Fantasmic Dinner Package or not?

[jehma]

We want to attend Fantasmic on Sunday, 2/27 at 7PM. This is at the very end of Presidents' Week, so I think the volume should start to thin out since most people have to leave to get the kids back to school (unless they're like us and keeping them out a couple of days after vacation!). Oh, and we're resort guests and that's a late night for MGM (which has a regular closing time of 7).

I made reservations at Mama Melrose (Hollywood & Vine not available) for the FDP, but I'm thinking of cancelling since I would much rather eat at the Sci-Fi Dine In or 50s Prime Time Cafe and we want to eat at Italy in Epcot a different night. However, I really want to see Fantasmic. We skipped it last time we were at the park. With 3 kids (12, 9, 5), I don't want to spend too much time on line waiting.

Anyone want to hazard a guess for how early we'll need to line up if we skip the dinner package? Anyone want to share when they lined up without the package?

Thanks!

Elizabeth

 

[MarkLem]

We went to MGM on a slow day end of last week. MGM was slow, but Fantasmic was packed. Even if there are 1/2 the number of people at MGM as compared to a busy time, that's still 4-8 times more people than can fit into the Fantasmic stadium, and they only run one show a night. We did the package and were glad we did. With 9, 7, 3 year olds, we arrived at 6:30 for 7:00 show and were able to sit almost all the way towards center of the reserved seating. The rest of the free area seating was jammed with only a few left at the far far end.

Depends on how good of seats you want. For the seats we got, i would say you would have to get there 1 1/2 hours before showtime to get equivalent seating. If you don' mind sitting at the far end or standing then 30 minutes would do.

Just an opinion

 

[xterratri]

We did the package on the coldest day of the winter so far in Florida(Dec 20) and I am very glad that we could enter at 1830 for a 1900 show with decent seats. The dinner at Mama Melrose's was excellent, they packaged up the desserts in a to go box for us because no one had room after appetizer, salad, and entree. A plus at that time was it put us right by Osborne Festival of Lights so we did dinner, the lights, watched Fantasmic, and boogied. I had planned on hopping to MK for the Parade but even being from up in the frozen north, we were chilled after sitting.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

We went the sunday before Thanksgiving and got quite a good seat in the section to the left of the middle section. We got in around 6:15 and it was starting to fill up quick after that. We got food right there to eat and just relaxed before the show.
Now, we are going at the end of April and I don't think we will be that lucky so we are either thinking about getting the package or just getting there earlier and eating a wrap or something for dinner while we wait. We are also going to go to the later show hoping that it will be a little better.
It's only my husband and myself so it is easy to sit and wait. I don't think I would do that with kids.

 

[Harambe]

I'd keep the PS at Mama Melrose! This is more of an Italian bistro place, compared to Alfredo's whcih is classic Italian, so I think you'll get two different meal experiences.

Could you get a seating for the Brown Derby?

 

[jehma]

Thanks, everyone for your responses! I think I'll keep the reservation. Harambe - there were spots at Brown Derby, but I thought Mama Melrose would be better for the kids. I think the H&V buffet would be even better for them (even if we would enjoy MM more), so I may try to switch if there's a cancellation.

Elizabeth