Fantasmic Dinner Package

[nicwoodard]

We are looking into this for next trip. I would love to know some thoughts on this from fellow DISers.

Also, which restaurant? Mama Melrose or Hollywood & Vine. I know Brown Derby is an option, but we plan on ding California Grill and that will already take 2 TS for each of us. We do the Dining Plan...

Thanks in advance!

 

[OKW Lover]

We're not fans of the Fantasmic Dinner Packages. Too expensive and the typical dining times are just too early.

 

[thepwa]

Done it a couple of times, and don't think it's worth it. I'd rather just go in early and wait for the show. I'm all about shortcuts and saving time, I just don't think the Fantasmic package is worth the extra $$$$.

However, I do have one tip if you decide to do it...make sure you plan it early in your trip in case of a rain out. If it gets rained out late in your trip, then you just paid way too much for dinner. At least early on, you can get a raincheck and reschedule.

 

[Silver Queen]

I'm not sure what the previous posters mean about too much money. We were on the meal plan and it just counted as one dinner. Also, they included an appetizer for us since we booked it for the Fantasmic Package. We went to Mama Melrose and I was very pleasantly surprised.. The reviews that I had seen were mixed but we had a fine meal. I had the Spaghetti Fra Diablo. It had plenty of seafood and wasn't too spicy. The pasta was cooked al dente. DBF had an excellent salmon dish. The appetizers we had wre both very good, fried calamari and sliced tomatoes with fresh mozarella. (best tomotoes I've had since last August) Our waitress, Emily, was wonderful. By the way, I'm Italian and pretty fussy about Italian food. If we were to do Fantasmic again we'd definitely go back to Mama Melrose.

 

[justplaingoofy]

If you are on the dining plan (which sounds like you are because you mentioned about Brown derby 2 credits)

Then, I think Mama Melroses is a great option. We really like this restaurant and it makes a great value because it also includes an appetizer under the dining plan for the meal. However, if you are not on the dining plan, I don't think its a terrific value unless you are going at a peak time.

 

[KatMark]

We do Mama Melrose every year (we will never dine at H&V again). We find it well worth it. Rather than waiting 90 minutes in line to get into the show, we enjoy having the tickets and showing up 30 minutes prior to showtime so that we can enjoy rides or shop before Fantasmic starts.

 

[Kristineamb]

We've done the Fantasmic Dinner Package three times now and planning on using it a fourth time in September (free dinining...really wanted to try Brown Derby but didn't want to use two table service credits)....we've done Hollywood & Vine three times (because of the variety a buffet offers) and it was OK but looking forward to trying Mama Melrose next time...we find it very convenient and tend to have the park to ourselves while eveyone else is lining up to see the show... to the one time we didn't use it was in December (Christmas week) we were lucky to get a seat for the show!

 

[B-Ride]

We're not fans of the Fantasmic Dinner Packages. Too expensive and the typical dining times are just too early.

Obviously cost is not an issue if you are on the Dining Plan but I have also heard that the times available are very early. This may not be an issue for you if you like to eat early or you may get lucky and get a reasonable time.

As for Fantasmic it is a great way to ensure you get a seat and you always have an option of sitting in the normal seats if they are not too crowded as the dinner package seating is off to the side and not the greatest.

That said, we are eating at Mama Melrose this trip and not bothering with the dinner package as we hope to catch the second showing of Fantasmic that night which we always find better as it is darker.

 

[frdeb1999]

While the dining times are on the early side. We still prefer it since you don't have to spend alot of time waiting in lines. We have done all the resturants and like them all for different reasons. Although our kids prefer H&V due to all the choices. We have at there many times and have honestly never had a bad experience with them.

 

[jhshmh]

How strict are they about lining up a half hour before show time for Fantasmic?

 

[septbaby]

We enjoyed H&V, good variety, good service, never felt rushed. Our ADR was for 4:45pm. It was nice having the reserved seating. We had a good view of the show from those seats.

Next trip we're spending our DHS TS on a character meal, so we'll be on line if we decide to repeat Fantasmic. I think we'll end up seeing Fantasmic again. Last year our 5yo was kind of scared during the show. Well now he's "big" (you know no more training wheels, heading to first grade, etc.) and I think he'll want to show me he's not afraid anymore.

 

[meowmarie]

We enjoyed H&V, good variety, good service, never felt rushed. Our ADR was for 4:45pm. It was nice having the reserved seating. We had a good view of the show from those seats.

Confused lol. I'm a first timer so forgive me. Isn't Fantasmic at 8pm? If your reservations were for 4:45 did you have to sit there for 3 hours? We made ours for 7pm at H&V, is that too late? Thanks for the help!

 

[septbaby]

Confused lol. I'm a first timer so forgive me. Isn't Fantasmic at 8pm? If your reservations were for 4:45 did you have to sit there for 3 hours? We made ours for 7pm at H&V, is that too late? Thanks for the help!

Dinner reservation was for 4:45pm (we were late, but were still seated).
We then walked aroud DHS for a bit and headed over to the line up area about 30mins to show time.

If Fantasmic is at 8pm I would definitely say 7pm dinner is way too late to see the show. That reservation is not for a Fantasmic package that gives you access to a special entrance and reserved seating area. Without the package you'd need to be in line for access to the show by 7pm.

Showtimes for Fantasmic change. Be sure to check the park calendar to confirm the time for your date.

If you book the Fantasmic package you must supply a cc#. You will be charged if you fail to cancel with enough notice (48hrs?) or are a no show.

 

[meowmarie]

Ok that makes sense, I have looked around and I definitely think the CM didn't understand that's what we were booking. Which sucks cause now it's a week later lol. Do you still have to provide a CC if you're on the dining plan? Thanks for the response!

 

[KatMark]

Also, I don't think they have any seatings after 5:30 p.m. for the Fantasmic Package.

 

[justplaingoofy]

Ok that makes sense, I have looked around and I definitely think the CM didn't understand that's what we were booking. Which sucks cause now it's a week later lol. Do you still have to provide a CC if you're on the dining plan? Thanks for the response!

yes you do still have to give a credit card # if you are on the dining plan.


When we went last Sept. we did the Fantasmic dining pkg. at Mama Melrose's. The theatre still plenty of open seats still available up until showtime. (we had been sitting in the reserved for 1/2 hr).

Is this normal for Sept? because if so, we may still do the package & just not use the tickets so that we don't have to sit & wait for 1/2 hr. And that way with our meal we can get an appetizer