Fantasmic Dinner Package?

[RIDisneyFan]

I booked Hollywood & Vine for our trip in Sept as part of the Fantasmic dinner package. But I've heard really mixed reviews and I'm thinking of cancelling it. Which restaurant do you like best at MGM? It does not have to be part of the dinner package. I would like to try either 50's Prime Time or Sci Fi Dine In, they both look like a lot of fun, but my DH isn't really thrilled about either one of them. Should I try to convince him to try one of those, or is there somewhere else we should try?

 

[princess-rn]

We did H&V fantasmic package in October 2004. I really enjoyed the fact that we didn't have to wait in line (with a 2 yr old) for the show. Instead you got to go through MGM's "backlots" to get to your seats. The seats were good too. As far as the food at H&V....I wasn't impressed. the only thing I enjoyed was the dessert. My husband on the other hand REALLY enjoyed it. To me the food was just bland and not good at all.

We both really enjoyed Sci Fi. We were nervous about it because of all the bad reviews...but it ended up being one of our favorites.

You are going to get mixed reviews no matter where you go. Just stick to your gut feeling and try it out. You never know what you may enjoy.

Have a great trip!!!!

 

[byoung]

MM is a good choice.

 

[essmom]

I'm planning to cancel our h&V ressie for tuesday night b/c friends have decided to come and we plan to go with them elsewhere so we plan to do Fantasmic on Thursday night- eat at Sci Fi and just take a chance there 's a seat- there are 2 shows that night so I'm thinking we'll be fine- I'd rather be in back anyway!!

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I went to MGM on 7/13. I went to Fantasmic at 8:30 for a 9 PM show. No line. Just walked through the que, bought a popsicle and sat down in a great seat--about 15-20 rows from the stage. Took my seat at 8:40 PM. No dinner package, no nothing. Made me wonder why people would wait 90 minutes for this show. So glad I did not do a dinner package as I did not really want to eat at any of the restaurants.

 

[emh1129]

This is what I was wondering about- we booked the package for January. It's more than we wanted to spend and we would be eating earlier than we'd like, just to save some time waiting in line.

I'd like to cancel it and just eat somewhere else at a more reasonable time, but I'm worried that I'll be kicking myself later if we're standing in a really long line with two little ones!

 

[seven dwarfs]

We love Mama Melrose. We have done the package and not done the package. If the show is packed, and you never know, the package is worth it. We have been caught with a busy night with out a package deal and it was a mess. So, in September a package it is.

 

[aubriee]

We did the pkg last Sept, but when we arrived about 45 minutes before the show there were seats everywhere. We asked the CM if we could go under the rope and sit over in the regular 'nonreserved' section and he told us to pick any seat we wanted. We sat about half way down in the Scar section, so in case we had the Fantasmic pkg, but didn't use the seating. This past Jan I took my GD to WDW and for the first time didn't book the pkg. I was really nervous, got there about 45 minutes early again and sat in almost the same area we did in Sept. However, this past May my mom and I were there the week before Memorial Day and it was totally packed with standing room only.

 

[essmom]

I went to MGM on 7/13. I went to Fantasmic at 8:30 for a 9 PM show. No line. Just walked through the que, bought a popsicle and sat down in a great seat--about 15-20 rows from the stage. Took my seat at 8:40 PM. No dinner package, no nothing. Made me wonder why people would wait 90 minutes for this show. So glad I did not do a dinner package as I did not really want to eat at any of the restaurants.[/QUOTE

Just cancelled our FDP pkg for this Tues 7/25- plan to try and get in on Thursday ngiht at 9 -there is another show at 10:30 so i am hopefull that we'll be Ok- we do have sci Fi at 7:10 but I'm hopeing we can eat quickly and get over there by 8:30 or so.

 

[Disneyof3]

We didn't do the package 2 years ago and we went in Feb. 2nd week. We stood in line for about 5 minutes and I rushed to get a good seat ahead of my husband and the kids and it was crazy getting to the seats. We got 5th row from the back just to the left of the water near where the seats are reserved for the packages. They were good seats but have heard that sometimes the seats are filled and you don't get good seats with the package. So I would be nervous to get the package and get there and get awfull seats. Anyone else heard of this happening or had it done to them??


Next WDW trip: Feb or March 2007 POR

 

[keishashadow]

Unless you don't mind sitting for an hour or more, during busy times, I think the Fantasmic Pkg is required if you want a seat. We prefer the seats off to the side to "beat a hasty retreat".

We like H&V, have eaten there even w/o the pkg. I've got fussy eaters in my party & everyone can find something to eat. They've got a lot of the same things on the Chef Mickey buffet. The atmosphere is nothing to write home about & it's noisy but, the servers are great & personable.

