Is Fantasmic Package needed in October?

[jramsey392001]

Should I book the Fantasmic package at Hollywood & Vine for the first week of October? Do you think I can get good seats without the package? I really want to see Fantasmic but I also would rather take the kids to eat dinner at the Sci-Fi Dine In ...

 

[NurseJamie]

Considering I've spent a total of 1 (count 'em!) day at MGM, I don't know exactly how helpful I can be answering this. I was there in March, and as long as you got to the Fantasmic stadium 1/2 to 1 hour before the show, you could get decent seats (there really aren't BAD seats in that stadium). Of course, there were 2 shows that night, which cut down crowds quite a bit.

Another idea that I might try next time, is to stand at the back of the stadium rather than sitting on the benches. Sure, you have to stand through the whole show, but when it ends you can book itout of the stadium before everyone else to the rides nearby, Rock'N Roller Coaster and ToT. When Fantasmic lets out the lines for those puppies get HUUUUUGE!

So No - I don't think you NEED the Fantasmic Dinner Package - if they're restaurants you're interested in anyways, it can't hurt. But you can get decent seats without it

 

[rlovew]

I have done the Fantasmic Dinner package and I didn't feel the seats would have been worth paying for, they are one the far side of the stadium. If you arrive at least 30 minutes early (which you have to even with seats oir they will give your away) you should be able to find seats in the middle. We brought cards with us and played them until it was about time for the show to start. It is normally not very cowded in October (in such a way that you can't get into Fantasmic) although I would aviod it without the package on the night MGM had evening EMH.

 

[jwann]

No

 

[Robo]

No one can predict EXACTLY what will happen on any given day.
It has totally to do with how much time you wish to invest, and the general crowd levels.

VERY Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-90 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
45 minutes before: Good seats
20-30 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests.

Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 50-60 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
40 minutes before: Good seats
25-35 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests. (The crowd of "last-minute" arrivals can be slow to get seated before show-time.)

Off-Season (not busy days):
You should be OK to enter by 10-20 minutes before, but you'll likely be seated to the outer edges, and/or way at the back.

If you do the dinner pkg. you can enter 30 minutes before (or a bit later) and still be guaranteed pretty good seats, regardless of crowd-levels.

If there are TWO Fantasmic! shows in one evening, the second one will have lower crowd level than the first one. You can arrive a bit later and still find a seat.

Be aware that the second show waiting area will LOOK like the show is too crowded.
That's because they HOLD the 2nd crowd outside the theater while the CMs CLEAN it after the first crowd has exited.

Then, they will let those waiting together in that big group IN... all at once, and there will be PLENTY of room.

(The theater holds 10,000 guests!)

We always plan to eat our evening "meal" IN the Fantasmic! theater.
They have "baseball stadium"-type concession stands IN the theater.
We have a hot dog and a giant pretzel and some soft drinks in our seats as we wait. (There's even beer, sold strictly one-at-a-time, one-to-an-adult).
Just outside the theater entrance is the large "food court".
You are allowed to carry in food from there as well, but remember that its a LONG WAY up the sidewalk from there to the theater itself.