Is Hungry Bear Fantasmic! Dining package worth it?

[Bluewild79]

Great advice, I will use it in a couple of days!

Don't forget to bring a blanket and/or something to sit on. After 12 hours in the parks, we were sore and it was nice to have a soft blanket and those chair pad things to cushion the ground. The blanket also helped save our space since we had a group of 8, and I had to keep taking kids out to go potty and get churros!

 

[GatorChris]

I'll say this first: I hate Dining Packages. To me they are ripoffs for something that used to be, or still may be, free.

That said, F! is something you should get a package for. And HB would be great because it's cheaper. But I grabbed a FP to see the show, thinking this is how I used to do it. In the first days of FP, they shoved everyone with a package by the rails dead-center, and the FPs could sit to the right or left of that center section. No longer. Disneyland has basically said "Pay up or you're screwed". The entire length of the iron fence facing the stage is strictly for dining package buyers. Last time, I was near the front of the FP line when it was time to line up. Then it's cattle call racing all the way to spot they have sectioned off for us. The cruddy spot I got was waaaaayyyy to the right. What's worse is that me and the family had to stand there for close to an hour waiting for the show, trying to fend and elbow off people who kept trying budge in and get in front of us. It was worse than the typical World of Color experience.

I'll never go to see F! again without a package. And for me, that stinks. Extra money for a show that should come with admission....and be shown every night of the year. But don't get me started on that topic!

 

[gusgusandmimimouse]

I'll say this first: I hate Dining Packages. To me they are ripoffs for something that used to be, or still may be, free.

That said, F! is something you should get a package for. And HB would be great because it's cheaper. But I grabbed a FP to see the show, thinking this is how I used to do it. In the first days of FP, they shoved everyone with a package by the rails dead-center, and the FPs could sit to the right or left of that center section. No longer. Disneyland has basically said "Pay up or you're screwed". The entire length of the iron fence facing the stage is strictly for dining package buyers. Last time, I was near the front of the FP line when it was time to line up. Then it's cattle call racing all the way to spot they have sectioned off for us. The cruddy spot I got was waaaaayyyy to the right. What's worse is that me and the family had to stand there for close to an hour waiting for the show, trying to fend and elbow off people who kept trying budge in and get in front of us. It was worse than the typical World of Color experience.

I'll never go to see F! again without a package. And for me, that stinks. Extra money for a show that should come with admission....and be shown every night of the year. But don't get me started on that topic!

Right, those were the days how I did it, but 3 kids later and now the dining packages. I'm glad to hear this as well because on the other hand we're thinking, well it's also free to watch. But there is no way I want to stand and constantly have to be on guard about our spot and it just won't happen with small kids.

 

[tink89]

So we have a large party (14 people) and not sure if WoC will be on in December so i think we might do fantasmic. Are there any reviews here on the food? Would you get what they offer for the package or just order off the regular menu? Would you reserve the latest spot at 6:00- 6:30? If not what time would you recommend?

 

[Princess Katelet]

I did the BB package in April and we went to sit down 15 minutes before the show (we entered at 8:45, no line of course, as everyone else was already inside). We had PLENTY of room and sat around what would be thought of as row 3. I'm not sure why people line up so early (doesn't that defeat the purpose of guaranteed good seating with the package?) and want to be by the rail unless they are serious photographers who don't want heads in their photos (even so you still have the rail...). Even little kids were sitting behind us (purposely) and they had no issues. You're on a slight slant and you're looking far ahead to the water and mountain or whatever it is. I guess I'm just saying that with my experience in April there was no need to line up early or enter the seating area early. Your mileage may vary.