Fantasmic Dining Package at Disney World: Price Increase & Changes
Walt Disney World has announced changes and price increases coming to Fantasmic Dining Packages for breakfast, lunch & dinner at Hollywood Studios. Here’s a full rundown of what’s happening and possible reasons why, plus our commentary about the higher costs and additions/subtractions.
For those unfamiliar with it, Fantasmic is a nighttime spectacular performed nightly in the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While Fantasmic includes pyro among its elements, it is not a conventional fireworks show. Instead, it’s more like a stage show at night, at an epic scale with wow-inducing wizardry, visuals, and performers.
That explanation doesn’t really do Fantasmic justice, but nothing will–not even photos and video. Suffice to say, it’s an absolute must-do and arguably the flagship nighttime spectacular at Walt Disney World. (Happily Ever After is as good or better, but it’s still fireworks. Fantasmic is unlike anything you can see in the real world.) As a result, Fantasmic is popular…generating FOMO…leading to planners purchasing dining packages for guaranteed seating.
Here’s what is currently included in each Fantasmic! Dining Package:
- An entrée and appetizer or dessert at select full-service restaurants or one (1) full buffet (where applicable), along with a nonalcoholic beverage
- One voucher for guaranteed seating at Fantasmic! in a reserved area
Starting August 29, 2024, the following will be included in each Fantasmic! Dining Package:
- An entrée and dessert at select full-service restaurants or one (1) full buffet (where applicable), along with a nonalcoholic beverage (or alcoholic beverage, for Guests 21 and older)
- One voucher for guaranteed seating at Fantasmic! in a reserved area
Explore participating restaurants and prices for the Fantasmic Dining Packages, before and after the changes:
| Current Pricing | Starting August 29, 2024 | |||
| Adults (ages 10 & up) |
Kids (ages 9 & Under) |
Adults (ages 10 & up) |
Kids (ages 9 & Under) |
|
| 50’s Prime Time Cafe Classic American comfort food, ’50s kitsch and a good old-fashioned family gathering take you back to a bygone era. |
$54.00 | $23.00 | $60.00 | $23.00 |
| Hollywood & Vine Celebrate breakfast with Disney Junior Stars or enjoy lunch and dinner with Minnie and friends at seasonal dining parties. |
Breakfast: $59.00 Lunch & Dinner: $75.00 |
Breakfast: $39.00 Lunch & Dinner: $49.00 |
Breakfast: $65.00 Lunch & Dinner: $81.00 |
Breakfast: $39.00 Lunch & Dinner: $49.00 |
| Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano Mangia in the backlot of Disney’s Hollywood Studios at this casual but colorful Italian eatery with a California twist. |
$56.00 | $23.00 | $62.00 | $23.00 |
| Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant Do dinner and a show ’50s-style at our drive-in “theater,” featuring all-American cuisine and sci-fi movie clips. |
$51.00 | $23.00 | $57.00 | $23.00 |
| The Hollywood Brown Derby Step into the Golden Age of Hollywood at this warm, wood-paneled restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine. |
$77.00 | $31.00 | $83.00 | $31.00 |
All listed package prices do not include alcohol or required park admission. Alcohol will only be served to Guests 21 and older.
In a nutshell, the first key change is that the Fantasmic Dining Packages will include an entrée and dessert at table service restaurants, instead of a dessert or appetizer. Additionally, a non-alcoholic beverage or an alcoholic beverage for guests 21 and older, instead of a non-alcoholic beverage for anyone.
In “exchange” for the loss of appetizer option and addition of alcohol option (for Disney Adults who are also Adults in the Eyes of the Government), adult prices are increasing by $6. Children’s prices remain the same. All of this starts on August 29, 2024.
In terms of commentary, I can’t say I’m shocked by this. I guess I am slightly as a matter of timing, as normally changes like this happen in bulk at the start of the new fiscal year in October. That consults headlines (like this one!) since there will certainly be others, rather than dragging them out.
Just a few quick thoughts before going off on a tangent. First, desserts are cheaper than appetizers, so eliminating the latter probably works as a cost-savings for Walt Disney World. Second, alcohol is high-margin and not even every Disney Adult is 21, so that’s an easy “addition” to make the price increase easier to justify.
