Fantasmic Dinner pkg restaurants?

[ampc3]

Ok, my question is sortof a 2 parter... Normally I don't think we would have chosen either Mama Melrose or Hollywood/vine to use a TS..
Is it really worth it to get the Fantamic Dinner pkg, so you can get a pass (my understanding is the pass basically lets you by pass the line and have a certain area to sit in with little wait?)... We are planning on next mid September , so I am guessing the crowds are NOT as bad as summer, don't know??
.. or is it better to just chance the wait and use our TS somewhere else I think the kids would really like SCI-FI?

2) IF we did decided to do the Fantasmic pkg, which restaurant is better with kids or food? last question... does anyone know if you can use your snack credits at the concession stand in the arena while you are waiting?

Thanks for any help! really appreciate it

 

[helenk]

When you purchase the Fantasmic Dining Package you get a pass and you actually enter the stadium from a location over near the entrance of MGM. The seating is over to the right of the stage, I have had not problems with the view.
If there is only one show of Fantasmic it might be a good idea to get the dining package, unless you want to stand in line and wait. My mother and I went last December without the dining package and went over to the stadium about a 1/2 before the start of the show and it was standing room only.
If you go without a package get in line at least 45 minutes or more.
.
I cant help with the snack question as I've never used the dining plan before.

 

[MariDisney]

We always get the Fantasmic package...so I know we won't have to wait in any line. If there is just 1 show (and I think mid Sept. that's usually the case) you're probably still going to encounter a pretty decent line if you're not on the package. The seats get pretty darn full even on what seem to be "light" park days.

Usually the only available times for dinner are way early. I think ours at Hollywood and Vine this trip are at 4:15 or something. Sometimes, they've been as early as 3:50. We plan for this and treat this meal as more of a late lunch and will have a snack later. I think Hollywood and Vine and Mama Melrose's are equally kid friendly. Maybe H&V slightly more so because of the choices on the buffet. However, the pizza at MM would be great for them too. So, I think you should look at the menus and plan accordingly.

 

[jdtopgun71]

I believe you can use your snack credit in the arena. As for the restaraunts we have never done H&V but MM was excellent. My DS has a steak there that I tasted and it was absolutely fantastic. I am not sure of the advantage to the special entrance but from the looks of it we may not have gotten a seat at the show because it was packed. Keep in mind we were there during one of the worst times of the year (Spring Break) I would recommend the Package if I were you.

 

[momoftwodisneykids]

We have done Hollywood & Vine on a couple of occasions and found it to be excellent. They have a fantastic buffet with many unusual, exotic choices. My DH loves this place and asks to go every time we go to MGM. We went for Thanksgiving last year and it was great. Going back again Labor Day weekend to take advantage of the free dining. Probably will do Thanksgiving again this year.

Joanne

 

[striker3636]

We have done the H&V pkg 3 times now. For us it was worth it to avoid standing in line to get a seat in the rest of the area. I would much rather check out MGM attractions than stand in line/sit for a long time just to keep my seat (especially when my kids were younger). Now, on our last trip we decided to catch Fantasmic a second time without a package. We planned on getting over to the seating about 45 minutes to 1 hour ahead and get some hot dogs and eat supper in the stands before the crowds got too huge. Most of the best seating was already gone but there were still seats way back center and way to the left of the stage. We were able to snag some centre seats about 10 rows back, but that was all that was left of good seats really. Dh went to the concession and that far ahead it still took quite a while to get some food. (this was all during "slow" season in Jan/Feb, but the place was still packed by show time)

With the package we also have planned an early supper/late lunch by eating right after the parade around 4. We just bring/buy snacks to get us through mid day.
The extra benefit of getting package seats is that you are closer to the exit and even though it takes a while to get out, it is still faster than the thousands behind you in the seats farther away.

 

[kbmoo]

We just got back from Disney today. We ate at hollywood & vine Thursday so we could get the package. We were very disapointed with the food. My son said Old country buffet was alot better. The only thing he would eat was the ice cream. They had mac & cheese but it was really dried out. We did it so we could get reserved seats, but I think everyone on the plan did too, so I don't think you really got reserved seating. They were seating everyone. They took out ticket and when we got in the arena we asked where the reserve seating was and he said just sit anywhere. I am going back over Labor Day and I changed my reservation to Sci Fi without reserve seating. Oher than Hollywood & Vine we had fantastic meals. The ddp is awsome!

 

[Tam1067]

We did the package at Mama Melrose in July on a busy night and got good seats in the reserved section about 45 minutes before the show. The theatre was already nearly full in the non-reserved section when we got there. I'm glad we did the package.

The food was excellent, too, and the meal was very good for our kids who enjoyed their pasta. The atmosphere in MM is very nice as well, but kid friendly.

 

[Scraper]

We did the reservation package once we did not care for the seat .We would rather watch the show from the middle. We always show up a half hour before the show and always manage to get a good seat. We have been in Aug. Sep. OCT. and May. We will never do the resevations again.