Fantasmic Dinner Package!! Yes or no??

[alaskanmommy]

Hi everybody! We (my DH, DD 6, and another family consisting of a DW, DH, DD 8, and DS 4) are going to the World late November early December and are trying to decide if the FDP is worth it!! I would love to hear some reviews of the FDP, especially at Hollywood Brown Derby as that's the one I am thinking of booking. I have heard some not-so-positive words about where you get to sit at Fantasmic. Anyway any opinions or rants or rave reviews will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[jackdis]

Hi alaskanmommy!
Have a great trip! We did the Fantasmic package in March. It was great. We ate at the Brown Derby at 3:50, which was a little early, but ended up being perfect. Late/bigger breakfast and a snack around lunchtime - ice cream, I think - held us over to this meal. After we ate we had time to walk around a bit and get back to the entrance for the package people and find good seats. I think we were in the 3rd or 4th row of our reserved section. We probably got there about an hour before the show. Even while we were waiting, the time went by very quickly, with all the people watching, the wave started in the stands, etc. Great show, too!!

If there's anything specific you want to know, let me know and I'll try my best to respond. I LOVE the Cobb salad there. No one else makes it quite like the Brown Derby. I also had filet mignon and for dessert, the creme brulee. (These were the choices for this package.)

 

[alaskanmommy]

Hi alaskanmommy!
Have a great trip! We did the Fantasmic package in March. It was great. We ate at the Brown Derby at 3:50, which was a little early, but ended up being perfect. Late/bigger breakfast and a snack around lunchtime - ice cream, I think - held us over to this meal. After we ate we had time to walk around a bit and get back to the entrance for the package people and find good seats. I think we were in the 3rd or 4th row of our reserved section. We probably got there about an hour before the show. Even while we were waiting, the time went by very quickly, with all the people watching, the wave started in the stands, etc. Great show, too!!

If there's anything specific you want to know, let me know and I'll try my best to respond. I LOVE the Cobb salad there. No one else makes it quite like the Brown Derby. I also had filet mignon and for dessert, the creme brulee. (These were the choices for this package.)

Thanks Jackdis. How is the seating at Fantasmic? Is it in a good spot?? Do you have to eat at the Brown Derby so early for the package? What are the meal choices? Thanks so much!

 

[QJ411]

DH & I loved the Fantasmic package. When we went, way back in '04 the seating was not bad at all! They had us sit on the right side and the view was perfect (we tried Fantasmic 2 times and both times the seating was great, & the wait was very minimal). We walked through this back lot area to our seats, no wait at all! It worked out great...I think its well worth it! Have a great trip!!!

 

[Blessedx3]

We went the same time last year and couldn't get an ADR for the dinner package so we didn't have it. We waited all of 15 minutes for the show in line and had GREAT seats. Smack dab in the center about 10 rows up. They were great. I was a little worried about not having the package and not being able to get seats but even my DS 1 could see. I don't think you will need the package if you don't want it. Just a thought.

 

[goofygal531]

Yes, the times for dinner for the package are very early. They block off the space. I've tried to make it later, and was told it's not possible.

I also don't think it's necessary to have the package. We've gotten great seats without it.

 

[Topo Bella]

We did the Fantasmic package during our last trip and I was really concerned about it because my parents and my sister and her family were with us. We also ate at the Brown Derby. I was happy with our meal at the Brown Derby, but be warned, take a look at their menu because most of my family just had the steak because nothing else appealed to them.

As for the seating at Fantasmic, I was really glad that I didn't have to wait in the line and I thought the reserved seating area was fine. There are better (more central) seats in the non-reserved area, but I don't think that any of us felt like we missed anything from our seats.

All in all, I think it was worth it and would probably do it again.

 

[KatMark]

We've done with and without it. I think it depends on the time of year, the crowds and if you are doing the first show or the second show (if one is offered). We have done all three restaurants for the package. We refuse to eat at Hollywood & Vine ever again; we were not crazy about Brown Derby (my husband's steak was fatty and bland and he hated the grapefruit cake and I can't even remember what I had...obviously it did not impress me); we have done Mama Melrose's the last two times. Although it is not top of the line, we have always had wonderful service and good meals. We don't mind the seats off to the side with the package as you are one of the first to get out; without the package we have had good seats and so-so seats. I just don't like having to line up 60-90 minutes ahead of the show to sit around when I could be doing other things.

 

[alaskanmommy]

DH & I loved the Fantasmic package. When we went, way back in '04 the seating was not bad at all! They had us sit on the right side and the view was perfect (we tried Fantasmic 2 times and both times the seating was great, & the wait was very minimal). We walked through this back lot area to our seats, no wait at all! It worked out great...I think its well worth it! Have a great trip!!!

Thanks alot QJ411 that view doesn't sound as bad as I have previously read.

We went the same time last year and couldn't get an ADR for the dinner package so we didn't have it. We waited all of 15 minutes for the show in line and had GREAT seats. Smack dab in the center about 10 rows up. They were great. I was a little worried about not having the package and not being able to get seats but even my DS 1 could see. I don't think you will need the package if you don't want it. Just a thought.

