Fantasmic...what would you do?

[mickeyluv]

This will be our 3rd trip to WDW as a family. We have never seen Fantasmic and we would like to see it this trip. I am unsure whether we should do the Fantasmic dinner package or just go see Fantasmic. I've read that the seating for Fantasmic with the dinner package is not so great, but that if you just go see the show and not do dinner, you can pick whichever seat you want. Can somebody please give me some advice. Do the dinner package or not? Why? TIA!!

 

[son3disfan]

I booked the dinner package at the Hollywood and Vine then cancelled it . After reading about the seating ,and the reviews of the food.. I figured we'd just wait to be seated for the show and grab some hot dogs or Pizza to eat while we wait. I've seen the show before and had no problem getting a seat. I'm also planning on going the day after EMH.

 

[Simba0319]

I am so excited for you that you will be seeing Fantasmic for the first time!! It is unbelievable!! IMHO, I would NOT do the dinner package. The seats you get are all the way to the side of the ampitheatre. I have sat there before and I have sat dead center, BIG difference. The seats in the center are WAY better. It is worth the hour's wait every time I do it!! We go in, get our seats and one of the adults leaves ( usually with a kid to help) and goes and gets a bite to eat for dinner across form the entrance. There is pizza and burgers there.

Hope this helps!!

 

[daisyduck123]

We just did the Fantasmic Dinner Package in January. We ate at Hollywood & Vine, which paled in comparison to the 5 character dinner meals we had & the dinner at Whispering Canyon that week. But we wanted to make sure we had good seats (and they were).

We went during the slow season so once we were there, I saw that we did not really need the package, as there was plenty of room at first in all the sections, but then it did fill up.

If you are going during a busy season, I would get the package.

 

[grace sea]

We have been to the show at least 4 times, never did the dinner show and had decent seats. We do get there about 30 minutes before the show. I have friends who did the pckg & loved the food & seats. It also depends at why time of the year you go for crowds,

9 hours to go til we are on the plane heading to the world

 

[daisyduck123]

9 hours to go til we are on the plane heading to the world

OHHHH...I am soooo jealous! Have a great time!!

 

[hogwartsdropout]

We did the dinner package and had dinner at the Brown Derby. I didn't like the meal, nothing appealed to me but my parents loved it. But yes, the seats were all the way to the right, not in the middle. Hopefully this year I'll sit in the middle.

 

[Robo]

This will be our 3rd trip to WDW as a family. We have never seen Fantasmic and we would like to see it this trip. I am unsure whether we should do the Fantasmic dinner package or just go see Fantasmic. I've read that the seating for Fantasmic with the dinner package is not so great, but that if you just go see the show and not do dinner, you can pick whichever seat you want. Can somebody please give me some advice. Do the dinner package or not? Why? TIA!!

Depending on the crowds (and time of year) you can WALK IN (no dinner pkg.) and choose:

(Time before posted showtime)
1 hour 15 min. virtually ANY SEAT, any row
1 hour: virtually ANY AREA (if not a specific row) in the Theater
30 min.: Good seats in either SIDE areas (not the center sections)
15 min.: Seats in the FAR SIDE and "over-flow" (top of theater) sections
5 min.: Good luck with that

Remember:
A. This is a GIANTIC show in a GIGANTIC theater. You will be able to fully enjoy it from seats that are nowhere near the "center" or "down-front" in the theater.
B. You CAN get sprayed or splashed by certain water effects if you sit down CLOSE to the water (within 10-12 rows or so)... but, unless its a cold (and/or WINDY) FL night, you should not worry too much about this.

I've seen the WDW Fantasmic! well over 2 dozen times.
I've never done a dinner pkg. and have still seen it from the "front and center" position, to all the way back near the top and off to the side... the show is always, well, FANTASMIC!

And the show at Disneyland, where it originated, is even BETTER (but that's another post).

 

[vicceja]

Hi!

You haven't seen Fantasmic! Last summer I was thinking about doing the Dinner Package but I too was advised that the seating is not the greatest. We've seen Fantasmic 3x and waited on line and have been able to get great seats. Remember to try and get there at least 40 minutes early and when they start letting everyone in head to the left when you enter. Look to the stage and try to find a seat right at the center - you will have a great view. Good Luck!

 

[KimR]

If you are going during a very busy time I think it can be worthwhile. We did the package one year and though the seats were off to the side, we could see everything fine. However, the problem I have with the FDP is that you cannot get a reservation at a reasonable time anymore. The lastest I could get was 4:30 so this time we are going to just do the regular dinner reservation and wait with the masses.

 

[MessyJ]

If you wanted to eat at H&V, which we think is awesome, the package doesn't cost any more, and you get the buffet just like you would with normal reservations. They just give you a ticket to be able to get in the special entrance at the front of the parks. If you're not sure what you want to do, you can always make the reservations and then choose not to use them once you see how crowded the park is on the particlar day you are there.