We like SciFi too, mostly for the unique setting. The food is ok, somewhat pricey IMO but, service has been lacking for us.

 

[justplaingoofy]

As the previous poster mentioned if you are not going at a busy time and don't mind getting there a little earlier I probably wouldn't bother.

We are doing Mama melrose this Sept. (only because we're on free dining) but typically I don't because it is way too much food for us... Now this trip is going to be a different story.. They are going to have to roll me down the aisle to get back on the plane!!

I was hoping to be able to split some meals (not so much because of value) but because of quantity... heard some posters say it was being discouraged.

 

[RIDisneyFan]

Well, I cancelled our ADR at H&V today for the Fantasmic dinner package. We'll take our chances that we can get seats for Fantasmic without too long a wait. I booked an ADR at Sci Fi instead - I've always wanted to try that one, it looks like fun.

 

[..gs..]

We just returned today from WDW and did Hollywood Brown Derby/Fantasmic package and loved it. We had a great meal and reserved seating in the front for the show. We had lunch at 50's Prime Time and it was not fun at all. Perhaps it was just our waitress, but nothing exciting and I thought it would have been fun.

 

[mickey0930]

does anyone know how the crowds are for this the last week of January? I can start making ADR's next week and this will determine if I book a fantasmic dinner package or not. I really dont care for any of the rest. with packages so I hope you all say this is a really slow time. Also I can remember reading somewhere's that the packages that are being offered now are just a test and that they end in Jan, do you know if that is true and if so what new dinner packages will be offered once these conclude. thanks

 

[keishashadow]

does anyone know how the crowds are for this the last week of January? I can start making ADR's next week and this will determine if I book a fantasmic dinner package or not. I really dont care for any of the rest. with packages so I hope you all say this is a really slow time. Also I can remember reading somewhere's that the packages that are being offered now are just a test and that they end in Jan, do you know if that is true and if so what new dinner packages will be offered once these conclude. thanks

Try this site for crowd projections:
www.TouringPlans.com by the authors of the unofficial guide to WDW.

 

[princess-rn]

Well, I cancelled our ADR at H&V today for the Fantasmic dinner package. We'll take our chances that we can get seats for Fantasmic without too long a wait. I booked an ADR at Sci Fi instead - I've always wanted to try that one, it looks like fun.

You will hear alot of negative about Sci Fi...but my family REALLY enjoyed it. DH is a HUGE Sci Fi fan so he really enjoyed the "clips" DS (2 1/2 at the time) did also. We all really enjoyed the food, atmosphere and service. DH and I both had the "barbecued Chicken Breast Sandwich - topped with smoked gouda cheese, crispy onion straws on a kaiser roll, with fries" It was WONDERFUL and HUGE. They also allowed us to split a large salad. We will definately do Sci Fi again. I think you will like it MUCH better than H&V.

Have a great trip!

 

[Albertan mom]

We are having the same dilemma. I have H&V reserved, but am thinking of changing it to Sci-Fi.

Can you tell me, if you have the package, what time do you have to get to Fantasmic?
If you don't have the package, what time should you get there?

This is for August 24th.

thanks

 

[princess-rn]

WE last did it in Oct '04. At that time the waitress gave us our "pass" to fantasmic and told us to start walking that way like 6:15ish or so (if I remember correctly) I think the show started at 7pm. We walked behind Oscars (isn't that the stroller renting place??? If not..then whatever it's called) and CMs directed us to where we should walk. It was cool walking "behind the scenes". If you don't have the package..it just depends on a few things. #1 what time of year you are going. IF it's a down time then you wouldn't have to get in line so early. If not then you prob need to get in line at least 1hr before it starts just to get good seats. You are going end of August..some schools will have already started so it SHOULD be less crowded than middle of summer. But it's disney..you never can tell.

It's an AMAZING show!!

Have a great trip!

 

[essmom]

We did this on Thursday night 7/27- we had the H&V pkg but cancelled due to friends coming at last minute- we changed to Sci Fi at 7:00 on Thursday- sat down at 7 and ordered and were out by 8:00- walked towards Fantasmic- thought about riding RnR but decided not to - sat down at 8:10- people continued to come in until the last 5 minutes- people were in standing room only- if you wait that late and want to get out quickly -get up before the very end of show- we did this and were out very quickly and rode RnR in about 15 minutes- otherwise lines are long- CM said it takes 20 minutes to get out- as far as pkg- they started walking in a roumd 8:30 but not sure it's worth it or not since we didn't do it!! Fantasmic was AWESOME- for sure do not miss it!!! sitting for 45 minutes was not bad at all- we did the wave- got drinks, snacks etc-