Oct. Fantasmic ??'s

[FayeW]

I am planning on booking the FDP for the first night of our stay. I spoke to a CM this morning, and I will be eligible to book on July 23, however, their system currently only shows times for Sept. and Fantasmic starts at 8:00pm. She said that the show might start at 7:00 in Oct, because the hours change in the fall, but how will I know what time to make a dinner reservation for if we don't know for sure when the show will start? She also said that the LATEST dinner reservation they made was 4:30! That doesn't make sense to me, to have dinner 3.5 hours before the show starts! Should I just hope that I have a different CM when I call back next week to book, and do I really need to pay now for a dinner reservation in Oct??

 

[Aimeedyan]

The hours are always very early until about 4-6 weeks out, then they release the later hours. What everyone does is just book the latest they have and then call back when it's closer to your time and book a later dinner time.

By the time they open up the later dinner seating times, you'll know for sure when Fantasmic is.

 

[FayeW]

Thanks for the info. Should I just wait til 6 weeks out to book and be done with it, or is priority given to those who already have a reservation booked?

 

[Suzanne74]

honestly, I do not remember MGM closing at 7pm in Oct? I am pretty sure it was 8pm all of October.

 

[mommykds]

I think 8pm is fantasmic in Oct. Nov is usually 7pm

 

[Texian@WDW]

When I made my FDP AR last week, I had to take a 4:00 time at Brown Derby and CM said Fantasmic started at 7:00. I had the same question as you and she said it's because early dinner will get you out in time to line up for the show.

 

[lovesdumbo]

According to Intercot's historic hours for 2004, 2003, 2002 Fantasmic has been at 8pm for the first few days of the month, 7:30 til the 30th in 04; til the 25th in 03 and 26th in 02 then at 7pm for the rest of the month.

 

[Suzanne74]

I have a strange feeling that because of free dining, Columbus Day weekend and Food and Wine - it will be open until 8pm until around the 9-10th.

Just an opinion

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I had the same issue! I called this morning...today is 90 days out (I wanted FDP for Oct 12 Wed) and all I could get for Brown Derby is 3:50! I don't want to eat dinner at 3:50! But I took it and I am going to call back starting Aug 1st. that is when the CM told me they should have the fantasmic hours for October.

Pixie dust to both of us!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Texian:
Odd comment from the CM, since one point of the Fantasmic package is that you DON'T have to line up to get in Fantasmic---
I'm toying with booking the FDP for one night the first wek in OCT. But no way we're eating dinner at 3:30 for a show that starts at 8:00!!! They'll have to do better than that---.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hello Uncleromulus!

I think what the CM meant is that you DO have to line up about 45 minutes prior to the show. I have heard that at 30 minutes prior to the show, they start giving away the "preferred" seating that is reserved for the FDP folks.

Still....the 45 minute prior issue does not make me want to eat a good dinner at 3:50 pm! No way! I mean, I am already plotting that we will be seated at about 4 pm,and DH and I will probably have a cocktail or two and not actually start EATING dinner til close to 5 pm.

I am going to call at the beginning of August and try for a better time. That is when I "think" they will know the Fantasmic times and they may open up different times for the FDP.

Good luck to both of us! This will be my first FDP, too!

 

[KellyluvsDisney]

I have the same problem. Got Mama's on October 3 at 4:00. She told me to call back once they post the hours and later times should show up. I up becuase my Sci-fi ps is at 12:20 on the same day and that would be way to much food in way little time.

 

[Uncleromulus]

wildernesslodgelover:
Hope it dosen't boil down to a 45 minute line WITH Fantasmic, vs. just an hour wait on a regular entry. That's only a 15 minutes difference, making the fantasmic package less of an attraction. Especially if you can eat at a more reasonable time without the Fantasmic package.
I'll have to rethink all of this---

 

[poohluvrs]

This is exactly why we chose NOT to book FDP!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Uncleromulus-Yes, I know...I am rethinking things simply because we are not going during the busy time of year. During the summer and holidays, I have heard of 2 hour waits to see Fantasmic. But in the fall? I am not so sure. However, the week I will be there is the same week of Columbus Day and also there is a Jewish Holiday so a lot of schools are off...plus many schools around the country have a fall break at some point in Oct...sooooo....I probably will keep the FDP. I really want to see it and I will NOT wait over an hour to see it...no way!