Fantasmic Dining Package

[kjasmin]

Hi all,

Has anyone done the Fantasmic show dinner package? Saw it in the pasporter and was wondering if this is recommended or not.

 

[tjmouse]

Really depends on when you are going. During peak season, I highly recommend it. If you are going at a slow time, like January or September, not really that necessary (although I still like it).

For example, we had a dinner ressie for Prime Time at 5:00 in December. By the time we got seated and ate (rather quickly), we were headed into Fantasmic at 6:30. Big mistake. It was already standing room only. Show started at 7:00. Busy night, but early in December so we thought we would at least have a seat.

With the dinner package, we ate at 4:30 (a lot of ressies are early with the package), were done with time to spare, met the "package" people at a different entrance and were directed to our reserved seats. No waiting in line.

 

[byoung]

I say go.

 

[karen l]

We did the package at H&V last April and really enjoyed it. It's a buffet style meal with good choices. My DS loved the carving station, meat was very tender. We're doing it again this April. Good luck deciding.

 

[MrsNick]

ITA with tjmouse.

Went in July one year, and used the package (which actually was worth the money - got three courses at the Brown Derby, which if we had paid out of pocket would have cost more than the package). It was worth not having to be corralled with 20,000 of your closest friends for an hour in 90 degree heat to see the show. Go to alternate entrance and be seated.

Just went this month, and walked in at 6:59 PM (just had to get in a ride on the Great Movie Ride, lol) and had no problem finding a seat.

 

[Honeybehr1]

We did it in October. We ate at Mama Melrose and wasnt aware that it was a "special" menu for Fantasmic package. We picked that restaurant because we thought it offered more a choice for the entire family. We the menu came and there was alot of odd things on it. Long story short. Dh who is not pickey ate only enough to take away the hungries but that is all. It was aweful. Definately will NEVER eat there again.

The service was great though but the food was aweful.

 

[tndisneyfan]

We did it in October. We ate at Mama Melrose and wasnt aware that it was a "special" menu for Fantasmic package. We picked that restaurant because we thought it offered more a choice for the entire family. We the menu came and there was alot of odd things on it. Long story short. Dh who is not pickey ate only enough to take away the hungries but that is all. It was aweful. Definately will NEVER eat there again.

The service was great though but the food was aweful.

I have a package booked at Mama's. What was on the menu? Is it not what is normally on the menu?

 

[kidsluvmickey]

We have done it for the past 3 years. We always go during summer peak or easter, very crowded, and love that we have reserved seating. Now one year it got cancelled so we lost our seats but went back the next night and of course had to be there much earlier to get a decent seat. We went 1 1/2 hour earlys and were already in the standing room only section. thank goodness a CM saw that I had an infant and was trying to give him a bottle and escorted my group to the handicapped section for the show. I say do it!!! Also we like Hollywood and Vine!!!

 

[mrp4352]

We did it in October. We ate at Mama Melrose and wasnt aware that it was a "special" menu for Fantasmic package. We picked that restaurant because we thought it offered more a choice for the entire family. We the menu came and there was alot of odd things on it. Long story short. Dh who is not pickey ate only enough to take away the hungries but that is all. It was aweful. Definately will NEVER eat there again.

The service was great though but the food was aweful.

I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy the food! We've never had anything but wonderful food at Mama's on the package. The steak with gorgonzola melted over the top is fantastic; and the pastas are usually top notch. For our family, this package is one of the must-do meals every trip.

 

[kjasmin]

Really depends on when you are going. During peak season, I highly recommend it. If you are going at a slow time, like January or September, not really that necessary (although I still like it).

For example, we had a dinner ressie for Prime Time at 5:00 in December. By the time we got seated and ate (rather quickly), we were headed into Fantasmic at 6:30. Big mistake. It was already standing room only. Show started at 7:00. Busy night, but early in December so we thought we would at least have a seat.

With the dinner package, we ate at 4:30 (a lot of ressies are early with the package), were done with time to spare, met the "package" people at a different entrance and were directed to our reserved seats. No waiting in line.

We are going in February vacation. If we choose to do it, when should we book this.

 

[we3disneygo]

so if your going in the slow time Sept. you really don't need the preferred seating option? thanks!

 

[Queen of 3 princess]

I liked the dinner package. It was well worth it. We just did it for the first time on January 18. Not a busy time and fantasmic wasn't packed until almost start time. It was still nice to go sit down and have dinner at Hollywood and Vine and still have time to go on rides and shows until 630 when we went and sat down for the show. No lines, No crowds it was great.

 

[Buzz2001]

We love it and used it regardless of when we go. Saves time!!

 

[mainewmn]

I didn’t like where the dinning package seats are located so we usually buy food and bring it in with us for the show. Normally we are there around 1 hour ahead of time and always found good seats.

 

[Honeybehr1]

I have a package booked at Mama's. What was on the menu? Is it not what is normally on the menu?

No its a special limited menu. I booked because I thought it was the regular menu and there was alot the kids would eat. But the apps were really odd. The only one that my 8yr old would even consider was the pizza but it was a flat bread with very strong cheese. Dinner Dh ordered a pasta dish that had a cream based sauce and it was so gross. I tried it and couldnt even swallow it. The salad had alot of different kinds of lettuce in it but that was OK but the dressing was aweful. It was just a horrible meal from start to finish. We were on the dining plan and we had to order a meal for my 2 yr old and it cost us $20 for him and he didnt eat it because it was so bad.

We love italian food and this is so far from it. I should have tried another restaurant. I would have rather ate at Pizza Planet than there.

Live and Learn i guess

 

[ratfam]

We have done it twice at Mama Melrose's and are going again this April but trying Hollywood & Vine this time. The package is great if you have younger or impatient kids since you don't have to wait around forever for the show to start or worry about when to show up to be sure to get a seat. We found Mama Melrose's to be ok but not fabulous in our opinion so we decided to try H & V for a change and also because we were able to get a 6pm reservation instead of the 4:45 or so that we always ended up with at Mama Melrose's for the package. At H & V, and I believe the other restaurants, you aren't really paying extra for the tickets, the only downside is that you have to confirm the reservation with a credit card and cancel 48 hours in advance, so you're stuck if its a bad weather day and Fantasmic isn't performed. But it is on the dining plan.

 

[Twende]

Where are the reserved seats?

We usually do the second show, on nights when there is one and the crowds have never been too bad. We prefer to sit in the back, also we usually have one party member in a wheel chair.

It seems if you are near the front you get wet or misted and there is a lot of smoke.

 

[eeyore29]

We did the FDP in June/July a few years ago and I'd say it was worth it. Having that extra time in the park is great knowing you can spend less time sitting on the concrete but still have your own little spot of that concrete without an hour or more in a line. The reserved section was off to the side but we did get to see everything; I've read that you can see well from any seat & I believe that since it is an amphitheater. I would be concerned about being towards the bottom though (friends of ours said it did get a little misty, not soaked but a little wet, which I guess wasn't any fun since they went in December).

We ate at H&V (selections match our tastes and it's the least expensive), and I thought everything was good. My only negative is that DH ate some kinda seafood along with other fixins and got sick so I had to go on ToT by myself...BTW it was my first AND last time!

We're definitely are going to see Fantasmic this year (and we recommend seeing Fantasmic to anyone who goes to WDW), and we're still trying to decide whether we'll do the FDP for our upcoming May trip. I'm thinking May might be a busy enough time to make it worthwhile cause I don't wanna stand in an hour-plus line, but then I don't want a repeat of DH's "repeat!" If we do, NO SEAFOOD FOR DH (if that's what caused it)!!!