Fantasmic Priority...worth using a TS credit?

[profesionalstudent]

I have been looking on the boards about the restaurants that are included in the Fantasmic Priority seating, and people don't have very nice things to say. Are any of the choices good?? Is it worth using a TS credit to get that priority seating, or is it possible just to get there early, and stake out a spot? Is this set up in some sort of arena?? Differently than at DL?? Thanks for the insight.

 

[rosiep]

I've eaten at Mama Melrose and the Brown Derby. Neither one was great, but neither were they at all bad. I wouldn't want to use 2 TS credits for the Brown Derby though. As for Hollywood and Vine...I cancelled my ressie there after hearing so many negative reviews and I had no real desire to give it a chance. However, seeing as how I REALLY want my husband to see Fantasmic (it'll be his first time), I think I would sacrifice a meal at H&V if that was the only place I could get.

As for your other question: It is different from Disneyland. The arena has a limited amount of seating. This leaves some standing room only, but there is a fire code that prevents the stadium from over filling. Hence, it is possible not to be allowed admitance...unlike DL where if you're in the park you can attempt to see the show from whatever vantage point you can find.

The Fantasmic dining vouchers provide seating on the right side (looking at the stage) of the stadium...you still need to arrive 45- 1 hour early.
I'll do the package if I can, but seeing as the shows have been cut back they are hard to come by.

 

[oddBotkins]

I'll do the package if I can, but seeing as the shows have been cut back they are hard to come by.

I have been trying for a FANTSMIC package May 17th since 3/1. Trying all three places. Have called 10 different times requesting party of 6, 10 and 4. No availabilities. I guess we'll just have to hit the other attractions. I'm opting for a skip this time, hopefully do TSM more than once.

 

[profesionalstudent]

I guess we'll just have to hit the other attractions. I'm opting for a skip this time, hopefully do TSM more than once.

What is TSM??

If you have to arrive 45min. to 1 hour early with priority seating, when do you have to arrive for first come seating??

 

[rosiep]

I really think that between the 90 day ADR window and the cut back of shows it's going to take a miracle to get vouchers. I'm still gonna try....and if not......C'est la vie!

 

[oddBotkins]

What is TSM??

If you have to arrive 45min. to 1 hour early with priority seating, when do you have to arrive for first come seating??

TSM Toy Story Mania

Some people say you need to arrive two hours before the show, OMG

 

[oddBotkins]

I really think that between the 90 day ADR window and the cut back of shows it's going to take a miracle to get vouchers. I'm still gonna try....and if not......C'est la vie!

I would just be prepared to call on your exact 90 day at 0700 EST. The UG has a strategy for Cinderella's Castle Dining, it would probably work here. We used the Fantasmic package before and as far as I was concerned it was Fantasmic, I do all I can to shorted the wait time. GOOD LUCK

 

[maleficent_man]

I phoned today to get a Fantasmic package for 9 July and there was no availability at all for Mama Melrose all day!!?

 

[Stephanie VanMeter]

We were able to get the Fantasmic Package for MM, going first week of June. But I did not realize until the other day that they no longer allow you to enter through a seperate entrance. I was wondering, if you arrive an hour early and there are better seats available can you take them? my whole reasoning was not wanting to stand shoulder to shoulder while trying to get in. Is it still like this?

 

[MSSANDRA]

We were able to get the Fantasmic Package for MM, going first week of June. But I did not realize until the other day that they no longer allow you to enter through a seperate entrance. I was wondering, if you arrive an hour early and there are better seats available can you take them? my whole reasoning was not wanting to stand shoulder to shoulder while trying to get in. Is it still like this?

We have done that with no issue but it has been a while ago.
We have done MM and H &V and both had good food and good service when we ate there.

 

[catne]

We were able to get the Fantasmic Package for MM, going first week of June. But I did not realize until the other day that they no longer allow you to enter through a seperate entrance. I was wondering, if you arrive an hour early and there are better seats available can you take them? my whole reasoning was not wanting to stand shoulder to shoulder while trying to get in. Is it still like this?

The difference in standing/waiting with the package seats is this: The stand-by crowd starts lining up 2 hours before the show starts and gets packed in. Then the gates open up approximately 90 minutes before the show and the crowd starts into the theater.

You arrive with your reserved pass 30 minutes later...which is now about 1 hour before the show. The vast majority of that huge crowd that was waiting has now filtered into the theater so at 60 minutes before showtime you will most likely not be waiting in line shoulder to shoulder -- you will be walking steadily through what was the line area, handing over your pass at the top, and be directed to the reserved seating area. Then the 45-60 minutes you're waiting for the show you will actually be relaxing in your seat, not standing in a crowded line with a kazillion people. And yes, if you spot seats you'd rather have you can go sit in them instead of the reserved seating. However, on a very busy night you may find that at 45-60 minutes before the show the only empty seats are in the reserved section. They will already be filling the Standing Room Only section at the top of the arena. At 30 minutes before the show, they remove the ropes from the reserved seats and allow some of the Standing Room Only to fill in any empty seats in the area which is why you can't wait until 30 minutes before show time to claim your reserved seats...there won't be any left at 30 minutes. Hope that helps.