Third, this brings the Fantasmic Dining Package in line with what’s included on the Disney Dining Plan. It’s possible the discrepancy was a source of confusion, and that’s why this change is being made–that it has little to do with trying to boost revenue. I don’t think that’s the case, but who knows.
Finally, we have a really tough time recommending the Fantasmic Dining Package. When the nighttime spectacular first returned, we recommended booking the cheapest Fantasmic Dining Package and guaranteeing yourself a great seat that way.
However, that was over 18 months ago and crowds to see the show have died down since then. Also, you could game the package and come out close to ahead by ordering the “right” items, so the premium was pretty insignificant. Usually just a few bucks.
While it’ll still be possible, in theory, to game the packages if everyone in your party drinks, that won’t be the case for most parties. Not only that, but the Fantasmic Dining Package simply is not necessary to see the show. So really, the only people getting it after August 29, 2024 should be those who can game it or those on the Disney Dining Plan. With limited exceptions, no one “needs” it.
Therefore, if you’re paying out of pocket at the higher rate and it’s a significant surcharge…you only have yourself to blame. Sure, it sucks that Walt Disney World is increasing prices, but that’s the nature of the beast. People feeding the FOMO machine by buying unnecessary upcharges like this only have themselves to blame when the beast gets bigger, so to speak. (Put more delicately: please stop buying this stuff so Disney stops increasing the prices on it, I beg of you!)
Right now, Fantasmic only has one showtime most nights. Our expectation is that this is the case for pretty much the duration of the summer season, as it simply is not that busy. Disney isn’t filling up the single showing, so no need for two. This has been the case prior to Summer 2024, with only a few exceptions that we’ve seen (busier dates that still only have one showtime scheduled).
If you’re scheduled to do Disney’s Hollywood Studios on a busier date in October through December 2024 (when the parks actually could be busy), there will often be two showings of Fantasmic. If there are two performances, you do not need to buy the dining package–even if it’s busier. You just need to stay for the second show (the first will often fill up).
Sarah and I have done Fantasmic multiple times now, and we’ve managed to see the second show from spectacular seats simply by showing up ~10 minutes in advance. They are a fantastic way to see Fantasmic without paying extra for the dining package. They’re also a great way to extend your day, as second showtimes often/usually occur 30 minutes after park closing.
With all of this said, I’m still not a fan of price increases. Hopefully that goes without saying. Even though I think guests need to be more discerning with how they spend their money–and not be free-spending with upcharges out of FOMO–I also wish Walt Disney World would exercise more restraint with price increases. But I’m also a realist, and recognize that the latter doesn’t happen without the former–pricing is dictated by demand.
Nevertheless, if Walt Disney World is going to raise rates (and they are!), I wish it were done in a more guest friendly way. This who game they’ve been playing the last several years by adding booze to justify price increases just rubs me the wrong way. I’ll admit that part of this is purely personal–we no longer drink, so this type of package amounts to paying for something we wouldn’t use to its fullest.
We aren’t alone, though. As hinted at above, a large portion of people paying adult prices cannot order alcohol–Disney Adults who are under 21 years of age. For another, there’s an ever-increasing percentage of the population that does not drink at all, especially those under age 35.
Finally, Walt Disney World is a family-friendly place. I have absolutely zero issue with responsible adults having the option to purchase alcohol in all of the theme parks–I’m not some teetotaler who thinks booze should be banned. However, I also don’t think Disney should be actively incentivizing the practice or tacitly encouraging people to drink in order to “get their money’s worth.”
It’s the same story with the dessert parties or the Disney Dining Plan. Our “solution” to this problem is simply to not purchase either, as these products are no longer compelling for us. Easy enough–we vote with our wallets. Still, it doesn’t seem quite right that Walt Disney World, of all places, is implicitly encouraging alcohol consumption by making it part of the value-proposition.
