Fantasmic! returns to Disneyland this May with new updated scenes after its initial fire in 2023. The return of this iconic Disneyland show has been highly anticipated as the nighttime spectacular has remained closed since the devastating accident.
In the meantime, we've received some updates about Fantasmic! and what to expect like the removal of the Pirates of the Caribbean scene as a prior classic scene featuring Peter Pan is restored. Guests are anxiously waiting the return of Fantasmic! and this means that getting a good seat to the show could be difficult!
There are dining packages available for guests to reserve their seating for Fantasmic! which is my most recommended option for viewing the show. But despite the fact that reservations for Disneyland typically become available 60 days in advance, you still can't book Fantasmic! dining packages yet. Let's get into my advice for what I would do to ensure I'd get a good seat for the return of Fantasmic!
Fantasmic! Dining Package Options
There are three restaurants at Disneyland that offer Fantasmic! dining package options. Hungry Bear Restaurant, River Belle Terrace, and Blue Bayou all offer dining packages. I have experienced each of these dining package options and my favorite tends to be Blue Bayou because it's the best seat in the house.
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Blue Bayou gets top tier seating for Fantasmic! which is front row and center in front of the Rivers of America. River Belle Terrace dining packages are seated slightly adjacent to the Blue Bayou dining packages. And those enjoying a Hungry Bear dining package will be on the far ends of the viewing area.
River Belle Terrace also offers premium seating for the show which means guests enjoy their meal from the patio of the restaurant. This is the ONLY dining package that includes table and chair seating. The rest of the dining packages guests will be seated on the ground. While I personally think this option is a bit lackluster since your view is from further away, as opposed to right up close, this is the MOST popular dining package. Spots for this sell out within minutes and are hard to come by.
Coming in at a close second, Blue Bayou is the next in demand for the Fantasmic! packages. Hungry Bear is also popular since it is the only quick-service option and so it's the most affordable.
But I think it's safe to expect these reservations will ALL sell out fast once they become available.
How to Get a Fantasmic! Dining Package
Disneyland reservations go live daily at 6AM Pacific Time. Disneyland is notorious for being slow to add reservations to the system so things might not become available right on time. But it's still good to check everyday. Some guests have reported seeing the Fantasmic! packages appearing as available when they check but when they go to book, the site glitches out.
I assume this means the reservations are going to go live any day now. Check every single day, perhaps even multiple times a day!
It is also reasonable that Disneyland will announce an official date for when reservations for dining packages will be available. This would be the kindest approach so guests can prepare.
But in the meantime, this is what I would do as you wait.
Best Dining Package Hack for Fantasmic!
Blue Bayou and River Belle Terrace are both restaurants that take reservations as table service restaurants. In the past when we've decided on a whim we wanted to watch Fantasmic! and already had an existing reservation, I was able to ask the waiter during our meal to convert our reservation to a Fantasmic! package.
While you wait for dining packages to go live, go ahead and make a reservation for either Blue Bayou or River Belle Terrace. It's better to have a reservation in hand, just in case!
When dining packages become available, you still should try and book it and then you can cancel your other reservation. BUT if you are unsuccessful, you will at least have a reservation for the restaurant offering Fantasmic! dining packages and you can request to see if your meal can be turned into a dining package.
This is not a guarantee as packages are limited but it is an effective back up plan while we wait. And it's something that has worked for me in the past! It's unclear if Disneyland will announce the return of the dining packages or if they will just load unexpectedly to the website.
Keep checking each day and good luck on securing your dining package!
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Looks like the Hungry Bear option has been removed from the website and Disney has announced there would be standby options on the parks blog. I think they will allow more standby options and only River Belle Terrace and Blue Bayou this time, but we will have to wait and see! Exciting!