Fantasmic Dinner Package - Should you order the most expensive items?

[Ratzo]

I booked the Fantasmic Dinner Package for the Brown Derby. Is it a fixed price or does it depend on what you order? If it's a fixed price, does it make sense to order the most expensive items on the menu?

Side question: There's a burger on the Lunch menu that's not on the dinner menu. Has anyone been able to order it for dinner upon request?

 

[loves to dive]

I believe it's a fixed price. I wouldn't pay attention to the prices on the menu and just order what I wanted. I've never tried to order off the menu.

 

[IrishNYC]

Personally, I don't care whether it's a fixed price, if the "most expensive item" isn't something I'd eat, I'm not going to order it.

 

[AngiTN]

I booked the Fantasmic Dinner Package for the Brown Derby. Is it a fixed price or does it depend on what you order? If it's a fixed price, does it make sense to order the most expensive items on the menu?

Side question: There's a burger on the Lunch menu that's not on the dinner menu. Has anyone been able to order it for dinner upon request?

Only if it's what you want to eat. I simply don't understand that logic. Why would you order something simply based on it's cost? Why not order what you want to eat?

 

[Hopefully]

I agree with the PP. I order what I want to eat regardless of the price. That is the best value to me

 

[JZCubed]

I booked the Fantasmic Dinner Package for the Brown Derby. Is it a fixed price or does it depend on what you order? If it's a fixed price, does it make sense to order the most expensive items on the menu?

Side question: There's a burger on the Lunch menu that's not on the dinner menu. Has anyone been able to order it for dinner upon request?

How about if you thought of it this way:

Your FP/Tickets for the Fantasmic! show are $63/each, your meal is Free.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

The Fantasmic Package is fixed price. Dig a bit of digging and according to allears.net the price for the package at Brown Derby is $62.99 for adults. For that price I'd order the most expensive thing that I wanted. That isn't a terrible deal by the way - I'd order something like crab cakes and filet and that's $65 before drink and dessert.

 

[Lisa F]

When I was on the DxDDP I sometimes ordered the more expensive thing because it was a better value, but only when I was between a few things I wanted anyway. I would not order purely based on price. That said it would be highly unlikely I'd choose the $18 cobb salad when I'm paying $63 for a prix fixe meal. I would do that OOP someday, maybe in the lounge at a different point in the trip if I really wanted it.

 

[whitney250]

You're going to pay the fixed price regardless.... just order what sounds good to you, whether that's the most expensive or least expensive item.

 

[Ratzo]

I think most people here are missing a big point. Nobody is suggesting you force-feed yourself something that's expensive, but undesired.

Perhaps you're planning your day at the Hollywood. Maybe you intend to have your main meal during lunch at the 50's Prime Time Café and a light dinner at the Brown Derby. Maybe a cobb salad is all you want. Maybe the idea of spending almost $50 for the Charred Filet of Beef, while you would enjoy it immensely, seems excessive cost-wise. A big lunch at half the price is generally a good idea. However, if you're doing the fantasmic dinner package, there's no reason NOT to splurge. You get an Appetizer, Entrée, Dessert. Unless there's NOTHING on the menu you like, it's foolish to NOT get it. Unless I'm missing something?

 

[IrishNYC]

I think most people here are missing a big point. Nobody is suggesting you force-feed yourself something that's expensive, but undesired.

Perhaps you're planning your day at the Hollywood. Maybe you intend to have your main meal during lunch at the 50's Prime Time Café and a light dinner at the Brown Derby. Maybe a cobb salad is all you want. Maybe the idea of spending almost $50 for the Charred Filet of Beef, while you would enjoy it immensely, seems excessive cost-wise. A big lunch at half the price is generally a good idea. However, if you're doing the fantasmic dinner package, there's no reason NOT to splurge. You get an Appetizer, Entrée, Dessert. Unless there's NOTHING on the menu you like, it's foolish to NOT get it. Unless I'm missing something?

But your original question asked " If it's a fixed price, does it make sense to order the most expensive items on the menu?" The answer is still "not if you aren't going to eat it." I don't eat much beef, so no, I'm not going to order the beef just because it's the most expensive thing on the menu. I don't care what time of day it is, or what else I've eaten that day. It's not a good value if you don't want it.

