??? about NEW Fantasmic Dinner Package procedure

[CleveRocks]

It used to be that if you were on the Fantasmic Dinner Package, you entered through a separate entrance; this is, you didn't line up with the general public.

Nowadays, it's different. I hear that you line up with the general public, and that after you're inside and a long way down the path, it's only THEN that you split off and go towards the seating area reserved for FDP guests.

I also know that at some point, maybe 15 or 20 minutes before the show, they open that area up to the general public.

So my question is, what good is the FDP anymore? Will I have to line up 60-to-90 minutes in advance just like the people who didn't do the FDP? Because if I do, what good is it? I did it because I wanted a minimal wait, such as 20 or 25 minutes before the show.

I know that people like to GUESS at things, but what I'm hoping for is anyone who has done the FDP since the change.

WHAT SHOULD I DO? HOW SHOULD I DO IT?

Thanks!

 

[MousDad]

Hmmm. That might explain some of the consternation in the other Fantasmic thread. I don't have an answer for you though, sorry.

 

[jeffk410]

hm

when did they start this? :brick:

 

[mousefan1972]

We did the Fantastmic dinner package last month, on Dec. 19. We went in the entrance next to the Beauty and the Beast theatre, with the rest of the masses. It was approximately 30 minutes before showtime. When we reached the theatre, there was a sign for dinner package guests to the right, with a CM checking tickets. I showed her ours, and we were directed to another cast member who showed us to the section with available seats. It was pretty painless. Mind you, this was before the show was dropped to 3X/ week, and before the XMas crowds got bad. :shrug:

 

[CleveRocks]

It's going down to 2 times a week ... that can't be good for crowds.

 

[djpoore94]

We did the Fantastmic dinner package last month, on Dec. 19. We went in the entrance next to the Beauty and the Beast theatre, with the rest of the masses. It was approximately 30 minutes before showtime. When we reached the theatre, there was a sign for dinner package guests to the right, with a CM checking tickets. I showed her ours, and we were directed to another cast member who showed us to the section with available seats. It was pretty painless. Mind you, this was before the show was dropped to 3X/ week, and before the XMas crowds got bad. :shrug:

We had the same experience last October, we were told to be at the theater at least 45 minutes prior to the start of the show. I was a little disappointed in the location of the "reserved" seats and would have liked to have gotten closer to the center, but DH didn't want to move (there were still quite a few seats closer to the center).

 

[DisneyGigi]

We did the Fantastmic dinner package last month, on Dec. 19. We went in the entrance next to the Beauty and the Beast theatre, with the rest of the masses. It was approximately 30 minutes before showtime. When we reached the theatre, there was a sign for dinner package guests to the right, with a CM checking tickets. I showed her ours, and we were directed to another cast member who showed us to the section with available seats. It was pretty painless. Mind you, this was before the show was dropped to 3X/ week, and before the XMas crowds got bad. :shrug:

I wonder why they changed it from going in the entrance at Oscar's for the dining package?

 

[dazzer68]

so im going to wdw in may, from the uk, and i want to see this show. what must i do? when (and how)do i book the fantasmic package if thats the only way to see it?
i thinks its reall bad on disney to cut the public side of attractions, when they could probaby be cutting costs behind the scenes.

 

[wild01ride]

I wonder why they changed it from going in the entrance at Oscar's for the dining package?

There are a couple reasons I can see them doing this:

#1 (and probably the most influential reason) is that it probably takes less staffing. With the old setup, they needed to have someone staffing the entrance next to Oscar's. Plus, they had various CM's along the way that would take your ticket, direct you for strollers, direct you to seating, etc. The way it is now, they already have people staffing the main entrance pathway, so it's just a matter of them pointing you one way or another depending on if you have the dinner package or not.

#2 - Personally, I didn't like the old entrance method. It was kind of a convoluded way to enter, for starters (especially for guests who may not be familiar with the park...how do you explain to a 1st timer where to find "the side gate next to Oscar's). It always felt like you were sneaking somewhere you weren't supposed to be. I guess one time I was happy about the entrance - a very generous CM let the two of us in about 2 minutes before showtime without a dinner package ticket - we had just run, literally, from Epcot and were huffing, puffing, and sweating like crazy!
Anyway, I didn't like the "behind the scenes" walk from the entrance to the show. It always seemed really long, and I just never liked seeing dumpsters, etc., even at a "Studios Backlot".

Regardless, for all who are skeptical, our group of 10 arrived 5 minutes before showtime at the new entrance during Christmas week and ended up in the dead center of the rightmost plume/fountain (the farthest right out of the three plumes) with a great view.

 

[NEmickeyfan]

so im going to wdw in may, from the uk, and i want to see this show. what must i do? when (and how)do i book the fantasmic package if thats the only way to see it?
i thinks its reall bad on disney to cut the public side of attractions, when they could probaby be cutting costs behind the scenes.

You do not have to have any sort of dinner package to see Fantasmic. On the nights that it is shown you just head to the theatre at least 45 minutes before show time. The amphitheatre fills up very fast.

The other option is to get the Fantasmic dinner package. There are serveral restaurants (Hollywood and Vine and Momma Melrose's) that offer the package. When you make your ADR you can ask for the package which is at no extra cost. When you get to your restaurant, they will give you a ticket for the "reserved" seating for the Fantasmic show. The seats are to the right end of the amphitheatre. Good seats, but not the best.

I did the package a couple of times, but since I prefer to eat at another restaurant (50's Prime Time) I decided to forgo the package.