Fantasmic.... To dine or not to dine?

[KadysMom]

We are going to WDW October 12-17. We want to see Fantasmic. Should we do the dinner package or not? Is it worth it? What is the wait for seating if we dont do the dinner package? Has anyone been during this time to know crowd levels....

 

[beattyfamily]

Only do the package if you are afraid there won't be any seats left at Fantasmic. There's only a risk of that happening peak season.

I've done the package several times for fear of a line and the unknown. I finally tried doing it without the package (and eating where ever I wanted) twice now; the end of August and last year the end of October. We entered the stadium (no line) one hour before and we had the best seats ever (center, half way back).

You are only guaranteed a seat wtih the package, not better or good seats (the package seats are off to the far right), up until 30 minutes before the show, then they can open it up to non-package guests who can't find a seat.

The waitress will give you a voucher to enter a special entrance and she will tell you to get to that entrance around 45 minutes before but no later than 30 minutes before.

A few times I did the package, I entered about 40 minutes before and sat to the far right and I could see that there were still MANY great, better seats to be had so, to make a long story short, you don't need the package off season.

My experiences with and without the package were Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec.

In October, IMHO, you do not need the package if you enter the stadium about an hour before. With the package you'd be entering between 45 minutes and 30 minutes anyway.

 

[DisneyBugs]

This is right on the money. Ditto and ditto.
By the end of the day, we're wanting to sit and rest for a while anyhow, so arriving 1 hr to 45 mins prior to show start is not a big deal -- it's in fact welcomed! And you're likely to get a better seat (more towards the center of the stage) than you'll get w/ the seating for the dinner package (like beattyfamily said, those are off to the far right of the stage). There is a shop inside and food offerings and bathrooms in the Fantasmic area, so no need to go back out to the park for those things once you're inside.
GREAT show -- definatley worth the time. Enjoy!

Only do the package if you are afraid there won't be any seats left at Fantasmic. There's only a risk of that happening peak season.

I've done the package several times for fear of a line and the unknown. I finally tried doing it without the package (and eating where ever I wanted) twice now; the end of August and last year the end of October. We entered the stadium (no line) one hour before and we had the best seats ever (center, half way back).

You are only guaranteed a seat wtih the package, not better or good seats (the package seats are off to the far right), up until 30 minutes before the show, then they can open it up to non-package guests who can't find a seat.

The waitress will give you a voucher to enter a special entrance and she will tell you to get to that entrance around 45 minutes before but no later than 30 minutes before.

A few times I did the package, I entered about 40 minutes before and sat to the far right and I could see that there were still MANY great, better seats to be had so, to make a long story short, you don't need the package off season.

My experiences with and without the package were Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec.

In October, IMHO, you do not need the package if you enter the stadium about an hour before. With the package you'd be entering between 45 minutes and 30 minutes anyway.

 

[micksterlee]

We did Fantasmic without the dinner Easter week and got great seats right in the middle section.We got there about an hour early which like someone else said worked great since we were tired anyway.While we waited I think I ate my weight in snacks though so be careful.

 

[DisneyBarlans]

I don't think it's that crowded during that time of year. Especially if you go during the week and it's not a school holiday. We did the dinner package last year and the dining package seats weren't in a great location. They're off to the far right and the best seats are in the middle. So, now we just go in up to an hour early depending on the crowds and eat a counter svc. meal and the kids color while we wait.