how early for fantasmic dinner pkg?

[dwsandy]

I would like to book the fantasmic dinner package for our November trip. Fantasmic is scheduled for 6:30 on the night we would like to attend. Wjat time should I make my ADR for? TIA

 

[marehoodlum]

I want to jump in on this question too, but slightly different approach.

We are going to do Fantasmic, but NOT the dinner package. My husband doesn't really like Italian "out" (as preferred to homemade), so Mama Melrose's is out. My kids didnt like the looks of the Brown Derby menu (DD 10 and DD 14, just mildly fussy), and I have heard too many bad reviews of Hollywood and Vine...

So we are thinking of doing Prime Time, which my entire family loves (it's really the entertainment we love ), but I'm not sure what time to book the meal...

Fantasmic is scheduled for 6:30, so is a 4:00 reservation too early? Too late?

And is there a huge difference doing the dinner package at one of the 3 listed restaurants vs. just going to the show?

Thanks!

 

[dwsandy]

I want to jump in on this question too, but slightly different approach.

We are going to do Fantasmic, but NOT the dinner package. My husband doesn't really like Italian "out" (as preferred to homemade), so Mama Melrose's is out. My kids didnt like the looks of the Brown Derby menu (DD 10 and DD 14, just mildly fussy), and I have heard too many bad reviews of Hollywood and Vine...

So we are thinking of doing Prime Time, which my entire family loves (it's really the entertainment we love ), but I'm not sure what time to book the meal...

Fantasmic is scheduled for 6:30, so is a 4:00 reservation too early? Too late?

And is there a huge difference doing the dinner package at one of the 3 listed restaurants vs. just going to the show?

Thanks!

We were going to do the exact thing but once the calendar came out I changed my mind. we thought we would go to 50's primr time cafe and see the 2nd fantasmic show.....problem is, there is no 2nd show
So I figured instread of braving the crowds for 2 hrs we would try the dinner package. It's not ideal but this way I feel like at least we will get to see it.

 

[catne]

i
f you are not doing the dinner package, the line for a 6:30 show will start forming at 4:00 or 4:30, especially if there are only two shows total that week. I suggest you get to-go food at Rosie's around 5:00 and take your food into the Fantasmic theater for a "picnic" in your seat.

If you are doing the Fantasmic dinner package, they probably will be booking the dinner package for 2:30-4:00 seatings...maybe not even as late as 4:00, because they usually will not want anyone booked for the package unless they can be done by at least 90 minutes before show time. For a 6:30 show, that would mean done & out of the restaurant by 5:00 p.m.

Even on the dinner package, you have to be to the theater 60 minutes before show time. Will take you at least an hour for the meal, and then you have 15 minute walk to the top of the ramp at the theater to hand in your ticket. So assuming you get seated right on time, you need to be done eating by 5:15 at the latest.

Our experience with Fantasmic since they changed the schedule & cut out all the showings was that at 60 minutes before show time, basically the only seats left were for the dinner package...they were filling Standing Room Only section when we were taking our dinner package seats. At 30 minutes before the show, they took the ropes off the reserved section & left standing room only people fill in the remaining empty seats, so if you have the dinner package, don't be late...they will not save your seat in the last 30 minutes or so. That experience was in a week of crowd size 7s, and there were 6 showings of Fantasmic that week (3 nights, 2 shows each night.) So even if you have smaller crowd sizes, you will probably still see huge crowds since everyone that wants to see it that week has to get into just those two shows.

 

[marehoodlum]

i
f you are not doing the dinner package, the line for a 6:30 show will start forming at 4:00 or 4:30, especially if there are only two shows total that week. I suggest you get to-go food at Rosie's around 5:00 and take your food into the Fantasmic theater for a "picnic" in your seat.

If you are doing the Fantasmic dinner package, they probably will be booking the dinner package for 2:30-4:00 seatings...maybe not even as late as 4:00, because they usually will not want anyone booked for the package unless they can be done by at least 90 minutes before show time. For a 6:30 show, that would mean done & out of the restaurant by 5:00 p.m.

Even on the dinner package, you have to be to the theater 60 minutes before show time. Will take you at least an hour for the meal, and then you have 15 minute walk to the top of the ramp at the theater to hand in your ticket. So assuming you get seated right on time, you need to be done eating by 5:15 at the latest.

Our experience with Fantasmic since they changed the schedule & cut out all the showings was that at 60 minutes before show time, basically the only seats left were for the dinner package...they were filling Standing Room Only section when we were taking our dinner package seats. At 30 minutes before the show, they took the ropes off the reserved section & left standing room only people fill in the remaining empty seats, so if you have the dinner package, don't be late...they will not save your seat in the last 30 minutes or so. That experience was in a week of crowd size 7s, and there were 6 showings of Fantasmic that week (3 nights, 2 shows each night.) So even if you have smaller crowd sizes, you will probably still see huge crowds since everyone that wants to see it that week has to get into just those two shows.

