Fantasmic Dinner package question

[lovemy3girls]

Hi! I am in a dilemma. We had a reservation for Mama Melrose for Aug. 29th. This is the only day we will be able to see Fantasmic so I decided to call and try to change my ressie to the Fantasmic dinner package. Well, there was no availability at Mama Melrose for the package, so I am stuck with Hollywood and Vine. They also had availability at Brown Derby, which would eat up 2 of our dining credits. What would you guys do? Mama Melrose w/ no dinner package and then just wing it for seats (we have a 1 year old so I was trying to avoid too long of a wait), Hollywood and Vine w/ package, OR is Brown Derby really worth 2 credits with the dinner package? Is Hollywood and Vine really that terrible? I would love any opinions you all have. Thank you!!!

 

[Get me to Disney!]

As for us, we did Mama Melrose in Sept. It was good but we decided we would try Hollywood and Vine. I have decided that reading these posts can sometimes not help - what I mean is that others love Boma and none of the six of us liked it. So, even though lots of people say IX NAY on the H and Vine, we are going to try it. I am sure Brown Derby is amazing but I like to use my 2 Credits on two different meals, not one. Unless it's on a character meal

 

[mom2maggie]

We did the Brown Derby for the Fantasmic package and we weren't impressed, so it wasn't worth it for us, and we were on the DxDP!

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Is Brown Derby worth a try or should I skip the package and just line up sometime after an early dinner at 50s Prime Time (where I want to eat)?

Our plan is to go to HS for the afternoon and evening on a weekday during the 1st full week of Dec. 2010 and it will not be an extra magic hours night. If no package, I expect I'll need to arrive about 60 minutes early, with package 35 minutes early. I don't care if we sit in the back as long as we get in. Last year (end of Oct.) we were about 10 rows from the back and arrived only 35 minutes before show time.

On another day, I was planning on SciFi for lunch but have been there before and could do 50s Prime Time for that lunch instead. We ate at SciFi last year anyway. Brown Derby just doesn't get the super positive reviews as other signature restaurants. On the other hand, we are doing the deluxe dining plan so we will have plenty of credits.

I just found out the fantasmic dinner package is only these 3 restaurants - Mama Melrose, Hollywood and Vine, Brown Derby. Been to Mama Melrose before and it was OK, we want to do something different... H & V was like a cheap buffet for dinner in 2008, lunch in 2009 was no better but we went for the characters.

 

[Pakey]

We do Brown Derby but pay OOP. I do not think it's worth 2 credits.

 

[lesterhd]

Several posters do not like H and V, but we ate there for lunch last year and really liked it. In fact, we are eating there again this year for lunch. My daughter was 4 at the time and they had plenty of things for her to eat. They also have a dessert bar that is very good.
We always do MM for our Fantasmic package. Personally, I don't think it's any better than H and V, but we like to do it for dinner and H and V for lunch (characters). Good luck with your decision.

 

[drcandon]

We ran in to the same thing with the Fantasmic package and MM. Finally we got informed they try not to do this combination any more because of timing problems..Yea I can see it if you have a 6 or later reservation.

Now I know you don't get the Fantasmic reserved seats without the package, but honestly sometimes those seats are not that great (depending on when you get there).

So, option is just to book MM early say 4 or so, then after just go directly to the theater. You should still get decent seats.

 

[pinkpixie0920]

I never ate at mama melrose or Hollywood and Vine but I have at Brown Derby. I thought the food was good but the service that night was terrible. But I am sure it was just that night. If I had to pick and really wanted the Fantasmic package I think it is worth 2 credits. That is just my opinion though.

 

[lovemy3girls]

Thank you all for your responses. So, if we choose to pay OOP for Brown Derby, how does it work? Is it a set price per person? If so, what is included in that price-appetizer, entree, and dessert? I did a search but couldn't find a straight answer. Thanks, I am still not sure what to do! I am just not excited about H & V. It doesn't seem to have the Disney Magic that we look for in our dining choices at WDW. But, I want the Dinner pkg! Any more opinions?.....

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I believe these are the set prices for the Fantasmic Dinner Package:

Hollywood Brown Derby at $50.05 for ages 10 and up, $12.77 for ages 3-9

Mama Melrose at $35.14 for ages 10 and up, $12.77 for ages 3-9

Hollywood & Vine at $33.04 for ages 10 and up, $17.03 for ages 3-9​

From my experience, Hollywood & Vine is okay, but nothing special. Mama Melrose is great. And the Hollywood Brown Derby is not that good lately. It was great back in 2003, but every visit since has not been up to par.

I would skip the Fantasmic Dinner Package unless I could get Mama Melrose. In fact, with a one year old, you may want to skip Fantasmic altogether. It might be a little scary for a child that young. I would keep calling to try for Mama Melrose. If nothing opens up, I would wing it.

 

[lark]

If my choice were between:

1) Hollywood and Vine FDP for 1 TS credit each;

2) Brown Derby FDP for 2 TS credits or $50/$17 per person OOP; or

3) Mama Melrose regular ADR; wait in regular line for Fantasmic

I would choose 1. None of the food at any of these places is good enough to worry about a huge quality difference, IMO. I just don't see the difference between Mama Melrose and H&V as worth waiting in the general Fantasmic line if it's a busy time of year. (I don't know how busy Aug 29 would be.) Also, if you're planning to use the DDP for a regular ADR at Mama Melrose, you might want to check what you get with that. When using a credit for the FDP, you can get a full 3-course meal, but might not be able to do so when using a DDP credit for just a regular ADR.

 

[BamaBornNemoNut]

Today was my 180 day mark and as I had feared, there were no spots for Mama Melroses and I opted to go with Hollywood Brown Derby and pay OOP. The CM quoted the same price as above, but I'm curious as what this will include. Has anyone had a recent Fantasmic Dining Package @ HBD? Please share what the price included.

