Brown Derby and Fantasmic dinner combo

[NYDisneyFan]

Can someone give me some details on this? Do you get special seating for Fantasmic? What's the advantage of doing this?

They want us at the Brown Derby by 3:45 for a 4:00 dinner seating. Fantasmic starts at 7 pm. The reservation person told me they want us out of the restaurant 45 minutes to an hour prior to the show, so we can get in line for Fantasmic. Seems like a lot of downtime. Maybe I'm better off getting a quick-serve dinner so we can enjoy the rides a bit longer.

Any opinions?

[idratherbeinwdw]

Can someone give me some details on this? Do you get special seating for Fantasmic? What's the advantage of doing this?

They want us at the Brown Derby by 3:45 for a 4:00 dinner seating. Fantasmic starts at 7 pm. The reservation person told me they want us out of the restaurant 45 minutes to an hour prior to the show, so we can get in line for Fantasmic. Seems like a lot of downtime. Maybe I'm better off getting a quick-serve dinner so we can enjoy the rides a bit longer.

Any opinions?

Those who book the package have a seating area reserved for them. Getting there an hour ahead of time is plenty, two hours seems excessive to me. Maybe if it was a really busy time of year (ie thanksgiving or christmas week) there would be more of a need to get there earlier. But the whole point of the package is to enable you NOT to have to get to Fantasmic ridiculously early to snag a seat. So I don't get why they want you there 2 hours ahead.

[NYDisneyFan]

Yes, it should be a relatively quiet time at the parks. Having dinner at 4:00 is the only issue I have. It doesn't take us 2 hours to eat. I have a five year old, so that is way too long. Maybe we will finish quick and then do some rides, and then go to the reserved seating entrance.

Does anyone know if the reserved seats for the show are significantly better than walk up seats?

[idratherbeinwdw]

Yes, it should be a relatively quiet time at the parks. Having dinner at 4:00 is the only issue I have. It doesn't take us 2 hours to eat. I have a five year old, so that is way too long. Maybe we will finish quick and then do some rides, and then go to the reserved seating entrance.

Does anyone know if the reserved seats for the show are significantly better than walk up seats?

Oh sorry, I misread your OP. I thought they wanted you at the show 2 hours ahead, which made no sense. For some reason those dinner packages are usually ridiculously early, maybe to not clog up the restaurant during hot times for those who don't get the package. Your idea of eating and then doing some attractions before going to the show makes sense to me.

The reserved seats are actually not the best in the house. The reserved area (unless it changed since I went a couple of years ago), is off to the right side if you are facing the stage. They are close to the front of the arena. The seats are good, but not fabulous. There are definitely some better walk up seats, seats right in the center. But you have to get there REALLY early to get those. Since you are going a quiet time you might have been able to snag them an hour ahead, but 90 minutes might be needed. They usually do The Wave to keep you entertained for a portion of that time, but not much else goes on prior to the show--except for vendors running around trying to sell you light up toys and/or snacks.