Undecided about Fantasmic

[wdaveo]

Help me make a decision regarding Fantasmic! I have already made reservations for the Fantasmic dinner package for Monday night. (We are arriving on a Sunday night).

We have a jam packed 3 days because we will be leaving Thursday morning.

We are planning Monday - MGM, Tues - AK, Wed- MK, Thursday-leaving.

I am just starting to think that the late night Fantasmic program on Monday will be too much for my kids (7 and 10).

Is it worth it, in your opinion? Or should I save it for the next trip in 3 or 4 years?

 

[Gluman11]

If you are really worried about it..........here's what I would do............."Bag" the "dinner package".................and then decide later in the day if your kids can make it thru Fantasmic.......If you they can do it, catch some counter service for dinner.......We would normally go to the ABC Commissary.......The food's not great, but it does the trick and the building is air conditioned........and the food line generally keeps moving...........

Our family loves Fantasmic..........Its a "don't miss" during our trips.........

 

[sharonk]

I think Fantasmic is a must- see! We've done the dinner + show package and LOVED it. (Our kids were 3 and 5 at the time.)

I would head back to your room for a few hours on Monday afternoon so everyone is relaxed/refreshed for the Dinner + Show.

Sharon

 

[SnoWhiteRabbit]

I agree with the "bag the package" option, especially if you are not going during a peak time. We skipped Fatasmic for our first few trips. Once we went, we thought it was really great! (But nothing is worth pushing your kids too much!) We went in October without the package and were able to get seats towards the back shortly beofre the show. The seats were fine in my opinion. It would have been nicer to be closer, but I don't liek waiting too long before a show if I don't have to.

Hope that helps!

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

The seats that you get with the dinner package are all the way on the far right, not the best seats. The only advantage to doing the dinner and show thing is so you don't have to wait so long. If there's a second show during your visit, go back to your resort, take a break, and come back for the later one. The dinners are more expensive now than when we did this, and even with the cheaper food I didn't think it was worth it. We've gotten better seats on our own.

 

[memorylayne]

I would not worry about how late Fantasmic is, sleep late since the next day your itenerary reads AK. AK is not a all-day park in my opinion. You should be able to get to the park around noon and do everything.

 

[blestmom]

Has anyone been there the first 2 weeks of December? I'm trying to decide if I should do the Fantasmic Dinner Package, or just do the show. I don't know what to expect crowd-wise.

 

[princess lovers mom]

1. don't miss the show
2. don't do the dinner package
3. get to AK late....only need half a day

other option is if you have park hoppers is to go back to MGM on your AK day for fantasmic at night....or Illuminations at EPCOT which I think is even more of a not-to-be-missed than Fantasmic

 

[wdaveo]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I will cancel the reservations and then just play it by ear according to what the kids feel like doing. We are going June13-16, so I am guessing the crowds will be moderate, but hopefully not as heavy as July.

Thanks again!

 

[DisDreamer]

I don't want to dampen your spirits and not knowing you personally makes that a toughie but here's my advice: skip it. We went to it in 2000 because it was all the rage, however, looking back on my experience - we stood in line forever since we lined up early, it was hot and miserable (July), we were all tired and grouchy, had an 18 month old in tow who was sleeping and sweaty and to top it all off, there was a snake that made an appearance while in line which caused a real uproar with the crowd.

The show was enjoyable but it was just uncomfortable, had no problem parking and retreiving our personal stroller and we had a battery operated fan for the baby to keep her cool while we watched, it just seemed like a late night hassle after being in the park all day -- it was our last day though so we did try to milk everything we could from it. And after standing in line all that time we weren't all that happy with our choice of seats.

You will enjoy the show - just depends on how badly you want to see it. We will be skipping it this time around, seemed like it lasted a while to me, I got to the point where I couldn't wait for it to end.

 

[wannabee princess]

I don't think you should miss it!

My kids have stayed at MGM all day and still enjoyed Fantasmic. When we were there last Spring Break (good sized crowd) and did the dinner package, my kids were 7 and 11. It was a nice break to sit down and have a meal - it recharged our batteries, and we knew we didn't have to rush through the rest of the park so we could just stand in line waiting for the show.

 

[JennSaint]

I've done it both ways. First time without the dinner pkg. Second time with dinner pkg at Mama Melrose's. Personally I preferred the dinner pkg. First time we had to get into line 1 hour early. My kids really hated that. The second time with the pkg we only showed up 20 minutes early and had no line to wait in because there's a seperate entrance for dinner pkg guests. The seating is to the side but there really isn't many bad views in the place.

 

[corinascot]

..we arrive on Sun night and leave on Thurs. We have a 9 yr old. Depending on when we arrive on Sunday (hopefully around 1), we might head over to MGM to catch the end of the Star Wars weekend, eat dinner, and see Fantasmic. We decided against the dinner package so we could play it by ear. Did you know they have 2 showings of Fantasmic on that Tues night? Of course, that makes for a late evening. We're staying on site and we plan on going back to our hotel during the afternoons to rest, swim.

Hey...we have less than 3 weeks before we're there!!!

Corina

 

[elgerber]

We never miss Fantasmic when we go, and we always do the dinner package. We enjoy the dinner, and we don't like waiting that long. The one time we tried to go without the package, we went 90 minutes early, and we couldn't get in (this was the last week in August). We have done this when my kids were 4 & 7, 5 & 8, and 7 & 10, and we'll do it again this October.

Erika

 

[wdaveo]

Corina, so funny that you will be there when we are!

Unlike you, I have not even TOLD my husband (avid, avid fan) it is the last Star Wars weekend at MGM (because I know he would make me go - and we would be rushed, and tired from the travel). What he doesn't know won't hurt him!

I can't believe it is coming up so quickly, and that school is almost out!

Thanks for the advice, everyone! I guess I am still undecided! Maybe we will try to go to the early Tuesday show.

 

[laurabelle]

My kids are the same ages and the only way I'd do the late Fantasmic is if we hadn't been at the parks all day... Having said that, I'd hate to put off seeing it, in 3 or 4 years it won't be the same for them.
My kids really liked the dinner at Hollywood & Vine (the least expensive option for the package). I've read where sometimes if you have a regular PS, they'll still give out the fantasmic dinner package tickets.

 

[corinascot]

That's funny you haven't told your husband about SW weekend, because we haven't told our son. He's a SW NUT! We want to have the option not to go in case we're just too tired when we arrive. We have a 1000 mile drive and we hope to drive 700-800 miles the first day so we won't have far to drive on Sunday. We must be crazy!


We're staying at POR. If I run into your husband, I won't mention the SW weekend. Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh! LOL!

Corina

 

[jbwolffiv]

Fantasmic is the one thing I always tell people not to miss. I would definitely go!

 

[WDW4KIDS]

We've seen Fantasmic 5x at least.The show is wonderful.However it's not worth the price that Disney charges for their Dinner pkg.I would definitely try to see the show I believe your kids will be happy you went.Also to be honest I rate Illuminations and Wishes ahead of Fantasmic as Don't Miss events
Have a great trip.