th row seats. This was a second show of the night so thats why it worked so well.
Other times when we sit in the FDP section we are usually up the back and I have never had a problem with those seats. I think they are great.

What we saw on our last visit(in July) got me worried though and I would be sure to be there more than 1/2 hour early if I were to do it again. We got to Oscars, just before 1/2 prior to showtime(like we were told) and started our walk up. By the time we got to the entrance(5-10 minutes later), the 2 lines were merging and people without the FDP were all going to the right section. We were able to get one of the last few rows and people behind us(who technically were there on time) ended up in the handicap rows. Midway through our 1/2 hour wait they were yelled at to move. None of them did. They yelled back they had done the package and saw people from the regular line taking their seats. They were yelled at a few more times but no one budged. I dont know if they let the regular line into that section too early that night or if they normally do it that early, but there were many unhappy people.
So, after seeing that, knowing that Id have at least a 45 minute wait if I were to do the package again(I wouldnt chance showing up 35 minutes early again), Im not sure if it would be worth it to me anymore.

 

[detective mickey]

the verdict is in. i think we'll do it. i didnt know you could do other things after eating then just 30 min prior walk up. sounds just right for tired tots.. thanks everyone.

 

[AlwaysAPrincess]

Detective Mickey...
I dont think you will be dissappointed at all!!!
If show is at 8...just get there 30-40 minutes before show time. They will take your dinner show tickets & you will walk right in & sit down. AND, this way you do not get seats all the way on the end. Sit...have something to drink or a snack if your PS is early.

ENJOY!

 

[NC Jennifer]

DH and I just returned from WDW. We had a 5:30 pm seating at HW&Vine for Fantasmic. Our dinner was excellent!

The seats were fine, I really don't think there is a bad view at the show, IMHO.

We called 6 weeks before our trip and they only had 4-4:30 pm seatings available. I called 3 weeks before and they had opened up later spots. Keep calling to try to get a later PS.

 

[Castillo Mom]

We did the Fantasmic! dinner pkg. in August and ate at Hollywood & Vine. We found the food to very good and fresh with a large variety of dishes to choose from.

As for the seating at the show, they were great! I wouldn't hesitate to do the package again, it was very convenient.

 

[dalt01]

do it, it takes the anxiety out of the whole thing