Fantasmic package rip-off

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

If so, they should tell you to get there before 8:30.

They do. We had the package the following night after you 8/15. At dinner when they gave us the ticket they said to get there between 7 (I think or maybe 7:30) and 8:30. That right there tells me to be there before 8:30. Plus our waiter suggested we get there no later than 8:15. The reserved sections were pretty empty when we walked into the stadium at 8:20.

 

[binky]

Why, oh why in the world would anyone get the Fantasmic Package if it's STILL necessary to get there 45 minutes to 1 hour ahead of time?! And for some not-too-great seats at that! That's why I cancelled my package this past May (plus I didn't like any of the restaurant choices) and just took my chances on a seat. I don't know how we got this lucky, but we only got to the theatre about 35 minutes early and had great seats. And this was on the Friday before Memorial Day. We sat in the second section from the left, and although there were plenty of seats down lower, we decided to sit near the top in order to get out early. So unless you really want to eat at one of the 3 restaurants, I'd say skip the plan. What's the difference in getting there 45 minutes early (with the plan) or maybe a little earlier (without)?

 

[Robo]

...unless you really want to eat at one of the 3 restaurants, I'd say skip the plan. What's the difference in getting there 45 minutes early (with the plan) or maybe a little earlier (without)?

ITA

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I will definitely have to rethink the package in the future if that's what's going to go on. Last time we got to the bottom gate 30 min prior. Took us about 8 minutes to walk up there. They still weren't allowing standard guests to merge in. In fact, they were holding them as the standard area was full. They then let them in 20 minutes prior, the rest of our section filled up and SRO filled up too and the SRO people reported they were there about 50 minutes prior. I thought the Fantasmic Package great.

But if it's going to be as bad as the op got it, What good is the package if you have to get there 45 minutes prior? Just get there an hour prior and get any seat you want. And the fact is, I'd much rather go over and eat at Spoodles than H and V or MM, or HBD.

 

[blondeheroine]

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!

We were amazed with the handling of the Candlelight Processional dinner package. First, we didn't realize that they roped off the entire front section for friends of the choir and entertainment. So you really only have the back tiers left for those who PAID for that package.

That really can be handled better if you ask me. I know some of those people that paid didn't get a seat. We had a great experience at the restaurant, but I still feel we were lucky to even be seated. Even if it was near the back.

 

[mytwotinks]

It's crazy that they market this package as a way to see Fantasmic without having to wait, but then treat the guests as if they were out of their minds for expecting a seat without waiting for an hour. I also don't like the fact that you have to see the early showing. You are losing even more park time doing that.

 

[WDWguru]

I'm really surprised at this since we've done the package many, many, many times and it's always worked out great for us. Granted, we typically go at less crowded times (May, October, early December) but we almost always go to the gate at about 35-40 minutes ahead of the show and have never had a problem with them letting everyone else over prior to that. My guess is a CM screwed up and it doesn't happen that often.

I agree that the package is well worth it if you're going to eat at a sit-down restaurant anyway, but if not it really depends on your circumstances. At certain times of year the wait time difference could be double or more, so it's definitely worth it - or if you have young kids who have trouble waiting, or if you want to ride ToT one more time before the show. In any case, I'm sorry to hear it happened to you.

mytwotinks: If you're going at a busy time when there are two shows, I'd skip the package altogether. The second show is often open enough to walk in as it starts and still get a seat - 15 minutes ahead if you want a really good seat.

 

[MinnieMousse]

Wow! What an eye openner for me! We have been trying to get a Fantasmic package for Sept. 18th to no avail, but now I'm wondering if its worth the effort. Right now we have regular dinner ressies at BD and figured we'd just get in the regular line for the show, maybe that's best.

 

[Robo]

Right now we have regular dinner ressies at BD and figured we'd just get in the regular line for the show, maybe that's best.

And remember:

There is no real "LINE" for Fantasmic! (at least for the first show).
Although if you arrive a bit later, you will be "shuffling in" amid a large slolw-moving GROUJP, but no "line").
The theater is "opened" about 60-90 before show-time and guests can just walk into the theater and pick a seat.

About an hour before show-time is a great "rule-of-thumb" for any time of year.
If its a BUSY park, you'll still find very good seats at that time.
If its a lower-attendance time, you'll find GREAT seats (front-row or really ANYWHERE) by an hour before.

If there's a SECOND show of the evening, if you arrive a hour early there WILL be a "line".
That's because they hold guests back from entering while the CMs clean the theater after the first show.
But don't worry, once they start letting guests enter, the theater will not be full by any means. The second show virtually never "sells out" even when the park is busy.

