Fantasmic Dinner Package

[Melora]

I just heard about this.... you get dinner at one of the MGM restaurants and reserved seating for Fantasmic...

I am wondering if it is worth it.. We are going Feb 1 - 8 and will Fantasmic be full and the reserved seating make it a better show or will lower attendance make more room in the show and it not worth the extra money?

The dinner package is about $20-25 per person...

 

[Grumpy56]

I'd be interested in thoughts on this, too. We did the package at the Brown Derby last spring break and thought it was great, it saved us a lot of waiting time. I thought we would do it again on Jan 31, but since they have raised the price and we now have a 13 year old, we'd have to pay $139 for the meal and it would include 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and 3 desserts plus the kids meal for the 10 year old. WAY too much food. Since my daughter really wants to eat at the Brown Derby again I decided to just take our chances with Fantasmic since I'm assuming it won't be as crowded as it was last Easter as book a regular PS at the Derby.

 

[wannabeBelle]

Hi Melora, MyDF, Lilo thought about doing the dinner package and then Fantasmic. She ruled it out because if the show time that they had chosen for that night. Fantasmic was going to be performed twice that evening and she wasnt going to eat dinner at 4 pm to get into the 6 pm show. So she just ate at the Brown Derby on her own and went to the 8 pm show a tad early. She says she got great seats and preferrred this. Also which restaurant are you looking at? Belle

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Just a thought for you to ponder upon - the reserved seating area is in the right hand side of the auditorium. While you still gat a decent view I reckon that it is always better to get there early and head for the centre.

 

[TURKEY]

Originally posted by CAPTAIN HOOK
Just a thought for you to ponder upon - the reserved seating area is in the right hand side of the auditorium. While you still gat a decent view I reckon that it is always better to get there early and head for the centre.

I did it on NYE. I got there about 6 for the 6:30 show and was on the aisle next to the center section about half way up.


If you're worried about not getting enough food for the price, go to Hollywood and Vine's buffet. It's great food and all you can eat.

 

[Becky]

We went to the first show on 1/1. Got there about an hour and 15 minutes before the show and were in the center section about ten rows up (didn't want to get wet . Had enough of that on 12/31 :animwink: ).

We have sat in what is not the "package" seats and don't think they are as good.

But if you are going to eat a $20-30 sit down meal anyway and don't like to wait in lines go for the package.

By the by you can not wait until 5 minutes before the show with you PS and expect a seat. I think they still tell you to get there 30-45 minutes before showtime. Someone help me out here.

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

Anyone who is interested in booking this, must do so by Feb. 28th. That is the last day they are taking advanced reservations for it. CRO told me that they may bring it back, but they are not sure.

Pam

 

[kimrn87]

We went to Fantasmic in janaury approximately one hour before showtime. We sat on the second row, center section!! Isn't that amazing!! We only did the dinner package once. Last year did Fantasmic after a day in Animal Kingdom. We arrived a little early, grabbed some snacks and rested until the show. (of course this year was the first year that the crowd didn't do the wave) OH WELL better luck next year :lol:

 

[Grumpy56]

Originally posted by Becky
We went to the first show on 1/1. Got there about an hour and 15 minutes before the show and were in the center section about ten rows up (didn't want to get wet . Had enough of that on 12/31 :animwink: ).

We have sat in what is not the "package" seats and don't think they are as good.

But if you are going to eat a $20-30 sit down meal anyway and don't like to wait in lines go for the package.

By the by you can not wait until 5 minutes before the show with you PS and expect a seat. I think they still tell you to get there 30-45 minutes before showtime. Someone help me out here.

Thats correct Becky, that's what they told us when we went in March, 30 to 45 mins ahead. That's why I think we can manage OK at an off time like the end of Jan just showing up 45 mins early, since we don't really care where we sit.

