Suggestions for a Fantasmic picnic?

[mrs_noopie]

We're planning on seeing Fantasmic for the first time in Dec. Due to our daytime plans, we will not arrive at DHS until about an hour before the evening's only showing of Fantasmic... this leaves us no time for TS (let alone the dinner package).

I'd love to secure decent seats for Fantasmic, so I was thinking maybe we could have a little picnic while we wait for showtime. I understand they sell some food in the theater, so I'm hoping that means eating in the seats is ok?

Do you have any suggestions for where we should pick up a delicious, portable meal to enjoy on our laps? Or anything else you'd recommend so we can still get good seats and squeeze in a tasty dinner before the show?

 

[wdwmickey]

Well I wouldn't call the food inside the theater "tasty", just hot dogs, nachos, popcorn--you know junk food. Maybe pick up a counter service meal and bring it in. Depending on where you're arriving from you could bring food with you from outside DHS (not our favorite food park).

 

[mrs_noopie]

If carrying in CS is the answer - from where? What CS in DHS is decent and not too far out of the way from Fantasmic?

I've only had TS in DHS. "Brown Derby To Go" sounds great but I don't suspect that's actually an option...

 

[shocker]

Every showing of Fantasmic I've done the same thing, across the walkway from the theater entrance is Rosie's Cafe (walk-up CS) the menu is limited, not very healthy, but oh so tasty. We load up on chicken strips, burgers, fries, and drinks then carry them in and sit and eat to while away the time. Oh, they also serve a darned good chocolate cake that can't be beat for the price, turns out it's much cheaper when served on styrofoam and without wait staff.

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

Every showing of Fantasmic I've done the same thing, across the walkway from the theater entrance is Rosie's Cafe (walk-up CS) the menu is limited, not very healthy, but oh so tasty. We load up on chicken strips, burgers, fries, and drinks then carry them in and sit and eat to while away the time. Oh, they also serve a darned good chocolate cake that can't be beat for the price, turns out it's much cheaper when served on styrofoam and without wait staff.

I am a little confused (doens't take much !). I thought if you don't do the dinner package for Fantasmic you have to line up for up to (or over) an hour before the show? If we were able to just arrive a hour early, find our seats, and munch away on our dinner we have got from somewhere while sitting, we would be fine. But as one of us is not able to stand for a long period of time (hour) and if we had to stand for that long in line, I thought we would have to do the dinner package.

Can you please let me know if you were able to just walk on in (early) and sit and wait for the show.

Thanks so much

 

[septbaby]

For "decent" seats during December on a night when there is only one show is an hour on line enough time? If you get to DHS and hr before, spend 5-10 mins getting into DHS, another 10-15mins walking to and getting your CS meal at DHS that leaves 35-45 mins for line time (line jumping policy doesn't allow the family to hold the spot while you grab the food). Is that enough time? Personally I don't know, but hopefully some experienced DISSERs can respond and ideally with a yes.

I'd hate to see you get the perfect picnic, but standing room only "seats" or clearly not "decent" ones.

Sounds like bring a CS meal to DHS would save time.

 

[mrzrich]

OK there is a HUGE misconception about Fantasmic....you don't stand in line. The theatre opens 90-120 minutes before showtime. You should get there by an hour before showtime to get decent seats (depending on time of year).

THEN YOU WAIT....sitting. This is what the OP is talking about. During this hour she can eat while waiting.

If you are thinking inside food I'd say turkey legs, hot dogs and pizza are all available right across from where you go into the theatre. Besides Pizza, Catalina Eddies has a pretty decent Italian Sandwich.

 

[kiwitinkerbell]

OK there is a HUGE misconception about Fantasmic....you don't stand in line. The theatre opens 90-120 minutes before showtime. You should get there by an hour before showtime to get decent seats (depending on time of year).

THEN YOU WAIT....sitting. This is what the OP is talking about. During this hour she can eat while waiting.

If you are thinking inside food I'd say turkey legs, hot dogs and pizza are all available right across from where you go into the theatre. Besides Pizza, Catalina Eddies has a pretty decent Italian Sandwich.

Thank you so much for clarifying this! I was getting so confused as I have read many times about people saying they are booking the dinner package for Fantasmic as they don't want to stand in line for over an hour. We have no problem SITTING and waiting .

Once again, thanks. To the Op, I'm sorry for asking a question within your thread and hope you don't mind.

 

[disneycrazy2004]

Every showing of Fantasmic I've done the same thing, across the walkway from the theater entrance is Rosie's Cafe (walk-up CS) the menu is limited, not very healthy, but oh so tasty. We load up on chicken strips, burgers, fries, and drinks then carry them in and sit and eat to while away the time. Oh, they also serve a darned good chocolate cake that can't be beat for the price, turns out it's much cheaper when served on styrofoam and without wait staff.

This is so funny - we've done exactly the same thing. One time we got our food and walked right it and sat right our front. the second time we went it got a really good seat and I went and got food for all of us. It is a great time and plenty of time to eat. we love it

 

[WendyMS]

We've done the Catalina Eddie's thing (PP is correct the italian sandwhich isn't too bad!)---carried our trays right in, found seats and ate while people watching as the place filled up.

IMHO, seats at the back center are some of the best, so don't think you have to be right up front. But wherever you sit, it is nice to picnic (bring counter service) and not stress about getting seats.

 

[shocker]

I am a little confused (doens't take much !). I thought if you don't do the dinner package for Fantasmic you have to line up for up to (or over) an hour before the show? If we were able to just arrive a hour early, find our seats, and munch away on our dinner we have got from somewhere while sitting, we would be fine. But as one of us is not able to stand for a long period of time (hour) and if we had to stand for that long in line, I thought we would have to do the dinner package.

Can you please let me know if you were able to just walk on in (early) and sit and wait for the show.

Thanks so much

Oh yes, Disney has you and so many others snowed into separating you with your $$ to get into this show with the dinner package. They perpetuate the panic by opening the theater sooooo early and they used to make announcements over the loud speaker telling you to get there REAL early and CM's used to caution how "Just last night the theater closed to seating anyone 2 hours before the show" They really were just making matters worse and panic would set in even if they opened it 5 hours early and let you sit your day away. You will see people lined up to get in as soon as the theater opens but once that first seating rush is over it is a much more relaxed pace and the theater holds thousands of people. I've never walked in more than 45 min. ahead of time and usually only 30 min. with dinner in hand (but you must allow time for to get your food, which will usually entail a line-especially the closer you are to the theater)

 

[disnut8]

I just looked at anew menu for the Toluca Turkey Leg place right across from the Fantasmic theatre. It's now selling taco salad, pulled pork sandwich and tuna fish sandwich as well as turkey legs and hot dogs. But - we have only experienced "slower than molasses in January" service here.

 

[jcemom]

We always take dinner in with us to eat while we wait for the show to start. We usually get pizza from Eddie's, and I like the italian sandwich they have now. We've also gotten burgers and chicken strips from Rosie's. We'd do the dinner package if we could do it at Sci Fi or 50's PTC.