Fantasmic

[BankerMom]

First trip to Disney for our family DH,DS5,DD3, and me in October I am pretty new to all this so bear with me please. I have found this board to be extremely helpful but do have a question I haven't seen yet on the board. We are planning to spend a day a MGM and made dinner reservations for that night at the Sci Fi drive in. Can I see the Fantasmic show from the restaurant? Do I have to pay extra for the show? Will there be better seating? Showtimes? Sorry so many questions.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[AmberLuvsWDW]

First trip to Disney for our family DH,DS5,DD3, and me in October I am pretty new to all this so bear with me please. I have found this board to be extremely helpful but do have a question I haven't seen yet on the board. We are planning to spend a day a MGM and made dinner reservations for that night at the Sci Fi drive in. Can I see the Fantasmic show from the restaurant? Do I have to pay extra for the show? Will there be better seating? Showtimes? Sorry so many questions.

Any help would be appreciated.

No, you cannot see Fantasmic from the restaurant. You don't need to pay for the show, however there are dining packages that will get you a reserved seat. (We did this once, but because our meal ran late at MM's, we still endedup sitting near the side. Call WDW Dining for more info.) You don't really need to do that either as long as you don't mind waiting in line. Yes there is bleacher style seating. And Fantasmic is usually at 9PM (you will need to get in line way before this), but you can check for the exact day you will be there on the WDW website under the calendar. Just go to the MGM calendar and click on that day and it will tell you. Ok, I hope that helps!!

 

[MouseGirl]

You will not be able to see the Fantasmic show from the restaurant - it is in a separate theatre elsewhere in the park.

Have you looked into changing your booking to make it a Fantasmic dining package? They are offered at Mama Melrose's, the Brown Derby, and the Hollywood and Vine (we have done the package at both Mama Melrose's and Hollywood and Vine and enjoyed both very much), but it's not available at the Sci-Fi.

If you request the Fantasmic Dining Package when you speak to Disney Dining, it means that when you eat at one of those three restaurants you get a special coupon that provides you with reserved seating at Fantasmic, and you go in through a separate entrance near the front of the park.

It means you can get there even 30 minutes before the show and still get decent seats - otherwise you have to line up with the rest of the crowd (usually about 60 minutes or more in advance of the show) to get a spot. I'm not sure how busy it is in the parks at that time of the year, so you might be fine with the regular lines. Is there anyone out there who has experience with October crowd levels at Fantasmic who might be able to help?

 

[vinnie_a72]

I agree with the previous posts. I have read in the past that you do not have to wait in line to see this show. But if you show up early to get a seat you have to sit on those uncofortable bleachers for a longer time. I always do the dinner package becase it allows you to arrive 20 to 30 befor the show and still get a good seat. another benifit is that the reserved seats you get are right at the exit. This gives you an easier access to the buses if you leave the park right afterwards. We have been several times and always get this dinner package.

vince

 

[BankerMom]

Thanks for the help. The Sci Fi was recommended to me but we are only doing 1 day at MGM so perhaps I will change the reservation to one of the other restaurants.

 

[kabbie]

I would say do the Fantasmic Dinner Package and show up 30 minutes before like the previous posts. Sitting at the theatre with a 3 yr old for even 30 minutes can be hard...forget the 60-90 minutes wait if you didn't have the package.

Fantasmic is the night show at MGM just like Wishes at MK and Illuminations at Epcot. It's part of your park admission. In October, there is usually only one showing a night of Fantasmic.

 

[seven dwarfs]

Another vote here for the dinner package. We have done this both ways, with it and without. You just never know how the crowds will be. We love being able to wait until 30 mins before the show and finishing up MGM. One time we played in Honey I Shrunk the kids with hardly any one there. Not just for the location of seats, since they are off to the side, but for the fact my kids do not go crazy sitting there all that time waiting.

 

[BankerMom]

Thanks for the input. I have changed my reservations to Hollywood Vine.

 

[kimberlym4]

Good move changing the reservation - you will love Fantasmic. But will you now miss Sci Fi? It's a really cool restaurant too. We actually made an ADR there for our afternoon break and just had milkshakes and a snack just so we could experience it.

 

[bigthundermountain]

That was a good idea to change the reservation....now you don't have to sit in the Fantasmic stadium for 90 minutes!!

 

[J&J]

No you can not see the fireworks from the sci fi. You could do the dinner pkg. We did once never again. You can get in early and then you still must wait. Or you could wait in the free line very crowded. Wjen you pay they save a section for you you are not guar the front rows. It depends on the time you arrive where you sit. Hope you like it and have a great time. As for us too crowded no more will we do this show.

It is a must see if you have never nice to get the front seats.