? about Fantasmic Dinner Package & DDP

[rdavis728]

It seems that if you are on the DDP, I have read that you CANNOT use the Fantasmic Dinner package. Is that right? I get that you can still eat at any of the 3 package restaurants on the plan, but you just can't do the package with the reserved seating? Why? Can anyone clarify that one way or the other for me?

 

[TDC Nala]

You CAN use the DDP for the Fantasmic Dinner Package. This has definitely been posted on the boards. I've never tried to do it personally. I don't see Fantasmic or use the DDP anymore.

Not only that, if you book Mama Melrose or Brown Derby it apparently comes with an appetizer on the basic plan. If you are not using the Fantasmic package, no appetizer. (Remember Brown Derby is 2 credits.)

 

[rdavis728]

Really??? That's awesome - I really wanted to eat at Mama Melrose's anyway, and the fact that I could get reserved seating/shorter wait for Fantasmic was a bonus as we have a 3-year-old. And now an appetizer too? Even better. Is that per person on the plan??
But I know I have read in several places on DIS that you cannot do this - because they said you can only use one "Package" - the DDP or the Fantasmic DP. I'm sure I'm not the only one who this has confused.
Thanks again.

 

[KatMark]

Really??? That's awesome - I really wanted to eat at Mama Melrose's anyway, and the fact that I could get reserved seating/shorter wait for Fantasmic was a bonus as we have a 3-year-old. And now an appetizer too? Even better. Is that per person on the plan??
But I know I have read in several places on DIS that you cannot do this - because they said you can only use one "Package" - the DDP or the Fantasmic DP. I'm sure I'm not the only one who this has confused.
Thanks again.

We have used the Free Dining with the Fantasmic Package at Mama Melrose the last two years. So unless they changed something this year that I'm not aware of (and we have our adr for this year for Fantasmic at Mama Melrose with Free Dining), you can use it.

 

[TDC Nala]

Really??? That's awesome - I really wanted to eat at Mama Melrose's anyway, and the fact that I could get reserved seating/shorter wait for Fantasmic was a bonus as we have a 3-year-old. And now an appetizer too? Even better. Is that per person on the plan??
But I know I have read in several places on DIS that you cannot do this - because they said you can only use one "Package" - the DDP or the Fantasmic DP. I'm sure I'm not the only one who this has confused.
Thanks again.

Ah, that's where the confusion is. The DDP is booked as part of a room/tickets reservation package. The Fantasmic dinner package is something entirely different - you book that through Disney Dining, and not as part of your room reservation.

 

[rdavis728]

So - just so I'm sure I understand - the DDP (TS credit) can be used for a dinner at Mama Melrose's. You just have to book it as the FDP with an ADR.
Right?

 

[andrews1ma]

ok- so here is how it goes-:

Yes you can absolutely use the DDp for the Fantasmic Dining Package- but you must make ADR's prior- make them as early aspossible because they only block out a certain amount per restaurant to utilize the FDP-
we ate at Mama Melrose on the DDP - and did the FDP- ( this is too funny even to type) and althought the restaurant was half empty when we were eating there- I was told when I made the ADR's that I got the last table and time slot for a FDP- whew

i beleive you may have to leave a deposti when making the ADR's as well- they will only charge you if you do not show- you have 48hrs prior to that day to cancel-

also- you do get an appy when doing the FDP on the DDP which is an added bonus-

k now for the pros and cons- of thedoing the FDP -

obvious pro- NO WAIT NO HASSLE for the Fantasmic show- we ate at 5:30 and didnt head over to the theater ( through private /seperate entrance from the mass exodus!) until 8:00pm for 8:30 showing- and still got nice seats in the reserved section- they are off to the side a bit but still centered enough to get full effect.

this part was wonderful as the last time we ventured to Fantasmic when DS was only 5- we did not know about the option of FDP- as it was our first time to the show- we had to stand all the way in the back of the theater- needless to say DS saw absolutely nadda- because they are super crazy strict so you are basically stuck- behind real tall standing people- so moving forward I will always ONLY do the FDP.

