Fantasmic eating packages at the moment are accessible for 2023 at Walt Disney World for breakfast, lunch & dinner, providing assured seating in a reserved seating space for the nighttime spectacular at Hollywood Studios. Here’s a full rundown of the totally different collaborating eating places and meal pricing, plus our commentary on whether or not the Fantasmic eating packages are price it. (Updated December 15, 2022.)
For these unfamiliar with it, Fantasmic is a nighttime spectacular carried out nightly within the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Another model can also be proven alongside the Rivers of America at Disneyland; the 2 are related however sufficiently totally different that each are price seeing. While Fantasmic consists of pyro amongst its parts, it isn’t a traditional fireworks present. Instead, it’s extra like a stage present at night time, at an epic scale with wow-inducing wizardry, visuals, and performers.
Fantasmic eating packages can be found for choose eating places at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Previously launched for dates in the course of the vacation season this yr, Walt Disney World has lastly opened up Fantasmic eating packages for early 2023. Here’s all the pieces we all know in regards to the Fantasmic eating packages at Disney’s Hollywood Studios…
December 15, 2022 Update: As famous above, Fantasmic eating packages at the moment are accessible for dates in 2023. These ought to have been launched weeks in the past, and there was rising frustration amongst Walt Disney World followers about this.
It has been compounded by communication woes with name heart Cast Members, who generally claimed that the packages had already been launched and have been simply bought out–or that no challenge existed. (At some level this stopped being harmless ignorance. It was a extensively identified drawback that continued to be denied.)
Regardless, we’ve spot-checked My Disney Experience for Fantasmic Dining Packages in January and February 2023, and have discovered availability for many eating places. With some main exceptions.
First of all, for the very best outcomes, you’ll wish to seek for “Fantasmic Dining Package” within the My Disney Experience app reasonably than on DisneyWorld.com. There have been a number of days when the web site introduced again no outcomes, however the MDX app did.
Second, in case you can’t discover something in your desired dates, strive refreshing or adjusting your parameters within the My Disney Experience app. There are choices (for now), they only don’t at all times seem at first. If you’re not having success, strive some methods from our Top 10 Tips for Hard to Book Advance Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World (numbers 7-10, specifically).
While not related to reserving 2023 dates at this level, tip #2 can also be price mentioning. We have been seeing same-day availability for Fantasmic Dining Packages all through the month. In all probability, it is because when ADRs for DHS eating places are cancelled, they change into eligible to be “converted” into Fantasmic Dining Packages. (The seating part for the eating packages is big–far larger than is required for the present provide of Fantasmic Dining Package ADRs.)
Finally, it nonetheless doesn’t seem that every one dates have been loaded into My Disney Experience for the Fantasmic Dining Package. Yesterday, my assumption was that late January 2023 had merely already bought out. After listening to from readers and asking round, I’m now leaning extra in direction of these dates not having been launched but. (I’m not 100% assured on this evaluation, nevertheless it appears possible.)
With that mentioned, each date I checked in February 2023 had availability. Note that even with the information & methods above, this might not be the case for you. That’s very true for these with bigger celebration sizes. In that case, preserve making an attempt or test again the night time earlier than or day of.
If you haven’t but determined whether or not the Fantasmic Dining Package is best for you, that’s the very first thing to do. For what it’s price, we extremely suggest reserving the most cost-effective Fantasmic Dining Package and guaranteeing your self an incredible seat that method!
Alternatively, you’ll be able to seek the advice of our Viewing Guide for Fantasmic at Walt Disney World for all of our tricks to get the very best seats with out paying further for the package deal.
One different fast notes earlier than we delve into the small print of the Fantasmic Dining Packages. If you’re scheduled to do Disney’s Hollywood Studios on a date when there are two showings of Fantasmic, you in all probability do not want to purchase the eating package deal. Exceptions to this are peak vacation dates.
Sarah and I’ve completed Fantasmic a number of instances now, and we’ve managed to see the second present from spectacular seats just by exhibiting up ~10 minutes prematurely. There’s a very good likelihood Walt Disney World will drop the second showings in some unspecified time in the future in Winter 2023, however for now, they’re a unbelievable solution to see Fantasmic with out paying further for the eating package deal!
On one other observe, if you’d like a Fantasmic eating package deal, that you must guide that particularly. You can not merely guide an Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) proper now for one of many collaborating eating places and add the eating package deal upon arrival. (That would possibly find yourself being potential, nevertheless it’s not sometimes how this works.)
You want to attend and guide the devoted eating package deal. You’ll know you’ve the precise factor as a result of it’ll be listed as “Fantasmic Dining Package” within the My Disney Experience app, on disneyworld.com, and in your confirmed ADR.
