Fantasmic dinner package - yes or no?

[weregoingtodw]

I'm still torn as to whether to book this. I was all ready to book, then started reading reviews. From what I can see, our choices are:

Brown Derby (Spice Grilled Filet Mignon, Pan-Seared Grouper, and The Original Cobb Salad)

Mama Melrose wood-fired Flatbread to share from Mama's rustic on-stage kitchen, as well as family style salad, and choice of entrees featuring Linguine Fra Diavolo, Oven Baked Stuffed Chicken Breast, and Char Grilled Filet Mignon with Gorgonzola Butter. Dessert: Mama's signature Fantasmic! Tiramisu

Hollywood & Vine All you care to eat buffet.

Mama Melrose was immediately out simply because I'm not a fan of Italian food.

Brown Derby - I can't tell - can you ONLY choose among the filet, group or salad?

H&V - I've read a lot of negative reviews on this. Sure, it's the least expensive, but if we've already paid admission to get into the park, I'd rather see this as getting a really good meal along w/a good seat, as opposed to just a mediocre buffet, or very few choices at the other restaurants.

I wish they'd just say that if you spend a certain dollar amount at any table-service restaurant, they'd give you Fantasmic seating!

Adding more to my indecisiveness is the fact that if the show is rained out, you're out of luck. If I paid for a meal I didn't care for and *still* didn't get to see the show, I'd be highly irritated. I should also mention, this is for our very last park day/table service meal for the trip; we leave the next morning.

 

[Luv2Roam]

I would not book, and never have since the revamped eat-where-we-want-you-to system. I would only book a FP IF I was dead set that I HAD to see Fantasmic and wanted to save some time.
Even then I would probably pass. I always thought the decent meal at Brown Derby was too high with FP $. We never ate that much food. Those eating a large dinner would look at it different too.
It really is a personal choice.

 

[kaygela]

We ate at Brown Derby twice for the fantasmic package and thought it was great both times. We thought the quality of the food was excellent and worth it. We also ate dinner there with an imagineer which was an incredible experience and the food and service were impeccable.

 

[weregoingtodw]

We never ate that much food. Those eating a large dinner would look at it different too.
It really is a personal choice.

That's the other problem - it will only be my mom, my 9yo DD and me, none of us are big eaters, especially when doing the parks.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

I know it can be a long wait if you don't get the package but it really isn't that bad. Last time we went we got in early, got good seats and ate the counter service there while we waited. As long as you have something to keep you DD busy with, the time can pass quickly. I would get there 90 minutes before the show started and you may be able to get a seat right in the middle.
This time when we go we are doing the package to see how it is. We were also thinking that it will be busier this time of year than when we went last Nov . (Last time we got in a little under an hour- but for this time of year I would go 90 minutes early)
Also remember-- if you get the package you still have to go in a 1/2 hour early.
What ever you pick.... Have a great time. It is a very nice show.

 

[juliesue]

My DH refuses to even do Fantasmic without the dinner package. It isn't the dinner that he is so hot on, it's the reserved seating. (Patience is a virtue that he is still working on.)

I have eaten at the Mama Melrose and Brown Derby. Mama's has good food, but DH didn't like for some reason. May have had to do with picky children who would not eat their food.

Brown Derby has excellent food. The Cobb salad is wonderful. I have not done the dinner package there yet, but will be in June. I am hoping the children's menu includes chicken fingers, then we will be home free.

 

[Buzz2001]

We always do it. We like H&V but will be trying MM for the first time this trip

 

[jonemick]

I don't book it because my kids don't want to eat off the childrens menu (thank god). I don't know how people let their kids eat chicken nuggets and fry's twice a day for there whole trip.

We get the kids an adult entree that they can split. We have been to Fantasmic 6 times in the last 7 years without any problem getting a good seat. All you need is to get there early and have some patience. Just like any other Disney major attraction.

You'll have a great trip with or without the Fantasmic package.

 

[LukenDC]

When someone reserves the Fantasmic dinner package, when does Disney charge their credit card?

 

[MrsJ Henry]

When someone reserves the Fantasmic dinner package, when does Disney charge their credit card?

It does not get charged unless you do not show up or don't cancel 48 prior to your PS. Then you are charged 10 a person.

 

[rt2dz]

It does not get charged unless you do not show up or don't cancel 48 prior to your PS. Then you are charged 10 a person.

OK, now I'm confused. I've heard from others that the charge has shown up on their cc immediately. Of course, not charging until no show makes much more sense to me.

