Fastasmic Dinner Package: Is it worth it?

[Topo Bella]

We are planning our next trip and were considering doing the Fantasmic Dinner Package. Are the seats that much better? Does anyone have a restaurant preference with smaller children (Brown Derby, Mama Melrose or Hollywood & Vine.)? The cost isn't my real issue since that seems pretty reasonable (in Disney terms), but I'm really curious about the whole "package."

 

[beattyfamily]

We are planning our next trip and were considering doing the Fantasmic Dinner Package. Are the seats that much better? Does anyone have a restaurant preference with smaller children (Brown Derby, Mama Melrose or Hollywood & Vine.)? The cost isn't my real issue since that seems pretty reasonable (in Disney terms), but I'm really curious about the whole "package."

No, the seats aren't better at all. They are to the far right (when facing the stage). The benefit is that they guarantee you a seat up to 30 - 45 minutes before the show starts.

It can be worth it very busy times of the year. I've done it a few times and I've gone without it twice. Got a seat every time but the last time, without a package, I arrived an hour before and had to sit 3 rows from the front (almost center) and got soaking wet. This was the end of October. The other time I went without a package (end of August) we again went 1 hour before and had the best seats in the house; right in the middle, half way back.

Anyway, I think all seats have a fine view but most prefer the center. Just avoid the front if you can!

 

[tammyandtommy]

we have used the fantasmic dinner package once, and we went without it once, Imust say I prefer to use the package, while the seats arent front and center, I just liked knowing that we definately had seats,and didnt have to wait there for hours.

 

[d4est]

I have wondered about this too, but more because I don't really like the restaurant choices. I am almost thinking of going to Raglan Road in DTD & then heading to MGM... I just don't like the idea of standing in line for 1 hour before...

 

[jombee]

We just got back home this past Saturday, and we did the Fantasmic package, eating at Hollywood and Vine. The seats were awesome, although they were on the right side, but there did not seem to be a bad seat in the house, you could see everything from anywhere.

It is quite a hike to the show, as you walk down the alley behind the buildings, where if you went with regular seats rather then the dinner package, you could walk down the street and see other things while you walked rather then dumpsters, and the CM's taking their smoke breaks behind the buildings.

Brown Derby is considered a 2 table service dinner, as it is more upscale then the other two. We were goinf to eat at the Brown Derby, but "Upscale" and my family do not go together.

I say go for it.

 

[beattyfamily]

Sorry! I forgot about your question about the restaurants!

When my girls were younger, we stuck with H&V as its good for kids since its a buffet. There's variety and they can be a little cranky and no one will notice...but when they were older, we tried Mama's with the package and that was yummy too.

I think Brown Derby would be nice to try someday now that my kids are older but I definitely wouldn't do it with the Fantasmic Package if I were on the dining plan because it's not worth 2 table service. I'd go though if I were paying for it myself and not on the dining plan.

 

[beattyfamily]

I have wondered about this too, but more because I don't really like the restaurant choices. I am almost thinking of going to Raglan Road in DTD & then heading to MGM... I just don't like the idea of standing in line for 1 hour before...

Acutally, at least the times we've gone, you do not wait in line an hour before. The arena is open so you can go and sit and wait. Maybe in busier times there might be a line I don't know. I've only done it without the package in August and October.

 

[Topo Bella]

Thanks for the input. I'm thinking I might want to do the package to avoid the wait. Brown Derby might not be a good choice with the kids (DS8, DS6 and DD3) but maybe Mama Melrose's.

 

[BankBunny]

DH and I are trying it this May. We've seen Fantasmic! twice before, but have sat for at least an hour and a hal to get seats dead center. We were planning on eating at Mama Melrose's anyway so we decided to do the package and save some time waiting.

 

[d4est]

Thanks for the input. I'm thinking I might want to do the package to avoid the wait. Brown Derby might not be a good choice with the kids (DS8, DS6 and DD3) but maybe Mama Melrose's.

I am so thrown. I was going to do MM, but dh says "I can eat spaghetti at home!"

 

[Monkeyfeet]

from whhat I have read they do not open the arena until they are ready to let everyone in. However after reading this I have the impression that it is always open. Is that correct?

I have never been, so I have no idea!

 

[beattyfamily]

from whhat I have read they do not open the arena until they are ready to let everyone in. However after reading this I have the impression that it is always open. Is that correct?

I have never been, so I have no idea!

No, I don't think its always open. My point was that I have been there at one hour before and the arena is already open so you can go find a seat and there were already many people seated when I found our seats at one hour before the show. I didn't have to wait in any line. I think they open it up at about 1 1/2 hour before the show so most of your waiting would be in your seat.

