Fantasmic (without the dinner package)

[Angela&Kayla]

So, it's my first trip to Disney and I've been told that I don't want to miss Fantasmic. Okay, so I won't.

I've also been told to make reservations for the Fantasmic package, and so I did. My first one was at Hollywood & Vine, but I cancelled it because I'm not a big buffet fan. My next one was at the Hollywood Brown Derby, but I just cancelled that as well.

Am I crazy? The problem is, I really didn't like any of the menus at any of the Fantasmic restaurants, and there are so many other places I wanted to try while in Disney, that I decided to only go places that really appealed to me, and unfortunately, the fantasmic dining places just don't. I also don't like the idea that the Fantasmic seating is only available the day you dine, and can't be made up if Fantasmic is cancelled because of weather, etc. How annoyed would I be if I ate somewhere I didn't want to eat only to find out that the benefit of eatting there no longer existed?

Will I have to wait hours and hours just to see Fantasmic, or should I be okay if I get there an hour or so ahead of time?

 

[anneofgreengables]

Yes, I also want to know how long the wait is for Fantasmic. We have the dinner package, but I'd rather eat somewhere else, too, if staking a spot for Fantasmic won't be much of a pain.

 

[disneycruise05]

When my friends and I went in July last year, we didn't do the dining package and waited about an hour and got good seat near the front. The one downside to it was the wind shifted and we had lots of mist in our faces. However, it was a small price to pay to see such a great show.

Depending on crowd levels, you might want to get in line anywhere between 45 and 90 minutes. Also, if you have the option to choose between an early and late showing, go for the late. Less people attend that one.

HTH!

 

[RockyMtnMaria]

I've thought the same thing. We currently are booked for the Fantasmic Package at Hollywood & Vine, but I'd far prefer to try the 50's diner next door, or even the SciFi place with my 4 children. I'd also rather order from a menu than try to keep up with all of them at a buffet. It would be nice to be able to sit still for an hour or so.

I suspect that the answer might possibly be heavily influenced by the time of year you are visiting. If it is busy, the dinner package is more valuable than if you are there on a slow day.

​

 

[Ron from Michigan]

We never do the package. We just show up about an hour early and always find a great seat.

 

[aristocat]

We never do the package. We just show up about an hour early and always find a great seat.

Same here.

Angela&Kayla you won't have a problem. You're going at the end of August (almost the same time we are!) and it's a relatively slow time of the year to be going. So don't worry and have fun!

 

[powellrj]

We have been several time and have always used the dinner package, BUT, if you would rather eat other places, I would suggest that you eat your large meal at lunch in one of the other resturants. When its time for fantasmic, get a counter service meal and take it with you to eat while you are waiting for the show. We have seen many people do this, and it works out well.

 

[TLHB70]

I would suggest that you eat your large meal at lunch in one of the other resturants. When its time for fantasmic, get a counter service meal and take it with you to eat while you are waiting for the show. We have seen many people do this, and it works out well.

We almost always do this. We did the Fantasmic package one time. It was great to be able to walk to a seat at a later time, but I honestly didn't care for the seats. They were too far off to the side, IMO. I did love the special exit though...........................

 

[Robo]

No one can predict EXACTLY what will happen on any given day.
It has totally to do with the whim of the crowd at MGM on that day, and the general crowd LEVELS.
How much time you wish to "invest" in waiting is a personal decision. We never do the formal Dinner Package, and have always seen the show (dozens of times).

(Take all of these as "average" numbers, sometimes the crowd will be MUCH greater and the theater can fill up much sooner.)

VERY Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-120 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
45-60 minutes before: Good seats
20-40 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 crowd of "last-minute" arrivals can be slow 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 (not my "first choice" area, but fine), 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!)

We like to eat our evening "meal" while waiting for Fantasmic! to start.
You can bring in items from the counter-service places in MGM, or they DO have concession stands at the rear of the theater serving "baseball stadium-type" food and drinks. Yes, even beer, sold strictly ONE-at-a-time, one-only-to-a-person, so a single person can't go and buy beer for other members of a group... all guests wanting to buy a beer must be present in-person at the counter.
We have a hot dog, maybe a pretzel, later some popcorn or cotton candy (Disney Health Food).

 

[bobcat]

You have gotten lot's of great advise. Fantasmic is my son's favorite so we have to do it a couple of times a trip. We have never had the dinner package and have only once had to use the standing room area to view Fantasmic. Even then it was a time we walked up right as the show was about to start and we had seen it twice earlier in our trip, it was a spur of the moment decission.

We always get candy from Sweet Spells and munch on that during our wait.

 

[smep013]

The theater is really big.
We did the dinner package, but would not in the future.
I think we could have gotten comprable seats without it.

 

[pozey]

We've seen Fantasmic! many, many times and have never done the dinner package. And we have always gotten excellent seats. We have always sat in the first 5 rows (our preference).

We usually go into the theater about 45 - 50 minutes prior to show time. We will grab some popcorn and drinks and have a little snack.

 

[Albertan mom]

We have a ressie at Hollywood and Vine, but now I am second-guessing keeping it.....!!

Does anyone have a seating plan layout of the Fantasmic Viewing area?

Which part of it does the Dining package people sit in? (left, right, center, far back, up close??)

Are all the seats basically the same, because the show is so huge, it doesn't matter where you sit, because you can see everything anyway?

thanks!