HS Fantasmic + Restaurants

[Martyap]

Can someone explain how this works and what the Fantasmic experience is?
Do I book my ADR with one of the affiliated restaurants to get a VIP at Fantasmic?

Of the restaurants involved, Brown Derby, Mama Melrose 7 Hollywood & Vine....any preference?

 

[aaarcher86]

Can someone explain how this works and what the Fantasmic experience is?
Do I book my ADR with one of the affiliated restaurants to get a VIP at Fantasmic?

Of the restaurants involved, Brown Derby, Mama Melrose 7 Hollywood & Vine....any preference?

You have to book a 'fantasmic dinner package.' Booking a res at one of those will not get you the preferred seating at Fantasmic by itself.

Basically, you'll book the dinner package at one of those three restaurants (and it's usually more of a lunch time) and you'll receive a ticket that lets you enter the Fantasmic area early and gives you a certain section of seating.

Fantasmic itself is a firework/water show. You can see videos on Youtube.

I haven't eaten dinner at any of these, but we've got MM booked for February. The food on the BD menu looks very good. I've heard mixed reviews about all of the restaurants, so I'd go with what food looks best to you from the menus at allears.net.

 

[TDC Nala]

You must specifically book the Fantasmic package, a regular reservation won't get you Fantasmic seating.

At Mama Melrose or Brown Derby you pay a fixed price and choose off the regular menu (appetizer, entree and dessert plus nonalcoholic beverage.) Hollywood & Vine is a buffet.

 

[MSSANDRA]

We always do the package and have done the different restaurants, our favorite is Mama Melrose. It gets mixed reviews but we have never had a bad experience and this year we had amazing food!

 

[cgattis]

We just booked a F! package at Brown Derby for SWW and were told it is NOT a fixed price and/or set menu, just whatever you choose to order. Anybody know 100% which is correct??

 

[dutchdisneyfamily]

We're giving Mama Melrose a try this time. It gets mixed reviews, but far better than Hollywood & Vine, and I don't want to use two TS at BD.

 

[mmouse50]

I did the F! package at the Brown Derby just 3 weeks ago - we were able to order anything off the menu.

 

[Mariep26]

I know it gets mixed reviews but we did lunch at MM and it was hands down the best meal of our trip. They handled our party of 10 with ease. My mom is a chef and noted everything was cooked to order and they were turning tables at a decent clip without rushing people out the door. The chicken par, and sirloin steak were big hits as well as the calamari.

 

[cgattis]

So mmouse50, you just ordered off the regular menu and paid whatever it was priced on the menu? That's what the res CM told me....thanks!!

 

[partigus]

my understading is it's a fixed price, and you can select one appetizer, one entree, and one desert. You can get anything on the menu- sop it's not i=limited, but you could end up ordering less than the value of the meal ala carte and still have to pay the higher price.

 

[Carlyzmom]

I just tried to book (any restaurant) and was only offered times like 3:30 pm. Is that normal? I don't even know what meal that is? Lunch or dinner? I had to pass. I was excited about doing it too. Bummer.

 

[shburks]

I just tried to book (any restaurant) and was only offered times like 3:30 pm. Is that normal? I don't even know what meal that is? Lunch or dinner? I had to pass. I was excited about doing it too. Bummer.

It is normal. I think the latest you can book dinner is 5. You can do a big lunch instead though and still do the Fantasmic package.

 

[mmouse50]

I was on the dining plan- yes it was 2 credits but I was able to order anything off the menu -

From allears

Is there a charge for the package?

There is no additional charge for the package itself. However, the package, which includes the Fantasmic! seating pass, MUST be guaranteed at the time of booking with a credit card, and a $10 cancellation fee applies if not cancelled at least 48 hours beforehand.

As of June 2009, you may order from the Brown Derby a la carte menu.

 

[purple figment]

So mmouse50, you just ordered off the regular menu and paid whatever it was priced on the menu? That's what the res CM told me....thanks!!

The CM on the phone was wrong. If you're paying OOP it is a fixed price for the Fantasmic! Dining Package. At HBD and MM you choose any appetizer, entree, dessert (although MM has a pre-set dessert sampler) and non-alc beverage from the regular menu. H&V is a buffet. You don't have to order all of the courses if you don't want that much food, but you will still pay the set price. You cannot order just a dessert, pay the menu price for just that item and still get the F! ticket.

Here's a brief description with the prices:
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/fantasmic.htm

Here's a more detailed description of F! and the dining package. Prices are listed a little over halfway through the article:
http://www.easywdw.com/category/worth-2/fantasmic-worth-2/