Fantasmic PS

[bytheblood]

Is it worth the money to get a Fantasmic Dinner Package? I have heard the seats are terrible.

If you feel that it is worth it, can you please tell me which restaurant you would choose?

 

[CamColt]

We are big fans of Mama Melrose, so whenver we do it, we eat there.

The FDP seats are all the way to the right of the theater. We have sat there a few times now and never thought they were bad seats. I have heard others complain about them, but like I said, we have always had a great view.

As for if the package is worth it or not, I feel thats a personal decision depending on what is important to you. If you dont mind waiting for 1-2 hours for Fantasmic, then it probably isnt worth it. If you like a big meal and would rather not wait so long, then yes it is worth it. I find the package at MM is a lot of food...more than we would get if we just went in for a regular dinner, so I sort of feel it is a bit much, but I do like not having to wait in line forever for Fantasmic. We usually do the package, however when there are 2 shows, we dont and we go to the 2nd show without having to wait in line.

Good luck deciding.

 

[pumba]

We always do the Fantasmic PKG .......we have been four or five times and go to the Hollywood and Vine because of the varying desires...even when just hubby and myself we go there....we love the seats over to the right and they are not bad seats.....we see the whole show and that is what we like

 

[justhat]

My husband hates the FDP seats, but we'll be doing it anyway in April cause I don't think we could wait in there for 2 hours with our daughter, who will be almost 14 months on the trip. In May we didn't do the package and got there a little over 90 minutes before the show started, but Madison was just a little under 3 months then so it was much easier to sit with her all that time. We always do our package at the Brown Derby because we love eating there anyway, so might as well do it with the package. We also like Mama Melrose, but usually do lunch there instead of dinner. We plan to try the FDP there one time, but we just love Brown Derby too so it's hard to break away.

 

[bytheblood]

So let's say that you don't do the package and you go in after a 2 hour wait....can you pick any seat you want or do you have to follow in a certain order to the seats that are available based on that row being empty?

 

[Buzz's_girl]

Like stated above, the seats for the dinner package are not middle front of the stadium, however, I can't imagine there being a BAD seat in the house. That being said, I have 3 kids. (6,5,and4). It is VERY worth it to ME not to have to wait 2 hours after waiting in various lines all day long. We have done dinner at Hollywood and VIne. I found the food to be fairly good, there was a good variety and the kids were happy.

If you are not sure you could always try it once. If you don't like the seats, you could always move or try again another night!

 

[justhat]

What has happened with us is that around 2 hours before showtime, they open the theater, and then they start directing you to a certain section, generally the middle. Then they work outward to the end sections. So you get to wait sitting in your seat, though I'm not sure if that's better cause those benches get pretty uncomfortable after all that time! You do more or less get to choose your seat though, but no, you don't have unlimited choice of sections, at least not when I've done it.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Another vote for doing the package, for the same reasons everyone else has posted. We are going to the Brown Derby. Our other choice was Mama Melrose, but it was not available. Thats OK-- Now we get to try somewhere new. Last time we ate at Hollywood, and Vine.

As for the seats--- There are good, and not so good seats in the reserved area, as well as in the general seating area. The closer you are to the middle the better. We sat in the first few rows, but clear to the right, on the aisle. We were also some of the last people in. They were not bad seats,and we loved the show. As someone else said. There is not a BAD seat in the theater.


Good Luck
*

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

These seats are also the closest to the exit, which can save LOTS of time when Fantasmic is over and the mass exodus starts.

 

[oneeyedguy]

Do they offer PS at 50's Primetime cafe? We would like to eat there and do the show. Planning on going April 9th, does anyone know what time the show starts?

 

[CamColt]

Welcome to the Dis, Oneeyedguy!
According to the times posted on the Dis here, http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/april05.cfm ,it looks like Fantasmic will be showing at 8:30 on April 9th.

Unfortunately Prime Time does not participate in the Fantasmic Dinner Package. The only restaurants currently participating are Mama Melrose, Hollywood & Vine, and Brown Derby.

 

[maggs]

I am not a fan of the package at all. The seats are awful. We always go early and wait.I realise it isnt an option for families with young kids but we dont mind the wait to get center seats and a decent view. I know the crowds are heavy coming out but its all part of the experience.

Maggs

 

[oneeyedguy]

Thanks for the starting time, but now I have a seperate problem. I booked PS at Hollywood and Vine for the Fantasmic package and I was given 4:30 as a time for dinner. I thought you ate and went right to the show. Was planning on AK in the morning and MGM in afternoon. I have two kids 5 & 4 and a wife who is not all reved up for Disney. (she dosen't like crowds) Should I plan to go back to the Poly between parks for a nap or and then tour MGM after dinner and before the show or just risk the meltdown and have the kids go all day? I really wanted to eat at the 50's prime time (my friend told me it was great). Does anyone know how long it takes to get from the Poly to AK or MGM? I haven't been to Disney in 12 years, so getting around will not be my stron suit.

 

[beattyfamily]

I don't see why people think the package seats are so bad. There are seats on the left, right and center. The center ones are for people who wait in the long line out front for over an hour and then wait in their seat for another hour. No thanks.

The Fantasmic Package seats are to the right of the stage. IMHO, you can see everything. There is no need for me to wait 2 hours to sit in the middle. I could understand if sitting to the right or left meant you couldn't see something but that is not true. As a matter of fact, I think we can see the water screen very well and we can see the whole stage so I just don't get what the big deal is.

For my family with 2 DDs ages 5 and 8 the package is well worth not waiting for 2 hours and only wait 30 to 45 minutes in my seat. I also do it for newbies too so they don't have to wait that long either.

Enjoy it whatever you decide. We usually eat at H&V because it's the cheapest and good for kids but this year I'm going to try Mama's for a change. Again, we're bringing newbies.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have been several times and all without benefit of the dinner pkg. I have sat in the third from the front row, center section...too close imho. Got wet, not fun in late Oct. And I think we lost a lot of the effect being that close. During the summer we got there about 1 hr before the show started (we had a very slow server at 50's!!!) and ended up way to the left, at the top in handicapped seating, right at the walkway. They were putting people in the sro spot in back of the walkway at that point. I have to say that that spot, other than being very cramped, was a better viewing spot than the third row center. I'm thinking we may just do a pkg and eat at Brown Derby in June and not have that wait. We will try to get a top row so that we can get out a little faster also.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We always try to do the pkg. I tried to get it for last easter, but it was sold out but we ate at hollywood and vine anyway. Its the cheapest choice. The seats are fine. I cant see standing 2 hours in line in the hot summer, especially when one of our ds has asthma. After a long day in the parks if you have not taken a break back at your hotel, the temperature tantrums start clicking in. The 2 things to consider are, the timing of your ps, that it does not interfere with the stars and cars parade if that is the only day you will be in the studios and if it rains and there is only 1 showing of fantasmic that day, you dont get a raincheck to come back for the seats etc. So I always go with the attitude of, we are eating a meal and the seats are just icing on the cake. If you do not show also, your credit card will be billed. Last time we had the fdp we ate, did like 2 ride and then walked over to go in with our seat voucher.