Fantasmic package rip-off

[afcgirl]

I just had to mention this, because it was one of the few disappointments on our recent trip. I had booked the fantasmic dinner package for 8/14 at least 6 months before our trip and we ate at Mama Melrose. We were told to be at Fantasmic by 8:30 at the latest (we got there around 8:20).

Well imagine our surprise (and about 50 others who reserved the package) when we get up to the seats that there are no seats left in the reserved area! Apparently, they let the general public sit there, and we had to go to standing room only. I had to carry my 7-year old during the whole show because he could not see a thing otherwise (and my DH carried my 5-year old). We were miserable. We had worse seats than the general public because they got there early enough to get a seat. Disney really dropped the ball on this one! Not sure if this is an aberration.

 

[mapmakerj]

How awful! You are suppose to be guaranteed seats until 30 mins. before show time. If you were there, I assume, 40 mins. before showtime I would have complained. There is no way I would have stood with my little guy when I had a guaranteed seat. I would have told them to move someone or give me package passes for a different show.

 

[DznyLvr2005]

WHAT!!! omg, I have a fantasmic package booked for Sept 29th!!! I hope we get a seat!

 

[iwynlea]

Wow -- I'm so sorry you had a bad experience. We did the Fantasmic package back in 2003 (the only time we've actually seen the show). At that time, I think the show was at 8pm, and we arrived about 7:20pm. We had front row seats in the reserved section, so it sounds like someone just really dropped the ball this time! Why don't you write to Disney and complain about your experience...maybe they can refund part of what you paid for the package or provide other compensation...or at a minimum, at least you'll feel better that you reported your frustrations! They've always been very prompt and very proactive whenever I'd had a truly bad experience.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

I have done the exact same as u and had fabulous seats 4 different trips so far! Sorry u had trouble..........

 

[Robo]

They open the "package seats" to the public by about 30 minutes before show-time (I assume, in your case, that would have been 8:30).

It is unusual for them to do it earlier than that, but if you say you got there at 8:20 and all that was left was Standing Room... I'd say the public pretty much "crammed-into" that area itself.

Here's the deal:

Disney does not KNOW how many folks to "hold" the seats for because...
even if guests DO have the dining package voucher, they do NOT HAVE TO sit in the package seats, but can simply sit anywhere in the theater after they arrive.
So, if Disney "held" all of the seats in the package area waiting for "all" of those with vouchers to arrive, they would likely end up with many empty seats (on many nights) in that area and make a lot of other guests angry about THAT.

That's why they tell guests with package vouchers to arrive by 1/2-hour before, at the latest.

Sounds like you got caught between 'too many guests arriving early" and getting there a bit too close to the "cut-off point."

I think (if you are correct on your times) that Disney might have jumped the gun a bit too soon.

That's a real shame.
Hope you could enjoy most of the show, otherwise.

 

[indigoxtreme]

I am sorry that you children could not enjoy this great show, especially when you went out of your way to make sure you would have good seats.

Did you go to a CM at the show to make a complaint? Or did you go to guest relations to make a complaint? That would have been the time to get something done.

If this was your last day, they could have reimbursed you the cost of meal, unless you were on the dining plan, then they could have given you credit back. If they could not give you passes for another show or given you seats, they should have offered something.

 

[brbenoit]

Thanks for the heads up. We have booked the dinner package, this is our first time seeing Fantasmic in 4 trips. We have seen it twice in CA, but not in FL.

 

[Robo]

Thanks for the heads up. We have booked the dinner package, this is our first time seeing Fantasmic in 4 trips. We have seen it twice in CA, but not in FL.

Its a bit different in WDW.

We love the one in Disneyland... its the BEST!

We have also seen the one at WDW dozens of times as well (woludn't miss it), but its not quite the same show.

I say this so you will not be expecting the DLR show (there's no Pirate ship or "real" Steamboat available in the theater at WDW).
But having SEATS (the OP not withstanding -sorry-) makes a BIG difference in enjoying the show.

That MOB STANDING at DLR always seems kind of "scary" to me.

 

[Mickey1122]

Sorry the package didn't work for you. A few years ago, when you only needed to eat at the restaurant normally to get the package. (They just gave you a little ticket.) We did it an H&V (never going back) and we were brought to the front immeadiately. They asked the general public to move over, and they did. We sort of pushed the half hour before deal by a few minutes as well. they can be very accomodating if you ask.

 

[Dolce27]

Granted, I haven't worked at WDW since 1999 and a lot has changed since then - but when I worked there I worked Fantasmic most nights and I never once saw this happen. The Fantasmic package seats are all the way to the right of the amphitheater and it is (or was) sectioned off. The Fantasmic package guests were to meet at a certain location at ‘x’ time and be brought into the amphitheater via backstage. Only after this happened would cast members being filling in seating. Have things changed? I have a Fantasmic Dinner Package booked next month and I recall being told on the phone to meet.

 

[afcgirl]

When we (and the 50 or so other people) complained to the CM at the reserved area, she basically said oh well, there is nothing we can do but send you to the standing room only area. There was no explanation (or much sympathy either).

I have not made a complaint yet. I am reallly not one to complain, but maybe I should so that it doesn't happen again. Thanks for the sympathy though! I knew you all would feel my pain, being Disney fans! BTW, we did the dinner package in 2004 (ate at Brown Derby) and had no problems then.

 

[afcgirl]

Granted, I haven't worked at WDW since 1999 and a lot has changed since then - but when I worked there I worked Fantasmic most nights and I never once saw this happen. The Fantasmic package seats are all the way to the right of the amphitheater and it is (or was) sectioned off. The Fantasmic package guests were to meet at a certain location at ‘x’ time and be brought into the amphitheater via backstage. Only after this happened would cast members being filling in seating. Have things changed? I have a Fantasmic Dinner Package booked next month and I recall being told on the phone to meet.

