Fantasmic Dinner package..or..NOT?! About This Page:

[Ryland]

OK so, I've been reading that Fantasmic Dinner Package is not the way to go (Matt Hochberg's Crusade more specifically) My crusade against the Fantasmic! Dinner Package - Studios Weekly | Disney's Hollywood Studios Information and Guide

Just want to get some more opinions. Is the Fantasmic Dinner package really not "worth" it? We'll be going in February when the show is only offered one night that week, but crowd levels will be low in general, we also have free dining so not coming out of pocket, but want to stretch our dining experiences to authentically, unique Disney experiences...of which I presume Mama Mel's is not.

Thinking we do not want to come to HS that day. We are using Park Hopper and crowd levels at EP lowest of the week that particular day so plan to be there until the show and would gladly use the ADR Table Service in EPCOT!! Right..?

...but currently we have the Fantasmic ADR for 4:20 at MMel's. Now to cancel it before they charge my credit card? Think I can wait until a few days before without penalty, but need to pick-n-get the (probably lunch) ADR table Service for EPCOT if that seems to be the way to go.

Could we enjoy a longer stay at EPCOT to include a perferred TService for lunch and come into HS at 6:00 get a quick counter service dinner and carry it into the 7:30 show to eat while we wait the 60mins prior which is suggested seating time?
OR
Should we keep the ADR and use the package to ensure seating with only half hour wait. My family is somewhat impatient - two young children and even less tolerant husband, but thought feeding them could help the extra half hour of wait pass more quickly.

*Heard Fantasmic seating for those with reserved dining package seats is not that good. If you clicked and read Matt's article you'll see this and other arguements against. HELP?! Need more input!

[Aurora0284]

I have a Fantasmic Package booked in November, but I've never done it before. I'm interested in everyone's opinions. I know I would prefer eating at Epcot, but I certainly don't want to wait for Fantasmic if it isn't necessary.
Best of luck finding your answers.

[tessatilli]

The reserved sitting is in the front but not directly in middle. I happen to like the seats very much! Now as far as Mama's I have been twice and walked out disappointed and irratated both times. Many other people however love it so the restaraunt will be personal choice. Since my injury I no longer do the package because of the scooter and get seats top row and kids go to the very front so they can get wet, they coe to me 10 minutes before show is over so I don't lose them, LOL. The show is WONDERFUL! If you have never seen it do it, all of WDW shows are great!

[tessatilli]

I read the link now and I am not sure if he ended up in those seats because he waited 30 minutes before the show and thats all that was left? Everytime we have done it, once with HBD and once with MM it said right on the ticket to arrive at least 60 minutes prior and while the seats were to the side they were not all the way over when we got there and again kids went to front to get wet and DH and I went about 10 rows up and had a great view. You gotta remember everyone else with the same package wants the best seats and will arrive early enough to get them. Hope this helps.

[Ghostrider]

We have never used the package, as I really don't like eating dinner at 4pm, just to be able to get a seat at Fantasmic! We wouldn't be able to use them anyway, as there will be several in our party using scooters, and that seating is at the top.

[Caldercup]

There really isn't a bad seat in the place -- they have the show range over everything so the whole ampitheatre has a good view. However, the reserved seating is all the way over on "house right" and I prefer to be in the center section.

I don't have anything *against* the package deal, but think -- especially in low crowd seasons -- you can do without it. You just have to get there about 30 minutes before the show to get a seat, or get there 45 minutes before to get a good seat.

[TraD4Disney]

DD really wanted to see Fantasmic so I got the package deal because I'm not a fan of waiting in long lines and I've always wanted to try Brown Derby anyway.

I'm not crazy about the 4pm dinner time but we will just be eating breakfast and a snack for lunch to carry us through.

We will be praying that the weather is good so both of us get what we want.

[Kobeychiev]

I have a Fantastic Dinner Package for January and I am doing it because after a lot of research, I found out that I don't care if the seats aren't that great, I just want to eat dinner and go into the seating. Waiting in lines is not my thing, and I will take seats that are okay as opposed to good to get out of the lines. I think its a matter of preference, I just want to see the show, not wait in line.

[Aurora0284]

Originally Posted by Kobeychiev

I have a Fantastic Dinner Package for January and I am doing it because after a lot of research, I found out that I don't care if the seats aren't that great, I just want to eat dinner and go into the seating. Waiting in lines is not my thing, and I will take seats that are okay as opposed to good to get out of the lines. I think its a matter of preference, I just want to see the show, not wait in line.

My thoughts exactly!!!!

[cindybelle]

Maybe I'm just getting old enough to be anticipating the senior-citizen dinnertime , but since I really love HBD I would book the dinner package, eat at whatever bizarre time they assign me, and then just have a big, late breakfast that day and skip lunch in order to be hungry for dinner.

[jimmymac]

We've done the Package twice and wouldn't do it again

[Goofy'sGal]

We don't see Fantasmic on every visit but when we do, we always do the Dinner Pkg. We've eaten at H&V (buffet, non-character) and Mama Melrose. We've enjoyed both. I have no interest in eating at the Brown Derby, not sure why H&V has a nice variety of offerings and we usually go there with my BIL who loves buffets We've always had a great meal and service at Mama's, although even with our ADR, we did have a bit of wait last time.

As for seating, we've always felt that the reserved section is perfectly fine. Yes, it's to the right, not in the center, but I don't feel that we've missed anything at all. We usually get there according to whatever time our Fantasmic voucher suggests (your CM will give you your voucher at your meal) and we have our choice of seats. Often we don't sit too close to the front b/c of that fire on the lake business - it gets hot! LOL

Now, the last time we saw Fantasmic ('09), the entrance for Fantasmic Pkg people was different than in the past. Usually there is a separate entrance for those with the Pkg voucher so you're able to get inside to your section right away. The last time, we were told to enter through the regular Fantasmic entrance along with every else. Hard to bypass the line with your voucher that way so we were worried that by the time we got inside, the reserved section would be filled up. But we had shown up early and were fine. I believe I've read that they've gone back to the separate entrance for Pkg vouchers so we're going to give it another try in April.

[Ryland]

believe it or not but with small ones this might be the tipping point?

Does the Dinner package also give you the special exit to avoid throngs..?

[LauraLooneyforDisney]

Well I am apparantly in the minority but we actually like the Fantasmic package. We have used it every time. We eat at H&V and we really like the food, it has been good every time we have been there. Maybe we get them on great nights. We have eaten at MMel and hated it and have not tried the Brown Derby because I don't want to use 2 credits. We usually arrive about 45 mins early to get a seat for the show and have gotten good seats every time. There is no bad seat in my opinion either. We also don't have little kids to keep occupied though.

[dkfajr1]

We didn't use the package this last time. We went to the 9pm show, got in line about 8pm as the line was down to hollywood blvd. Sent DH to get food while I waited in line. By the time he came back the line started moving. We were in the jafar section. View was good, kids enjoyed immensly. I don't recall any special enterance for pkg people, but I wasn't looking nor did I talk to anyone that had a pkg. It wasn't too bad. I think we will do the pkg next time just to see if it's any better, DH and I did it back in 2008 and liked it well enough