Brown Derby or Hollywood & Vine??

[cavepig]

Is the Brown Derby worth using 2 credits on the dining plan? We've never been, there will be 2 kids (8 & 9) so not sure if it's kid friendly or not. I'm a vegetarian as well so not sure if it's a big waste of 2 credits for me.

Or would we be better off doing Hollywood & Vine? (which we've done years ago)

Is the atmosphere that awesome at the Brown Derby?

Thanks for any help just not sure what to do on this one.

 

[3pletprincesses]

We went last month to Brown Derby as the F! package with out DDs and we all enjoyed our meals. It's kids friendly IMO. AS for you being vegetarian, I'm sorry but I can;t help you with that as we ordered filet mignon and chicke nand I can't remember the other options.

I wouldn't do H&V unless you are doing breakfast. The lunch we had last October was horrible , food was cold, blend and really not good, but breakfast last month was enjoyable.

 

[mjp12831]

No, even if you were a meat eater, it is definaely not worth 2 credits unless you're on Deluxe and have them to burn.

On the other hand, H&V is a rough one imo. I've been to all F! pkg meals and MM is the best (not that it's that good, but I won't burn 2 at HBD and won't go back to H&V). If we don't get MM we are going to book 50's and hope to get in.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

We like Brown Derby -- great food, great service. Went 2010 for dinner with the fantasmic package. Our waiter was great but seemed a little rushed.... he did NOT rush us but just seemed a little stressed trying to make sure everyone got out on time for fantasmic I guess.... Went again for lunch, much less rushed and waiter more talkative. I liked a unique oyster and brie cheese soup, my seafood dish, and my steak (lunch). Check out my review (link below) for more details and pictures.

I didn't mind 2 credits, we were on the deluxe plan and had plenty of credits. If on the regular plan. I'd probably pay cash and use the credits on somewhere else. But that would depend on what I would order and other restaurants on my list (depending on which one would be cheaper to just pay cash).

Hollywood and Vine is not great.. and not good... If I wanted the fantasmic package, I'd do Mama Melrose... or 50s Prime Time (without the package). Much better food. I'd do H&V only for breakfast, and mostly for the characters.

 

[dandave]

I thought Brown Derby was good - not great. The grapefruit cake was fantastic, though! I've never tried H&V, but I'm sort of anti-buffet.
I'm hoping to try the PB&J shake and fried chicken at '50's this trip, but that meal will be OOP.

 

[shewill]

love Hollywood and Vine. WE had a great waiter in May. The food was fine. We ate early at 3:45. It was a combination lunch and dinner. We had the fantasmic package so the time worked well.
The restaurent is cool and relaxing.

 

[momtotaryn]

We did the H & V Fantasmic! Dinner package in early June. Our dinner time was 5:00pm, and we really enjoyed it! We had great service, and the food was very good too! I'm glad I didn't change our ressies, based on reading so many bad reviews on this board. Even my DD10 liked it a lot, and she is extremely picky.

We have never been to Brown Derby, but I don't know if I'd use 2 credits for a meal, and we had free dining.

 

[pooch]

In my humble opinion:

1. H & V - would never go again, dirty, loud, poor service, only the salad & peel & eat shrimp were edible.
2. HD - lovely meal, great service but not worth 2 TS credits
3. MM - ok, if you have to do a Fantasmic package, book here. There's a reason this is the first pkg restaurant to fill up.

We have done the pkg each of the last 5 trips but we're going to take our chances this year and go to 50's Primetime. Although we love Fantasmic, if we can't get in, it won't ruin our evening.

 

[cavepig]

Thanks! We are on Deluxe Dining and don't need to do the fantasmic dinner package. I've never had to plan ADRS like this before, usually its quick services and a couple buffets

 

[JenKatt]

Since you're on the deluxe plan I would go for Brown Derby. Its one of my favorites (never had a bad meal or expeirence there). Never been to H&W after reading all the bad reviews here.

 

[pooch]

Thanks! We are on Deluxe Dining and don't need to do the fantasmic dinner package. I've never had to plan ADRS like this before, usually its quick services and a couple buffets

then Brown Derby by all means. It really is a very nice place to eat and head & shoulders above the other TS restaurants in DHS.

 

[havoc315]

Thanks! We are on Deluxe Dining and don't need to do the fantasmic dinner package. I've never had to plan ADRS like this before, usually its quick services and a couple buffets

As a rule of thumb, the 2-credit restaurants are a bad value on the regular DDP -- Pay $60 for a $30-$40 entree, plus $3 beverage, plus $8 dessert... So paying $60, and receiving about $40-$50.

But, as a rule of thumb, the 2-credit restaurants are a pretty good deal on the DxDP:
-- Paying about $50 (DxDP cost less per credit), for a $10 appetizer, plus $30-$40 entree, plus $3 beverage, plus $8 dessert.... So paying $50, and receiving about $50-$60 (or much more in some signature restaurants).

Looking at the Brown Derby menu for a vegetarian:
Cremini Mushroom Chévre Tortelloni - with Tomato-Fennel Sauce and Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano $9.00
Or
Curly Spinach, Watercress, Strawberry Salad - with Affinée Blue Cheese, Walnuts, and a Cranberry Vanilla Vinaigrette $9.00

As appetizers.
As entrees:
Noodle Bowl - with Wok-fried Coconut Tofu, Soy Beans, Sugar Snap Peas, Bok Choy, and Shiitake Mushrooms in a Red Curry Broth $23.00
If you eat fish, you have a couple more options.

For dessert, choices between $6-$9.

Add in beverage and tax.... It's one of the cheaper signature meals, at about $50. (Largely because of the "cheap" vegetarian entree.)
But that's still break-even under the DxDP... and probably a far superior meal to what you would get at Hollywood and Vine.

Not sure if you were thinking lunch or dinner. But lunch at Hollywood and Vine, would also not be a particularly huge value under the dining plans.

 

[KatMark]

We didn't care for Brown Derby the one and only time we went. However, that being said, I would pick any restaurant over H&V. H&V and WCC are the only two restaurants at Disney that we will not go back to. I'd go with Brown Derby.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

With the deluxe plan I'd definatly do Brown Derby.