However, some DISers have mentioned waiting in a line before the arena was opened so my guess is they were there when the park was very crowded/peak season and the arena hadn't opened up yet. Those who want a good seat probably arrived over an hour before the show.

That hasn't been my experience yet but I've only done the show without the package twice; once at the end of August and once then end of October. Both times my seats were better or as good as the package seats.

Maybe in July or Christmas or New Years (or school vacation weeks) you'd have to wait in a line if you want a decent seat.

Hope this helps.

 

[Tink]

We do MM for the FDP every year. They have great food there. Yes, you can get Italian almost anywhere but the restaurant is pretty, I have always had good service and good food there.

We have never done HV, usually because we do other buffets and want to sit down.

We like just walking up and sitting dowm 30 minutes before. That is great with two kids, since they will not want to wait an hour for it.

 

[Brian Noble]

Even during President's Week, we've found the package to be "not strictly necessary"---there were still seats available in the theater when the package people were expected to arrive.

The nice thing about the package though, is that you don't have that little voice in the back of your head wondering if, this time, the theater will be full when you get there.

My take on it---if you would be willing to eat in one of those three restaurants anyway, and the package seating time is acceptable to you, no reason not to get it. For our trips, F! is often at 7, which makes the last FDP seating about 4:30 or so, and that's just a tad too early for dinner--even for us.

 

[d4est]

Seriously? That isthe latest seating? Yuck. But, if Fantasmic is around 7 (we are going the second week of Dec) then I guess we wouldn't be able to eat much later that 4:30 if we were to go to DTD and then get back in time for Fantasmic.

I am just not thrilled about any dining choices at MGM. Sci Fi is fun & has good food. 50s PT sounds the same. Thing is, DH likes a place where he can get shrimp & prime rib (think Kona or Le Cellier). *sigh* what to do...

 

[beattyfamily]

Seriously? That isthe latest seating? Yuck. But, if Fantasmic is around 7 (we are going the second week of Dec) then I guess we wouldn't be able to eat much later that 4:30 if we were to go to DTD and then get back in time for Fantasmic.

I am just not thrilled about any dining choices at MGM. Sci Fi is fun & has good food. 50s PT sounds the same. Thing is, DH likes a place where he can get shrimp & prime rib (think Kona or Le Cellier). *sigh* what to do...

Yeah, for the packages they give you really early times. But later times sometimes open up at 30 days out.

For the 7:00p show, they won't give you anything later than 5:00p anyway. Never less than 2 hours before the show.

Because we were sick of the package choices is the reason why we did the show without the package on our last trip; We wanted to eat at 50's Prime time.

 

[Monkeyfeet]

Yeah, for the packages they give you really early times. But later times sometimes open up at 30 days out.

For the 7:00p show, they won't give you anything later than 5:00p anyway. Never less than 2 hours before the show.

Because we were sick of the package choices is the reason why we did the show without the package on our last trip; We wanted to eat at 50's Prime time.

I called a few months ago for March. F! is at 8:30 when we are going and we were offered times up unitl 6:30.

 

[d4est]

Well I am going by last year's schedule, as Dec. isn't out yet, and it is showing Fantasmic at 7pm. They do offer it again at 8:30pm on the EMH night, but I wasn't planning on doing the EMH thing.

 

[SharonLowe]

Fantasmic is our favorite show and we do the dinner package every time (DD age 8 now) so we don't have to worry about getting there 1.5 to 2 hours early. We sit at the top of the reserved section - great view and easier to get out when the show is over. We have been several times when it is standing room only so feel the dinner package is a great way to avoid having to stand.

We ate at MM once - my mom found a large bug in her dinner and they wrote it off as "it's Florida" so never again. We do H&V and think it is one of the better buffets around (I'm vegetarian and allergic to dairy so BD isn't a great option for us). For our upcoming trip in June, I was pleasantly surprised to find we could get a 6pm reservation; past few years, it has always been before 5pm even when Fantasmic was at 9pm (I just assumed it was WDW's way of filling the early seatings). We actually started liking the early seatings - we would plan on a good b'fast and a light lunch/snack. Then, we would make sure our dinner was early enough to get out to see the MGM parade; after the parade, time for several rides or a show and then over to Fantasmic.

The show is not to be missed - we've seen it so many times, but our DD is always totally thrilled with it, especially sorcerer mickey.

 

[MJMcBride]

I only go the Fantasmic package. Its the best way to enjoy the best night time entertainment in WDW