ok now for the negs-

i was originally able to only score the Brown Derby with 2 flaws- dinner- 3:30 ugh and also used 2 TS credits- I have never dined there before and read some mixed reviews- and did not want to use 2 TS's as i had TS adr's booked for every night- so something would have been out of pocket- and I was cheaping out- ( hmmm... might havebeen a mistake)

onto Mama Melrose- so I called Dis Dining- to see if I could get MM- was told nothing at all for any day of the week- ugh- kept calling and calling- and literally the day before we were leaving- I was able to get a 5:30 dinner ADR on the day I had scheduled for HS- wow!- so advice here is keep trying for ADR's down to the wire- I lucked out will all of mine ( definitely check out my dining review- see link below- just started but lots of restaurants to review!)

here is the con: I did not like the food at all- it was very mediocre- I ordered the flat bread- yuck- dh had the penne vodka- which was just ok- and DS had pizza- which he liked- we ordered the artisan breads and dips for appy's- they were good- I love bread! and the mozzarella and tomato salad was nice and fresh- dessert was very good- chocolate lava type cake- and oooh heres a nice bonus- if you are not really hungry for dessert you can order one of their specialy coffes instead- i ordered a frozen Cappucino- OMG that was the best part- so refreshing- and helped perk me up for the second leg of the tour!

bottom line- I would eat here again- aha -surprised you with that- unless I hear good things about brown derby to make me want to splurge for the 2 TS's-

Fantasmic Dining Package is the only way to go in my opinion- especailly a great value on the DDP for a 1 TS credit!

wheew - so sorry for hostile take over of your thread- but being I was just there and all is fresh in my mind- wanted to give you an idea of how the whole thing works and my own honest opinions-
meanwhile enjoy your trip! I cant wait to go back!

 

[rlduvall]

wheew - so sorry for hostile take over of your thread- but being I was just there and all is fresh in my mind- wanted to give you an idea of how the whole thing works and my own honest opinions-
meanwhile enjoy your trip! I cant wait to go back!

I'm glad you did a hostile take over of this thread . . . your information was invaluable.

 

[catne]

I booked an ADR for Fantasmic dinner package using DDP at Hollywood & Vine for May 2008; and recently booked ADR for Mama Melrose Fantasmic package using FDP for September 2008.

They did require a credit card on both ADR's to hold the ressie...and will charge $10 per person for a no show.

 

[DrDeb]

we have free dining in Sept and i have an ADR for H&Vine and Fantasmic i had to either pay in full or give a deposit--sorry can't remember cuz i did alot that day [ADR] also have done this same pkg. before on DDP---

 

[mbanks21]

If youre on the DDP and book the Fantasmic show you just need to give a CC to cover in case you cancel the day before. You dont have to pay anything. Theyre one sit down each except for Brown Derby (2)

 

[JennG]

I have a question about the show itself - what time(s) do they normally have Fantasmic? We're going in early September. I have a DS who is 2 and I don't know if we'll be able to do it or not if it is too late. Also, do you think it is too scary or not appropriate for a 2 year old?

 

[septbaby]

I have a question about the show itself - what time(s) do they normally have Fantasmic? We're going in early September. I have a DS who is 2 and I don't know if we'll be able to do it or not if it is too late. Also, do you think it is too scary or not appropriate for a 2 year old?

Wait a few yrs. Our 5/6yo was scared, sat on my lap and still pulled my arms tight around him and verbally directed me to "hold me" during the show. I would not take a 2yo. My nephew did enjoy the show, moments of trepidation and all, but there are big evil faces, loud booms and fireworks that will probably upset your son. This same 5/6yo did not like Mickey's Philharmagic. Sometimes those 3D shows are too real, so be wary of those too. Generally speaking DHS rolled up at about 6pm for the really young set. Characters are gone by then, no more Beauty and the Beast or HS Musical shows, etc. so plan your DHS day to get there early enough to see the things you want for him.

