Fantasmic Dinner Package Changes

[justhat]

Yes, we used ours for the FDP, and many other meals and purchases.

 

[monty]

I have read through a fair bit of this thread and maybe because it has been going for such a long time, there is a discrepency in the December times.I've seen 6pm and 7pm. I will be there from 9th Dec to 16th, anyone know what time Fantasmic is likely to be on? Also with the dinner packages, what would be the latest time I should or am able to book for? Or can you do Fantasmic with the dinner package and eat afterwards, if so what time?

 

[bjenk10704]

With 59 pages of posts, I'm sure I have probably missed this somewhere. What is the cost of the FDP? I understand that you can only pick from 3 restuarants. Are the menus still limited? Is the reserved seating section worth paying extra insted of waiting in line. My DW, DS4 and DSis and her DH, DS6 and DS10 will be going in Sept and with young kids not sure we want to wait in line for 90 minutes. All comments are welcome.

 

[danijake]

What happens if you have the dining plan? Do they not accept it, and you just have to pay those prices for your meals, or what?

Also, what if there are no vegetarian options on their set menu??

 

[Tony Toon]

Also, what if there are no vegetarian options on their set menu??

Having spent three weeks in July dining almost exlusively in various Disney restaurants with a vegetarian DD, there was never any problem finding plenty for her to enjoy.

 

[justhat]

What happens if you have the dining plan? Do they not accept it, and you just have to pay those prices for your meals, or what?

Also, what if there are no vegetarian options on their set menu??

I don't know about the dining plan because I have never gotten it, but for your other question, maybe it depends on where you go but I know at HBD there's no 'set menu'. You can order anything you like off their regular menu, you're not limited in your choices. If there's still nothing on their regular menu, most places will not have a problem with leaving the meat of out a dish you want or making something else up. (I'm not a vegetarian, but my friend is and we went to WDW last May and she got tired of veggie burgers after awhile so she started asking for meatless versions of some menu items or asking for a veggie plate, etc.)

 

[2ofUs]

What happens if you have the dining plan? Do they not accept it, and you just have to pay those prices for your meals, or what?

Also, what if there are no vegetarian options on their set menu??

My last trip was just before the dining plan went into effect. However, it is my understanding from reading the boards that - YES - you will have to pay the prices quoted for your meal. The dining plan is for the specified choices and not for special packages. Sorry.

As for the vegetarian meals, WDW does everything they can to accommodate dining needs. If there is nothing amoung the selections that pleases your vegetarian, they will make something else - and that is a promise.

During the planning stages of one of my past trips I mentioned a need for reduced sodium & butters. Mind you, this was not a request but simply a comment to the CM. Apparently she made a note of it on the particular PS I was making through her. To my surprise and delight, months later during our trip we were seated in that restaurant and the CHEF came over to ask if he could be of assistance in helping me select a low-sodium, low-butter food item from the menu or if he could prepare something to my needs.

Being taken back (and a bit embarrassed) by the fuss, I had to think quickly and asked him just to prepare me something he thought I would enjoy that included lots of vegies and some chicken. He did a wonderful dish especially for me and then came back out AFTER our meal to make sure I was pleased! Wow, now that is what I call service - with a smile!

 

[Raquelvp]

I already have a reservation for Sept 29th at Hollywood & Vine which was booked at the 90 day mark.

I called yesterday (day35) and tried to book/rebook and was told that the new policy was that the dinner package could only be booked up until
4:30 pm. I was also told that in the past you could book at later time, but that now this was no longer the case.


We have 2 kids ages 4 & 7 and were planning on having an early day at the park, return to our hotel aboroud 2-3 pm for a short rest and then come back for dinner and the show around 5:30-6:30 pm.

Does anyone know about this new policy, or should I keep trying and hope I talk with a differnt person for the bookings?????

NEED TO KNOW ASAP...day 30 is now only 4 days away ( and from what I have read on this thread the 30 day mark is the time to book for a later time)

thanks to anyone that may have the answer.

 

[justhat]

I would try calling back as what one CM says is rarely what another CM will say. They are often pretty uninformed about policies like that so 1 might hear something to that effect but another one might say they're wrong. A question though, what time is Fantasmic the night you're doing the package? I know the latest dining time is affected by the time of Fantasmic so maybe if it's earlier that night that's why the latest meal is 4:30. Sounds early since it will probably still be light out till about 7:30 or so that time of year, but maybe not.

 

[Redbudlover]

I was able to book at 5:40 for Oct 2 at the Brown Derby - they said this was the latest time I could book.
redbudlover

 

[2ofUs]

I agree with the suggestion above that you try another CM as they often will provide different answers.

But I also would encourage you not to stress too much over this. If 4:30 is the latest you can get, go with the flow. Take your afternoon break a little earlier, eat at 4:30 and then hit some rides before the show. This is actually a very good time for rides as many people are trying to dine at 5:30-7:00 so the lines can be substantially shorter. Really, an hour or so doesn't make that much difference.

