Fantastic dinner package in August?

[klk77]

Is the fantastic dinner package worth it? We'd be going in late August, when crowds should be lower, so I'm wondering if it's really necessary, or if we could get in for the show without waiting for a super long time.

 

[Robo]

Is the fantastic dinner package worth it? We'd be going in late August, when crowds should be lower, so I'm wondering if it's really necessary, or if we could get in for the show without waiting for a super long time.

Just get a day-of "4th" or "5th" FP+ for Fantasmic!

It won't interfere with getting your first 3 regular advanced-booked FP+.

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 can stop holding the reserved sections within 20-30 minutes before show-time,

and turn over any available seats to waiting walk-in guests.

There is a "pre-show" (such as it is) that can help pass the last 30 minutes before show time.

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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 Package 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.)

 

[LetsTalkWDW]

Is the fantastic dinner package worth it? We'd be going in late August, when crowds should be lower, so I'm wondering if it's really necessary, or if we could get in for the show without waiting for a super long time.

If you plan to have dinner at H&V, Mama Melrose or Brown Derby anyway then the select seating at Fantasmic is essentially free. For us it was a no-brainer as we planned to have dinner at Mama Melrose anyway. Dinner was good (we used a DDP credit), a lot of food.
(Note: Brown Derby is 2 DDP credits and more expensive). The dinner package seating for Fantasmic was right in the center section, these were the best seats we have had for this show. Unfortunately, my DD wanted to sit in the "wet" section, we did get a little wet but not too bad.

 

[CAS239]

It doesn't matter what day it is out of the year, the dining option is never NEEDED to see Fantasmic.

The only reason someone should be doing the dining option is if they already plan on eating at a restaurant within the park. If you don't plan on eating there, then there's no need for it.

You get in the arena the same time as the FP members with the same amount of wait to enter. You'll still have to wait in the arena for the show to start, you can't show up 5 min before the show and have good seats. The dining plan does have the very center section, but the way the arena is set up, you can sit on either side of the center area and be almost in the center as well.

Then to mention that it's normally easily accessible to get Fantasmic as a 4th FP.