 

[mmmears]

Unfortunately, this doesn't surprise me. We did the F package in April, and arrived early, so we had our choice of seats. But there was no crowd control, just a thin rope separating us from general admission. Huge families, tons of peope, were just walking under those ropes and sitting in our section. The CMs (there were very few of them) just turned around and looked the other way. One tried to kick these people out, but eventually just gave up. And this way WAY before the time when they open it up to the public. The worst of it was that there were 2 empty sections on the other side of the theater, with a view no worse than what we had, but these people refused to go there. They were also for the most part, rude, loud, and pushy (I guess they would have to be to sneak under the rope after being told not to). IMO there is no reason to pay for the package until they actually reserve this section for those paying for it!

 

[beattyfamily]

Just back Wednesday afternoon.

We did the Fantasmic package (again) on Tuesday night. We decided to save our voucher though and head in one hour before through the main entrance and take our chances and we got seats right in the center section, half way up (don't like the front due to getting wet).

We watched as the package section slowly filled up, and even at 25 minutes before, package people were still arriving and being seated and the rope was still up.

I think the package being of value really depends on when you are traveling and how long you are willing to wait in your seats.

I've now decided that if I go the end of August, Sept, Oct and Dec, the package is not really needed as long as I'm willng to wait an hour in our seats.

 

[binky]

And remember:

There is no real "LINE" for Fantasmic! (at least for the first show).
Although if you arrive a bit later, you will be "shuffling in" amid a large slolw-moving GROUJP, but no "line").
The theater is "opened" about 60-90 before show-time and guests can just walk into the theater and pick a seat.
Great point We didn't wait in a line at all - just walked in, about 35 minutes early and got great seats. Maybe it was just a fluke that we got so lucky. Perhaps there is a line much earlier, people waiting for the theatre to open, but when we arrived the people had obviously been let in already so there was no line.

 

[Makdyn]

I was there in may and did the package at H&V. The waiter told us to be there by 8 but before 8:30. I think we got there around 8:10. There was pently of seat we had to sit in the wheelchair section because my grandmother was with us and she had a ecv.

 

[Skroops]

I have done the Fantasmic package many times, and I don't think it's a rip-off at all. I'm sorry that the CM's let people in too early on the day you visited. That hasn't happend to us (yet). Infact, we usually show up after the time advised and show up 10-15 minutes before the show and still get in the reserved section. We have noticed on our visits that they usually let people sit in the reserved section about 5 minutes prior to the beginning of the show. In July, we showed up at the door, and they wouldn't let us in the back way that close to show time. Ah well! We went all the way to the main show entrance and we were still allowed into the reserved section right before the rest of the crowd! We were lucky!

I don't think its' a bad deal. I just won't sit and wait for the show for that long. I'd rather show up late and take my chances...but in the reserved section! Since we like to sit down and eat anyway, the package is great.

 

[Mousema]

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

We have one booked for that night, too.

 

[ColleenLovesMinnie]

I have to admit this was one of the few things that irked us on our trip last week. We also paid for the H&V Fantasmic package - when we finished dinner the server told us we should be at the designated area no later than 8:00. We decided to go early and went at about 7:30. After a pretty long walk to the theater we got nice seats in the reserved section and made the best of our waiting time until 8:30. Sure enough at 8:29, just as the show is about to start, a family shows up and of course is complaining there are no seats left. The CM then made 2 rows of people in the reserved section squueze together so he could slip these people under the rope. This left so little room I ended up sitting with my 5 yo DD on my lap - I have to say that annoyed me since not only did we pay for the package we also arrived early enough to get a seat. Maybe I'm blowing this out of proportion, but it was one of the few less magical moments we experienced (that and the woman spanking her crying toddler repeatedly in the rest room - but that's another thread!)

 

[gbrogers]

We are going the week after Thanksgiving, and I had already decided not to do the candlelight package. Now, I think that with the early arrival times that everyone is recommending that we will bypass the package and make better use of our DDP elsewhere.

 

[BarbaraK]

Why don't you drop a line to Disney and tell them what happened. The address is:

Walt Disney World Guest Relations
PO Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Be sure to give them all the information you can. Time, date, where you had dinner and the name of any Cast Member you may have spoken to.

Barbara

 

[BarbaraK]

This may be a duplicate of the message I just sent, if so just ignore.

Why don't you drop Disney a line and tell them what happened. Here's the address:
Walt Disney World Guest Relations
PO Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL. 32830

Give them all the information you can. Date, time, where you had dinner and the name of any Cast Member you spoke to about the mix-up.

Barbara

 

[MinnieMousse]

Unfortunately (or not), there were no packages left by the time we called, so instead we are eating at 3:45 at PTC, which I'm told is really great. We figure since there are extended hours that night anyways, we can afford to get in line early for the show, and then go do the other stuff afterwards. We checked and there is no second show that evening, that would have been great too. So, in the end I think its all worked out for the best from what I'm reading on this thread.