We were told to meet at the gate near the front of the park. We showed the person at the gate our pass and she let us in the gates, where it took us about 5 minutes to walk to the auditorium. There was no big group of dinner package people going in at once, we were trickling in on our own. Maybe that is what went wrong? Maybe it was the time lag between meeting at the gate and actually walking all the way to the auditorium? If so, they should tell you to get there before 8:30.

 

[CamColt]

We had a similar experience a couple years ago. We arrived at the entrance a little over 1/2 hour before the show as we were told (and always have been told in the past). By the time we got up the theater entrance they just started merging the package line with the stand by line. We got the last row before the handicap accessible row. People who came in behind us with the package ended up sitting in the handicap row. They were then told to move which resulted in a yelling/complaining match as they had paid for the package and showed up on time while people who didnt, had seats in the reserved section.

IMO, they merged the 2 lines too soon. If they merge them 30 minutes in advance they should tell the package people to arrive 40 minutes in advance as it does take some time to walk up to the theater. We havent done the package since, but do plan to next week. We will arrive well before 30 minutes in advance.

 

[disneysnob]

We also has a bad experience in June with the package. There were 18 of us, and I had booked the Fantasmic Package at the Hollywood & Vine, months before. Our ADR was 6:50. The show was 9:00. I checked with the CM when I made the reservation to make sure we would have plenty of time, and she said yes. When we got there, we weren't seated until 7:25....only because my dad complained that we had 6:50 reservations, and the show was at 9:00, and we didn't want to be rushed. Once again they said, don't worry. At about 8:20, I said to the waiter that we needed to get going because of the Fantasmic show. Finally he came with the bill...at 8:40! Apparently he was 'unaware' that we were on the package, even though I said it at least 3 times and it was written next to our ADR's. He had to physically walk us to the exit gate and explain to the cm there what happened. Needless to say, we ran up ALL those ramps and we got VERY bad seats. Just beware and make sure that your server knows that you're on the package.

 

[Allison]

We were told to meet at the gate near the front of the park. We showed the person at the gate our pass and she let us in the gates, where it took us about 5 minutes to walk to the auditorium. There was no big group of dinner package people going in at once, we were trickling in on our own. Maybe that is what went wrong? Maybe it was the time lag between meeting at the gate and actually walking all the way to the auditorium? If so, they should tell you to get there before 8:30.

No, that isn't it. They don't take people in a group. Everyone goes in as they arrive.

 

[beattyfamily]

Actually, I've been told more than once that you really should get there no later then 45 minutes before and at 30 minutes before they open it up and you are no longer guaranteed a seat.

But the OP got there 8:20p which is 40 minutes before so there really should have been some seats left.

I'm very sorry OP that you had such bad luck.

 

[tjmw2727]

We have done the FDP a few times and noticed big differences in how the CM's control the reserved area. The area is obviously roped off and only those with the FDP tickets were allowed in. Several CM's are usually watching and many times we saw groups of people from the GA section duck under the rope and sit in the FDP section. It wasn't a matter of moments before the CM's asked them to leave.

Closer to the start time the GA guests get more aggressive as they arrive and see an entire section roped off. They just start trying to sit there - right or wrong - as they don't realize the reason. Some teams of CM's just do a better job than others and perhaps this team saw it was close to 1/2 hour prior and said "what the heck".

OP - I am so sorry this happened, to pay for the package and then have standing room only is IMHO unacceptable. I would write to GR and give them as much information as possible. Date and restaurant, reservation time and even the server if you have it - just for verification. If for no other reason than to review with the CM's that the section is reserved until 30 minutes prior.

For those reading with the package I would suggest not waiting until 30 mintues prior and after the OP's report I think we will go with at least 45 mintues prior. Which btw makes me re-think the entire package idea!! If enough of us do that then the restaurants will be empty again as everyone is waiting in the theater

TJ

 

[Jennyvelaz]

Wait until you experience the infamous Candlelight Procession dinner package!!! That one is even worse!! The line for a seat, after you eat is "triple million longer!" (as my daughter would say!) IMO you're better off getting counter service, eat curbside, wait on each other for drinks, and give each other kisses for tips!! It's a much better deal....and better seats in the end! Our CP seats, after dropping $240., were terrible-and we were in the front section of the line!

 

[joshsmom]

We would have had the exact same problem as the OP if we would have followed the directions we were given! We booked the Fantasmic Package and ate at H&V this past May. We were told (and it said on the little passes they give you), to be at the entrance near the stroller rental 1/2 an hour before the show is to begin. Well, after we ate, we kind of hung around the area, shopped a little and then decided to go to the entrance and see if they were letting people in yet--this was ONE HOUR before Fantasmic. Well, we saw people going in, so we went and checked in with the CM. There was no "group" or anything, he was just letting those of us in who showed up with our little pass thingys. When we got in, the first 3 rows were already full--and this was, as I said, 1 hour before the show. We got GREAT seats still--still on the right hand side, but toward the middle in the fourth row. Then we noticed more and more people coming in from the package entrance area and it started getting crowded. All of a sudden, some dam must have burst somewhere because at 40 minutes prior to the show, ALL THESE PEOPLE started FLOODING the area. There were still people coming in the Package Entrance line and they were being directed up towards the top and to standing room only. They were VERY upset, as I would have been. We squished in as far as we could and tried to get a few more people in by us, but we only were able to get in a family of 4. I felt SO BAD for the people who arranged for the package, arrived when they were told, and ended up without seating. We would have been standing there right next to them had we decided to do anything other than try to get in "early."