It’s also odd that they’d be moving in this direction this despite knowing that one of their core demos–families with children ages 10 to 20 years old–won’t be able to take full advantage of these packages they’re selling. Removing the booze and reducing prices a bit would be a net positive for a lot of guests–instead, they’re doing the opposite.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What’s your take on the Fantasmic Dining Package pricing increases and changes? Do you pay for these packages out of pocket? What advantage do you think it offers? Would you be happy with price decreases and the removal of alcohol, or does booze add a lot of value for you? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Is the drink a pre-made, watered down “theme” drink or top shelf scotch neat? There’s a big difference in price when you get the watered down pre-made “included” drink.
They did away with DAS for Type 1 Diabetics but want people to get desserts. OK…
Tom,
I love reading your blog and find the information helpful. We are in WDW this summer late July with the free dining plan and doing the Fantasmoc dining package.
I found a comment of disney site (plan Disney) stating if you are using a dining plan, you can still get the alcoholic beverage. We were happy to read this as we wanted to try the PBJ cocktail.
Hope this helps others in their plannng.
Honestly, I would rather have an appetizer than dessert. Here’s a thought, if you book a Fantasmic Dining Pkg……..what should also be included…….Escorts at end of show to front gate of park. People are crazy and ready to run others over.
Tom – first of all i have followed for a long time and love all the content so thank you! I have a question…we have the disney dining plan that has 1 restaurant a day and are coming down second week of August. I booked the Hollywood and Vine fantasmic package. This package is included in the dining plan right? Then to clarify what you mentioned earlier, the dining plan comes with one alcoholic beverage per 21+ adult but does it not when you do the Fantasmic dining package?
Thank you!!
This isn’t bothering me too much at all. Frankly….even when it’s not a package, I don’t always get an appetizer and when I do it’s generally a salad. It always bothered me that I was forced to order an appetizer when I don’t want one or they don’t have anything that I want. The fact that the price is only going up $6-8 is not that much.
Tom,
Curious about your opinion of the tapes that have been released regarding Disney’s hiring practices. Is it getting harder and harder for you to be such a big Disney fan when they discriminate against people like yourself?
If anyone is not familiar with the undercover that were recently released you can visit James O’Keefe on Instagram to watch the serious of undercover videos. They are very revealing and disturbing.
is this the Project Veritas guy? it’s assuredly best for right wingers and mainstream alike for this guy to stay away from Disney. No one benefited from the DeSantis feud, seems like drumming up more imaginary controversy. There are better battles to be fought if you’re a culture warrior.
This is racist propaganda.
There are plenty of all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean with extensive water parks and kids clubs, yet no one is worried about the sale of alcohol there (or at all-inclusive hotels in Europe, for that matter). It’s an illogical and unwarranted double standard. There is nothing wrong with including alcohol in Disney packages. When you think how many people are used to travelling to all-inclusive resorts or hotels every year, only once or perhaps every several years visiting Disney, where nothing is included, it seems Disney is actually giving a nod to first-time and one-time guests in this case. Sounds like the only people complaining are repeat visitors who maybe don’t travel outside the Disney bubble as much. The real problem is actually that Disney considers children to be adults! If Disney had fair pricing for the 10-17 age range to begin with, then this might not be so hard to swallow for many people.
“If Disney had fair pricing for the 10-17 age range to begin with, then this might not be so hard to swallow for many people.”
Exactly so!
I mean, prices will go up that’s how it works . We did the fantasmic dinner package at Brown derby two years ago roughly and the server gave us regular menu and didn’t give us our tickets- he apologized and said it would of been a different service- whatever that means. The manager got us our tickets- we got good seats but had to wait a long time for show to start- kids were restless. Overall the show was fun but honestly a one and done for us
Interesting that a 10-year-old drinking soda is paying the exact same price as a full-grown adult drinking a cocktail with these packages.
Disney is out of touch with the child to suddenly becoming an adult. An adult is defined as 18 years old. Disney should have a pricing tier that represents this. Child 1-12, Teen, 13-17 Adult 18+
I understand your points about not needing the dining package to see Fantasmic, and the higher meal costs. Yes, WDW costs have gone up 15-20% since I was there 2 years ago, more than the overall rate of inflation. And Fantasmic had not re-opened then. So, I’ve never seen it.
