Fantasmic Dinner package worth it?

[marriedmarylander]

It seems kind of expensive and you only save about 30 minutes of waiting to get in for the show. What time does Fantasmic start anyway?

 

[Tinkim]

I think this depends on what time of the year you are going. My kids and I went to Fantasmic a week and a half ago and we did the package. We had never seen Fantasmic though and I didn't know what to expect and didn't want to end up without a seat. Also the idea of waiting around for 1+ hours to get a seat without the package was less than appealing. I used my Disney Rewards card for the dinner so I felt like it was "free" money. I think we could have gotten a seat without the package but I didn't regret doing it. I think if you are going during a historically busy time it might be a good idea if you don't like arriving so early to get a seat but other than that it is probably not neccessary.

 

[mitros]

Everytime someone brings this subject up, I have to put my 2 cents in. Way back when Fantasmic first opened, you did not have to buy an expensive meal package like you have to do today to get in the back door. You were able to get a sandwich or salad at lunch at any of the Disney/MGM restaurants, and get a Fantasmic back door early entry ticket. Disney realized that this would be a gold mine for them if they just forced folks to spend more money on meals to get that ticket. Thus, the Fantasmic Dinner package was born. It is a great show, but to us, not worth the pushing and shoving of bodies to get as many as possible into the stadium, to go again.

 

[Gupsmom]

I guess it depends on your perspective.

This is the way we look at it. We need to eat anyway. Hollywood and Vine is basically the same cost as any other Disney buffet. We also don't want to wait 75-90 minutes with 3 young kids and we LOVE Fantasmic.

Some people don't mind waiting and some people can't or don't want to spend that much money on a meal.

Jess

 

[marriedmarylander]

We are going in May. I can't find any pricing information though. Do you have to call to get the price?

 

[debbiedoo]

I have done the Fant pacage but will not be on my upcoming trip. They do not allow you to use DDE on the package--and there are two showings on several nights we are going to be down.

Hollywood and Vine 21.99 per adult and 9.99 child(oct 2004)non-alcholic drinks included--buffett

Brown and Derby 36.99 per adult and no kind of drinks included. Three course meal--I think the child's is 10.99 here

not sure about Mama melroses's ----anyone???

 

[Tinkaroo]

We're scheduled to do this for the first time in April. We're booked at the Brown Derby, and for $36.99, it seems like a good deal to me. What I want off the menu would cost me more than $36.99 if I made a regular PS there. And, it's a bonus that I don't have to wait in line - nothing I hate more.

 

[drusba]

The price of the food is the price you pay (you are not paying any extra for getting into Fantasmic) and Hollywood & Vine is not a bad choice for buffet and avoiding the higher price for others on the dinner package list. Whether it is needed depends. For example, mentioned above is that someone is going when they will have two Fantasmics every night. That likely means during Easter time. The only way you will get into the first Fantasmic during that time without a dinner package is to get in line about 75 minutes or more before the show starts; line up later than that and you risk never getting in. However, if you are able to wait for the second show, that one never fills and will still be a walk-in up to show time. Many other times of year when there is usually only one Fantasmic in the evening usually means you still need to go early without a dinner package but probably can get in just by getting there about the same 30 minute lead time that you are likely to use on the dinner package.

 

[Disneyof3]

We went this past Feb.9 and we went to the last Beauty and the Beast show at 5:30. Thinking that after the 30 min show we would be right outside the doors to Fantasmic. During the waiting of the show to start my son and husband had to leave and go the bathroom. When my husband came back he said the line up for Fantasmic was right infront of the Beauty and the Beast stairs already. BATB hadn't even started yet. When the show was over we headed over and the line up was gone and people were heading in and they were all practically running to get seats. I ran ahead of my husband and got seats for all 5 of us and they were good and about 5 from the top of the theatre. But after sitting there for over an hour waiting for Fantasmic to start the place was jammed pack. I looked to my right and saw where the restaurant people sit and the seats weren't that bad at all. The thing is if you really want good seats even with the package you should get there 1 hour before the show. I was told I really didn't need the pkg. for Feb. and I couldn't believe the people that were there. Can't imagine in the busier seasons.

The 5 of us

 

[joshsmom]

We did this last January--I know, we didn't have to, I just wanted to try it. I was disappointed with MM, I think the food just wasn't our taste. However, I LOVED the fact that we could walk up 1/2 an hour before the show and sit down. That was SO nice. We had great seats and we weren't sitting there all that time. This time we are doing H&V and are very excited about the buffet there. Never eaten there before, so it will be a new experience. We are going in May and the night we've chosen to see it there is only 1 show. We LOVE Fantasmic and feel that the package is very worth our while! Good luck deciding!!

 

[debbiedoo]

I will be down durin Memorial day weekend. They have two shows on the following:

May 27, 28, 29, and 31--every day except for the holiday!!

Are you are correct!! I am having the brown and derby for lunch taking a rest at the BCV and going back for the 2nd fantastmic!! Boy you are good!!

