FANTASMIC! Dining Event

[kathy884]

We did the Mama Melrose package two weeks ago Thursday on a busy spring break day (9.7 Unofficial Guide rating). It was OK, and I loved having the fast passs for Fantasmic, but I wouldn't do the package again. First even though I had a reservation made 5 months in advance, we had to wait a 1/2 hour to be seated. Next, although, our waitress was great, our total dining time was longer than I was hoping for 1 hour and 40 minutes, meaning we missed the American Idol show we were planning to see (We were though able to see a few number on the big screen outside and that was kind of fun). Finally, I didn't like the food. It was overpriced mediocre Italian food in my opinion (note that I paid cash -- we were staying offsite and not on the Disney dining plan). I don't know about the Hollywood and Vine food. Hopefully it's better. I compared Mama Melrose to Ohana which was great food and a much nicer setting for the same price (We had dinner there on our MK day.).

Next time I'd just bring some sandwiches and wait for the show rather than wait for an overpriced dinner.

One thing that I really was happy about at Mama Melrose is that my 15 year old wanted to order off the kid menu. And they let him do this and charged us the kid $9 price instead of the adult $33 price. I thought he'd get the kid food, but still have to pay the adult price because of age, so that was a nice surprise.

 

[glocon]

Thanks Robo- l'll tell them! It sounds like it would take over 2 hours to get seated, served and then eat. So if a reservation was 3 hours prior to show time, would that be about right? If you had a Fantasmic! dining package that is. With no dining package, if you were to make reservations, would about 3 1/2 hours prior to show time be enough time? Thanks for all your help!

 

[Robo]

Thanks Robo- l'll tell them!

It sounds like it would take over 2 hours to get seated, served and then eat.

So if a reservation was 3 hours prior to show time, would that be about right? If you had a Fantasmic! dining package that is.

With no dining package, if you were to make reservations, would about 3 1/2 hours prior to show time be enough time? Thanks for all your help!

I would not expect the seating and dining to ALWAYS take nearly that long.

Otherwise, just to be clear-

The Fantasmic! Dining Package
and the Fantasmic! theater show are two separate events.
They are related, but not one continuous "event."

You book the Dining Pkg, and go the the restaurant and have a meal.
At the meal, you will be given a special "pass" that allows your party to walk over to the Fantasmic! theater and be seated in a reserved section of the seats.
Guests with the Fantasmic! Dining Pkg. "pass" still need to arrive at the theater's special Dining Pkg. entrance least 35-45 minutes before the Fantasmic! show-time.

Without the Fantasmic! Dining Pkg., guests should arrive much earlier to be seated in the "non-reserved" seats in the theater.
I'd expect that arriving 2 hours (give or take) before show-time without the Dining Pkg. is a good amount of "pad" in most circumstances.

 

[Seaislegirl]

Thank you so much for your very thoughtful answer and all the time you took to post it!!!! I will definitely consider all that you said. I like the idea of eating while being in line (especially the beer part - that seems like a fun and different kind of way to pass the time. Your advice about not assuming anything and having different experiences every time is right on the money - I kinda noticed that myself from one trip to the next so thank you for that reminder, and for your time. I really appreciate all the information you provided!!!

 

[aliasblackhawk]

If you just type in the dates by hand (ex. 10/02/11) instead of using the drop down calendar you should be able to book the package. I don't know why the drop down calender is blanked out but I just typed it in and was able to get the F! package on October 2nd. Hope this helps!

 

[nooneshome]

Another not a big fan of H&V. It seemed average at best. The Fantasmic seats aren't that great either.

 

[PsychNurse]

I really like H&V a lot. The food is pretty good, lots of choices. I Love having the dining package and not worrying about standing in that loooonngg line.

 

[glocon]

Well, l tried tying in the dates by hand, and nothing available. l guess we're out of luck. Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[SweetMommy]

I say yes, it is worth it. I am very impatient to begin w/ and would never survive waiting in the crazy line that can form for a Fantasmic show. We have done this package twice, Dec 2009 and August 2010. For my family it works well. By no means do I think H&V is the greatest food in the world, but it has a decent variety where we all could find something to eat. We will be taking this same course of action when we go on our trip in May. I have never seen how long the line can get in person and never want to really lol

 

[glocon]

Are there any close places that are counter service to the entrance of the Fantasmic line to get dinner food? I'm thinking that if I cannot get my friends a Fantasmic dinner package, that after spending the day at AK which closes at 5, they could hop over to HS and get a bite to eat while they stand in line. Also, has anyone tried Picnic in the Park at AK? Would that be a good option to get and bring over to HS?

