Unfounded Rumor - Fantasmic package not required for reserved seating?

[jkl2000]

I just read something on another forum that I don't think is correct (it's second hand), but wanted to check to see if anyone had heard anything similar:

"I was listening to the july live episode of WDW today earlier today and someone called in to report some changes now to the Fantasmic dining package. You no longer have to book it they just give it to everyone having either an appetizer and entree or entree and dessert at the sit down restaurants and the seating is now towards the center of the seating area now."

I don't think this is accurate, because they're still selling the packages. Maybe this person is confused because people testing Fastpass+ can make Fastpass reservations for Fantasmic? Or maybe they think you can't get into Fantasmic unless you buy the package? Anyway, wanted to verify or debunk this, since the part about appetizer/entree, entree/dessert is so specific.

 

[KCheatle]

I'm not sure about this? I know it was incredibly difficult to get a Fantasmic! Package for our trip. We are eating at the Brown Derby with the Fantasmic! package, but we have to eat dinner really early - 4:10! There was nothing later than that with the package at the Brown Derby and I called at 180 days out at 7 AM. And, this isn't until the 6th day of our trip (so, really I called at 186 days out)!

 

[iluvMainStMagic]

I'm not sure about this? I know it was incredibly difficult to get a Fantasmic! Package for our trip. We are eating at the Brown Derby with the Fantasmic! package, but we have to eat dinner really early - 4:10! There was nothing later than that with the package at the Brown Derby and I called at 180 days out at 7 AM. And, this isn't until the 6th day of our trip (so, really I called at 186 days out)!

In the past (as in seeeeveral years ago), we also found they were booking the really early dining times first, but..... if a guest waited a while and called back, they were sometimes able to get a later time for their meal. It seems backwards to me, but sounds like they are still doing it that way. Hopefully, if you try calling back, even if you have to call several times over some weeks/months, you will be able to get a time that works better for you. We didn't know about calling back and had to eat really early. Thanks to my sister for figuring it out!

 

[KCheatle]

In the past (as in seeeeveral years ago), we also found they were booking the really early dining times first, but..... if a guest waited a while and called back, they were sometimes able to get a later time for their meal. It seems backwards to me, but sounds like they are still doing it that way. Hopefully, if you try calling back, even if you have to call several times over some weeks/months, you will be able to get a time that works better for you. We didn't know about calling back and had to eat really early. Thanks to my sister for figuring it out!

Thanks! I'll try calling and see what I get??

 

[jkl2000]

What I don't understand is why the package is limited to only three restaurants. Because they want to fill those three restaurants? I have a lunch ADR at 50s Prime Time, and wish I could just pay Disney the package price and use that ADR. Oh well...

 

[Tuvalu]

Maybe this person is confused because people testing Fastpass+ can make Fastpass reservations for Fantasmic? Or maybe they think you can't get into Fantasmic unless you buy the package? Anyway, wanted to verify or debunk this, since the part about appetizer/entree, entree/dessert is so specific.

I think the person was confused. We did FP+ for Fantasmic and the seating was dead center; the seating for the dining package was the next section over (to the right as you look at the stage.) HOWEVER, when the show was about 5 minutes from starting (we arrived 20 minutes prior) the CMs "opened" our FP+ section to other guests (none of them had MagicBands.) I don't know if they had purchased the dining package or not.

 

[RandomPrincess]

I think the person was confused. We did FP+ for Fantasmic and the seating was dead center; the seating for the dining package was the next section over (to the right as you look at the stage.) HOWEVER, when the show was about 5 minutes from starting (we arrived 20 minutes prior) the CMs "opened" our FP+ section to other guests (none of them had MagicBands.) I don't know if they had purchased the dining package or not.[/quote
5 minutes before the show anyone can sit in the reserved sections just to fill in the space

 

[jkl2000]

I believe they're now using the center section for the dinner package people too.

 

[iluvMainStMagic]

Thanks! I'll try calling and see what I get??

Good Luck!! I hope it works for you!

 

[KCheatle]

Good Luck!! I hope it works for you!

Didn't work :-( But she told me I could continue to check in and see if anything opens up - oh well!

 

[Cindee75]

I do think this person was confused - in 2011 our family was about to get into a VIP section of Fantasmic because of an early problem we experienced and it was a CM's way of fixing things for us - sounds like the FP+ section is there.

 

[iluvMainStMagic]

Didn't work :-( But she told me I could continue to check in and see if anything opens up - oh well!

I'm sorry! Don't give up hope yet, as she said, you can still check back periodically. I don't know when you're going, but it may be that those later times won't become available until closer to when you will be there....sounds like they want to fill the early times first That sounds backwards to me, but I guess they want to be sure guests have plenty of time to eat so they can go into the reserved seating as early/late prior to the show as they want. Keeping fingers crossed for you!