 

[Lisa F]

I think most people here are missing a big point. Nobody is suggesting you force-feed yourself something that's expensive, but undesired.

Perhaps you're planning your day at the Hollywood. Maybe you intend to have your main meal during lunch at the 50's Prime Time Café and a light dinner at the Brown Derby. Maybe a cobb salad is all you want. Maybe the idea of spending almost $50 for the Charred Filet of Beef, while you would enjoy it immensely, seems excessive cost-wise. A big lunch at half the price is generally a good idea. However, if you're doing the fantasmic dinner package, there's no reason NOT to splurge. You get an Appetizer, Entrée, Dessert. Unless there's NOTHING on the menu you like, it's foolish to NOT get it. Unless I'm missing something?

I get what you are saying.

if you care at all about value and you just want a cobb salad, maybe the F! package at HBD is not the thing for you. Esp when F! is probably the easiest of all Tier 1 FP+ to get as a 4th FP+ late in the day.

If you care about value enough to come ask on a Disney planning board about it then yes, I would advise that you plan to do this meal when you can take the opportunity to splurge. You break about even if you order one of the $11 apps and a $37 entree (seems middle of the road between salad and pho at one end and filet at the other) and assuming dessert is worth about $10 and a drink is worth about $3. You won't lose money if you don't order the most expensive thing on the menu but you will if you order the cheapest stuff. How much you care about that is up to you

 

[Ratzo]

But your original question asked " If it's a fixed price, does it make sense to order the most expensive items on the menu?" The answer is still "not if you aren't going to eat it." I don't eat much beef, so no, I'm not going to order the beef just because it's the most expensive thing on the menu. I don't care what time of day it is, or what else I've eaten that day. It's not a good value if you don't want it.

If someone asks if they should order the chicken and shrimp teriyaki at Epcot's Japan pavilion, do you reply, "Not if you're allergic to shellfish." Do you really need to remind people not to eat things they don't like? It's a silly assumption on your part.

 

[Ratzo]

I get what you are saying.

if you care at all about value and you just want a cobb salad, maybe the F! package at HBD is not the thing for you. Esp when F! is probably the easiest of all Tier 1 FP+ to get as a 4th FP+ late in the day.

Or, you could plan accordingly and not do something silly like pay for the package and show up to the Brown Derby on a full stomach, which is the answer I was looking for.

 

[Lisa F]

Or, you could plan accordingly and not do something silly like pay for the package and show up to the Brown Derby on a full stomach, which is the answer I was looking for.

well would you show up to a $63 meal ANYWHERE on a full stomach?

I did that for the jingle bell jingle bam dessert party but luckily my booze belly was empty even while my food belly was full, so I got some value for it. Not one of my brighter moves but it corresponded with a DIS meetup and was still a highlight of the trip even though I barely ate anything.

 

[Hopefully]

If someone asks if they should order the chicken and shrimp teriyaki at Epcot's Japan pavilion, do you reply, "Not if you're allergic to shellfish." Do you really need to remind people not to eat things they don't like? It's a silly assumption on your part.

Or, you could plan accordingly and not do something silly like pay for the package and show up to the Brown Derby on a full stomach, which is the answer I was looking for.

You come to the DIS, you ask a poorly worded question to which you knew the answer you wanted (?), and you berate those that answered and tried to help you - not nice at all!!!

 

[IrishNYC]

Or, you could plan accordingly and not do something silly like pay for the package and show up to the Brown Derby on a full stomach, which is the answer I was looking for.

If you knew the answer you wanted, why did you bother asking?

 

[LeeAnn]

We do the Fantasmic Dinner Package at Mama Melrose. Yet to do it HBD.
We usually order the steak. It's one of the most expensive item there and we enjoy it very much.
I would save the pasta dish for another night.
To get your money worth, order the the most expensive that you like to eat and it's a better deal.
Haven't seen the menu at HBD in a while but Im sure it's a treat, have fun and enjoy.

 

[Figment Mom]

Your first question about fixed price is crystal clear. The second question is clearly not.

 

[Ratzo]

Your first question about fixed price is crystal clear. The second question is clearly not.

Second question: "If it's a fixed price, does it make sense to order the most expensive items on the menu?" The answer is an unequivocal yes. A clear question with a clear answer.