Fantasmic package?

[Colleen27]

Are they still doing this? The dining CM I just spoke with said it wasn't in the system at all for the time we're traveling (May 19-27) even though she showed Fantasmic showings on several days. With the reduced number of F! showings, I was thinking the package might be the way to go to avoid what is sure to be a crazy-big crowd at the standby entrance.

 

[granmaz]

There sre still the Fantasmic dinner packages, but I think the dates you want are not quite at the 90 day mark for the bookings to open. Staying onsite though you should be able to book 90 days from when you arrive for the first 10 days.

 

[Colleen27]

There sre still the Fantasmic dinner packages, but I think the dates you want are not quite at the 90 day mark for the bookings to open. Staying onsite though you should be able to book 90 days from when you arrive for the first 10 days.

Today was my 90 day mark and I booked everything else without a problem. It was just the F! package that wasn't showing as available.

 

[Tina G]

There have been many reports of people calling on the first day they are allowed and not being able to get the FDP. I think Disney is greatly reducing the number of FDPs they are offering due to the reduced schedule for Fantasmic. Maybe they will be getting rid of it altogether. There are reports that people with the package have arrived and found no seats in the reserved section. Even with the package you still have to show up 60-90 minutes in advance to be sure you get a seat. The shows will probably all be filled to capacity.

 

[RMulieri]

There have been a lot of reports about this lately.Try calling each day. The problem is everyone is thinking along the same lines and trying to book the pks, and there are not alot of pkgs available .

 

[granmaz]

Today was my 90 day mark and I booked everything else without a problem. It was just the F! package that wasn't showing as available.

Oh, well that is strange then, and a shame for you. If only there were more days with Fantasmic showing for us all to choose from.

 

[brockash]

I don't get the point of the Fantasmic Package anymore???? From what I've read, it seems like even with the package, you still have to line up with everyone else 60-90 minutes beforehand. If that's true, why would you line up that early to get those seats??? - I'm sure you could find better seats. I don't know, maybe I'm missing something. Last year we didn't do the package, but after the huge line we had to wait in (although we did get awesome seats) I said for sure we'd do the package this year, but if it's not going to get me out of that line, what's the point?

 

[RMulieri]

I don't get the point of the Fantasmic Package anymore???? From what I've read, it seems like even with the package, you still have to line up with everyone else 60-90 minutes beforehand. If that's true, why would you line up that early to get those seats??? - I'm sure you could find better seats. I don't know, maybe I'm missing something. Last year we didn't do the package, but after the huge line we had to wait in (although we did get awesome seats) I said for sure we'd do the package this year, but if it's not going to get me out of that line, what's the point?

With the pkg you line up about an hour before.Without it you line up almost 2 hrs before if you want a seat.It is totally ridiculous and mayhem anymore...so not worth it.

 

[Tina G]

I don't get the point of the Fantasmic Package anymore???? From what I've read, it seems like even with the package, you still have to line up with everyone else 60-90 minutes beforehand. If that's true, why would you line up that early to get those seats??? - I'm sure you could find better seats. I don't know, maybe I'm missing something. Last year we didn't do the package, but after the huge line we had to wait in (although we did get awesome seats) I said for sure we'd do the package this year, but if it's not going to get me out of that line, what's the point?

I totally agree. I don't think the package is worth it anymore. It was worth it when you could show up 30-40 minutes in advance and go in through a separate entrance straight to the reserved section. But if you've got to essentially show up 60-90 minutes in advance, why pay extra? Also the FDP are all early dinner times as well so unless you normally eat at 3:30-4:30pm, that might be more inconvenient as well.

 

[Colleen27]

There have been a lot of reports about this lately.Try calling each day. The problem is everyone is thinking along the same lines and trying to book the pks, and there are not alot of pkgs available .

But it wasn't showing as fully booked - the CM couldn't even find the pkg in the system at all. My thought is that maybe they're planning on cancelling that showing if bookings aren't good, which will mean we just skip it this trip because I'm NOT crazy enough to try to catch F! on Friday or Saturday of the holiday weekend!

I'm going to try to call again 90 out from that date, rather than 90 out from arrival. I remember there was a time when that made a difference for certain things, so I figure it is worth a shot.

 

[catne]

Colleen, our dates are very similar to yours, and we're staying at ASMusic - were you able to book other restaurants past 5/25? The CM I was talking to couldn't get the system to take past 5/25...he checked the 90 + 10 date & all, and said that normally works.

By the way, I was able to book a Fantasmic Dinner package for Sunday 5/24

 

[Colleen27]

I totally agree. I don't think the package is worth it anymore. It was worth it when you could show up 30-40 minutes in advance and go in through a separate entrance straight to the reserved section. But if you've got to essentially show up 60-90 minutes in advance, why pay extra? Also the FDP are all early dinner times as well so unless you normally eat at 3:30-4:30pm, that might be more inconvenient as well.

So they did away with the separate entrance for the package? Guess I need to search on some more recent reviews of the package to decide if it is worth it at all... This is what I get for allowing 16 months to pass between trips - I miss important changes!

