By Bridget Virden, Senior Travel Planner
Fantasmic! finally returned to Hollywood Studios back in November 2022 after being on hiatus since March 2020, and we’ve been counting down the days until we could see the show once again! Knowing we wanted to be front and center, we booked a Fantasmic! dining package to make sure we had preferred seating. Read on to learn the ins and outs of booking a Fantasmic! dining package!
So what is Fantasmic! anyway?
Fantasmic! is the nighttime spectacular at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s not a firework show (although there are a few), but an open-air nighttime musical that takes place in the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater, just off Sunset Boulevard. Mickey Mouse is the star of the show in a classic tale of good over evil. Water screens, projection, dancing fountains, pyrotechnics, stunts, music you’ll sing along with, and a whole cast of characters – this show has it all! Through January 28th, Disney’s website currently lists two showtimes each night, at 8:00 and 9:30. Beginning January 29th, only the 8:00 show is scheduled.
Booking a dining package:
Fantasmic! dining packages are available at five different Hollywood Studios restaurants, and can be booked up to 60 days in advance. Participating restaurants include:
-50’s Prime Time Cafe
-Hollywood & Vine
-Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano
-Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
-The Hollywood Brown Derby
It’s showtime!
Prices vary depending on which restaurant you choose, but at each one you’ll receive an entree and appetizer or dessert, as well as a non-alcoholic drink and a voucher for seating in a reserved area. If you choose Hollywood and Vine your package will include a full buffet, a non-alcoholic beverage and a voucher for reserved seating. We opted for the Hollywood Brown Derby and we were not disappointed! The heirloom tomato and burrata salad and filet mignon were delicious! Our server brought out reserved seating tickets at the end of our meal. Be sure to hold on to these, as you’ll need them to access the reserved seating section.
Fantasmic! is wildly popular with fans, and guests start to line up well in advance. The stand-by line was all the way down Sunset Boulevard to the Trolley Car 90 minutes prior to showtime on the day we visited. Luckily we were able to bypass that line and head straight to the dining package entrance! Even though the seating section is reserved, your actual seat is not assigned. You’ll choose your seat within the reserved seating section on a first-come, first-served basis, so I recommend arriving at least an hour before showtime. There are restrooms inside the amphitheater, as well as concessions. You can also bring in food and drinks, so getting there early is a nice opportunity to relax and have a bite to eat while you wait for the show.
Our seats were front and center so we had an excellent view, and the show was fantastic! Be sure and let your Middle of the Magic travel planner know if you’re interested in booking a Fantasmic! dining package for your next visit to Walt Disney World!
