Fantasmic Dinner Package

[jerseymom473]

My family of 5 is thinking of using the dinner package for Fantasmic, since it includes seating for the show. Is it worth it?

If we get it, which of the 3 restaurants should we use? We don't think we're going to Brown Derby since it's very expensive, but what about Mama Melrose and Hollywood & Vine? Which has the best food with the best price?

 

[traderneal]

We have eaten at Mama Melrose twice and have liked it. Cost shouldn't be an issue because you would have pre paid for the package. Beware, when you purchase the package you do get guaranteed seats for the show, but those seats are to the extreme stage right section. You can still see fine, but they are way to the right.


We enjoyed both the restaurant and the show.

 

[PEANUT1]

Go for Mama Melrose...we did it in Oct and it was yummy. H & V is not a very good buffet....just my opinion.

 

[beattyfamily]

Being worth it depends on what time of year you are going.

Personally, after doing the package several times, I do NOT think it's worth it in the off season like end of August, Sept, Oct and Dec.

I'd rather eat where I want to and then enter the stadium about 1 hour or 45 minutes before and sit where I want to, which would be in the center, about half way back.

The package seats are to the far right. You would still need to get there about 45 minutes to 30 minutes before to get a seat in the package area. They no longer guarantee the package seats within the 30 minutes and can, and sometimes do, open up that package section to the general public if the stadium is very crowded.

Hope this helps.

 

[hvivona]

We booked it during the off season and found that it wasn't really worth it. I could see how it wuld be usefull in the busy season. Of the three, we've only eaten at H&V and we really enjoyed it. We are going again this year. GOOD LUCK with your decision.

 

[jerseymom473]

Thanks everybody!! since we are going end of August, I guess we will still be okay not booking the package and eating at Mama Melrose on our own. thanks!

 

[octoberprincess]

We are trying to decide if the fantasmic dinner package would be worth it. We are going Oct6th-10th. Last Oct when we visted we noticed a couple people starting to line up at the gate around 6pm so we joined them. So a total wait time of 2 hours. We had second row seating in the center. Do the package guests get let in at the same time as those in the regular line, before or after? Do we HAVE to sit in that special section? Is dinner for the package only served a certain time, like 6pm? Should my friend and I just suck it up and wait the two hours? Any advice/opinions would be appreciated =)

 

[KatMark]

Like previous posters stated, it really depends on when you are going. We have used it three of four times. We didn't use it last year because we went to the 10:00 show and we were sorry we hadn't because the line was really long and we ended up way off to the left side of the arena (when looking at the stage) and didn't like the seats. When we get the Package, we only go to Mama Melrose. We went to Brown Derby once, without the package, but we did not like the food--especially for the price paid. Unfortunately, H&V is one of two Disney restaurants we will never go to again.

 

[3prettyprincesses]

For us, the Fantasmic package is awesome! We have 3 girls, one of them was 4 at the time. We did the package, had a fabulous dinner at Hollywood Brown Derby and then walked in a separate entrance. We got there about 25 minutes before the show started and had great seats....to the right but close to center. For us, the idea of waiting in a line for an hour (or more) with 3 kids isn't too appealing! We'll definitely do the package again!

 

[dboudreau]

Thanks for the tips as we are planning to do this in November.

 

[hlyntunstl]

I've gotten the Fantasmic package and have enjoyed it regardless of the season. If you get there about 30 minutes prior to final seating time, you can get a seat in the section closest to the center and the view is excellent. The package seats are the three sections to the right as you enter the stadium. If you're going during a busy time, it's a definite benefit.

We have always eaten at Mama Melrose with the exception of our last trip when that was booked. We ended up at H&V and I'm not certain I would go there again even for the package. I agree with the concensus on their buffet.

Do the package guests get let in at the same time as those in the regular line, before or after? Do we HAVE to sit in that special section? Is dinner for the package only served a certain time, like 6pm?

Not sure since it's a separate entrance.
No you don't.
You can get a package for lunch and dinner but it's not available after a certain time because of the check-in time for the seating. I believe it's no later than 5pm but I'm not sure.

 

[amycakes]

We did this in May at Mama Melrose. We actually moved out of the reserve section to be front and center. The food at Mama Melrose was good however the waiter lost his balance and dropped the dessert tray with six desserts right in my lap. Everyone nearby was speechless but I thought it was a blessing in disguise....YUMMY! When life gives you lemons......

 

[maj42169]

Go for Mama Melrose...we did it in Oct and it was yummy. H & V is not a very good buffet....just my opinion.

Ditto that...........we didn't like H&V AT ALL!

 

[septbaby]

Thanks everybody!! since we are going end of August, I guess we will still be okay not booking the package and eating at Mama Melrose on our own. thanks!

Are you on the dining plan? If so the FDP will provide an appetizer and normal ressie will not. The "cost" is a TS either way. I guess off the plan there is an upcharge?

Unless you plan to attend a second show I'm not sure why you think there may be lighter crowds at the end of August? We were at the show on Labor Day last year, used the package and enjoyed the show in a packed theater. Since we had package seats I didn't even see the line up so I can't comment on how long of a wait there was (there was second show that night too as it was EMH).

Not trying to push you one way or another, but highlighting some things to consider in your decision. Good luck!

 

[cboudre1]

If you want to eat in one of the restaurants that have the package I would get it to be on the safe side. One trip we didn't get it and ended up standing after waiting over an hour. My DS likes Hollywood and Vine, so we get the seats. We are going the end of August and I want to be sure to get seats.

 

[KigerKat]

We have H&V booked, but only because we have some young children with us and they will most likely enjoy a buffet more than a sit-down place.

 

[brown eyed girl]

We had booked the package last July at the Brown Derby and it was totally not worth it. We had to eat our "dinner" at 3:30 and then were given just about the worst seats in the house. It bugged me that we paid the extra money to eat early at a place we probably would not have eaten at just to be sit in really bad seats. I would not do that again.

 

[ibela]

We just came back from our trip last week and I'd definitely book the package next time.

It was a slow day at HS, we didn't wait longer than 5 minutes standby on any line (including ToT and RnR) and walked in last minute to all the shows (including a dash to Playhouse Disney when we realized the time) with no problems for seating. We did a walk-up to H&V because we decided last minute to stay for the show (so no more packages available), I was hesitant because of the mixed reviews on here. We all enjoyed the restaurant a lot. Our waitress was great and the food was good and constantly replenished, it was a really pleasant surprise to what a good experience the restaurant was. We showed up to get seated ~40 minutes before the show and it was PACKED, we sat all the way to the side. I have NO IDEA where all these people came from, there was no way they were all in the park that afternoon and I can only assume people with hoppers came just to watch the show, I don't know.

In any case, I'd recommend trying H&V once for yourself and getting the package! If there are better seats available when you arrive, you can always sit in the better location and the cost of the package is the same cost as H&V is anyway.

 

[Nank]

Is Fantasmic only certain nights of the week or is it every single night? Thanks.

 

[Praying Colonel]

OP, I'd be careful about assuming you don't need the FDP because you're going in late August. We planned our days in the parks to avoid evening EMH's, but about 2 weeks before our trip WDW changed the day we were going to see Fantasmic into an evening EMH. The stadium was packed 40 minutes before start time--the only section open was the FDP section. Keep an eye on the WDW calendar, because they can change things without notice and it can affect availability.