TIA

 

[disneyworldaddict]

We ate at HV for the dinner package and it was ok. It was very much like CP in MK. The food was average, not horrible but not great either. We did it for the package, which made it worth it to us. Peoples' opinions are very subjective, but I doubt anyone would rave about HV. Some people like Boma and some don't, but its at least a little more unique than HV. Either you go there with no expectations of a delicious meal, and get the dinner package, ot chose a nice place to eat and wait on line for Fantasmic. We won't it there again, because we saw Fantasmic, and if we want to see it again we'll just try to get in as it gets close to showtime. But it was worth eating there when we had never seen the show and really wanted to get in.

 

[laughterkt]

We have a Fantasmic Dinner package reserved at H and V. I was curious as to the prices that were quoted.....is that just for the dinner part and you pay extra for the show? If you pay extra, how much is the show and when do you pay for that? We reserved it with our credit card, but no one told us prices.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

We have a Fantasmic Dinner package reserved at H and V. I was curious as to the prices that were quoted.....is that just for the dinner part and you pay extra for the show? If you pay extra, how much is the show and when do you pay for that? We reserved it with our credit card, but no one told us prices.

The fantasmic show is free with or without the package. The package gets you reserved seating.... which really means your line to enter fantasmic will be shorter. We did the package twice. At dinner, you will get a special pass for each person dining on the package. That pass gets you in the special entrance and there is reserved seating (no better or worse than the non-reserved seating). We were fine to line up to enter 30-45 minutes before the show. But sometime around 30 minutes before, the reserved seating is opened up to anyone. I suggest 45 minutes before. Most people recommend lining up a LOT earlier 1 to 2 hours+ before the show if you do NOT have the package.

The package prices might be different, you might want to call back and check. But the package includes appetizer, entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic drink. You will pay when you dine, the credit card is a guarantee in case you don't show up.

By the way, I really disliked Hollywood and Vine and I'm not a picky eater. The food was like a very cheap budget buffet with limited variety. Brown Derby was MUCH better, although a little more expensive too.

You can take food into fantasmic too.... so you could always take your desserts with you. There's also popcorn, snacks, and drinks (including alcohol) for sale at booths right outside fantasmic. We get popcorn and the frozen lemonade.

 

[laughterkt]

thanks for your response. I am not sure if it is too late to change where we are eating dinner for the package. We are going in July. I am nervous now about eating at H and V. Seems like a lot of negative reviews. Good to know we won't have to wait in line as long since we have a 3 an 1/2 year old!!! and I am sure she will be really TIRED by that point!!!!

 

[MHSweb79]

As for the "show," the dining packages just get you access to a reserved seating area inside the theater. It means less waiting in line, but you still need to show up at least 30 minutes before the show. There have been reports (not lately, though) of CM's opening up the reserved seating area to everyone at a certain point before showtime, when crowds are huge. So if you're not in and seated, you're out of luck, despite having paid for the package.

Now, we did the Fantasmic package at MM and that night the show was cancelled (thunder & lightning moved in just before showtime). When this happens, you are out of luck- you do not get a ticket for another night or any kind of refund. Just so you know!

Not trying to be a downer - just trying to point out the realities of purchasing this package. There are no guarantees.

 

[DisneyFamily123]

Now, we did the Fantasmic package at MM and that night the show was cancelled (thunder & lightning moved in just before showtime). When this happens, you are out of luck- you do not get a ticket for another night or any kind of refund. Just so you know!
.

That possibility is why we do fantasmic early in our vacation if possible, so we can come back again. But fantasmic is definitely a one of a kind, great experience. DS did fantasmic at age 4 and 5 and was in awe of the show. It is so much better than plain old fireworks. The fantasmic package is the way to go.

And our experience is based on non-busy times of the year. July is busy. The package is a good idea.

We had dinner at Hollywood and Vine in 2008, lunch there in 2009, and breakfast in 2010. The only reason we did lunch in 2009 was for the characters. The food is OK.... if you are just looking for food. But it is nothing special and very plain. I wouldn't say it is "bad" or "inedible" but there are many nice places in Disney to eat, I won't go back to there except for breakfast with the characters.

We like breakfast there for the characters... but there are better places to eat in Hollywood Studios for lunch and dinner. Brown Derby was very nice - been there for lunch and dinner but it's more expensive. 50s Prime Time is our favorite, love the little bit of kidding around, the food is very filling and delicious, and the milkshakes are awesome. The food at SciFi Diner is good, not great.... but it's fun for DS to sit in the cars and watch the SciFi film shorts.

 

[Lisa Sox Fan]

I was wondering if you can get MM ressie for lunch with the Fantasmic package. I thought I read somewhere you could but everyone keeps mentioning dinner. I was just wondering because that would actually be better for me and then we could go back and take a nap with DD 4 yrs old and come back later and either grab a quick bite at Pop before heading back to DHS or grab a QS at DHS before the show. Has anyone tried that? Is it tough to get lunch at MM?

 

[DisneyFamily123]

I was wondering if you can get MM ressie for lunch with the Fantasmic package. I thought I read somewhere you could but everyone keeps mentioning dinner. I was just wondering because that would actually be better for me and then we could go back and take a nap with DD 4 yrs old and come back later and either grab a quick bite at Pop before heading back to DHS or grab a QS at DHS before the show. Has anyone tried that? Is it tough to get lunch at MM?

The only way to know for sure is to call and see what's available. I can't remember but in either 2009 or 2010, they had fantasmic package lunch times. But the fantasmic package times were all odd times. My understanding is this is how they fill some of the less popular times to eat. So lunches were late lunches (2-3pm or something like that) and dinners were early - around 4pm.