Is the Fantasmic dining package necessary????

[charmedlife3517]

We are going to wdw in October for our first trip. Is it necessary to book the Fantasmic dining package at Mama Melrose, Brown Derby, etc? If you do not book the package is the wait long and are seats available? I heard that Fantasmic will be every night now so I am thinking that we do not need to book the package but I also do not want to wait in line for 2 hours to get a seat. Fantasmic is a must do for us!!!!

 

[mesaboy2]

I think you can show up 60-75 minutes before without the dining package and be just fine.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

Go on a night they have two showings and hit the 2nd performance. The stadium is often half full and you can get good seats with little to no waiting. The "reserved" seats with the dining package are some of the worst sections in the arena.

Another tip: on a night with 2 Fantasmics, the line for Midway Mania gets very short during the first performance. Ride the ride a couple of times then leisurely stroll over and catch the late show. Lines for trams and/or busses will be shorter as well when you leave the park.

 

[charmedlife3517]

Thanks! Luckilly we are staying at Boardwalk so we can walk back (I hear its a short walk) or take the boat at the end of the night. I have never been to Disney so walking may be a torturous option at the end of the night.

 

[lthiesfeld07]

I used the Fantasmic Dining Package in August and it was definitely worth it.
My friend and I ate at Mama Melrose. We had the choice of an appetizer, entre, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage each. We received our vouchers and headed over to Fantasmic about 30 minutes before the show and had no problem finding a seat.

I think it is definitely worth it! We didn't have to wait in a line. We just presented our vouchers at the special entrance and walked right back to theater and found seats right away. I wouldn't see Fantasmic again without the Dining Package.

I had a bad experience at Mama Melrose in January, so I don't know if I would eat there again for a while. I'd like to try Brown Derby next time for the package.

 

[duffdo]

I travelled to WDW in October 2011 and booked the Fantasmic dining package. I had been to WDW several times before and always found that to get the best seats, you had to turn up around two hours prior to showtime, (there is no waiting in line, as they let you straight in to choose a seat.) This obviously meant that we had less time in HS.

I booked the Fantasmic dining package this time around at Mama Melrose's. We had reservations at lunchtime and they gave me a pass with my bill for priority seating at Fantasmic. The food was excellent and was covered by our dining plan. We decided to show up at the Hollywood Hills Amphitheatre around 30 minutes before showtime. The entrance used for the dinner package is right next to the entrance for The Hollywood Tower of Terror. We got excellent seats, even though the unreserved sections were very crowded. All in all, I would book the Fantasmic Dining Package again.


***just a little note: I would highly recommend the Fantasmic Dining Package to anybody. The only problem is, is that the seats in the sections you get to choose are in the one or two sections to the far right of the amphitheatre. See http://www.studioscentral.com/fantasmic-seating-chart .

I actually sat in the Ursula section on the dining package, but have previously sat in Sorcerer Mickey and Pocahontas sections (after staking out my seat for 2 hours!) Now, this is nitpicking, but whilst sat in the Ursula section, some of the action and the soundtrack can seem slightly out of sync, compared with the other more central sections. If you think that this will bother you, you will want to sacrifice a couple of extra hours in the park to get the better seats. If not, book the dining package, and get an extra ride on Midway Mania or Tower of Terror before heading off to see Fantasmic. Whatever you do Dont miss it!

 

[charmedlife3517]

I used the Fantasmic Dining Package in August and it was definitely worth it.
My friend and I ate at Mama Melrose. We had the choice of an appetizer, entre, dessert and non-alcoholic beverage each. We received our vouchers and headed over to Fantasmic about 30 minutes before the show and had no problem finding a seat.

I think it is definitely worth it! We didn't have to wait in a line. We just presented our vouchers at the special entrance and walked right back to theater and found seats right away. I wouldn't see Fantasmic again without the Dining Package.

I had a bad experience at Mama Melrose in January, so I don't know if I would eat there again for a while. I'd like to try Brown Derby next time for the package.

Thanks! So how long did you have to wait without the Dining Package? And what time of year did you go?

 

[Phatoomch]

The "reserved" seats with the dining package are some of the worst sections in the arena.

Have to totally agree with that! They are the last two sections so you are looking at the side of the stage, not a great viewing spot at all. We will be getting there early instead next time so we can sit more to the center.

 

[charmedlife3517]

Thanks Duffdo!

That really helps a lot. I think I will wait so I can get good seats. I don't like waiting in line but worse than that I don't like having bad seats for a show.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

I think October crowd levels will be moderate at best. We went @ the beginning of Spring Break this year, crowd levels were pretty busy, we showed up 30 minutes beforehand and had a pretty good seat.

Mind you, we were not seated in the middle of the stadium, but off the the right hand side. We had a straight on view to the water screens - which meant our exit was quicker than most

 

[kaligal]

Not necessary. And the seats they give you are the worst possible seats. They're okay, but still the worst possible.

Get there early and get better seats.

 

[Broncobilly83]

Not necessary. And the seats they give you are the worst possible seats. They're okay, but still the worst possible.

Get there early and get better seats.

I have done regular seating and the reserved seating with the meal, and I do not think any are better or worse than the other, IMO

ON a slightly related note, we were thinking of doing the lunch meal this next trip and getting one of the Fantasmic trays for the show. Anyone else ever do that

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011/04/25/new-dessert-trays-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

 

[kaligal]

I have done regular seating and the reserved seating with the meal, and I do not think any are better or worse than the other, IMO

ON a slightly related note, we were thinking of doing the lunch meal this next trip and getting one of the Fantasmic trays for the show. Anyone else ever do that

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011/04/25/new-dessert-trays-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/

If you're ok with it, I sure am.

But many people, including me, prefer not to sit off on the side. Closer to (or in) the center is considered better to us.

As I said, the package seats are fine. But they are off to the side and of the available seats, the worst possible.

YMMV

 

[Robo]

Thanks! Luckilly we are staying at Boardwalk so we can walk back (I hear its a short walk) or take the boat at the end of the night. I have never been to Disney so walking may be a torturous option at the end of the night.

 

[charmedlife3517]

Okay, I am not even tired and that looks like a looooong walk I think we will be riding the boat back. Dang! WDW is HUGE!!!!

 

[mesaboy2]

Okay, I am not even tired and that looks like a looooong walk I think we will be riding the boat back. Dang! WDW is HUGE!!!!

At WDW, those parks are considered close to each other.