Wow!!!

OK, so is it really worth it? Now I'm second guessing if i even want to bother with it (Fantasmic)...

 

[mrsturtle]

i need help re: booking a Fantasmic package. i am literally ready to scream!! has anyone been able to book a F! package for november? i have been calling since sunday (my 90 day point) and have gotten so many conflicting answers from CMs. today, the CM (who was not very nice) even told me they just released oct F! packages and she didn't forsee them releasing nov packages until sept. this goes against every bit of info i have received on this board and info from other CMs.

can anyone help me please??? i have to book for a party of 12 with small children who cannot wait in line for hours. i wish i could get an idea of a window of time when they are usually released.

thanks so much. boy, i needed to vent

 

[marehoodlum]

i need help re: booking a Fantasmic package. i am literally ready to scream!! has anyone been able to book a F! package for november? i have been calling since sunday (my 90 day point) and have gotten so many conflicting answers from CMs. today, the CM (who was not very nice) even told me they just released oct F! packages and she didn't forsee them releasing nov packages until sept. this goes against every bit of info i have received on this board and info from other CMs.

can anyone help me please??? i have to book for a party of 12 with small children who cannot wait in line for hours. i wish i could get an idea of a window of time when they are usually released.

thanks so much. boy, i needed to vent

So you are saying you can't even book them online?

Oh no, I don't think I need to see it THAT badly....Too much hassle.

But of course, if they are seeing this kind of issue with the amount of shows vs. the number of people trying to get into the package, perhaps they'll add shows....

wishing...

 

[mrsturtle]

So you are saying you can't even book them online?

when i attempt to book a F! package online, the message states that i have to call disney dining...

i may be giving up soon!! this is too much trouble for a fun vacation!!

 

[septbaby]

If you are booking the Fantasmic Dinner package ADR time and the line are irrelevant.

ADR Time: There is limited seating for the package. ADRs will be offered during the 3 and 4pm hours, you won't get much of your choice of times, probably 1 or 2 slots.

The Line: If you have the package you get a voucher that allows you to enter through a different entrance or line. Thus you don't have to stand in the "line" that may form at 4pm. That is the primary perk of the package, you avoid the line.

Keep in mind Fantasmic could be cancelled or delayed due to weather. There is no change to your package or "do over" for the seating. We just miss out on the show that evening.

 

[marehoodlum]

when i attempt to book a F! package online, the message states that i have to call disney dining...

i may be giving up soon!! this is too much trouble for a fun vacation!!

Yeah, I am thinking twice about this too...

 

[mrsturtle]

when (what part of the month) do ADRs become available for F! ?(usually, i know this is not exact)

were october F! packages available the 1st few days of july?

 

[catne]

If you are booking the Fantasmic Dinner package ADR time and the line are irrelevant.

ADR Time: There is limited seating for the package. ADRs will be offered during the 3 and 4pm hours, you won't get much of your choice of times, probably 1 or 2 slots.

The Line: If you have the package you get a voucher that allows you to enter through a different entrance or line. Thus you don't have to stand in the "line" that may form at 4pm. That is the primary perk of the package, you avoid the line.

Keep in mind Fantasmic could be cancelled or delayed due to weather. There is no change to your package or "do over" for the seating. We just miss out on the show that evening.

FYI - there is no separate entrance for dinner package people...you walk up the same entrance ramp, just stay towards the right as you walk up to the Fantasmic entrance. There will be a castmember at the top right of the entrance ramp..they will take your ticket and direct you down a roped-off walkway to the dinner package seats. You will not have to wait in a line...the line starts forming 2 to 2.5 hours before the show, but they open the theater around 90 minutes before show time so that massive line waiting at 2 hours will have filed in and taken seats by the time you show up at 60 minutes before show time. You will just be walking directly up the entrance ramp, not in a line, just walking in. The big difference here is that you are sure to get a seat at 60 minutes...without the dinner package tickets there may be no seats left at 60 minutes.

Hope that explanation helps!

 

[TDC Nala]

The Line: If you have the package you get a voucher that allows you to enter through a different entrance or line. Thus you don't have to stand in the "line" that may form at 4pm. That is the primary perk of the package, you avoid the line.

As catne posted above, this is no longer entirely true as they have discontinued using the separate entrance for packageholders.

The advantage of the package is that you do not have to get in line 2 hours in advance. You can enter the theater 1 hour in advance and claim your seat. Note catne's experience with entering 60 minutes early - at that time there was no seating available if you didn't have the dining package and anyone else entering at that time was directed to standing room.

Just make sure you get there sooner than 30 minutes prior to showtime because that is when they open the reserved section.