Fantasmic questions

[traces7]

We're hoping to see Fantasmic when we go in Oct. I was wondering - I've heard you have to get there early for seats - up to 1 or 2 hours early. Do you stand in line that whole time? Or are you able to get your seats for part of that time? How far before the show starts are you admitted to the seating area? Trying to decide if we should wait in line or do the Fantasmic dining package. Thanks for your help!

 

[juligrl]

I think October is kind of a slow time down there so it's doubtful that you'll actually encounter a 1-2 hour line. When my husband and I went down for our honeymoon and Fantasmic was still a newer show and it was the end of June, I think we showed up like a half hour early and walked right in and got decent seats. Not reccommending this for you, but I certainly didn't wait in a 1-2 hour line. Are they still even doing the Fantasmic dinner package?

 

[J and R's mom]

Getting there early might get you good seats but all of the seats still have a decent view. We prefer getting there later (say 30mins before the show) so that we're sitting towards the back and close to the exit so that we can beat the hoards of folks exiting. It's CRAZY around there when that show ends. October should be a slower time so you shouldn't have problems getting a seat.

 

[daisyduck123]

You don't have to stand in line if you show up early.

We did the Fantasmic package in January & showed up about 45 minutes early. We sat down & the Photopass photographer (who had nothing to do) came over to my kids & brought them down to the front to take their pics in front of the Fantasmic show area. She took some fantastic photos (adding Stitch eating an ice cream cone ) of my kids sitting together. We ordered and 8 X 10 & a 5 X 7 of them.

 

[Robo]

No one can predict EXACTLY what will happen on any given day.
It has totally to do with how much time you wish to invest, and the general crowd levels.

VERY Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-90 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
45 minutes before: Good seats
20-30 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests.

Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 50-60 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
40 minutes before: Good seats
25-35 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests. (The "last-minute" crowds can be heavy and hard to get seated before show-time.)

Off-Season (not busy days):
You should be OK to enter by 10-20 minutes before, but you'll likely be seated to the outer edges, and/or way at the back.

If you do the dinner pkg. you can enter 30 minutes before (or a bit later) and still be guaranteed pretty good seats, regardless of crowd-levels.

If there are TWO Fantasmic! shows in one evening, the second one will have lower crowd level than the first one. You can arrive a bit later and still find a seat.

Be aware that the second show waiting area will LOOK like the show is too crowded.
That's because they HOLD the 2nd crowd outside the theater while the CMs CLEAN it after the first crowd has exited.

Then, they will let those waiting together in that big group IN... all at once, and there will be PLENTY of room.

(The theater holds 10,000 guests!)

 

[SueM in MN]

Our last trip was during Spring break this March. The theater did not totally fill. When the lights went out, there were still many rows of seats at the top section of the far side of the theater (the farthest in as you are walking in). The dinner package area was pretty full, but not entirely full.

 

[Barbers2005]

We did the Fantasmic dinner package and ate at Hollywood and Vine. It was nice. We had a relaxing dinner, then did a little shopping and meandered over to the gate about 30 minutes before show time. Our seats were about 10 rows from the front. My MIL and SIL went to the regular Fantasmic gate by accident and got seats that were a lot further back even though they were there 20 minutes before us. I would recommend the package, especially if you were goint to eat dinner in the parks anyways. It doesn't cost any more than a regular meal at the participating restaurants.

 

[nikkid1]

What is the Fantasmic Dinner Package? Is it included in the DDP? Do we have to call for reservations, or can we get them when we arrive??

 

[Robo]

What is the Fantasmic Dinner Package? Is it included in the DDP? Do we have to call for reservations, or can we get them when we arrive??

Welcome to the DISboards!

You should ALWAYS book ADR (Advance Dining Reservations) as early before your trip as possible (to be sure that you can get the ones you want).
You can do so up to 180 days in advance.

The Fantasmic! Dinner package costs nothing extra. It is valid when dining at certain restaurants in MGM on the day you want to see Fantasmic!

Look HERE:

http://allearsnet.com/din/fantdin1.htm