Last year in April, tragedy struck the Disneyland Resort when Murphy, the animatronic Maleficent dragon, caught fire during a live performance of Fantasmic!, forcing the fan-favorite show to go on an extended hiatus.

The future of the show was in doubt as fans were unsure of when, if ever, it would return and if it did, would it be changed so significantly that it would no longer be the same…

Disney finally answered those questions in November 2023, confirming that Fantasmic would indeed be returning on May 24th, 2024. With it, there’s expected to be a new battle scene between Sorcerer Mickey and Maleficent, new floats and the return of Peter Pan and Captain Hook.

With Fantasmic returning soon, you may be interested in booking a dining package to secure a reserved spot to watch the show. Gone are the days where you can camp out at the waterfront to save yourself a spot. If you want to sit up close, you’ll need to book a dining package.

There are three Disneyland restaurants that offer these. They are:

• Blue Bayou

• River Belle Terrace

• Hungry Bear Restaurant

While this post will focus on the standard package offered at the River Belle Terrace, I will also discuss the other two restaurants as well. Full disclosure, I have not personally purchased dining packages with Blue Bayou or Hungry Bear - only River Belle Terrace.

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River Belle Terrace Fantasmic Dining Experience

The Fantasmic (standard) dining package at the River Belle Terrace is a three-course meal offered at both lunch and dinner. The price for this package in 2024 is:

• $55 per adult

• $32 per child (ages 3 - 9)

Each person will receive one starter, one entree and one dessert. Regular drinks such as soda, juices and coffee are also included in the price. What isn’t included are alcoholic drinks, tip and tax.

Note that there are two versions of the dining package at River Belle Terrace - the standard and premium. The differences between the two are:

• Standard: You make a normal reservation for River Belle and at the time of your meal and inform your waitress that you want the Fantasmic dining package. At the conclusion of your meal, each person will receive a voucher to return to the viewing area prior to showtime.

• Premium: You’ll make a reservation for this package specifically at this link 60-days in advance. This package is only available during dinner and you’ll watch Fantasmic from your table. The cost for this package is $75 (adult) and $45 (child).

The River Belle Terrace Fantasmic! menu has a number of tasty offerings. Our table of four had no problem making our selections. I don’t know this first hand, but I’ve read numerous reviews of this location being flexible with substitutions. If you don’t see something you like on the Fantasmic menu, ask for the normal one.

On our visit, some of the menu items our party ordered were:

• Red Beans & Rice cup w/ Andouille Sausage

• Burnt Ends Grilled Cheese Sandwich

• Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich

• Pimento Mac and Cheese Skillet

• Cookies n’ Cream Cheesecake

• Housemade Pudding

• The Seasonal Cobbler

No one at our table had a single negative thing to say about the food. All of it was presented well, was delicious and the portions were more than sufficient. Additionally, despite being a busy day, the service from our waitress was top notch.

*PRO TIP: If you’re just looking for somewhere to eat and looking to save money, dine here and split entrees. Disney allows this (from the regular menu, NOT the package). The portions here are enough for even two adults to split, let alone two children.

At the end of our meal, we were asked which of the two showings that night we wanted the voucher for. We booked a lunch reservation, so there were plenty of vouchers left. The danger of booking a dinner reservation is you may not be able to choose as they could have run out of one.

We chose the 10:30 showing and were advised to head over to Harbor Gallery/Pelican’s Landing (across from Haunted Mansion) about thirty minutes prior to showtime.

After everything was said and done, I paid about $260 for the four of us (all adults, inclusive of tax and tip). While I was really paying for a great view of the show, the food being as good as it was helped ease the pain of the final bill a bit.

The Viewing Area

Regardless of which restaurant you purchased your dining package, the check-in area is the same. Again, it’s located adjacent to Harbor Gallery/Pelican’s Landing. You’ll see cast members holding up signs in rows with each restaurant’s name on them. Simply line up in the row of your restaurant.

Shortly prior to showtime, the cast members will begin escorting you to your assigned viewing area. Blue Bayou guests will be seated (mostly) dead center to the stage, followed by River Belle guests, who’ll be seated to the right. Lastly, Hungry Bear guests will be to the left.

As you can see in the photo above, we were seated right up front. We weren’t directly center to the stage (we would’ve needed to dine at Blue Bayou for that) but it was a great view regardless. Not too shabby if you ask me.

If you want a chance at being seated in the front row, you’ll need to arrive at the check-in area early. It’ll state on your voucher to arrive thirty minutes prior to showtime. However, if you wait until then a rather large queue would’ve already formed.

Instead, I would suggest arriving closer to one hour early. When we first arrived, there were no cast members guiding the way, so we just hung around until they showed up. So if you do the same, don’t be alarmed. As long as you’re next to Harbor’s Gallery, you’ll be fine.

Also keep in mind that there are no actual seats included with the price of these dining packages and thus, you’ll be sitting on the ground (bringing a waterproof outdoor blanket to sit on, like this one, would be wise. Just think about how many people have walked over that spot).

The only exception to this is the premium package offered at the River Belle Terrace. You’ll enjoy the show from the comfort of your table on the restaurant’s patio. The downside is you’ll have the walkway and the Genie+ viewing area in front of you with little elevation.

All Fantasmic Dining Packages

There are three dining locations that offer a total of four Fantasmic! dining packages. They all vary in price and offerings, but the seating is generally the same. All of them are on the waterfront of the Rivers of America and form a horseshoe of sorts around the stage. Here is the information for all packages in 2024:

• Blue Bayou: Price is $89 (adult) and $35 (child), lunch or dinner. Each person receives an entree of choice, a non-alcoholic specialty drink and a Fantasmic! speciality dessert. Cocktails are separate. The viewing area is located center, or near-center, of the performance stage.

• River Belle Terrace Premium: Price is $75 (adult) and $45 (child). Each person receives a three-course meal from the Fantasmic! menu (though you CAN order from the regular menu if you wish). Cocktails are separate. You’ll watch the performance from your table on the outdoor patio of the River Belle. *Dinner only.

• River Belle Terrace Standard: Price is $55 (adult) and $32 (child), lunch or dinner. Each person receives a three-course meal (starter, entree and dessert), plus cold drinks. The viewing area is located to the right of the performance stage.

• Hungry Bear Restaurant: Price is $38 (adult) and $27 (child), lunch or dinner. Pick-up times are between 3pm and 8:30pm on most days. Each person will receive their choice of entree and side, in addition to a fountain beverage and Fantasmic! themed dessert. The viewing area is located to the right of the performance stage. *You cannot mobile order this package.

Clearly, Blue Bayou is the high end choice, followed by River Belle in the middle with Hungry Bear being the budget-friendly option. If seeing Fantasmic up close is important to you and your group, you really can’t go wrong with any of these as the view is essentially the same.

What it boils down to from there is your food preference. Blue Bayou and River Belle offer a traditional sit-down meal versus Hungry Bear’s grab-n-go style. Blue Bayou arguably has the best atmosphere, as it’s located inside of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. My recommendation, though, is River Belle. The viewing area is great and the food is satisfying. All for a middle-of-the-road price point.

To recap, if you want to book for the Blue Bayou or the premium option at River Belle, you’ll book a reservation through this link. Conversely, if you want to go with Hungry Bear, you’ll need to book through this link. If you’d rather do the standard option at the River Belle, then you just need to make a standard brunch or dinner reservation and inform the host when you arrive.