 

[vicb]

Just wanted to add that Robo has given very good, and detailed advice which I agree with. We have done it with and without the pkg. and won't do the pkg. again. When we did the pkg it was beofre this set price, no raincheck deal. Last trip we bought fresh fruit cups at Anneheim Produce and water bottles which we brought in to the stadium. We entered just over 1 hour prior to show, a couple of shows had been cancelled that week due to rain so we were worried about crowds that night. We secured perfect center seats then DD and DH got hot dogs and big pretzels for our dinner. We ate while we waited, chatted with really nice folks around us and the kids played with their gameboys. We took turns hitting the bathroom and before we knew it, showtime! But it got cold that night, windy and the spray from the show doesn't help. We had hats, gloves and warm coats so we were fine (this was in Feb.). It is a great show and worth the wait!

Depending on the crowds (and time of year) you can WALK IN (no dinner pkg.) and choose:

(Time before posted showtime)
1 hour 15 min. virtually ANY SEAT, any row
1 hour: virtually ANY AREA (if not a specific row) in the Theater
30 min.: Good seats in either SIDE areas (not the center sections)
15 min.: Seats in the FAR SIDE and "over-flow" (top of theater) sections
5 min.: Good luck with that

Remember:
A. This is a GIANTIC show in a GIGANTIC theater. You will be able to fully enjoy it from seats that are nowhere near the "center" or "down-front" in the theater.
B. You CAN get sprayed or splashed by certain water effects if you sit down CLOSE to the water (within 10-12 rows or so)... but, unless its a cold (and/or WINDY) FL night, you should not worry too much about this.

I've seen the WDW Fantasmic! well over 2 dozen times.
I've never done a dinner pkg. and have still seen it from the "front and center" position, to all the way back near the top and off to the side... the show is always, well, FANTASMIC!

And the show at Disneyland, where it originated, is even BETTER (but that's another post).

 

[Goofy's girl]

Would the middle of May be a busy time. I have a dinner package at H&V for the Fantasmic but was also worried about the seating. Do you think it would be real busy? We will be there on the 17th of May a Wednesday. Thanks Linda

 

[Robo]

Would the middle of May be a busy time. I have a dinner package at H&V for the Fantasmic but was also worried about the seating. Do you think it would be real busy? We will be there on the 17th of May a Wednesday. Thanks Linda

Eat at the Dinner Package... AND plan to arrive EARLY, as well!

That way, you can sit ANYWHERE you want, not just in the dinner pkg. area, if you choose.
But if it is just "TOO BUSY" (or you get detained) you'll be ABLE to sit in the "Dinner Pkg." seats.

 

[Aurora63]

Another thing to consider with the dinner package is, that if the show is cancelled due to weather, you do not get your deposit back! I don't know how often the show gets cancelled, but something to consider.

 

[johnvree]

I would not worry about the dinner package unless you are going during a busy time. Mid May is not too busy. When we went in May 2004 we arrived about 45 minutes before the show and got good seats, though it was crowded and filling up quickly.

Having said this, here's what I would do. If you plan on eating at one of the dinner package restaurants anyway, get the package. But also get there about an hour early and try and find a seat in the section of my choosing. If it is unusually busy or if you run late, you will at least have the reserved-seating-safety-net. This is what I plan on doing this August since we are probably eating at Mama Melrose anyway that night.

 

[T&EMommy]

Eat at the Dinner Package... AND plan to arrive EARLY, as well!

That way, you can sit ANYWHERE you want, not just in the dinner pkg. area, if you choose.
But if it is just "TOO BUSY" (or you get detained) you'll be ABLE to sit in the "Dinner Pkg." seats.

How about May the 3rd? That is the night I have reservations at the SCIFI at 7:40. What time does the show usually start? How soon should we get to the show?

Thanks.

 

[Robo]

here's what I would do. If you plan on eating at one of the dinner package restaurants anyway, get the package. But also get there about an hour early and try and find a seat in the section of my choosing. If it is unusually busy or if you run late, you will at least have the reserved-seating-safety-net. This is what I plan on doing this August since we are probably eating at Mama Melrose anyway that night.

Huh... must be an ECHO - ECHO - ECHO in here!

 

[Robo]

How about May the 3rd? That is the night I have reservations at the SCIFI at 7:40. What time does the show usually start? How soon should we get to the show?

Thanks.

MOVE the Sci-Fi ressies!

Fantasmic! is at 8:30 that night.

I'd recommend arrival at the theater by 7:30 or 7:45 to get "good" seats.
If you don't mind "pot-luck" on seating, it would be OK to arrive no later than 8pm.

You can't do this with late Sci-Fi seating.

If you don't have it, here's the "OFFICIAL" WDW calendar.
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/calendar/parkhours/index?id=MKCalendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage

Pick your park and month, then click on the DATE.

 

[SusanWasHere]

i was there on 12/30 and arrived 20 min before the show. we still had a great pick of seats and i was able to go and shop at the fantasmic stands while my parents sat and waited. i'm sure if you want your absolute choice seat, get there early. but bc the arena is so huge and the CM were filling in every row, you shouldn't have a problem. so don't stress out if you can't get there an hour early. the show was amazing, my fave of all the park shows!