Fantasmic! is an amazing musical at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. If you really want to enjoy this show to the fullest, you should consider buying tickets for the Fantasmic! Dessert and VIP Viewing Experience.
What exactly is the Fantasmic! Dessert & VIP Viewing Experience? It’s a paid dessert party with VIP seating.
You get snacks, desserts, and specialty alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and you get to sit in a reserved seating area for the duration of the show. Perfect if you want to enjoy the outdoor extravaganza from the best seats in the house while digging into decadent desserts.
Keep reading to find out everything there is to know about the Fantasmic! Dessert & VIP Viewing Experience, including ticket costs, what’s included, and whether it’s worth it.
What Is Fantasmic!?
Fantasmic! is an outdoor show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.
With a cast of more than 50, life-size puppets, special effects, projections, and live action, it’s a great way to experience the Disney magic.
The theme is good versus evil, hosted by sorcerer Mickey.
Honestly speaking, if you’ve seen it many times before, you can give Fantasmic! a miss. But if it’s your first time visiting Walt Disney World, this show definitely ticks all the boxes in terms of a classic Disney experience.
I think it’s a great way to round off a day in the theme parks, give your tired feet some rest, and enjoy the musical spectacular. I do believe the Walt Disney Company needs to update the show a little though, especially given the technical innovations that guests can now enjoy at some of their other shows.
What’s Included In Fantasmic Dessert & VIP Dining Experience?
Included in the price of your ticket for Fantasmic! Dessert and VIP Dining Experience are the following:
- Snack box
This contains freshly prepared snacks, including both salty treats and desserts. In the adult dessert box, there’s chocolate-covered strawberries, cheesecake, apple crisp, chocolate cupcake, and vanilla cake bite. The child box includes chocolate pudding, gummy worms, confetti popcorn, and crushed chocolate cookies.
To counter the sugar rush, there’s crisp California trail mix, cheese and crackers, and other savory snacks.
- Specialty beverage
For the specialty drink, you have a choice of alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage. The alcoholic choice is pretty limited, to be honest, but I did enjoy the margarita. There’s a non-alcoholic punch for those under 21 years of age.
Bottled water is also available.
- Souvenir cup
This is a light-up keepsake Fantasmic! cup that’s included with the dessert package. It has flashing lights and makes a nice souvenir.
- Seating
You get VIP seats in a reserved seating area on a first-come, first-served basis.
How Much Does Fantasmic Dessert & VIP Dining Experience Cost?
The ticket for Fantasmic! Dessert and VIP Viewing Experience is $39 per adult and $19 per child (ages 3 to 9) including tax.
You need a separate park admission ticket for Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a Park Reservation for the same day.
Related read: Disney World Annual Pass vs Tickets
Do You Need Reservations for Fantasmic! Dessert and VIP Dining Experience?
I would highly recommend making advance reservations. Same-day reservations are sometimes available, but they can be a hit and miss.
You can of course watch Fantasmic! at no additional cost with your park admission fee. You won’t get to attend the dessert parties or get the VIP seats, of course.
Keep in mind that while there used to be two Fantasmic! shows every night earlier, but ever since Disney’s Hollywood Studios started hosting Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular, one Fantasmic! show is pretty much the norm. So, the amphitheater fills up pretty quickly and good seats are difficult to get.
Some restaurants in Walt Disney World, such as The Hollywood Brown Derby, Mama Melrose, and Hollywood and Vine offer a Fantasmic! Dining Experience, so that’s something worth considering, too.
What Are The Best Seats for Fantasmic!?
Seating is on a first come, first served basis. If you want the best view, sit as close to the stage as you can. But beware that you will get sprayed with mist in the front rows (it can be a welcome cooler in hot and humid weather).
I find the midway seats are the best. You avoid the spray and get a good view.
If you want a quick and easy exit for the Disney Resorts at the end of the Fantasmic! show, then pick seats at the back.
Tips Before You Go
- The Fantasmic! Dessert and VIP Viewing Experience is available on all the days when the Fantasmic! show runs. Tickets for the experience are sold for the first show of Fantasmic! only when there are two shows.
- Reservation times range from 45 to 90 minutes before show time.
- You should check-in for the experience at the scheduled reservation time. Head to the Fantasmic! theater located on Sunset Boulevard. It’s situated next to Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage.
- When you check-in, you’ll receive a special light up credential for identification. Keep it safely because it won’t be replaced if you lose it.
- Seats in the special reserved viewing area are not assigned. You get them on a first come, first served basis, as mentioned above.
- If there is inclement weather, the food and beverage experience is still available (this might be moved to another location).
- If the entertainment is cancelled, you’ll get VIP seating for an alternative Fantasmic! show within 5 days of the original date. You will, however, need a valid theme park admission to attend.
- Per official Disney information, you cannot redeem your Disney dining package entitlements for this experience.
- Only guests 21 years of age or older are served alcoholic beverages. You might be asked to provide a valid government ID to verify your age.
Is Fantasmic! Dessert And VIP Viewing Experience Worth It?
At $39 for adults and $19 for kids, the Fantasmic! Dessert and VIP Experience is kinda pricey. You do get a lot of food (who would say no to chocolate-covered strawberries?), so if you’ve had a heavy lunch and light evening snack, you could potentially skip dinner and feel quite full with the contents of the adult box or child box.
Of course, the reserved seating area is a big bonus.
I would say if your family enjoys musicals and you’re willing to shell out some extra bucks for a special experience, the Dessert VIP Viewing Experience could be worth it.
However, it surely is not for everyone. If you’ve had a big meal earlier in the day, for example, the snacks will pretty much be a waste. Nonetheless, if you can afford it, the seats for this experience are hard to beat.