 

[Melora]

Thanks for the input guys! I have been checking out some other reviews across the web and basically they all say that in January/February if you get there 30-45 minutes ahead of time anyway it should be no big deal. This way I don't have to book and be locked into a particular night in case the 2 year old is cranky or we run late at another park.

 

[Fantasmic303]

I've been reading your posts, and now I've got a few questions of my own...

1 - They're taking advance reservations till the end of February - does this mean they'd take them FOR March or only THROUGH February? We're going down March 12-16, and we were considering taking advantage of it, but it might not even be an option now.

2 - If it IS an option, what do experienced WDWers say about the March crowds? We've always gone down in the summer, so I'm not sure what to expect about the crowds that week. Do you think it'll be bad?

and...

3 - So what was the decision? Was reserved seating a thumbs up or just an "eh"? Cause if you guys suggest that waiting for seats will give us a dramatically better view, we'll be more inclined to do that....


*sigh* Decisions, decisions...

Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[Grumpy56]

Originally posted by Fantasmic303
I've been reading your posts, and now I've got a few questions of my own...

1 - They're taking advance reservations till the end of February - does this mean they'd take them FOR March or only THROUGH February? We're going down March 12-16, and we were considering taking advantage of it, but it might not even be an option now.

2 - If it IS an option, what do experienced WDWers say about the March crowds? We've always gone down in the summer, so I'm not sure what to expect about the crowds that week. Do you think it'll be bad?

and...

3 - So what was the decision? Was reserved seating a thumbs up or just an "eh"? Cause if you guys suggest that waiting for seats will give us a dramatically better view, we'll be more inclined to do that....


*sigh* Decisions, decisions...

Thanks in advance for your help!!

Let me see if I can help.

1-As of now, it's not an option. They are only taking advance reservations thru Feb 28. If they go back to the old system after that you can only book the package 7 days ahead and only once you are there. So for your visit it might be that way OR they may extend the current set up past Feb 28.

2-As far as crowds, because Easter is so late you are not going during PEAK spring break but plenty of schools have time off then so it'll be fairly busy. Someone else may have a better handle on how busy.

3-There are different opinions about the seats, some feel the reserved seats are inferior because they are on the side but we sat in them last spring and thought they were fine. I think it's mostly a choice of how you want to spend your time and money. If you would be doing a sit down dinner anyway, then the package is a good idea, especially if it's busy. Some people suggest getting your seats early and bringing food in and passing the time by having your meal in the Fantasmic stands, that's another way to manage it, depending on what you want to eat.

My decision to not do it this time was based on the fact that at the Brown Derby the package includes appetizer, entree and dessert and that's more food than we want to eat, not on the seats which I thought were fine. Hope this helps!

 

[EthylCooper]

Originally posted by Fantasmic303

3 - So what was the decision? Was reserved seating a thumbs up or just an "eh"? Cause if you guys suggest that waiting for seats will give us a dramatically better view, we'll be more inclined to do that....

Well, I can't speak for the others, but for me it was a big thumbs down. We did it once through Mama Melrose's and weren't happy with it at all. None of were pleased with our entrees (mine was a seafood pasta thingie and the seafood was 'fishy', not fresh). We still held out high hopes for the show part of it, but were less than thrilled. We still had to show up at least 30 minutes ahead of time back toward the park entrance next to Oscar's. We got inside and found out the seating was way out on the right end of the amphitheatre. We've had much better seats without the package. What you choose is up to you, but here's my advice: If you want a sit-down meal, have lunch in your restaurant of choice and go on about your fun for the rest of the day. When it gets 45 min. or so before showtime, go into the amphitheatre & grab some dinner inside (they usually have sandwiches or tortilla wraps) and use that 45 minutes to eat and relax. I usually get something from Rosie's or Toluca Legs and bring it in with me.

 

[WDWspider]

So, is it fairly easy to book on the arrival date with the old system? We are going in May and would really like the convienence of the package and knowing we will have seats. This will be our first viewing of the show as well. We tried once before (1 hour early) and got turned away.