November Fantasmic Dining Package Watch

[Momw/aplan]

I caved and went ahead and rearranged so I could do Fantasmic on the 8th. I hope I didn't screw up.

I can't remember now if there was a REASON I didn't want to do HS on the 8th other than the fact that I already had Akershus at Epcot scheduled for 6:30 on the 8th. 6:30 had been the the EXACT time I had been shooting for at Akershus and I had been thrilled when I got it.

I figured there was no way I could cancel that excellent ADR, replace it with an equally excellent ADR for the 5th so that I could go to HS instead on the 8th.

BUT I did. They had a 6:35 Akershus open for me on the 5th, which allowed me to book Fantasmic for the 8th. It was perfect.

Except now I have an icky feeling in my stomach that maybe there was another reason I didn't want to switch HS 5th/Epcot 8th for Epcot 5th/HS 8th.

Does anyone see any obvious reason why I wouldn't???

 

[BeccaGrace]

Except now I have an icky feeling in my stomach that maybe there was another reason I didn't want to switch HS 5th/Epcot 8th for Epcot 5th/HS 8th.

Does anyone see any obvious reason why I wouldn't???

Well, the unofficial guide has the 5th as a good day for Epcot, so that's a good switch.

Sunday only has AK as a recommended day but there doesn't seem to be a reason you shouldn't do DS that day. So I think it's a good switch.

I'm still holding out for the 5th because it's our first day in the parks and I think Fantasmic's a good kick off for the trip. We have Ohana for dinner on the 8th after a day at AK. I do not want our first day to be AK. If I switched to Epcot and made Illuminations our first night special activity then
a) wouldn't be able to get my Le Cellier reservation
b) it would be a late night and the girls have BBB and CRT beginning at 8:00 the next morning, so we need to be up early.

I just called again and nothing yet for the 5th. The cast member said that since the other November dates are getting released she recommended I keep trying back today rather than waiting for Monday.

 

[Momw/aplan]

Thanks Sara! I really appreciate the info from Unofficial Guide! I haven't signed up on the site (or bought the book) because by the time I found out about the guide I pretty much already had my plan in place for what ADR's I wanted and what days I wanted to be in each park. So I wasn't sure how much more use it would be to me. But I am happy to have confirmation that it doesn't say to avoid Epcot or HS like the plague on either of those days.

How useful have you found the Guide to be for other aspects of your trip besides the ADRs?

I can definitly see why you wouldn't want to swap to the 8th for your trip. I think I just got really lucky that I could swap. I was afraid to even try but the CM insisted on looking into it for me, and I'm glad she did!

I'll keep checking back here to see if you get what you wanted. I sincerely hope you do! Good luck!!!

ps I have an Ohana ADR too, but for the 9th. That may be the one I'm personally looking forward to the most. Our plan is to watch wishes from the beach afterwards. It's our last night there and I think that would be a relaxing yet truly magical way to end our first visit.

 

[BeccaGrace]

How useful have you found the Guide to be for other aspects of your trip besides the ADRs?

I really like the Guide...the touring plans and best days recommendations served us well last trip. All the other info I can find out on here

So I called again and the past two CMs haven't even looked for it, just said that there is a glitch and the 2nd and 5th have not been loaded. They aren't sure when it's going to be fixed and I can feel free to keep checking back.

I guess I'll keep checking back

 

[Jeanieblue114]

I got all my adrs today.The only one I could not get was T-Rex the cm thought they might not be booking for november yet because Disney doesn't own it,the same thing with rainforest.

We just got back from a July trip and my Dad went for a June trip (high seasons) and We walked right in to T-rex with no ressie. As long as you try before 5pm, it's pretty dead there.

Also, go to the website for rainforest cafe and sign up for the safari club. I think it costs MAYBE $10 and it is good forever. You can use it for T-rex or Rainforest cafe' to get walk-in priority seating without a ressie. Also, it gives you either a free select appetizer (valued around $10) or 10% off of your entrees. It's worth it and has helped up many times with the wait at Rainforest and the bonus discounts or free items are great. It also gives you a discount in the gift shop.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

Hopefully this will make you all feel a little better about Fantasmic Dining. I did it the first or second year that it was made available. I walked into the park in the morning and went to guest services and made a reservation that day. It was nice to have the meal and get the little perk, but I wouldn't bother doing it again. (This WAS BEFORE the days of the dining plan and everyone going nuts making reservations for every meal. So, reserving when you got to the park or just doing a walk-up was ALWAYS easy then.)

First, I'm not a huge fan of a big sit down meal in the middle of the day because you have to have an EARLY dining time so you can be at the Fantasmic line check-in early for your 'reserved' seating.

Second, from what I understand, you don't get a separate entrance anymore, so you have to wait in line just as long with everyone else and have to be there super early to qualify for your reserved time.

Thrid, and most importantly, the 'reserved' seating section for Fantasmic is the far right section at the top. It is a poor view of the show. It is difficult to see some of the effects from that location and I didn't enjoy the show very much at all from that view. I went to see it again the following year and sat in the middle and the show was SO different and SO much better sitting in the middle.

Fourth, If the weather cancels the show, you are out. No nothing for all of your time.

So, I recommend just going to the show with everyone else and aiming for a better seat. Spend some extra time waiting for the show in line instead of killing yourself trying to get a dining reservation now and being stuck in an icky section. Then you can eat wherever you want as well!