 

[Stephanie VanMeter]

The difference in standing/waiting with the package seats is this: The stand-by crowd starts lining up 2 hours before the show starts and gets packed in. Then the gates open up approximately 90 minutes before the show and the crowd starts into the theater.

You arrive with your reserved pass 30 minutes later...which is now about 1 hour before the show. The vast majority of that huge crowd that was waiting has now filtered into the theater so at 60 minutes before showtime you will most likely not be waiting in line shoulder to shoulder -- you will be walking steadily through what was the line area, handing over your pass at the top, and be directed to the reserved seating area. Then the 45-60 minutes you're waiting for the show you will actually be relaxing in your seat, not standing in a crowded line with a kazillion people. And yes, if you spot seats you'd rather have you can go sit in them instead of the reserved seating. However, on a very busy night you may find that at 45-60 minutes before the show the only empty seats are in the reserved section. They will already be filling the Standing Room Only section at the top of the arena. At 30 minutes before the show, they remove the ropes from the reserved seats and allow some of the Standing Room Only to fill in any empty seats in the area which is why you can't wait until 30 minutes before show time to claim your reserved seats...there won't be any left at 30 minutes. Hope that helps.

Thanks, yes that did help. Hopefully the line will have moved on through. I guess in the previous years the line was not that early because there were 2 shows per night.

 

[irunnoft]

We were able to get the Fantasmic Package for MM, going first week of June. But I did not realize until the other day that they no longer allow you to enter through a seperate entrance. I was wondering, if you arrive an hour early and there are better seats available can you take them? my whole reasoning was not wanting to stand shoulder to shoulder while trying to get in. Is it still like this?

I don't know if it is still like this, but it was when my family went this past December. We've done the Fantasmic Dinner package several times and considered ourselves veterans. For me, there was no other way to see Fantasmic. There's no way I'd line up for two hours to see this show. In times past, we would eat at our restaurant and then stroll over to the private entrance by Oscars and walk to the reserved seating section. Usually, we'd arrive at the gate about 30 minutes prior to the show.

This past December, when the waitress at the Brown Derby gave us our ticket, we never thought to actually look at it. I had no idea about the change to the package. The dinner ran late at BD and we had a brisk walk to the gate at Oscars, but we made it about 15 minutes before the show started. However. . . . when we got to the gate. . . . it was closed! I tried knocking, but nobody was going to open it. That's when I looked at the ticket and saw that it had printed directions on it to go to the main entrance. This was annoying and most distressing! Now we were in a hurry to the front gate only to find that we were in a huge line trying to get in. Of course, by this time, the ropes had dropped around the priority seating area and everybody that was in the standing only section was filling in. We got seats in the priority section, but weren't happy with the new changes at all.

If this is still the way WDW is handling the Fantasmic Dinner package, I'm done with it. To me, the real benefit of the package was the private entrance that allowed guests a leisurely stroll to the theater and the ability to avoid the sprawling line at the main entrance.

 

[Stephanie VanMeter]

That was my thoughts too. It has been two summers since we last did the Fantasmicst Package. Last year we just stood in line and waited, mainly because the food at HV was not real good. (I know many like it, and some of my party did too) But I thought it was worth a not so good meal to enter in a seperate entrance. I just don't really understand why it was changed. Also the line, last year, did not line up that early or at least we didn't. Maybe there were two groups of lines. Is that possible that one group goes in and then another. I do remember being in line near the entrance by Beauty and teh Beast.

 

[catne]

That was my thoughts too. It has been two summers since we last did the Fantasmicst Package. Last year we just stood in line and waited, mainly because the food at HV was not real good. (I know many like it, and some of my party did too) But I thought it was worth a not so good meal to enter in a seperate entrance. I just don't really understand why it was changed. Also the line, last year, did not line up that early or at least we didn't. Maybe there were two groups of lines. Is that possible that one group goes in and then another. I do remember being in line near the entrance by Beauty and teh Beast.

They did away with the separate entrance to cut back on cast members needed to staff the show -- they can now use several less since they only need to have employees cover one entrance. The lines are considerably larger because they only schedule 2 or 3 shows a week so everyone who wants to see Fantasmic is going on the same nights instead of spreading it out over a week. Occasionaly they have added a 2nd show when the crowds are extra huge. They used to have Fantasmic every night, and twice a night during busy times...again the reason for the cutbacks are budget cuts.

 

[profesionalstudent]

Well, it became a non-issue for us. I tried today at 4am to do both days that Fantasmic was running during our visit...no reservations available.

The only good thing is that we have Fantasmic at DL, and that the kids don't know anything about it.

 

[Tricia1972]

Well, it became a non-issue for us. I tried today at 4am to do both days that Fantasmic was running during our visit...no reservations available.

The only good thing is that we have Fantasmic at DL, and that the kids don't know anything about it.

Try calling again 90 days before the actual date that you are trying to get the package for. They used to hold some packages until that date, so you may have better luck!