Fantasmic! Questions

[busymommy2pink]

Hi everyone!

We usually skip DHS on our trips, but since this will be the last time for awhile, we wanted to see Fantasmic! Is is worthwhile to do the Fantasmic dining meals? If we don't, how long before do we need to be in line? Are there bad seats? Do you have to line up early even with the special dining package? Can my husband or myself line up and save seats for the children and other parent? We honestly don't know how it works! Thank you so much for any input!

 

[whitney37354]

We've always done a dining package. We get there probably 30 minutes before show time and walk right in to our seats. It's worth it to us, but not to others. We've done Mama Melrose & Hollywood & Vine. We're going back to Hollywood & Vine in June.

 

[ErinsMommy]

If your on the dining plan, it doesnt cost anything extra to do the Fantasmic Package and I think its worth it IMO. If your not on the dining plan, personally I wouldn't hold a FP for it. Mama Melrose Fantasmic is great if you can get it and eat a light lunch there.

 

[theyoungs07]

It is a comfort to ensure that you will have a decent seat in a semi-reserved section. It does cost $5 per head for this comfort, unless you are on the dining plan. From what I understand it isn't really necessary in order to get in a seat and not have to wait too long (I guess most waiting is in your seats). That being said, we've used it for all of our trips.

 

[magicaldisney]

I don't know if you are going early or late November. If it's late November, watch for them to add a 2nd Fantasmic. If they do, then FP or dinner package is not necessary.

 

[3Gsandme]

Yes, for us it was worth it to have the semi-reserved seats in a central area. It meant we didn't have to give up a ton of touring time to get a good seat. I absolutely plan to do the same thing for my 2016 trip as well.

 

[Robo]

we wanted to see Fantasmic!
1. Is is worthwhile to do the Fantasmic dining meals?
2. If we don't, how long before do we need to be in line?
3. Are there bad seats?
4. Do you have to line up early even with the special dining package?
5. Can my husband or myself line up and save seats for the children and other parent?
6. We honestly don't know how it works! Thank you so much for any input!

1. We have seen F! (literally) dozens of times and not even once have used the FDP.
2. You likely won't be standing "in line" for F!
I recommend that all guests arrive 45-60 minutes before show-time.
Most of that time you will be sitting in the theater and not standing in a line.
3. No. But, we have our favorite places to sit and we always get to sit there.
4. Earlier is better than later in nearly all cases at WDW.
5. Nope.

I suggest a FP+ for F!
What a FP+ for F! offers is more CHOICE in seating.

If you DO get a F! FP+, you can choose to sit in either the FP section (virtually the entire left half of the theater) or the Standby section (virtually the entire right half of the theater.)
So, whatever section has the better seating at the time you arrive, you can go there.
Without a FP, you can only choose a seat in the Standby section.
There is a very good chance that you can get a FP+ for F! as a 4th or 5th FP of the day because they issue SO MANY of them (enough to cover nearly the entire left half of the seating.)
On many nights, it is possible that you can gat a FP+ for F! as you are walking to the theater.

As to when to arrive at the theater, I'd get to there 45-60 minutes before the show-time.
Even with a FP or Dining Pkg. reservation, don't wait too late.
On busy nights, the CMs will stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time, and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Map Below-
Arrows indicate the center of the seating.
Shaded areas:
(First or Only F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red= Dining Plan Reserved
Blue= FP+ Reserved
Purple= Can be either FP+ or Dining Plan Reserved, depending on needs.

(Second or Third F! performance of the evening)
Cyan= Standby (walk-in) seating
Red, Purple, Blue= FP+ Reserved
(Although much of the outer Blue will likely be used for Standby.)

 

[joannamet]

I'm confused about $5 a head. I thought the Fantastic D Package was prix fix and FP is free. ???

I also am considering options. This will be our third trip and we've never seen the show. We have QSDP so FDP would be OOP. (I feel like I'm writing in code) Last July we were walking to the line an hour before showtime and they announced or was already SRO. : ( I'd like to make sure we get in this time.

 

[MissDisneyDora]

Mama Melrose's is a good option if you do decide you want to be OOP, and includes an extra small dessert course so very filling. We booked the F! dining package in Feb and we walked up about 20 minutes before the performance and had our choice of seats in the red section, that meant we had more time to sneak in a few extra rides. I did observe that the other sections filled up quite quickly including the FP section. There was a lot of room in our section so I think we could've easily shown up even a bit later and still had our pick of some good seats. However if you wanna stay with QS meals then FP may be an option for you. I guess it depends what your other must sees are for the day.

X
Dora

 

[busymommy2pink]

Thank you for all the input! I thought a fantastic package on the dining plan was two credits? No? We are on dining plan. If it's only one I would be so happy!!! We booked mama melrose.

We don't love DHS, so plan to FP THINGS WEVE MEVER DONE (star tours, beauty and the beast) and of course TSM if we are lucky. After those things we have very little interest lol.

 

[Robo]

We don't love DHS, so plan to FP THINGS WEVE MEVER DONE (star tours, beauty and the beast) and of course TSM if we are lucky. After those things we have very little interest lol.

You may have misunderstood my suggestion of FP+.
(And, I'm posting this for anyone who may not know...)
They issue so many FP+ for Fantasmic! that you don't have to book them
in advance.
On many nights you can get the F! FP+ as your 4th or 5th or later FP+ of the day.
It does not need to take the place of a DHS "ride" FP+.
I have picked up a F! FP+ as late in the day as actually on my way to the F! theater to see the show.

 

[purple figment]

It is a comfort to ensure that you will have a decent seat in a semi-reserved section. It does cost $5 per head for this comfort, unless you are on the dining plan.

???

I'm confused about $5 a head. I thought the Fantastic D Package was prix fix and FP is free. ???

You are correct - Fantasmic Dining Package is a set price per adult and per child. The prices are listed on the reservation page for the Fantasmic Dining Package. If you opt to get a FP+, it is free.
Fantasmic Dining Package info:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/hollywood-studios/fantasmic-dining-package/

 

[theyoungs07]

It was explained to me by a waitress at H&V that the fantastic pkg essentially adds $5 per meal there. If you do H&V without, you'll spend that much less. I suppose that at Mama Melrose that can vary.