Will my dinner plans work with Fantasmic?

[lisahoo]

Hi all -- I'm planning our family's first trip to WDW in January. We are planning on DHS on 1/30. Our daughters are 8 & 10 -- DD10 has special needs, so she tends to like the same things as DD8 (princesses and more princesses!!)

Right now, I have Sci-Fi booked for dinner at 5:45. Am I totally insane to think we can make a 7pm showing of Fantasmic?

Thanks for any info you can provide.

 

[DavidNYC]

I think it's unlikely you'd make it. Frequently get seated 5-10 after your time. I'd say minimum 1 hour to order and eat. And it's probably 15 minutes from table to seat at show. And you'd be getting there right as it starts or if it's a one show day, there's still a chance of not getting in since thousands will be there 15-60 prior. Low season is iffy on one show days - I've seen theaters with lots of seats as show starts and those that are full 15 minutes prior. I'd try showing up early to sci fi and seeing if they can accommodate you earlier. Or if Fantasmic is a must - change dinner.

 

[DavidNYC]

To follow up to be a little less pessimistic- if you want to go for it - show up 30 minutes early and cross fingers they can seat you a little early. Look at the menu while you're waiting and have your order all set and tell waiter first time he comes over that you're trying to make Fantasmic and are all ready to order so you get it in right away. Seated by 5:30 and near immediate order could be doable but you're still risking a sell out or not great Fantasmic seats.

Keep looking online for earlier reservations as well as you get closer for cancellations.

 

[wdw&sonny]

I think you should NOT do it. I know that's not exactly your question. The chance of you making it from a 5:45 ADR at Sci Fi to a 7:00 PM showing of F! are slim to begin with. But, to try it will add too much anxiety. You will likely be panicked all day thinking about the tight timing. You and your kids will lose sight of the experience at Sci Fi. You will be rushed to eat, thinking about what is next. I am saying just don't attempt it unless you can get an earlier ADR.

Side bar:
That's one of the most important lessons I have learned from several trips to WDW. Space things out so you have time to reflect on the experience or the experience is lost. Afternoon breaks to reflect on morning. Sit down meals to reflect on afternoon...

 

[lisahoo]

Thank you all so much for your quick replies and advice. I definitely do NOT want to feel rushed -- and being late for something is a guaranteed way for me to lose my cool. (And you KNOW there's no rushing a kid!!)

I was lucky and found a reservation for 4:30! Win-win!

What's odd is that MDE let me have 2 different reservations for Sci-Fi -- now I have 4:30 and 5:45. I'm pretty sure I was shuffling ADRs the other day and it made me cancel a dinner reservation at one place when I made the second ADR. Oh well. I'm cancelling the 5:45 anyway so someone else can have it.

 

[stinkpickle]

...
What's odd is that MDE let me have 2 different reservations for Sci-Fi -- now I have 4:30 and 5:45. I'm pretty sure I was shuffling ADRs the other day and it made me cancel a dinner reservation at one place when I made the second ADR. Oh well. I'm cancelling the 5:45 anyway so someone else can have it.

I think it will let you do that as long as they're over an hour apart.