Fantasmic Package - Not Happy

[DBMagic]

Is it only me or does this sound like a horrible idea? With the CP dinner package, you at least get to choose from the full menu. With this it sounds like there will be a limited menu to choose from. This may work in the summer months, but for the off-seaon (we're going in early December) it sounds like a waste of money.

Please tell me if I'm way off base on this one.

 

[B3LM]

DBMagic, you're not alone. I don't like the prepaid plan either.
We were able to see Fantasmic twice over Easter break without FDP (they weren't offering it that week). We just won't do FDP anymore which means we probably won't dine in their restaurants either.

 

[beattyfamily]

I don't like it either. I've done it twice in a row in December no less because I have 2 little ones, but now with this new pre-paid thing, I'll take a chance from now on.

What if it rains after we've eaten and they cancel the show? Also, what if my 3 year gets scared and my husband has to leave with her. I know we take our chances the regular way with rain and all but at least if the day looks crappy, you can call and cancel your PS.

I wouldn't mind as much if the show had a roof!

It's not worth for us this year.

 

[kdibattista]

I think this is a very bad idea - We have used the dinner package for the past 2 years and we have NEVER spent that much money at Mama Melroses. With all of the cutbacks Disney is making, I don't think they should be "testing" anything

 

[CarolMN]

Are you sure the FDP means you order off a special menu? When I called to check details, I was told we would have a choice of entree. Assumed (oh-oh) that would be from the regular menu. CM did not say there would be a special menu.

Please let us know where you heard or read that thiere will be a "special menu". THANKS!!

 

[CarolMN]

Never mind! I found it myself. Here's the link in case anyone else wants to see the details:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/fantasmic.htm

If there is a special menu, then for sure I will not be booking it!

 

[jeank74]

I will be travelling to WDW using Discovery Magic Plan. My agent just informed me that the Fantasmic Dinner Package will cost me 2 wishes per person. For sure I am NOT wasting my wishes on it because:

1. Each wish cost me $33. If I get FDP, I will be spending $66 per person for something that actually costs me $40 something if I dine at the Brown Derby.

2. FDP does not include taxes and drink. My wishes DOES!!!

3. The section is not the greatest section in the theatre. And if I want a nice seat, I still need to go to the theatre early to get a better seat.

So, my plan is dine at the Brown Derby using 1 wish per person and go to the theatre earlier.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Sort of become like a glorified Hoop De Doo--except dinner and the show in 2 different places.

So sad to see what Fantasmic has done to the Brown Derby.

 

[Eeyore2U]

I hope the test fails or they listen to the responses on the board. This is a truly poor decision.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Very few seem to be in favor of it. My guess is it will fall flat on it's face. Not unless an awful a lot perks go along with it. And I haven't heard that to be the case at all.
We will be seeing it next in January, where I don't need a FDP. And actually I have seen it enough that it wouldn't make me feel bad if something happened and I missed it anyway. Not for $40 + pp at BD.
I could use my entire daily food budget on one meal where I get more food than I want in the first place.
I think the restaurants will be upset when they see few taking them up on it and they are back to having empty seats!

 

[hoosll]

I think it's a rotten idea - seems like there was sufficient restriction in that all members of the party needed to buy an entree.

Now Disney gets the money up front, can limit the menu, force you to eat at an absurdly early hour....

This plan makes sense for CP (and they get full menu) due to the limited run of the show and the small arena.

Unfortunately, there are enough people out there who are ignorant of the old policy who may fall for this new "deal."

 

[Bete]

Don't go with the dinner package. I called about it and the CM referred to it as a pilot program. This means there's hope that it won't survive. One way for sure to make it fail: Don't go with the dinner package!

 

[HookdonWDW]

We won't be doing this dining package. We've done Fantasmic both with and without the dining package, and we've gotten better seats without it. I've never shown up two hours ahead of time either. Looking at the prices, I can honestly say that it's not worth it.

Here's another voice hoping that this one fails. Seems like just another way to make some extra bucks, without providing anything extra for the money. JMHO.

 

[KarlainKY]

We have went ahead and booked H&V for Oct 3rd. However, we'll be in MGM on Sep 30th as well. So what we're gonna do on the 30th is see what kind of seat we can get by showing up about 45 minutes early. If we're satisfied with our seats without the long wait, we'll see Fantasmic that night instead and cancel the package for the 3rd. Basically, we don't want to wait too long with a 10-year-old and 2-year-old, so we're covering all bases with this idea.

I don't particularly like this new package deal either, but we enjoy eating at H&V anyway, so the little bit extra $ is worth it to us if we can avoid waiting an hour or more.

 

[minnie mouse]

Wow...I just looked at what this new Fantasmic dinner is all about. Well at those prices it looks like we won't be seeing it ths time. I saw it in May and was looking forward to it again, but I really don't want to wait in the general seating line. SOOOOO no fantasmic for me and my family this year.

 

[breana902]

I also hope this test fails. I am going in Oct and had been planning on doing the fantasmic dinner package. I just found out about the inflated prices last night. I am very disappointed. If they were offering great seats, maybe I would consider it. I have 4 kids and I am not paying a 100% increase for their meals. I saw the show last year, but had to stand up because we went in at the last minute. I will stand again before I allow myself to get ripped off like this. I always say, the kids don't know what they are missing until you tell them. I just won't tell them about the show and they won't be disappointed.

 

[mickeysaver]

1.) Well, the 48 hour cancellation policy is a pain.
2.) I don't want to spend money on a package that will cost me more than the food that I would want to eat to begin with.
3.) The package doesn't include a beverage.
4.) Big whoop, you get a coke and a box of popcorn at the ampitheater.
5.) If it rains, you are really out of luck and wasted a bunch of money for nothing.
6.) I haven't seen Fantasmic, but I won't do FDP under these circumstances.

Mickey

 

[Eeyore2U]

I'm not happy with the package either but can someone explain how if it rains you're screwed. It would be the same thing if you had rain with the old package.

 

[Luv2Roam]

Paying $40 (plus) pp for a meal at BD, and no Fantasmic.
I say guests are screwed either way with that package. But more so with no Fantasmic. But that's just my opinion.

mickeysaver -- I am not so sure about the popcorn and pop either. I have read a few posts where others are asking CM's about this. So far the answer has been this is not part of the package. I have NOT read yet that it IS. But I do not know personally. I really it wouldn't make a difference to me to justify the $ difference in the meal anyway.

 

[DBMagic]

Eeyore2U

The difference is that before, if it was raining, you didn't have to go to the restaurant because you hadn't paid anything. Now, everything is prepaid, so if they cancel Fantasmic, you still have to go eat at the inflated prices.