Game plan for Fantasmic without the package

[flyball]

We'll be visiting DW from August 31 to Sept 9 and I was wondering if anybody has a good plan of action for seeing Fantasmic without doing the dinner package. I'm reluctant to book the dinner package because when we were down last year it rained a lot and I know they cancel the show when it rains. In addition, I'm not particularly interested in the restaurants offered with the package. We've never seen the show and are really looking forward to it. Is it possible to eat at the Boardwalk and still make the show? Any creative ideas?

 

[maggiew]

We have done it before without the package and had no problem finding a seat. Although we did go a little early and the girls colored in little activity books and I graded term papers while we waited. But this was the first week of December, slow season.

Last June we got the H&V package and thought it was ok. I was sweating though because I thought they might cancel fantasmic and I would have been upset to spend all that money on the dinner and no show!! Although I have heard that some people have been given tickets for later in the week. We never would have eaten at H&V for dinner if it wasn't for Fantasmic. Me, my mom and my girls just do not eat that much. We could probably have shared one adult meal and one kids meal elsewhere and been full!!!

I am undecided about this year, since we are going in August - the busy summer season. We've seen it before so I might just risk it without the package. I'm also interested in others opinions on this matter.

As far as eating at the boardwalk, I would either go for an early dinner or stay in the park. Last November we decided to go to Beaches and Cream for dinner on our last night since we had 2 Quick and Casual meal vouchers left to use. We left MGM early enough, or so we thought. We had to wait pretty long to get a table at B&C (45 minutes?). But we were already there so we decided to wait. After we ate, we were cutting it close to catch Fantasmic. As we left the Beach Club, a Friendship boat just docked. We ran to catch it but didn't make it. We figured by the time we walked to MGM, then walked all the way to Fantasmic theater, that we would be late. So we jsut skipped it. I was a little sad, but we had seen it before so I couldn't complain. We just headed over to Downtown Disney. So, the moral of the story is that you may want to stay in the park to eat.

Maggie

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I think you will be okay because you are going during a slower time. Last week it was standing room only at 8:40. We were lucky to get seats because we got there at 8:30. If the parks and wait times seem really crowded, I would get there by 8:00, but at least in Indiana most kids are back in school by the time you are going.

 

[flyball]

Thanks for providing the different scenarios! Does the show start at 9:00? If the parks are slow, would arriving a half hour before ensure that we'd get a seat? Sorry for all of the questions, but even after visiting DW a fair amount of times I find there's still a lot to learn!

 

[Nlihte]

Dear Flyball,

My feeling is that if you have not seen fantasmic before spend the extra money and do the dinner package. You have to eat anyway and some of the restuarants are very nice. The shows rarely cancel because of rain. The dinner package allows you to relax and frees you from the stress of not getting a good seat. Also not waiting in line. Pamper yourself.
It is one of the most spectacular and magical shows you will ever see.
If you take my advice and are not happy just send me the bill.
Dennis
PS, That goes for anyone who is not happy with the dinner package. I will reinburse all of you.

 

[DepCor0311]

Each time I have been I have gone about an hour before show time and gotten great seats. It is not uncommon to see people playing cards or games to pass the time and very often, people around you will start up interesting conversations.

 

[flyball]

Dennis,

You crack me up! Okay, say we do the dinner package. Which restaurant would you recommend? Is Brown Derby all it's cracked up to be? Have you ever been to H & V? I'm afraid Mama's won't be an option, as I'm 100% Italian and I'm pretty sure that food won't measure up to our standards! Thanks for your candid reply and for the laugh!

 

[vicb]

Here's my .02 having done the show with and without the pkg.

Did it with the pkg. ate at H&V, went into the show 30 min. prior to start, seated in reserve section on side. Everything was ok but that was before this pkg. deal, then it was just call and reserve a "ticket", there was no extra cost or set menu.

Last trip (3 months ago) we opted not to do pkg. and were so glad as it was rained/stormed out two nights that week! We bought fruit salads from Anneheim produce before we walked in, entered 70 min. prior to show. Once inside secured awesome seats in middle of "Scar" section. Sent Dh and DD to get hot dogs, big pretzels and water bottles from stand in stadium. Then we ate our "dinner" while waiting. The kids then played with their gameboys, DH and I chatted with the nice people around us, we all hit the restrooms and it was showtime.

We were surprised how fast the time went. We will probably not do the pkg. again as we had better seats this way, it was less expensive and fun.

But for your question about a quick dinner on BW before you go, I would suggest ESPN, we had always had good luck there.

 

[flyball]

So from what you're saying, vicb, you were able to enter the stadium 70 minutes prior to showtime? Why do so many people say they wait in line for 2 hours? Do they wait in line that long and THEN enter the stadium? I'd be willing to go with your plan if we didn't have to wait over three hours to do so!

 

[vicb]

Well all I can vouch for is the times we were there. First time (with pkg) was first week of Feb. and frankly we could have gotten equivilent seats just walking in 30 min. prior!

Last trip it was crowded due to rain outs that week and we were there the week AFTER Pres. Day week (end of Feb). We watched the 5:00 Beauty and Beast show but sat in the upper seating area so we could make a quick exit, bought our fruit real quick and headed in. There was no line but a throng was walking in at the same time. Fantasmic was at 7pm that night, only showing once.

I guess there must be more crowded times of year when you stand in line to enter the rope drop, we saw a few people (less than50) milling around the rope drop area as we went into B&B show.

Good luck.

 

[Letsbgoofy]

We have been the same week you are going many times.

The line usually starts to form around 7:00. I think that the theater opens at 8:00. You may get seat showing up at 8:30, but I would not say it's a definite.

We did the package last summer at the HW&Vine and the show got rained out.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Ok so is this what you are saying.......
the doors open about an hour before show time but people have been waiting in line to get in?
So we are going mid November so maybe we could just go 1 hour before, walk in , get our seat and then maybe sit there have a snack etc... and wait for the show?

 

[Joan S.]

So does H+V cost more to eat at if you do the Fantasmic Package?? I thought you just paid the price of the buffet?? Thanks, Joan

 

[meganbear]

You are going at a good time, the crowds should be moderate. We just got back from WDW a couple weeks age (the crowds then were considered moderate) we got in line at 7:50 and got GREAT seats seven rows back and right in the middle! Oh and Fantasmic was one of the highlights of our trip!

 

[vicb]

I believe the "doors" open to the theater 90 min. prior to show time... atleast that was what happened when we went in Feb. It sounds like some people line up prior to that in busy times. Remember the theater seats several thousand (not sure exactly how many?).

Not sure if you pay extra at H&V but I believe the "catch" is you prepay for the meal with a credit card so if it is rained out that day you are stuck eating there or take the hit $-wise.

Since it rained on the afternoon/evening we had originally planned to do Fantasmic we were glad we could park hop/or go back to our resort (which is what we did, put the kids in the kid's club out of the rain and we went to dinner in Epcot).

 

[CHIPSTER]

We never do the dinner package. We do get there about at least 1 hour before the show. That day we usually do a nice sit down lunch and then while waiting for the show to start take something in with us or get something inside the theater. Last year their chicken caeser wraps were pretty good. That hour goes really fast when you do that and watch people.

 

[flyball]

Thanks everyone for all the very useful information! You've really answered a lot of my questions, and whether or not we use the package we'll be well prepared!