Here’s what’s included in every Fantasmic! Dining Package at Walt Disney World:
- An entrée and appetizer or dessert at choose full-service eating places or one (1) full buffet (the place relevant), together with a non-alcoholic beverage
- One voucher for assured seating at Fantasmic! in a reserved space
Participating eating places at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and eating package deal costs, which exclude tax and gratuity:
| Adults (ages 10 & up) |
Kids (Ages 9 & Under) |
|
| 50’s Prime Time Cafe Classic American consolation meals, ’50s kitsch and a very good old style household gathering take you again to a bygone period. |
$51.00 | $22.00 |
| Hollywood & Vine Celebrate breakfast with Disney Junior Stars or get pleasure from lunch and dinner with Minnie and associates at seasonal eating events. |
Breakfast: $54.00 Lunch & Dinner: $71.00 |
Breakfast: $36.00 Lunch & Dinner: $47.00 |
| Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Mangia within the backlot of Disney’s Hollywood Studios at this informal however colourful Italian eatery with a California twist. |
$54.00 | $22.00 |
| Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant Do dinner and a present ’50s-style at our drive-in “theater,” that includes all-American delicacies and sci-fi film clips. |
$49.00 | $22.00 |
| The Hollywood Brown Derby Step into the Golden Age of Hollywood at this heat, wood-paneled restaurant serving modern American delicacies. |
$73.00 | $29.00 |
All listed package deal costs don’t embrace alcohol or park admission. Alcohol will solely be served to Guests 21 and older.
Know Before You Go
Here’s essential info from Walt Disney World about reserved seating, scheduling, and extra for the Fantasmic eating packages at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
- Both a theme park reservation and legitimate theme park admission are required. Disney’s Hollywood Studios admission shouldn’t be included within the worth of the eating package deal.
- Advance Dining Reservations are extremely beneficial.
- You can decide up your seating voucher for Fantasmic! on the time of your meal.
- Seating at Hollywood Hills Amphitheater begins 90 minutes prior to point out time. You should arrive no less than 25 minutes prior to point out time to be seated within the reserved part. Check your My Disney Experience app for showtimes.
- Your seats aren’t assigned. Rather, you’ll select your seats throughout the reserved part on a first-come, first-served foundation.
- The entrance for eating packages is positioned on Sunset Boulevard subsequent to Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage.
- The Fantasmic! Dining Package is on the market on all Fantasmic! present days.
- Please observe that your eating expertise will nonetheless happen, even within the occasion that your leisure expertise is cancelled.
It’s good to see a bigger slate of eligible eating places for the Fantasmic eating packages at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As far as suggestions go, our preliminary one is wherever however Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano!
Seriously, we actually like all of those eating places besides Mama Melrose, and all for various causes. Hollywood Brown Derby is without doubt one of the few in-park Signature Restaurants, and it’s typically actually good. (Our final meal there was solely so-so, however I nonetheless suggest it. Sarah doesn’t.)
We additionally actually love each 50’s Prime Time Cafe and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. I’ve mentioned for years that you need to disregard the unfavourable opinions, because the expertise at each eating places is the star of the present. Personally, I feel each serve fairly good meals, too.
I’m inclined to select Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater over 50’s Prime Time Cafe, however different Walt Disney World followers favor 50’s. I can’t fault them for the choice–you actually can’t go flawed, both method. Both are among the many pinnacle of themed eating at Walt Disney World and are well-worth experiencing no less than as soon as. (We’ve completed each many, many extra instances than that!)
With that mentioned, our private high decide–and the restaurant we will likely be trying to guide–in the course of the Christmas season is Hollywood & Dine. While we cringe a bit at that $71 worth for adults, we completely love Minnie’s Holiday Dine, and that is the primary time in 3 years that we’ll be capable of do the conventional expertise there, so we have been planning on doing it, regardless. Now, two birds with one stone!
Hollywood & Dine is one other restaurant that will get combined opinions, with some Walt Disney World followers ardently against it. To make sure, this isn’t the peak of haute delicacies at Walt Disney World. It’s a personality buffet. The meals is acquainted and comforting, and on no account in any way envelope-pushing, however typically good. We are large followers. (Overall, I feel the desk service ‘scene’ at Disney’s Hollywood Studios doesn’t get almost sufficient credit score. It’s no World Showcase, however nearly all the pieces provides one thing worthwhile.)
As for whether or not the Fantasmic eating packages are well worth the cash is a matter of how a lot a great place for the nighttime spectacular issues to you. We’ve completed variations of those a couple of instances over time, however at all times as a part of the Disney Dining Plan. That remains to be quickly suspended (see When Will the Disney Dining Plan Return at Walt Disney World? for extra on after we’re anticipating it to return), so clearly it’s not potential to get the Fantasmic eating package deal for “free” with the DDP proper now.