In our experience, we find that by having an early morning breakfast (7-7:30) and a late morning lunch (11:30 or so) we are definately ready for dinner by 4:30-5:00!

Planning a trip, for me, is at least half the fun of our vacation so I can appreciate your wanting everything perfect. You set out a basic plan - know which parks to hit and when - set your PS times - get the best prices you can on hotels and park passes - then you go forth and enjoy. Sometimes the best things about a trip are the little unplanned surprises. You'll have a wonderful time because after all in the grand scheme of things, IT'S DISNEY WORLD - how could life get any better?

 

[Tricialiv]

Last year we had a PS for Hollywood and Vine for 4pm. That was the latest they would allow me to make at 90 days the time. But I called that that day and moved to to 6 or something I can't remember without any problems. Good luck getting what you are looking for!

 

[vfair]

But what I'd really like to know is does anyone know what the special menu consists of? Is there a list somewhere so we don't have problems when we get there? I'll be at MM on 10/23 - have done this several times. Seems like last year we had a special menu but from the sound of this, maybe not.

Thanks

 

[2ofUs]

But what I'd really like to know is does anyone know what the special menu consists of? Is there a list somewhere so we don't have problems when we get there? I'll be at MM on 10/23 - have done this several times. Seems like last year we had a special menu but from the sound of this, maybe not.

Thanks

HBD has no set menu - you can order off the regular menu. H&V is a buffett so you can eat your fill. Mama Melrose offers a flat bread appetizer, choice of a couple (maybe 3) pasta type dishes, salad and a dessert. We had eaten there earlier in the week so we choose HBD (my favorite) at went without the dinner package.

If you want, call WDW-DINE and ask them for either the list of foods on the package or the phone number for Mama Melrose. I am sure they can answer your questions.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Actually with the package at Mama Melrose's your entree choices are the same as what you get on the regular menu. So with Mama Melorose's you get:

Flatbread
Salad served family style
Choice of Entree (same as regular menu)
Choice of Dessert (same as regular menu)
At least this was our experience.

 

[Marthasor]

Forgive me if I am relaying redundant information. I just called Disney Dining reservations and my CM told me that the Fantasmic Dinner package is now included in the Disney Dining plan. He said they made the change about a week ago. That was good news to me! Again, forgive me if I'm just reiterating a previous post, but thought I would pass it along just in case!

 

[skbasnett]

Forgive me if I am relaying redundant information. I just called Disney Dining reservations and my CM told me that the Fantasmic Dinner package is now included in the Disney Dining plan. He said they made the change about a week ago. That was good news to me! Again, forgive me if I'm just reiterating a previous post, but thought I would pass it along just in case!

I called for clients both today and yesterday and I was told both times that it is NOT included in the dining package. Hmmmm...wonder what the truth is here.

 

[Marthasor]

I called for clients both today and yesterday and I was told both times that it is NOT included in the dining package. Hmmmm...wonder what the truth is here.

I know. I got an e-mail later today from my AAA TA saying it was NOT included as well. I am thinking now the CM thought I was talking about the Candlelight Processional dinner package - two VERY different events (pluse my family is Jewish, so we weren't really planning on going to that!!! ) And I just got off the phone with another CM who said it is only included in the PREMIUM MYW plan. Sorry to relay that first bit of false info.

Boy - good thing I double checked, I would have been VERY upset to have made the Fantasmic Dinner res. to find out I had to pay more $$ on top of the dining plan.

Anybody think it is worth to skip the dining plan altogether and make sure we get seats at Fantasmic by getting the Fantasmic dinner package? Or just go to Brown Derby (hopefully) on the dining plan and wait in line for seats we may not get? We are going from 12/14 - 12/18.

Again, sorry for the misinformation

 

[icebaby]

I also called today to see if the rumor was true about fantasmic dinner pkge now part of the MYW dining plan. A very helpful CM looked it up and then verified with his CM boss while I was put on hold that it is NOT part of the MYW dining plan. I have made ressies for it anyway and maybe oh maybe will get a very nice CM waiter/waitress who will allow the MYW sit-down dining tickets. If not, I'll use the Disney Visa Reward Card.

 

[BBGirl]

I also called today to see if the rumor was true about fantasmic dinner pkge now part of the MYW dining plan. A very helpful CM looked it up and then verified with his CM boss while I was put on hold that it is NOT part of the MYW dining plan. I have made ressies for it anyway and maybe oh maybe will get a very nice CM waiter/waitress who will allow the MYW sit-down dining tickets. If not, I'll use the Disney Visa Reward Card.

We were allowed use the MYW dinign plan at H&V in July no problem. It was not supposed to used-we meant for her to charge it to our room as we were told numerous times we could not use the dining plan for the package. That really changed my planning quick. It never hurts to ask. Most people in area around us had no problem using the dining plan either at MM or HBD. Also when you give your KTTW card tell them if you want it to charged to your room and not on the dining plan
HTH
Tina