 

[Robo]

1- Are there any close places that are counter service to the entrance of the Fantasmic line to get dinner food? I'm thinking that if I cannot get my friends a Fantasmic dinner package, that after spending the day at AK which closes at 5, they could hop over to HS and

2- get a bite to eat while they stand in line.

1- Yes. A bunch of 'em.

2- I don't think eating in line (in that mess of a line) would be a very good idea.
Taking items into the theater and eating while you wait is a more popular option.

 

[puffkin]

Are there any close places that are counter service to the entrance of the Fantasmic line to get dinner food? I'm thinking that if I cannot get my friends a Fantasmic dinner package, that after spending the day at AK which closes at 5, they could hop over to HS and get a bite to eat while they stand in line. Also, has anyone tried Picnic in the Park at AK? Would that be a good option to get and bring over to HS?

I don't believe they are doing the picnic in the park anymore at AK. I saw it in the Allears newsletter last night.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Are there any close places that are counter service to the entrance of the Fantasmic line to get dinner food? I'm thinking that if I cannot get my friends a Fantasmic dinner package, that after spending the day at AK which closes at 5, they could hop over to HS and get a bite to eat while they stand in line. Also, has anyone tried Picnic in the Park at AK? Would that be a good option to get and bring over to HS?

Hello All

Glocon - ditto on the above... well... ditto on anything Robo says ! LOL...

My Fav CS location is quite near the B&B / F! entrance... it is the Sunset Market with quite a good assortment of food... Catalina Eddies with Pizza, Salads and a yummy sub sandwich, Fairfax Fries, There are chicken nuggets, burgers... and not too too far from Turkey leg stand...

but bring it in to eat with you ... IMHO.. concession lines IN F! can be very long...

Hugs,
Mary

 

[glocon]

So one more question. Is it that people stand in line for 1 1/2 to 2 hours for Fantasmic, or is it that they let you in that early to sit and wait in the theater? You guys are right, eating while standing in line would be rather difficult!

 

[Robo]

So one more question.

1- Is it that people stand in line for 1 1/2 to 2 hours for Fantasmic, or

2- is it that they let you in that early to sit and wait in the theater?

You guys are right, eating while standing in line would be rather difficult!

1- Not normally, although on certain very busy nights, it's possible that guests arriving too late to get into the first show will decide to just stay in line during the first show and wait to be admitted to the second show.

2- Normally, that is the case.
The theater will generally be opened about 90 minutes before show-time
(for the first show of the evening.)
If guests arrive earlier than that, they will likely be standing in line until the CM's open the seating, and those early-arrivers choose their seats.

Everything depends on the crowd-level of the F! audience, and how early some decide to arrive for the first show.

 

[Emjay0074]

Hi- I'm wondering about the Fantasmic Dinner Package res. Is anytime included with the reserverd seats? I am only able to get 2 30 or 3 30 reservations, which is fine. So they would be for the 8pm show that day- is that correct? Or is it still considered lunch and not included in the fantasmic seating? Thanks!

 

[Emjay0074]

Hi- answer found! just checked my reservations on WDW and it does say FDP- so I see they are included.

 

[glocon]

Bringing back an old topic for a new trip.... do the people in the dining package leave by the same entrance where they came in? With a 7000 person capacity I imagine that exiting after a show can be horribly long and crowded... is the dining package exit less crowded and another perk?

 

[Robo]

Bringing back an old topic for a new trip.... do the people in the dining package leave by the same entrance where they came in? With a 7000 person capacity I imagine that exiting after a show can be horribly long and crowded... is the dining package exit less crowded and another perk?

ALL guests can leave on either "path" (#1 or #11 on the map below.)

Besides, everyone ends up on Sunset Blvd. anyway.

No advantage to the DP guests.

 

[glocon]

Thanks! And has anyone ever walked to BC after DHS- how long of a walk is it?