 

[Baloo]

We did the dinner package this past Oct. and I thought it was GREAT! We ate at Mama Melrose's and loved the food! We had several different things to choose from,more than I had read about online.What we ordered would have been more without the package so it was totally worth for us! Walking in half hour before showtime to a packed theater and getting 3rd row seats was wonderful! Mama Melrose is $28.99 adult/$9.99 child.

 

[Sk8Leigh]

I've seen Fantasmic three times, each time using the dinner package (although the first time was in 1999 before they had the formal package in place; I just got a pass for having a salad at the Brown Derby. That was really great!). I love being able to get there only 30 minutes ahead of time. I would hate having to wait any longer than that--I'd rather be riding something! I think I'll probably always do the dinner package when I go.

With the actual package, I've eaten at H&V both times. I love their desserts! Very tasty, plus soft serve ice cream.

 

[kimwim8]

Try this site...It gives an idea of the menus & prices for the different restaurants involved:

http://allearsnet.com/din/fantdin1.htm

We're going to try the Hollywood & Vine package for the first time in December (first time to see Fantasmic too).

 

[tomerin]

since we travel in july if i can find a way to aoid waiting in that hot sun i am gonna take it. we planned to eat out anyway and picked H&V so when i realized that the fantasmic package wasnt an added cost of course i jumped on it.

we ate a good meal, a bit too good, then walked behind the scenes a bit to the stadium and into the seating section on the side. I was a bit concerned about where we were seated but after the show started i realized te seats were just fine.

good meal, great show with no wait. excellent way to end a perfect day at WDW

 

[Msslaydbug]

We are going in May and we will have our daughter who will be 8 months then. I can't imagine sitting there for 60+ minutes while trying to keep her entertained. I have enjoyed reading everyones comments and think we have made the right choice !!

 

[aubriee]

When we went in January we did the Fantasmic Pkg at H&V. The theater was packed that night and we walked right in and got excellent seats about 30 minutes before the show. I would have hated to be in that mass of people that were fighting their way in the main entrance. I'm going back in May and have the pkg for Mama Melrose.

It's true that H&V costs the same with or without the Pkg, but Mama Melrose is cheaper with the Pkg. At MM for $28.99 you get a salad, flat bread, entree, and dessert. Seperately those are over $30.00plus. You've got to eat anyway, why not do the Pkg and avoid long lines? There is also the fact that the people sitting in the reserved section get out faster when the show is over.

 

[sters]

We went in November during the infamous "Jersey Week" and got the package. The dinner times set aside for the package are so early, like between 3:00 and 4:00, and you are required to pay whether it rains or shines. And it rained. And rained and rained. If the show is cancelled, you still have to pony up for the meal. We were lucky that the show wasn't cancelled, but we didn't know for sure at the time. When it rains, no one is in any particular hurry to vacate Hollywood and Vine, as it is a buffet. So we waited and waited and waited for our table. Outside. In the rain. Because there is so little inside waiting area. We couldn't go on any attractions in case they called our table. Yeah, we lingered over our meal, too. I was soaked and cranky and really needed to unwind. Besides, we had eaten a late breakfast but skipped lunch because of the early PS. Only now it wasn't early. Wet and hungry is an unholy mix!!! The dinner was great, so was the drink service. I very much enjoyed my meal and would definitely recommend Hollywood and Vine! By the time we finished eating, there wasn't enough time to do much because most things at the Disney Studios are timed attractions and we missed the boat. Sure, you could go on Tower of Terror and Rock n Roller Coaster, but I had small kids so that wasn't an option. Long story short, we still ended up waiting around, because there wasn't anything to do and we wanted to see if the show would go on. Had it been cancelled, I would have hot-footed it back to the hotel. I should have just done standby since, technically, I was just standing by anyway. The reserved seating is to the right of the stage and there was PLENTY of seating available, I'm sure because of the rain. I could have walked in 5 minutes before the show in standby and gotten front and center. I would have thought that the reserved seating would have been the BEST seating, but that is not the case. I was scowling over the irony of all this, miserable in my soaking wet underwear. I didn't enjoy the show as much as I should have.. and I SHOULD have because it is an excellent show. My point in all of this is had I NOT been locked by the dinner package, I would have picked another night for Fantasmic and used my park time more productively. All I accomplished in 5 hours was dinner, one attraction, and Fantasmic. I doubt I would do the Fantasmic package again. (I guess this was not a long story short.)

 

[Sk8Leigh]

One thing...all of the reservation times are not so early. I think my time in November was maybe 5:30pm? Or maybe even 6:30pm. I think it was almost time to go to Fantasmic when we got out. I think they might only have the early times when you call far in advance to make your reservation, but I called the day before and got the later time. You're taking a chance, though, that there won't be any times remaining, at least for the restaurant you want. I had tried on Saturday to get reservations for that night, but had to make them for Sunday instead because Saturday wasn't available. (This was Super Soap Weekend and I was there for that, so I was going to be in the park both days anyway. As it turned out I probably could have done standby easily, because probably the main crowds that day were watching the concert at SSW at the time, but I'd just rather not chance it.)