Fantasmic! Dinner Package: Worth It?

jduran

Member
Original Poster
Long time reader of the forum, first time poster. I've been going to WDW ever since I was 5 years old (living in Florida, that's just what you do when you are bored).

But for the first time, my sister and I decided we were going to do Disney the right way: You know staying at on-site, staying at the parks 'til closing, witness the nighttime events. (You'd be surprise how many times we just didn't care to do any of these things because we always justified it as "Well, Disney is only 3 hours away, so we can always come back and see it another time.") We are both professional 20-somethings without children (much to my parents' dismay) but since we have such fond childhood memories of the place, we always go at least once a year.

In keeping with our "doing it the right way" theme this trip, we decide to do the Fantasmic! Dinner Package because it seems fun enough and a way to guarantee a seat. But since we're going during the first week of February, when the low season is in full swing, we are worried we are not going to need it. Only reason we've kept the reservation is because it's the ONLY scheduled show that week, so we think it might be crowded just because of that. Reading some reviews here and elsewhere, we weren't exactly sold on the payoff.

Just wanted to know what your experiences are with it? We aren't super enthusiastic about any of the dining choices given to us, so we reluctantly opted for the Brown Derby. Any info, opinion, tips are welcome.
 

CleveRocks

Active Member
It was worth it for us.

February 8, 2009. A Tuesday night. Still "Value" season. Two shows that week. Show was at 7 p.m. People were lining up before 5 p.m. We had the Fantasmic Dinner Package booked with a meal at Mama Melrose's.

We arrived at the amphitheater at 6:15 p.m., 45 minutes before showtime. We got seats in the reserved section. We talked with people near us, they said it was announced at 6 p.m. that it was standing room only and that people should stop milling around looking for seats.

So for us, it made a huge difference even during that slow time of year.
 

mickey2008.1

Well-Known Member
While it guarantees you a seat, its not in the best location, all the way to the right, not front and center. It does at least guarantee you a seat, and you will need it with only one show during the week. Plus it does not cost anything if you have reservations at brown derby. If you were going to cancel ressies, then expect a two hour wait. For me, Brown derby is now the best restaurant at DHS, returning to its glory days. Its a bit much, but its also worth it now, throw in a guaranteed seat at fantasmic, and you be glad you did.
 

armyfamilyof5

Well-Known Member
We've done the Fantasmic package at Mama Melrose 4 times and HBD once, the guaranteed seating is a must for us, as is the show! I've never seen the theater not standing room only any time we've gone. The first time we saw the show we didn't know a thing about Disney and it was standing room only, my husband and I each held a 2 year old twin and that part was miserable!
Congrats on getting the opportunity to "do Disney right", wish I could enjoy it with you!
 

HouCuseChickie

Well-Known Member
I think it's worth it. We went in early Dec and did the pkg w/Dining at Mama Melrose. We got over to the theater for preferred seating around 6pm- the non-preferred seating inside was packed and they were turning people away at the entrance. I overheard someone from across the aisle saying they'd been waiting since 4ish. Sure the preferred seating is off to the side, but we still felt like the view was very good and we didn't waste nearly 2+ hrs waiting to get in. The only complaint I had was how late our dinner ran and how we had to run across the park to make it in time for the preferred seating window.
 

jduran

Member
Original Poster
Thank you everyone for the responses. I feel more reassured that keeping the reservations is the best thing to do. Hopefully when I can back from my February trip I'll have great things to say as well.
 

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