Opinions on Fantasmic dining pkg-is it worth it?

[MickeyMouse2010]

I have Mama Melrose booked at 5:05 on our HS day. We will probably be taking a mid-day break that day. We are not on the dining plan. The main reason I'm doing it is to avoid waiting in line for Fantasmic. My kids are 2,4,6 and waiting for an 1hr+ in line sounds awful to me! And would the wait time be even longer? We will be there over spring break. We also have Cape May booked early that morning for breakfast and it would be a lot of $ for food that day!

Do kids this age enjoy Fantasmic? We've never been. TIA!

 

[BLTLDZ]

I would say yes, for two reasons.
Most importantly, spring break.
And, like you said, you have three little ones...keep in mind, you will still need to stand in line, just not as long with the package

The package simply guarantees you a seat.

 

[minnie mum]

I agree with BLTLDZ. Crowds will be a concern. There is likely to be a very long line for F. Using the separate entrance a little more than half an hour before show time is a lot better than standing in a huge crowd for an hour and a half (at least for us). Have never encountered much of a wait at all at the reserved entrance.

If $$ are a concern, then I would cancel the character breakfast before I'd cancel the F. package, but that's just me. Seeing the number of posts you've made, not sure if you're a WDW vet or not. Just want to confirm that you booked the F. package and selected Mama Melrose, and didn't just book a Mama Melrose ADR?

ETA: as to young children enjoying the show: most do. But if any of them have issues with loud noises like fireworks or explosions, then you might want to reconsider and wait till they're over it.

 

[MickeyMouse2010]

minnie mum- I have been many times but we've never stayed on property or eaten at many Disney restaurants so that part is new to me. Thanks for asking, I did book the package. We've never seen Fantasmic so it's nice to hear opinions on it. I'm excited. My youngest 2 are crazy boys and all my kids love fireworks so it sounds like it should work out!

 

[nkereina]

When we were there in September, we did not have the package and got there a half hour early and stood in the standing room section (which we wanted). We did notice there was quite a line of people waiting to be seated in the reserved section from packages - I would say you still should get there a 45 mins early to get a decent seat.

 

[North of Mouse]

I love Fantasmic, but don't love waiting in line so much it can be a long wait. But, as for booking a package, don't want that either, because they seat you on the far right - not a very good deal considering what you pay to have reserved seats IMO. I love to sit in the center, so make myself get there about an hour ahead to do that. But, I can see the issue with small children, and yes, it can be scary at times for little ones and have seen lots of parents have to leave early (after waiting so long). You have to know your own children's tolerance for loud noise and flashing lights. It is a wonderful show though and very much worth seeing. The time of year does make a difference in how early you need to be there, because when they cut the line, that's it!!

 

[DznyCrzy11]

I have Mama Melrose booked at 5:05 on our HS day. We will probably be taking a mid-day break that day. We are not on the dining plan. The main reason I'm doing it is to avoid waiting in line for Fantasmic. My kids are 2,4,6 and waiting for an 1hr+ in line sounds awful to me! And would the wait time be even longer? We will be there over spring break. We also have Cape May booked early that morning for breakfast and it would be a lot of $ for food that day!

Do kids this age enjoy Fantasmic? We've never been. TIA!

We were there the 1st week of September and had the Fantasmic package. Granted, it was not as crowded as it probably will be when you will be there, but we arrived about 45 mintues prior to show time because even with the reserved seating they say the earlier you get there the better. I will say we both really enjoyed Mama Melrose's! The food was good and the prices were right! The Fantasmic package includes an appetizer of your choice, main course, dessert, and drink (non-alchoholic) , all selected off the regular menu for $35/person! It was also quite a bit of food! As far as Fantasmic goes, we would not do that again. We thought it was a waste of time! It just seemed out dated and nothing spectacular compared to Wishes or Illuminations! Not sure how your children are about loud noises, but there is a really loud bang and a couple other short parts that could be scary for young children. Any idea you can do is, try looking for a video of it on You Tube, there is bound to be someone who took a video of it and posted it! Good luck in your decision!

 

[North of Mouse]

Guess everyone's expectations are different, but to me it was one of the best shows of that kind that I have seen and well worth it Also, I have seen the ones that people taped on youtube and it does in no way do it justice.

 

[BLTLDZ]

One other factor.
Fantasmic is shown every night now, so that will probably help with crowd control..not sure if the package is as necassary now as it was when there were limited nights it was to be shown on.

 

[minnie mum]

One other factor.
Fantasmic is shown every night now, so that will probably help with crowd control..not sure if the package is as necassary now as it was when there were limited nights it was to be shown on.

Yeah, it still is: we were there on a crowd level 4 day in late Sept. One of the lowest crowd periods of the year. Not an EMH night. They were full and turning away SRO guests 45 min. before show time. So, yes, there still is that much demand for the show. That's why it's still so hard to get a F. package ADR.