Thanks,that's good to know, I was worried that if we didn't get a package we'd have to wait in line a long time.

Yes, the times for dinner for the package are very early. They block off the space. I've tried to make it later, and was told it's not possible.

I also don't think it's necessary to have the package. We've gotten great seats without it.

Thanks goofygal531, I feel better that's it not necessarily a must to get the FDP.

We did the Fantasmic package during our last trip and I was really concerned about it because my parents and my sister and her family were with us. We also ate at the Brown Derby. I was happy with our meal at the Brown Derby, but be warned, take a look at their menu because most of my family just had the steak because nothing else appealed to them.

As for the seating at Fantasmic, I was really glad that I didn't have to wait in the line and I thought the reserved seating area was fine. There are better (more central) seats in the non-reserved area, but I don't think that any of us felt like we missed anything from our seats.

All in all, I think it was worth it and would probably do it again.

Thanks Topo Bella. I would like not to have to wait in line. This is probably one of my main issues in my decision to do this or not.

We've done with and without it. I think it depends on the time of year, the crowds and if you are doing the first show or the second show (if one is offered). We have done all three restaurants for the package. We refuse to eat at Hollywood & Vine ever again; we were not crazy about Brown Derby (my husband's steak was fatty and bland and he hated the grapefruit cake and I can't even remember what I had...obviously it did not impress me); we have done Mama Melrose's the last two times. Although it is not top of the line, we have always had wonderful service and good meals. We don't mind the seats off to the side with the package as you are one of the first to get out; without the package we have had good seats and so-so seats. I just don't like having to line up 60-90 minutes ahead of the show to sit around when I could be doing other things.

Thanks KatMark, I reallydon't want to wait in line for that amount of time either. I appreciate the info.

Thanks for all the great info. I will have to go check out the Brown Derby menu and see what it has. Gotta go.

 

[Katy Belle]

We were there the 2nd week in December last year. We did not have the FDP and had no trouble. Actually, we showed up about 10 minutes before the show and they were saying, "Standing room only." We decided to go ahead and try. We sat 6th row from the front on the left side, not the farthest section either. In other words, pretty good seats! When we went two years earlier in Feb, we showed up 40 min early and sat there and ate our CS meal we'd gotten "to go." We had great seats!

Good luck!
Katy

 

[Cool-Beans]

I vote "No."

On a scale of: Good, Better, Best - the seats you get are in the "Good" section. You can find much better seats on your own.

If it rains, you're out the money you paid.

But if you're planning to eat there anyway, you could just get the package and only sit in the package-seats section if you have to. It isn't like you can't go sit in the better seats if you want to. They're open to everyone.

I don't buy the package.

 

[beattyfamily]

Package isn't really necessary in the off season.

I have never encountered a 'line'; the stadium is open over an hour before the show so your waiting is in your seat.

I have done the package many times and no longer feel it's needed (for end of August, sept, oct, nov, and beginning of dec). I'd rather eat where I want to and enter at about 1 hour to 45 minutes before and get a great seat in the center, about half way back.

The package seats are to the far right and once you hit the 30 minute mark, those seats can and sometimes are opened up to the general public.

Even with the package you should enter at 45 minutes before the show.

 

[frdeb1999]

We really love the package during the peak seasons. Don't think I'd wast a TS credit at Hollywood studios in off season though since it isn't that long of a wait in most cases then.

 

[jackdis]

Thanks Jackdis. How is the seating at Fantasmic? Is it in a good spot?? Do you have to eat at the Brown Derby so early for the package? What are the meal choices? Thanks so much!

We thought our spot for the show was good, but there was a section to our left that was a little more central, that was not part of reserved. But our seats were fine.

The early dinner was the only time left available for the package. We booked the package about two months before though. It was a last minute trip.

I don't remember all of the meal choices. Definitely a wide range. You pick one appetizer, one entree and one dessert. Someone at our table had the lobster ravioli as an appetizer. I tasted it. That was good. I already knew what I wanted when we went (from our last viist) so I didn't pay too much attention to the choices.

If I do it again, I would do the package. Loved the back entrance and no wait. The last time we did it - show only - the wait was long and we didn't get great seats. I guess like everyone else has said, it depends on the time of year you go. I would book the package to have a good spot guaranteed with no waiting.

 

[alaskanmommy]

Thanks everybody for the great replies. I was thinking that we must get the FDP and now I'm not so sure. Well, if we don't get an ADR for the FDP I won't be too dissappointed. Somebody above wrote that you only have to get there 45 minutes to an hour ahead af time without the FDP. Is that true? That's no too bad. Thanks again.

 

[jackdis]

Just a thought...I've read that if there are two showing of Fantasmic that night, the second showing is not that crowded. Anyone out there have any experience with that? Is that a possibility?

I think we got to the show about 45 minutes to an hour before to get our seats, even though we were in reserved. We were more than ready to sit and relax by then.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'd book it if I were on the basic DDP because you get an appetizer with the package.

Then I'd skip Fantasmic.