Fantasmic Package Really Necessary?

[CheapMom]

I don't want my kids to miss Fantasmic. (DH and I saw it on a NO KIDS :< Business trip) When we went it said "line Forms 90 Minutes before show. DH and I got in line about 15 minutes before show time and it was no problem. That was in early March.
We are going Dec. 11 (light crowds) and plan on going to MGM on Mon. or Tues. I don't want to buy an expensive dinner but I will if I have to do that to see the show.
Any input please.

 

[rachael95]

You shouldn't have to. What my DH and I did was show up about 45 minutes before the show (this was late September of '03). Then, we just bought hotdogs for dinner and ate dinner while we were waiting for the show. The hotdogs they sell are really tasty and really huge.

Forgot to mention, we ended up in the 6th row, almost center. Great Seats.

 

[mrsboz]

I'm going to take my chances. I called to get the fantasmic package but the latest dinner that they had was 3:30? I don't call that dinner time. None of us would be hungry. So, we're going to eat at a normal time and take our chances to get in. If we don't get in on that night we'll try for another. We've already seen it so it would be nice to see it again but if not that's okay. I would like to try and walk in 15 minutes before and if not that's okay.

 

[momsully]

We were there presidents week in 2003 and walked in five minutes before the show started. No problem getting a seat and there were 9 of us.

 

[CheapMom]

Ok- antbody that's ever gotten turned away from Fantasmic- I would like to hear from you- what time of year was it- did you wait in line? Anyone????

 

[westjones]

That is what I was wondering. Has anyone ever found themselves trying to get in and not being able to get in at all?

We are going on a Saturday night in September. It is the only night show we haven't seen and we only get 1 day at WDW in September (after our 7 day cruise) and we all want to see this show. I don't want to do the dinner package because we want to get in as much 'park' time as we can since we only get 1 day there this year. BUT if there a big chance we won't get in to see the show, I would consider doing the dinner package.

DJ

 

[FatCow]

Take your chances. We've wasted too much money for the dinner package (Hollywood and Vine) which food was mediocre.

Several days later we went in at the exact same time and instead we got much better seats (right smack dab in the middle).

 

[JC Butterfly]

I went in October 2003 for my honeymoon . . . maybe I was just "unluky" but tried to get in on a Friday night about 30 minutes prior and it was standing room only . . . waaaaayyyyy in the back and it seemed dangerous with people trying to push their way in. So we left and tried again the next day, Saturday about 45 minutes early and again were stuck in the standing room only. We just gave up for that trip and decided to do it "next time".


However I went in early December with my friend mid-week. We had the attitude don't care if we see it or not. Got there about 20 minutes early and had decent seats. Middle section towards the back rows. There was still some space available when the show started although certainly not "empty".

Brenda

 

[shelleybell]

We tried in June of 02. Standing room only(1st wk of June)
Tried to stand, but it was way to difficult to hold DS10 on my shoulders.

 

[jgates]

We were VERY glad to have the package in 7/02. I'm not even sure if it there was any standing room left. Turns out they did add a 2nd show that night which late in the afternoon had not even been scheduled!!! So the park capacity must have been pretty high! I was so glad we were able to sit and not have to worry about getting a place through the masses of bodies.

 

[HaleyB]

jgates

I love your signature. It makes me smile every time I see it.

Sorry I guess this post is sort of OT. We see Fantasmic just about every year in DL, or parts of it anyway... it is a very cool show.

 

[hannacanna]

we were there in sept 03--slow season--and got reservations for the fantasmic package at the brown derby. when we sat down, the waiter gently steered us away from the package. he said it was overpriced unless we really wanted to eat that much food and that we'd have no problem getting better seats by waiting in line. i love prixe fixe dining, so i was a little disappointed when the people next to us (who had another waiter who didn't give them the option of backing out) had a nice 3 course dining experience. BUT we saved about $30 not doing the package, and we did get great seats. i'm glad that the waiter was looking out for us and didn't just sell us something. he obviously didn't believe in the value of the pacakge during the slow season.

 

[CheapMom]

Isn't the service awesome at WDW? I decided to take my chances. It will be a weeknight during a slow season and I think we will get in. If not we can try another night.
Thanks everyone for your input on this subject.