It is sad that Disney has cut back on these shows so much so now everyone goes crazy trying to get into them. It's like they are exclusive and rare now so everyone wants them even more. They used to have two shows on MANY nights. We would go to ToT or other long wait rides during the first show when everyone was there. Then, when the second show started there was nobody left in the park. You could go in and sit wherever you want and never wait in any line at all. I guess with the economy they have to squeeze a bit. I can understand cutting the extra show, but having only 2 shows a week is really minimizing the mouse. I have seen it a couple times (including at Disneyland in California) so, I'm at the point where I won't wait for hours and kill my evening to see it. I'm more interested in RELAXING on vacation.

Best of luck to you all in getting what you want with a reservation or not. But please don't get upset if you don't get the Fantasmic Dining Package. You may be better off with your own choice of seat!

 

[BeccaGrace]

Still not loaded
CM I had this morning was not aware of the issue at all.

Thanks Jeanieblue, we appreciate the pep talk. We actually do like the early table service meals however and have our backup meal scheduled as a lunch.

I know that the FDP doesn't have it's own entrance anymore but thought that we didn't have to wait with the crowd; can someone confirm that you still have to wait in the full line? That seems to cancel the whole point of the FDP?

My main concern is that it's only showing twice during our dates, which means the demand will be high for seats. It's our first night and the FDP would have made things moved a bit more smoothly.

That said, I'd be much happier with our lunch at 50s Primetime than the dinner at MM, so I guess it will all work out.

 

[BeccaGrace]

I know I am talking to myself at this point but H&V and BD just got released for the 5th...hoping MM is soon!!!!!!

 

[BeccaGrace]

I think it's all booked...somewhere during the 1/2 hour between when I was told they weren't released and when I was told H&V and BD were available...at least I get to eat at 50s Primetime now

 

[Jeanieblue114]

GREAT!
Hope you get a good "mom/sister/aunt/cousin" to give you a good play-a-long show!

Don't forget to keep your elbows off the table!

 

[Momw/aplan]

So sorry to hear you didn't get your Fantasmic ADR Sara after all that effort. I hope you do enjoy 50's Prime Time though. It does sound great!

 

[BeccaGrace]

VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Got It! I Got It! I Got It!


SIX DAYS OF TRYING...
100+ Phone Calls...
45 minutes on hold this morning....

3:55 Mama Melrose Fantasmic Dining Package...
PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


WoooooooooHoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you live in Central Jersey....listen closely for the mad woman running around screaming "I'm Going To Disney World" and "I got Fantasmic" while her children pretend not to know her.

The CM was cracking up...I was like, "You have WHAT?!?!?!?!?!" ... I didn't even have my credit card number because I was just expecting her to say no!

When they asked what we were celebrating on our trip I said "Getting this reservation!"

Soooooooooooooooooooooooo happy today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Soooooo late getting the kids ready for camp and school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay...I had to share with those of you that put up with me for the past week

 

[dinatwin]

CONGRATS!!!!!!! I'M SOOO HAPPY FOR YOU!!

I felt the same way as you on Saturday but I didn't have as much trouble for some reason my date came up pretty quick.

BTW what part of Jersey are you in? I'm in Jackson.

 

[Momw/aplan]

Congratulations Sara! That's GREAT!!!! I'm so glad you hung in there!

The only bad thing about our getting those ADR's after all that effort is that it reinforces the craziness for the future. Because now we KNOW that if we just keep trying of course it will pay off, so why wouldn't we keep trying?

 

[Jeanieblue114]

You gave me a laugh this morning! Congrats!
Glad that you finally got your magical moment.

 

[WeNeedKetchup]

VICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Got It! I Got It! I Got It!


SIX DAYS OF TRYING...
100+ Phone Calls...
45 minutes on hold this morning....

3:55 Mama Melrose Fantasmic Dining Package...
PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


WoooooooooHoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you live in Central Jersey....listen closely for the mad woman running around screaming "I'm Going To Disney World" and "I got Fantasmic" while her children pretend not to know her.

The CM was cracking up...I was like, "You have WHAT?!?!?!?!?!" ... I didn't even have my credit card number because I was just expecting her to say no!

When they asked what we were celebrating on our trip I said "Getting this reservation!"

Soooooooooooooooooooooooo happy today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Soooooo late getting the kids ready for camp and school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yay...I had to share with those of you that put up with me for the past week

Just catching up after being away for a couple of days - so glad to hear everyone got their reservations!

We will be waiting in line on the 8th with the masses to get in to Fantasmic (sort of by choice, but I would have been thrilled if I had gotten the FDP!)

I know what you mean by not being ready with your credit card. When I was still trying, I would call from my car while driving. If they had something available, I would have had to pull over to find my credit card.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Hi all. Congratulations on getting the package! Quick question, we are going on Thanksgiving, can you book the package for all of November or just 90 days out?
Thanks!

 

[WeNeedKetchup]

Hi all. Congratulations on getting the package! Quick question, we are going on Thanksgiving, can you book the package for all of November or just 90 days out?
Thanks!

You can only book it for 90 days out, our 90+10 if you are staying on Disney property.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

That's what I thought, but didn't want to miss out. Thanks and have a great trip!