But we are planning on eating at the Brown Derby anyway (two retired adults with no kids (at WDW)). So, a few extra dollars for good seats won’t bother me. And I like that they added alcoholic drinks. Basically, an alcoholic drink would be more than the price increase of $6 for the Brown Derby.
Need to save money? I’m staying at the Shades of Green resort and using military discount tickets. So, I can afford the “extra” cost at the Brown Derby.
We bought the fantastic dinner pkg over 10 years ago. The seating was guaranteed and we didn’t have to line up early to get in but the seating was not better, on the contrary, it was a designated section of bench seating off to one far side and it is rush seating for any spot in that section. Unless this has changed, I would say you certainly are guaranteed seating with the pkg but it is not better seating.
The seating section is dead center with the dining package
As you mentioned, consumers really have no one to blame but themselves for the never ending price increases. I even understand it though i may not like it. What really rubs me the wrong way though is that we get those increases WHILE they constantly take things away. We just got back from a trip and i noticed that several items you use to be able to use a snack credit for are no longer available. They already took the snack credits down from 2 a day to 1 and now you cant even use them on some items that you use to. (I especially noticed this at Les Halles in the France pavilion) Why do you need to increase prices AND remove benefits for your consumers? Its just poor consumer relations IMO.
Bring back Pleasure Island for boozing! Epcot has become the little brother to it but people deserve to get drunk at Disney!
UGH — we loved Fantasmic Dining Packages for a good meal and a seat at the show. But a family of 4 (where the kids are counted as adults) it is hard to justify the extra cost now. Between Genie+, no more free transportation from the airport and a few other price increases, it is very discouraging to say the least.
I agree that there shouldn’t be incentive to drink at the parks. My husband is 12 years sober. I rarely in our regular/daily life, but when I travel I often have one drink each travel day. It’s expensive, but I feel like I’m splurging on vacation. I got a margarita at Banana Cabana last week for like $18! But it was fun to sit pool side with a friend and watch the kids swim with a drink in my hand. Anyway, point being, I’m not against drinking, but I do think Disney is supposed to be a family-friendly destination and there is a such thing as overdoing it at Disney. There is a time and place for things, and Disney shouldn’t be the place people go for the purpose of imbibing. There was just a story in the news yesterday about two men who got drunk at Epcot, pulled a metal pole out of the ground that had chains on it, and started swinging it around while yelling angrily at people. Disney needs to figure out how to maintain their family-friendly atmosphere, particularly in Epcot where more and more people are avoiding going in the evenings and on weekends. Is that really the reputation Disney wants? I don’t think so. I’m sure they make so much money off of alcohol, but they need to be careful that they don’t damage their reputation by pushing those sales. Incentivizing drinking feels like a mistake.
Thanks for the heads up on the prices as well as the disappointing irony of incentivizing alcohol. Maybe they’ll give out Epcot World Tour drinking packages next.
We actually have avoided Fantasmic the last few years – the 20 minutes of show is fine (though no longer a “wow”) but, frankly, the hour that you usually have to arrive before the first show is pretty awful. Non-stop, high volume music + heat + kids (and parents) melting down at the end of a long day can be a challenge.
Have you seen the new version with Moana, Elsa, etc? If not, we would HIGHLY recommend giving it another chance. The show is much-improved as compared to pre-closure.
Also, you usually don’t need to arrive an hour in advance. Totally understand if it’s still ‘too much’ for all of the reasons you’ve identified, but it’s worth giving a try if you’re able!
Thank you. At 76 big crowds are very intimidating, so we did purchase a fantasmic package last august. Currently we were planning doing the HS late night party on august 29 ( just in time for the increase). I’m curious how fantasmic exit works when you are reentering the park for the party? Any insight would be much appreciated!
before you see fantasmic, you should be able to check in for the after hours event, they’ll give you a wristband when they check your ticket. after fantasmic, you’ll still be in the park! just go do something else after the show instead of exiting the park! (if you do get swept up in the crowds and accidentally exit, they should let you back in, no problem)
if you want to avoid the massive rush after the show, you can stay in your seats for a while until it seems less intense. it’s not the most efficient use of park time for the after hours, but it’s a good way to avoid the crush.