Fantasmic package is Wack!

[Tiffer]

First told that we can only book between 2 ish and 4:30 at any participating rest. Then was told only rserved seating at 6:30 show, even though it's showing 6:30, 8:30 & 10.

Then called back, was told, that I could go to any show & have reserved seating. Called again, was told only the 6:30 show again!

Who, under 65, NO OFFENSE, wants to eat dinner by 4:30??? Why even have the package??

OK..I'm breathing now

 

[aristocat]

Do you really need to have the package?

It sounds like you'd be better off just making a regular supper reservation and hitting up Fantasmic when you want without the package.

 

[Scraper]

We go to the fantasmic show about a half hour before it starts the late show if there is one. We always get good seats.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I understand where you are coming from--we could only get the Package at at an impossibly early dinner time also...3:20!!!
I THINK what Disney is doing is saving the ordinary (ie--5:00 and after) dinner times for the regular diners and then trying to fill the restaurants early with Fantasmic diners--whom they believe will agree to eat that early in exchange for the guaranteed seating at Fantasmic. So far it seems to work for them.

Nobody in our group wanted dinner at 3:20, so we're just having dinner at the Brown Derby at 5:30 and taking our chances with Fantasmic..

 

[newman7501]

We too could only get a 3:30 dining time for the Fantasmic Dinner package, too late for lunch, too early for dinner. We did take it though because we are going christmas week and it is going to be busy. The Cm told me that our seats would be for the 6:30 show as well.

 

[eliza61]

First told that we can only book between 2 ish and 4:30 at any participating rest. Then was told only rserved seating at 6:30 show, even though it's showing 6:30, 8:30 & 10.

Then called back, was told, that I could go to any show & have reserved seating. Called again, was told only the 6:30 show again!

Who, under 65, NO OFFENSE, wants to eat dinner by 4:30??? Why even have the package??

OK..I'm breathing now

How far in advance did you book? If you tried at the last minute then you may have a problem getting the time you want especially during a busy season. I booked a little over 2 months and had no problem getting the restaurant I wanted and the time I wanted. I leave in 8 days. While its not necessary to do the fantasmic dinner package, with small kids I did not want to wait in a crowd of people for 1 hour.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

We actually got better seats for the show without the dinner package (we have done both package and no package)

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Personally.....I would not want to eat dinner that early. I think that Disney thinks that you will take whatever you can get as it is "the package" and the way to go thus forcing you into that time slot. Maybe if people stop taking the package and giving into those dining times, they will change the times.

 

[patsal]

The only time I bother withthe Fantasmic package is if we are going at an impossibly crowded time of year and have only one possible time to fit it in--so for time management purposes I use it. If there are three performances you will not need it for the the last seating and it is doubtful you'd need it for the second. Even in July, while the the parks were quite crowded we just picked a non EMH night and went to the second performance--people were not even sitting in the last three sections on the left side.

 

[Allison]

As far as I know the package has always been for the first show only. If the first show is at 6:30 it makes sense that there would be no seating after 4:30 in order to allow people enough time to get to the show. So, it seems seating times are driven by the show times.

We had a FDP seating time of 6:20 for a 9:00 show in June.

 

[crisi]

We've always done just fine with Fantasmic seats showing up about 20-30 minutes before the show. Last time we didnt' get great seats, but we were running late and got there 10 minutes before the show. This was October.

 

[ctnurse]

I have 5:20 ressies for MM Fantasmic package in Sept. I booked them in April and that was the latest time available.

 

[swimmom]

Last week we had dinner at Spoodles at 6:30 (underwhelemed again!!) and took the boat to MGM for the late show - no problem with seats.

 

[jncvh]

I was able to get a 7:30 ressie at MM with the Fantasmic show afterwards. I quess that I would have to go to the 10:00 show unles we get out of dinner in time for the 8:30 show. I didn't even think about which show to go to but the 10:00 may be to late as I have a 2 year old. I think I will try to change my ressie to 6:30 or 7:00 to try to make the 8:30 show. If not I will deal with the late night. Hopefully the busses aren't to bad or maybe I will drive my own car from OKW.

 

[cdntourguide]

I made a Fantasmic Dinner Package Reservation once 4years ago and found out that seats were available in the main seating area. Since then I have never made a FDP and have never had a problem getting a seat: even showing up ten minutes before the performance has gotten me a good seat. Sure some days the crowds are huge, but havingto eat too early or from a limited menu is not my idea of a good day.

 

[DLBDS]

I have 2 FDPs reserved. One for December and one for February. The December one I could only get for 3:50 (Fantasmic! at 7:00) at Mama Melrose's. This is a sleep-in day so this time isn't a huge deal for us. You just have to plan for it. I have Brunch scheduled for 11:00 at Kona. We should be ready to eat again by 4:00-4:30. Now, for February, our FDP is for 4:30 (Fantasmic! at 7:00) at Mama Melrose's. Much better time. Although, whenever I have to call DD, I always check to see if there's anything better available for both. I really want to change Mama Melrose's to Brown Derby in February. I've had to inlist IPO to help with this. Hopefully, something will open up. BTW, both FDPs are for the day following a ticketed event....MVMCP and the P&PP.

 

[kimberh]

Before The DDP came out you had to pay for eaches on the menus unless you did a fantasmic package and then we received a 3 course meal for a set price and didn't have to wait in line for Fantasmic. It saved a lot of money and 2 hrs on our feet. I have done Fantasmic both ways in the early days and I LOVE the package. I still do it and Love MM. If if doesn't suit your needs then don't do it. That is why they will still let you order eaches off of the menu. There are people that don't like the DDP. For the life of me, I don't understand Why. That's why we are in America and we all make our own choice. We save a small fortune on the DDP and on the Fantasmic Package. Take a party of 9 and try not to worry about the bill on vacation. It is hard. Now I don't have to and I love it!!!!

 

[TeresaMc]

I have a 5:10 reservation for Sept 1 and I didn't book it until about 2-3 weeks ago.

 

[Tiffer]

How far in advance did you book? If you tried at the last minute then you may have a problem getting the time you want especially during a busy season. I booked a little over 2 months and had no problem getting the restaurant I wanted and the time I wanted. I leave in 8 days. While its not necessary to do the fantasmic dinner package, with small kids I did not want to wait in a crowd of people for 1 hour.

Last minute?? I booked in June for Christmas week!

 

[Tiffer]

The only time I bother withthe Fantasmic package is if we are going at an impossibly crowded time of year and have only one possible time to fit it in--so for time management purposes I use it. If there are three performances you will not need it for the the last seating and it is doubtful you'd need it for the second. Even in July, while the the parks were quite crowded we just picked a non EMH night and went to the second performance--people were not even sitting in the last three sections on the left side.

Well, it's New Year's Eve , so I think it's a pretty busy time. My mom made a later one at 50's and we will decide later I guess.