Fantasmic Dining Package: A Dilemma

[AngelicFruitcake]

Okay, so here's my situation:

Taking a trip to Disney this September, we have been once before, but this will probably be our last trip for a while.

We have seen Fantasmic before, but only once, and I kind of really wanted to see it again. I really only want to go with the dining package, because otherwise it's all just a little too chaotic for my tastes.

Our plan was to go to a water park that day then head over to the studios for dinner and the show. However, the only things available are lunch (2:50) at Mama Melrose (our preferred) and dinner (4:40) at...Hollywood & Vine....

We've been to Hollywood & Vine (for breakfast) and were really unimpressed. And I haven't seen any reviews that suggest dinner is going to be any better. I thought at first it'd be worth suffering through if the characters were there, since my son loves the Little Einstein's but I see they're not there for dinner.

But I don't know if I want to cut our water park day that short, to go to the Mama Melrose.

Or we can skip it altogether.

So....thoughts? Comments? Someone tell me that H&V has suddenly become the best place to eat in the world?? (One can dream)

 

[csmommy]

Sorry, can't help you with H&V since we always do Mama Melrose. I wouldn't give up hope, & would keep checking the system. The closer the dates get the more people change their plans so perhaps you could snag a 5:00 dinner at Mama's.

Also, were planning on spending a day at HS? If so perhaps you could make it that day & do the waterpark another day.

 

[sherylcin]

My two cents...........

We did Fantasmic this past January WITHOUT a Fantasmic Dining Package and I swear that will NOT happen again!! It was extremely nerve-wracking trying to keep track of all the kids (7) and keep everyone together in the mob we were in. (We did have a big group of 13 but phew! I was never so glad to get to my seat in my life!)

We've done both Mama Melrose's and Hollywood & Vine and I agree I'd choose Mama Melrose's over H&V although if H&V was the only choice I had and I couldn't switch days around, I'd take it. We love Fantasmic and don't want to miss seeing it on our bi-annual trips so eating at H&V would be worth it for us. Just have to decide if it is for you.

I agree with the PP to keep checking. People change plans all the time so calling often is a very good idea to try and get the time/place you want.

Have a wonderful vacation!

 

[Faldred]

Granted, it's been some time since I've done it, but I've never understood the hate for H&V dinner. It's a buffet, so don't expect it to be great, but it's not bad, either, at least not the two times I went.

 

[kari B.]

Well... I think H & V has the worst dinner next to Chef Mickey's... but Mama Melrose isn't far behind, lol.

I would do Mama Melrose or just not book a package. Or just skip Fantasmic this trip. You said you've seen it... I think I'd have much more fun making a day out of the water park then going crazy and/or spending good money on bad food to see Fantasmic.

For us... Fantasmic is over rated.

 

[Keyser]

We've done H&V twice for Fantasmic, and were happy with it. I would not pay for H&V on its own for dinner (it's just a buffet), but I thought it was fine for the Fantasmic package. I did not think the food was bad at all, but it's also not anything you are going to be remembering fondly. Think slightly better quality and somewhat less selection than Golden Corral, and better than something like Shoney's. I really don't think there's anything wrong with it, it's just not memorable or special, and on its own is overpriced (just like almost all Disney food is).

What is your goal? If it is to have a great dinner, then pass on H&V. If it is to get the Fantasmic seating and have an OK dinner, then H&V is fine. What would you do for dinner if you didn't do the Fantasmic package? If you would be eating counter service or something, then I would say that H&V is better, and think of the price difference as the cost of reserving your seats.

 

[MJKMom]

Don't you also have the option of the Brown Derby for dinner with the Fantasmic package? Or was that already booked up?

 

[ChrystalUnicorn]

Don't you also have the option of the Brown Derby for dinner with the Fantasmic package? Or was that already booked up?

Yes Brown Derby is included in the Fantasmic package, but it is now 2 credits if your are on the dinning plan.

We had the Fantasmic package last year and ate at H & V. The food was the worst of the whole trip. I had my three kids with me and the most they ate was the fruit. But It was worth it to see Fantasmic. I wouldn't never eat there again.

 

[newdeal]

I think you are over estimating the amount of time you will spend in the water park. Get there at opening and you will easily be tired out and ready to leave by 2:00 which will give you enough time to head over and make lunch at Hollywood studios. Since mama melrose has the same menu for lunch and dinner the food selection would be the same anyway

 

[sjs314]

I think I would opt for the 4:40 at Hollywood & Vine, since it would allow you time to go back to your resort after the water park and clean up and take a little breather before heading out to DHS for dinner and F!

 

[Quin]

To me even a 4:40 ADR is 'cutting your day a little short', unless you were going from the water park straight to DHS, wet bathing suits, towels, and all.

Transport from water park to resort, shower/change, transport from resort to DHS - you will have to leave the water park by, what, 2:30 at the very latest and more like 2pm if you stress over time?

Keep H&V for now just because it's a bird in the hand, but keep checking, especially right around your 45 day mark (when people may be cancelling their entire trip and all ADRs).

Alternatively - if you are going at a time when there is likely to be a 2nd F! that evening and if the family can stay up for it, you could try for general admission then. There are no F! packages for the second show so nobody is at a disadvantage. You can take as long as you want at the water park, eat anywhere at your leisure including at any other resort, then come to DHS for the late-evening show.

 

[AngelicFruitcake]

Thanks everyone for your input.

Personally I'd probably be fine with Hollywood and Vine. But DH is a bit more of a foodie than I am. So, he's really not feeling the Hollywood and Vine idea.

We're only doing one day at the Studios, so I didn't want to make that day a Fantasmic day because last time it was really crowded and stressful. A fistfight almost broke out in line behind us for Woody and Buzz. I just would prefer a (hopefully) slightly less stressful day in that park.

I was thinking about Brown and Derby. If we pay out of pocket for Beaches and Cream (since all we really want is the ice cream anyway) then we'd have a meal credit to burn. But it seems to be all booked up as well.

Oh well, I will definitely take your advice and keep checking back.

Haha, making ADR's was much easier our first trip, when we didn't know anything and were just happy with what we got.

 

[ccgirl]

Okay, so here's my situation:

Taking a trip to Disney this September, we have been once before, but this will probably be our last trip for a while.

We have seen Fantasmic before, but only once, and I kind of really wanted to see it again. I really only want to go with the dining package, because otherwise it's all just a little too chaotic for my tastes.

Our plan was to go to a water park that day then head over to the studios for dinner and the show. However, the only things available are lunch (2:50) at Mama Melrose (our preferred) and dinner (4:40) at...Hollywood & Vine....

We've been to Hollywood & Vine (for breakfast) and were really unimpressed. And I haven't seen any reviews that suggest dinner is going to be any better. I thought at first it'd be worth suffering through if the characters were there, since my son loves the Little Einstein's but I see they're not there for dinner.

But I don't know if I want to cut our water park day that short, to go to the Mama Melrose.

Or we can skip it altogether.

So....thoughts? Comments? Someone tell me that H&V has suddenly become the best place to eat in the world?? (One can dream)

Personally, my family really loved H&V. I am always surprised by the bad reviews of it. I always try some place once myself before making an opinion. While it wasn't the best place to eat in the world (not sure anywhere at WDW is) it was very good!