Hi there, Kristen! From one Coloradan to another, welcome to planDisney! I'm so glad you stopped by!
Dining Packages and Dessert Parties have become my go-to strategy for enjoying Nighttime Spectaculars without spending hours camped out waiting for a view. It's a practically perfect way to let Disney do a little of the magic for you!
The
Fantasmic! Dining Package offers several options, so let's put on Mickey's sorcerer hat and dive right in!
With the Standard Dining Packages, you'll enjoy either lunch or dinner with a prix fixe, or fixed price, meal at a participating restaurant and receive a voucher for access to a reserved Fantasmic! viewing area along the Rivers of America. The viewing location is separate from the restaurant, and your voucher will tell you exactly where and when to return for the show.
Your dining options include:
• River Belle Terrace
• Cafe Orleans
• Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante
These packages include access to a reserved viewing area with either standing room or ground seating.
There is also the Premium River Belle Terrace package, which includes viewing Fantasmic! right from your dining location while you enjoy your meal. It's a wonderful option for the first performance of the night, with dining beginning at 7:15 p.m.
I checked availability for your arrival date, and it looks like the Premium package may already be sold out. No worries, though! The Standard packages are still fantastic options, so let's focus our pixie dust there.
Since I don't know the ages of your little Mouseketeers or their evening stamina levels, it's hard to pick the perfect choice for your family. But I can tell you what I would do!
For my family, I tend to prefer the second Fantasmic! performance. It gives us plenty of time to enjoy attractions, snacks, and adventures throughout the day, and it can sometimes feel a little less crowded since some families with younger children have already wrapped up their evening.
I would personally choose a lunch dining package. That allows us to enjoy our meal earlier in the day and avoid some of the bustle around New Orleans Square during the first show's viewing period. Then, when it's time for Fantasmic!, we return to our reserved location and let the magic unfold.
If your little ones are younger and likely to turn into pumpkins before the second show begins, I'd lean toward the first performance instead. In that case, a dinner package can work beautifully since you'll already be in the area and won't have to navigate through quite as many Guests before finding your viewing location.
One important thing to remember: be sure to arrive at your reserved viewing area at the time indicated on your voucher. Guests who arrive late may not be accommodated, and you'll want to be there before Mickey starts making magic appear out of thin air!
Because menus and dining package offerings can change, I recommend
calling a Disney Cast Member at (714) 781-4636 to discuss the current prix fixe menu options. That can be especially helpful if you have picky eaters in your group. My kids certainly had a few "I'm not eating that" phases over the years, so I always liked knowing what was on the menu before making a reservation!
Kristen, as you join Mickey on his dream-filled adventure through Fantasmic!, I hope your family creates a whole collection of magical memories to treasure long after the last sparkle fades from the night sky. If you have any other questions, we're here and happy to help!
Happy dreaming!
Kimberly