We've seen Fantasmic before. Maybe we'll just skip it this trip in favor of a little more park time and a nice dinner somewhere along the Boardwalk.

 

[Colleen27]

Colleen, our dates are very similar to yours, and we're staying at ASMusic - were you able to book other restaurants past 5/25? The CM I was talking to couldn't get the system to take past 5/25...he checked the 90 + 10 date & all, and said that normally works.

By the way, I was able to book a Fantasmic Dinner package for Sunday 5/24

I didn't even try for dates past 5/25 other than the package. 5/26 is the date I wanted the F! package for and 5/27 is our departure day so I don't really want a fixed time for breakfast. I'm willing to take my chance on a walk-up/last minute ressie for a late breakfast at Kona or Grand Floridian Cafe.

If the system isn't taking anything for after 5/25, that could explain the problem I had with booking the package. Gotta love Disney's computer systems!

 

[RMulieri]

So they did away with the separate entrance for the package? Guess I need to search on some more recent reviews of the package to decide if it is worth it at all... This is what I get for allowing 16 months to pass between trips - I miss important changes!

We've seen Fantasmic before. Maybe we'll just skip it this trip in favor of a little more park time and a nice dinner somewhere along the Boardwalk.

No there is still a separate area for pkgs. But the problem recently is that lots of non pkg people have been cutting into the reserved seating area once in the stadium and the Cms are overwhelmed trying to stop it.So now you have several hundred people in the regular line and pkg people all trying to get in to get a seat. My friend just got back and said it is mayhem and not worth it.I love Fantasmic, but not so much that I am going to forfeit 2 hrs waiting for it.

 

[donnier]

No there is still a separate area for pkgs. But the problem recently is that lots of non pkg people have been cutting into the reserved seating area once in the stadium and the Cms are overwhelmed trying to stop it.So now you have several hundred people in the regular line and pkg people all trying to get in to get a seat. My friend just got back and said it is mayhem and not worth it.I love Fantasmic, but not so much that I am going to forfeit 2 hrs waiting for it.

How about this....I booked the package for a Monday show and BD. They charged my credit card for the reservation. If/when the same thing happens, then basically WDW did not fulfill their part of the deal. I call my credit card company and dispute the charges until WDW refunds my money.

 

[longhornlaura]

But it wasn't showing as fully booked - the CM couldn't even find the pkg in the system at all. My thought is that maybe they're planning on cancelling that showing if bookings aren't good, which will mean we just skip it this trip because I'm NOT crazy enough to try to catch F! on Friday or Saturday of the holiday weekend!

I'm going to try to call again 90 out from that date, rather than 90 out from arrival. I remember there was a time when that made a difference for certain things, so I figure it is worth a shot.

I called today, and I think they have a new system to make reservations after 5/26. There was a different option to select in the automated menu. Maybe that was the issue.

 

[minnie56]

I called Monday for a client to book , they told me that the package was not 'defined' yet to book. (May 5-12) I called back yesterday, they told me all sold out for the 2 showings they have during their stay. I booked them ADR's anyway at MM and told them to get there and line up early and they will be fine. I cannot get the hype about the package personally and I think Disney plays games half of the time!

 

[kgle]

I called Monday for a client to book , they told me that the package was not 'defined' yet to book. (May 5-12) I called back yesterday, they told me all sold out for the 2 showings they have during their stay. I booked them ADR's anyway at MM and told them to get there and line up early and they will be fine. I cannot get the hype about the package personally and I think Disney plays games half of the time!

It wasn't "defined" yet for May 5th-12th? Weird...I made my ADR for the F! package at MM for the 17th and had no issues.

 

[aubriee]

I called Monday for a client to book , they told me that the package was not 'defined' yet to book. (May 5-12) I called back yesterday, they told me all sold out for the 2 showings they have during their stay. I booked them ADR's anyway at MM and told them to get there and line up early and they will be fine. I cannot get the hype about the package personally and I think Disney plays games half of the time!

It wasn't "defined" yet for May 5th-12th? Weird...I made my ADR for the F! package at MM for the 17th and had no issues.

I made mine a couple of weeks ago for a Fantasmic Pkg at Mama Melrose for May 10th.

My question is, if they have done away with the seperate entrance over by Oscar's Garage, then exactly where do we line up? Do we have to get in that long line off Sunset Blvd, and if so, are there two seperate lines there (one for the people with the vouchers and one for others)? I usually prefer not to do the pkg, but with the decreased number of showings, decided I would for this trip. However, I usually prefer to sit in the Mickey or Scar sections of the theater and if I'm going to be stuck in that long line with everyone else, why bother doing the pkg, just to be stuck way over on the right side? If we show up just an hour before the show, we'll be stuck in the very back of that long line. How will the CMs know we are back there? Do they come walking through, asking if anyone has the Fantasmic Pkg and then take us to the front of the line? How does it work now?

 

[morgy827]

I think someone earlier in the thread said that there is still a seperate line for package holders.