Sci-Fi Dine-In or Fantasmic Dinner Package?

[KSR0330]

We will be at HS one evening on our next trip and plan on going to Fantasmic (our first time seeing it). I really want to go to Sci-Fi for dinner (again, have never been there), but see that there are dinner packages that include VIP Fantasmic seating.
Is it really worth getting the VIP seats? Are they that much better that we should skip Sci-Fi for Mama Melrose and the dinner package?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Have dinner at Sci-Fi with a plan of entering Fantasmic at least 45 minutes before showtime. Or, if there are two Fantasmics that evening, plan on watching the 2nd Fantasmic and enter the Fantasmic amphitheater 30 minutes before showtime.

You can also get a FP for Fantasmic as your 4th FP of the day but still enter at the above noted times. Having the FP allows you to choose to sit anywhere within the amphitheater - you can find seats in the sections that are adjacent to Dining seating.

 

[emilyindisney]

Have dinner at Sci-Fi with a plan of entering Fantasmic at least 45 minutes before showtime. Or, if there are two Fantasmics that evening, plan on watching the 2nd Fantasmic and enter the Fantasmic amphitheater 30 minutes before showtime.

You can also get a FP for Fantasmic as your 4th FP of the day but still enter at the above noted times. Having the FP allows you to choose to sit anywhere within the amphitheater - you can find seats in the sections that are adjacent to Dining seating.

I think the food is better at Mama's but the atmosphere/theme at Sci-Fi is absolutely worth a trip so I say ditto to this poster's plan!

 

[Baklava]

We're having breakfast at Sci-Fi. Can you do that? It would leave you free to have lunch or dinner at Mama Melrose.

 

[JeninTexas]

We had a great meal at MM. The package evens comes with an appetizer in addition to the entree and dessert. The package seats were the best! Front row, right in the center!

 

[apwagner]

I would go with the Fantasmic Package. We did the Hollywood Brown Derby on our last trip and it was a great evening. We plan on doing Mama Melrose next trip with the kiddos. The Fantasmic seating is awesome. We got there ten minutes before it started and our seats were great!

 

[Robo]

I would go with the Fantasmic Package. We did the Hollywood Brown Derby on our last trip and it was a great evening. We plan on doing Mama Melrose next trip with the kiddos. The Fantasmic seating is awesome. We got there ten minutes before it started and our seats were great!

I can't leave that info out there without comment, in case others take it to be an "always" kind of thing.

If it's a busy evening, guests arriving that late to Fantasmic!, even with a FastPass or Dining Pkg. voucher, may be
out-of-luck if the seating is already at capacity. (Something that can happen on many nights of the year.)

If it's busy, during the last 20 min. before show-time, the CMs cease holding the reserved sections open and just let guests in the standby (walk-in) line fill any available seats in the theater.

No matter what kind of voucher/FP you may have, arrive at least 30 min. before show-time, just to be safe.

 

[KSR0330]

e're having breakfast at Sci-Fi. Can you do that? It would leave you free to have lunch or dinner at Mama Melrose.

Good idea, but we'll only be in the park for dinner.

You can also get a FP for Fantasmic as your 4th FP of the day but still enter at the above noted times. Having the FP allows you to choose to sit anywhere within the amphitheater - you can find seats in the sections that are adjacent to Dining seating.

That sounds like a good plan!

We had a great meal at MM. The package evens comes with an appetizer in addition to the entree and dessert. The package seats were the best! Front row, right in the center!

We could do MM this time and get the great Fantasmic seats (since it's our first time seeing it), and eat at Sci Fi our next trip. Decisions, Decisions!!!

 

[JZCubed]

We will be at HS one evening on our next trip and plan on going to Fantasmic (our first time seeing it). I really want to go to Sci-Fi for dinner (again, have never been there), but see that there are dinner packages that include VIP Fantasmic seating.
Is it really worth getting the VIP seats? Are they that much better that we should skip Sci-Fi for Mama Melrose and the dinner package?

You can get to Fantasmic! about an hour before showtime and have very good seats....no matter where you eat.

Fantasmic! package still requires you arrive (kinda') no later than 30 minutes before showtime. These 'VIP' seats are some of the 'best' seats because you are in the center section of what is a very large semi-circular theater.

We have enjoyed the Fantasmic! package, and we have also been able to retrieve a 4th FP+ for Fantasmic! (with seats not as good).

Does the difference having seats in the center versus off to a side matter much - really depends who you ask.

Is the Package worth it???

It's a trade-off that only you can decide.

But you are not really paying a premium for the food to receive the 'free' tickets, you just have to eat three-courses.

If this were my first visit - I am going to suggest you enjoy Sci-Fi and wait the hour at Fantasmic!

But then again, the age of the children matter. If you have young children, those shows may have them scared and/or just falling asleep and Fantasmic! becomes that much more of a chore to accomplish.

Also, on some nights, there are 2 Fantasmic! shows. This can be a perfect choice if you're just adults traveling.

Either way, I image that this Thread will offer advice from someone saying what it is you want to read.

 

[Canuck16]

Go to 50's Prime Time or Sci-Fi and just get to Fantasnic about 45 minutes prior to the show and you should be fine.