If you requested me pre-closure whether or not the Fantasmic eating package deal was well worth the out-of-pocket price, my reply would’ve been a fast and unequivocal “no.” I’d’ve merely beneficial catching the second present, or hedging your bets with a FastPass+ choice if Fantasmic was actually essential and also you didn’t wish to wait or threat it.
It’s very tough to supply that very same forward-looking evaluation for the Fantasmic Dining Packages. To the opposite, we bought Fantasmic Dining Packages for the nighttime spectacular’s return. I’m undecided whether or not they’ll at all times be vital, however I’m additionally not sure they received’t.
What I’m comparatively sure of is that Fantasmic eating packages will replenish quick–simply as shortly as Candlelight Processional eating packages did final month. The nighttime spectacular is beloved, there’s a ton of pent-up demand, and want to see the reimagined model of Fantasmic.
While the earlier model of Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios had loads of followers, it didn’t have the identical diehard following because the Disneyland incarnation. We went a yr or extra with out seeing it on a number of events, which isn’t one thing I can say in regards to the one proven alongside the Rivers of America at Disneyland.
We aren’t alone in that. And now, we’re counting down the times till Fantasmic’s return, anxiously awaiting the reimagined nighttime spectacular and its new Disney Heroes section. Among diehard Walt Disney World followers, we aren’t alone in that, both.
Even pre-closure, there have been instances when folks lined up 2 hours prematurely for Fantasmic. Granted, this was not most visitors–and it was often potential to get a seat inside an hour of showtime–however the level is that Fantasmic has at all times been standard with first-timers and rare guests.
Now, added to that blend will likely be extra Walt Disney World regulars who would possibly’ve skipped it earlier than. Fantasmic will in all probability have much more curiosity amongst informal visitors, because it’ll be overrated by Disney in advertising and marketing supplies. Animal Kingdom doesn’t have a nighttime spectacular, and folks will Park Hop from there to one of many different three parks.
There’s additionally the truth that Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will displace hundreds of individuals per night it’s held, disproportionately inflicting crowding at EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That’ll result in much more demand for Fantasmic in the course of the first two months it’s again.
Then there’s the straightforward incontrovertible fact that the primary full month of Fantasmic eating packages will possible be the busiest stretch of the yr at Walt Disney World. Suffice to say, the celebs are aligned for Fantasmic to attract completely colossal crowds and lengthy strains on this vacation season.
This is even if the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater seats 6,900 visitors with extra standing room for about 3,000 visitors. That’s an enormous quantity, and one which’ll enable a very good proportion of all visitors in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to see Fantasmic–particularly if it has two nightly performances this vacation season, as anticipated.
It’s nonetheless a near-certainty that demand will exceed capability. That could be true whether or not Fantasmic provides 1, 2, or 3 nightly showings. The mixture of crowds, pent-up demand, and lack of options in the course of the vacation season all however ensures it.
Accordingly, it’s our view that Fantasmic eating packages are price it, no less than within the near-term. The unlucky actuality is that we in all probability received’t know whether or not Fantasmic will supply Genie+ till someday in 2023. While I feel it’s possible, I additionally wouldn’t guess the farm on it.
Without a doubt, standby will likely be a viable choice for Fantasmic. Simply by advantage of obtainable restaurant capability v. Hollywood Hills Amphitheater seating space capability, that a lot must be apparent. (Our guess is that <10% of the venue can conceivably be taken up by eating packages within the near-term.) So, if one of many Fantasmic eating packages shouldn’t be in your funds, it’s not an enormous deal–you’ll nonetheless be capable of see the present as long as you line up early (or, hopefully, buy Genie+ and guide a Lightning Lane for it).
Conversely, that very same capability constraint signifies that Fantasmic eating packages are going to be exceedingly tough to attain. There are going to be a ton of individuals competing for comparatively few tables. So don’t fret in case you miss out. While we’d suggest trying to guide a Fantasmic eating package deal–and will likely be doing so ourselves–it’s not the tip of the world in case you get shut out. The odds aren’t in your favor. Even and not using a eating package deal or Lightning Lane, it is going to be potential to see Fantasmic…it’ll simply be chaotic!
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about accommodations on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a singular take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for all the pieces that you must know!
Your Thoughts
Will you be reserving a Fantasmic eating package deal? Is it well worth the surcharge to ensure that you just’ll have a spot within the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater to see the nighttime spectacular? Have you completed any of those eating packages previously? Was it well worth the cash? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!