Fantasmic Dining Package Question

[TexasTSL]

We have done the Fantasmic Dining Package before at Mama Melrose. I am thinking about doing it again this year, but I was thinking about trying Hollywood & Vine for lunch since we have never eaten there before. I will have my DS5 with me.

Is the food as bad as I have been reading?

Also, we are going the last week of August/first week of September. Is it even a necessary to do the dining package since crowd levels are lower at that time of year? Can we get decent seats if we don't do it?

Thanks!

 

[walker0829]

Can't answer the food quality question but last year the first week of September was surprisingly busy. It really comes down to a couple things:

1) How many showings of Fantasmic that night
2) How early are you willing to go for good seats

On nights with 1 showing, there will obviously be higher crowds. If you have a little one that won't last an hour before the show, you might want to think about using a FP+ or getting a package if you want a prime seat. The introduction of the 4th FP+ booking from the phone might help as well. From what I hear, Fantasmic is often available early evening for FP option. It's a risk but an option.

 

[TexasTSL]

Can't answer the food quality question but last year the first week of September was surprisingly busy. It really comes down to a couple things:

1) How many showings of Fantasmic that night
2) How early are you willing to go for good seats

On nights with 1 showing, there will obviously be higher crowds. If you have a little one that won't last an hour before the show, you might want to think about using a FP+ or getting a package if you want a prime seat. The introduction of the 4th FP+ booking from the phone might help as well. From what I hear, Fantasmic is often available early evening for FP option. It's a risk but an option.

How funny! Last year we were there the last week of August/first few days of September, and it was super slow. I thought that was just the way it always is since I had never been that time of year, but now looking back on it, I think it may have been due to a hurricane scare. I almost cancelled due to reports of a hurricane coming in. As it turned out, there was no hurricane, and the parks seemed almost empty. I'm guessing maybe that's a big reason that the first full week of September last year was so crowded. A lot of people probably changed their plans to the following week. We got in just in time!

Nice to know that it may not be so slow this time around! Hmmmm. Lots to consider!

Thanks for the info!

 

[Hopefully]

H & V food IS as bad as you have read. It is the only restaurant I will NEVER. return to.

 

[walker0829]

How funny! Last year we were there the last week of August/first few days of September, and it was super slow. I thought that was just the way it always is since I had never been that time of year, but now looking back on it, I think it may have been due to a hurricane scare. I almost cancelled due to reports of a hurricane coming in. As it turned out, there was no hurricane, and the parks seemed almost empty. I'm guessing maybe that's a big reason that the first full week of September last year was so crowded. A lot of people probably changed their plans to the following week. We got in just in time!

Nice to know that it may not be so slow this time around! Hmmmm. Lots to consider!

Thanks for the info!

Yea we went the week of Labor Day thinking it would be slow..personally we thought early May was better. Plus the September weather was yuck. I don't care what anyone says, the parks are NOT fun in a torrential downpour, especially not with a stroller!

 

[Amanda999]

Its a character buffet meal. So, is it fine dining? No. Maybe I have low standards, but I have no problem with the food - there's always baked salmon with mustard sauce for lunch, and at breakfast Mickey waffles, lox and made-to-order omelets at breakfast (among many other things at each meal), so its basically what I'd eat at any Disney buffet meal. If your child likes the characters and you want to do a F! dining package, I would go. (Other than Tusker House - which I think has far better food than average for a character buffet - I don't notice any difference among the "fur" character meals food quality. Note: I haven't done any "face" i.e., princess, meals. Have done all 'fur' meals many times each for many years (DS is a huge fan).

 

[hoffman1]

Its a character buffet meal. So, is it fine dining? No. Maybe I have low standards, but I have no problem with the food - there's always baked salmon with mustard sauce for lunch, and at breakfast Mickey waffles, lox and made-to-order omelets at breakfast (among many other things at each meal), so its basically what I'd eat at any Disney buffet meal. If your child likes the characters and you want to do a F! dining package, I would go. (Other than Tusker House - which I think has far better food than average for a character buffet - I don't notice any difference among the "fur" character meals food quality. Note: I haven't done any "face" i.e., princess, meals. Have done all 'fur' meals many times each for many years (DS is a huge fan).

Do they have characters at lunch? I thought it was only breakfast and supper with the characters?