 

[ExtinctDino]

We have used the Free Dining with the Fantasmic Package at Mama Melrose the last two years. So unless they changed something this year that I'm not aware of (and we have our adr for this year for Fantasmic at Mama Melrose with Free Dining), you can use it.

Same for us - we did this in 2006, and have an ADR for it at MM on the DDP again for Aug. 31.

 

[heavenleigh412]

ok- so here is how it goes-:

Yes you can absolutely use the DDp for the Fantasmic Dining Package- but you must make ADR's prior- make them as early aspossible because they only block out a certain amount per restaurant to utilize the FDP-
we ate at Mama Melrose on the DDP - and did the FDP- ( this is too funny even to type) and althought the restaurant was half empty when we were eating there- I was told when I made the ADR's that I got the last table and time slot for a FDP- whew

i beleive you may have to leave a deposti when making the ADR's as well- they will only charge you if you do not show- you have 48hrs prior to that day to cancel-

also- you do get an appy when doing the FDP on the DDP which is an added bonus-

k now for the pros and cons- of thedoing the FDP -

obvious pro- NO WAIT NO HASSLE for the Fantasmic show- we ate at 5:30 and didnt head over to the theater ( through private /seperate entrance from the mass exodus!) until 8:00pm for 8:30 showing- and still got nice seats in the reserved section- they are off to the side a bit but still centered enough to get full effect.

this part was wonderful as the last time we ventured to Fantasmic when DS was only 5- we did not know about the option of FDP- as it was our first time to the show- we had to stand all the way in the back of the theater- needless to say DS saw absolutely nadda- because they are super crazy strict so you are basically stuck- behind real tall standing people- so moving forward I will always ONLY do the FDP.

ok now for the negs-

i was originally able to only score the Brown Derby with 2 flaws- dinner- 3:30 ugh and also used 2 TS credits- I have never dined there before and read some mixed reviews- and did not want to use 2 TS's as i had TS adr's booked for every night- so something would have been out of pocket- and I was cheaping out- ( hmmm... might havebeen a mistake)

onto Mama Melrose- so I called Dis Dining- to see if I could get MM- was told nothing at all for any day of the week- ugh- kept calling and calling- and literally the day before we were leaving- I was able to get a 5:30 dinner ADR on the day I had scheduled for HS- wow!- so advice here is keep trying for ADR's down to the wire- I lucked out will all of mine ( definitely check out my dining review- see link below- just started but lots of restaurants to review!)

here is the con: I did not like the food at all- it was very mediocre- I ordered the flat bread- yuck- dh had the penne vodka- which was just ok- and DS had pizza- which he liked- we ordered the artisan breads and dips for appy's- they were good- I love bread! and the mozzarella and tomato salad was nice and fresh- dessert was very good- chocolate lava type cake- and oooh heres a nice bonus- if you are not really hungry for dessert you can order one of their specialy coffes instead- i ordered a frozen Cappucino- OMG that was the best part- so refreshing- and helped perk me up for the second leg of the tour!

bottom line- I would eat here again- aha -surprised you with that- unless I hear good things about brown derby to make me want to splurge for the 2 TS's-

Fantasmic Dining Package is the only way to go in my opinion- especailly a great value on the DDP for a 1 TS credit!

wheew - so sorry for hostile take over of your thread- but being I was just there and all is fresh in my mind- wanted to give you an idea of how the whole thing works and my own honest opinions-
meanwhile enjoy your trip! I cant wait to go back!

We had originally booked the Brown Derby with Fantasmic package (we had premium plan so it was 1 credit) Disney called a month before our vacation to inform me that the times for Fantasmic had changed... I opted not to change my eating time ... and someone screwed up and cancelled my package. So we lost it... make sure if they call you they do NOT cancel your package!

BTW- Brown Derby was the most incredible meal of our vacation... and we ate at California Grill, Le Cellier, Coral Reef and a lot of other places.