Fantasmic! Dining Packages ending?

[DisSteve89]

Hey all,

I just got off the phone with Disney Dining after attempting to book a F! Dining Package for January 3rd. According to the cast member the dining packages will be ceasing from December 31st and the only way to reserve a spot from then will be with FastPass.

Has anyone else heard similar? Or could I have just had a disgruntled cast member (the wait time for the call was 45 min)?

 

[Cal-Pie]

Noooooo! I hope not!

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I would be shocked.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

That would be disappointing!

 

[midnight star]

They're ending something that makes them money??

I heard a rumor that Fantasmic and Woc will be on maxpass..I wonder if this is has something to do with it?

 

[millie0312]

I also heard they haven’t been releasing some things because they are raising the prices so maybe that is it too? I hope they still offer these it’s way less crazy then the regular fp is and was before too

 

[DisSteve89]

They're ending something that makes them money??

I heard a rumor that Fantasmic and Woc will be on maxpass..I wonder if this is has something to do with it?

I know, it seems like an bizarre choice! Though if that MaxPass rumor is correct that would make more sense. They’d probably make more money in the long run from all the guests upgrading to MaxPass purely for the shows. Microtransactions and all that.

 

[DisSteve89]

I also heard they haven’t been releasing some things because they are raising the prices so maybe that is it too? I hope they still offer these it’s way less crazy then the regular fp is and was before too

Hopefully! The crowds the week we’re going would be bad enough with the dining package. Hate to think the chaos that will take place without!

 

[Cal-Pie]

Still no dining packages available beyond the end of the year. I wish Disney would make an announcement about this.

 

[pharmama]

I find it difficult to believe they would change something like this in the middle of the peak holiday season- or even that they would do it at all. I do think adding the shows to MP makes sense but I'll be really surprised if they eliminate dining packages because of it.

I don't find it difficult to believe that the dining packages haven't been released yet for those dates though. It took forever for the November ones to come out...they finally did in late September, well after the 60 day mark.

 

[Jerryp49]

They could put Fantasmic on MaxPass and sell seating sections as an add on , maybe selling the BB section for $60 and Hungry Bear section for $40 or something like that. They would make money without the cost of providing food. They could also make purchasing seat cushions an add on option

 

[GatorChris]

WOW! Man, I hope this is true. I wouldn't be forced to buy an already expensive meal at an even-higher mark-up to get a seat for the show. I could get a FP and get a seat....like it used to be! Like it should be! I like the idea of once we enter DL, we're all on equal footing. Money no longer matters.

 

[alvernon90]

I like the idea of once we enter DL, we're all on equal footing. Money no longer matters.

Wow, talk about rejecting Walt's original vision for the park! I think his official motto was "once we enter DL, that's when the real spending begins."

 

[Tggrtoes]

I have been stalking reservations for sometime during our trip (1/2-1/5). This would be really heartbreaking. Am also really hoping world of color back up and we can do dessert package (or meal, whatever makes things easiest)

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Has anyone else called the Dine Line to see if there is more information on this? Or at least a different answer?

 

[scoobdoo]

WOW! Man, I hope this is true. I wouldn't be forced to buy an already expensive meal at an even-higher mark-up to get a seat for the show. I could get a FP and get a seat....like it used to be! Like it should be! I like the idea of once we enter DL, we're all on equal footing. Money no longer matters.

Nah – I'd rather not be forced to have to wait 3+ hours for a decent spot, I'll take my nice dining package thanks.

 

[BadPinkTink]

ok, I need to keep an eye on this. As an international visitor MaxPass is not an option for me due to sky high international data roaming charges and unreliable Park Wifi.

The dining packages while expensive are worth it to me as Blue Bayou is my go to restaurant and I dont mind paying the premium to be in the viewing section for Fantasmic. The seat cushion is an added bonus, but not really necessary.

I will be seriously annoyed if they remove the dining package, as it will leave me no option but to pay for something I can only use for the Fantasmic Fastpass, not for the whole day

And then I will still end up eating at Blue Bayou, thereby increasing my spend.

And then what happens to the viewing sections??? Will it be pot luck which section you get a Fastpass for?? I want to be in the front viewing section, so I get a Blue Bayou dining package. But if all viewing sections are on Fastpass, I could end up with what is now the standby / restricted view section??

 

[Pamela M]

Maybe they are going to rethink how they do it. I've done 2 hungry bear dining packages. Both were an unorganized mess. I think at the front of the waiting area it's separate lines but as you get to the back of the line it's just a mass of people. We just moved with the people in front of us the CM didn't look at our tickets and we took our spot. It was so disorganized on my last trip that my friend and I ended up getting into the Blue Bayou seating area by mistake. It was only about 5 minutes later when a CM came after a family they had just let into the area to tell them they were in the wrong area (blue bayou vs hungry bear).

 

[tink89]

Does anyone know if you can book Hungry bear package after the 15th of December. I called in the last week of October and was told those had not been made available yet for the the last two weeks of December. They told me when I see them online is when I should call in since I have a big party.

 

[Cal-Pie]

Does anyone know if you can book Hungry bear package after the 15th of December. I called in the last week of October and was told those had not been made available yet for the the last two weeks of December. They told me when I see them online is when I should call in since I have a big party.

I saw dates through Dec 30 online today.