 

[Lizzybee]

I opted not to book a Fantasmic package because I had been in the Fantasmic theater a couple of yrs before and I noticed that you get better seats just going early. The Fantasmic Package reserved seating is off to one side and not in the center where we sat. We ate at the food court style counter service outside the theater then went in and chatted with the people around us, got snacks, took turns taking the kids to the gift carts, bathroom breaks and before you know it, it's time for the show. I guess when it comes to a dinner/show package, I'm more concerned with getting a good seat than having great food.

 

[maxaroni]

We are torn on this as well. My issue is that my ds12, can't eat off the children's menu. He usually doesn't order off the kids menu at home and eats a variety of foods but when going to restaurants that are unfamiliar and not sure what is on them, the set price is high. I had heard but not sure if I'm right (fellow disers help!), that each member of your party must eat their own meal for the fantasmic dinner pkg...therefore, ds and myself couldn't share. On the flip side, we are going in august and hate to wait in a long line in the heat.

We did the dinner pkg in '02 and went to the Brown Derby, dh didn't like it and as far as we remember, it wasn't a fixed price for dinner.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I had heard but not sure if I'm right (fellow disers help!), that each member of your party must eat their own meal for the fantasmic dinner pkg...therefore, ds and myself couldn't share. On the flip side, we are going in august and hate to wait in a long line in the heat.

Yes, you will be unable to share a pre-priced meal. Same as other set priced meals at WDW - all you care to eats, buffets, etc.

I find the FP package invaluable. I can't stand spending an hour and a half of prime park time sitting in a stadium. That's at least an hour (since you are still supposed to be 30 mins. early with the FP package) of rides and fun in park I'm missing, so it's definately worth the cost for me. While everyone is lining up at Fantasmic! I grab a few rides on Star Tours, RnR, or ToT.

I usually eat at Brown Derby at some point anyway, and they let you choose anything off the menu with Fantasmic. You aren't limited to those three choices. You pick one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert. I usually get the crab cake appetizer and the steak entree, so I end up coming a bit ahead. However, even if I didn't - it's worth that hour to me to pay for it. I just hate waiting when I don't have to - especially in a stadium like that.

If you've never been to Fantasmic before, I'd liken the atmosphere to a rock concert in a ampetheater - you wait in line to wait in line to get in, you wait in line to sit, you sit and wait, and then you wait in line to leave. Too much waiting for such a short show, IMHO.

It's not for everyone, but I do find it useful for me. I'll splurge on it and cut a corner elsewhere because I like it so much.

N.E.D.

 

[disneytraveler]

I Guess it depends on when you go and how busy it is. And how many shows
Fantasmic will have when you go. I cant speak for families but went alone to Disney in the summer last year a Cm at Mgm gave me good advise. She told me the second showing of it has generall less crowds(was there around august sometime) so if i just wanted to see the show without paying for the package i just had to be line in time for seating of the show. I had great seats center area.
Steve

 

[kandeebunny]

We always do the package and at Hollywood and Vine. I hated the Brown Derby, and I can't eat at MM. It's worth it to us to not have to wait in the line!

 

[thinktink11]

I love Disney food! Only bad thing is it is expensive! It always makes my eyes pop out! They always have awesome themes like pirates or or or ummmmm ........ princesses yeah! They have awesome charecters like ..... a wizard or somethin! But their computers never work!




P.S. If you haven't noticed I love Smilies! LATA!

 

[WDW LOVR]

I agree it depends on what time of year you are going.

We haven't had very good luck with the dinner package. Done it 4 times, Fantasmic rained out 3. We've seen it a couple other times with out the dinner package and had better seats while only having to wait around 1/2 hour. Of course, both those times were not the busy season, but for us, we won't do the dinner package again based on our previous experiences.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I Guess it depends on when you go and how busy it is. And how many shows
Fantasmic will have when you go. I cant speak for families but went alone to Disney in the summer last year a Cm at Mgm gave me good advise. She told me the second showing of it has generall less crowds(was there around august sometime) so if i just wanted to see the show without paying for the package i just had to be line in time for seating of the show. I had great seats center area.
Steve

See, I never happen to be there when there are two Fantasmic!'s. If I was, indeed I would likely skip the FP and just go to the second showing. From what I hear it's never full. Unless I had to go to the first showing for some reason, I'd just have dinner wherever I wanted.

N.E.D.

 

[weregoingtodw]

OK, now I'm confused. I've heard from others that the charge has shown up on their cc immediately. Of course, not charging until no show makes much more sense to me.

I *just* got off the phone w/Disney Dining & was told that she was taking my CC for guarantee only, and that if I don't cancel 48 hours out and am a no-show, they'll then charge my card for $10.00 each person.