FANTASMIC Eating

[Tinbadge69]

Does anyone know how far in advance you can book the Fantasmic dining experience. I am looking at going in September and it still hasnt opened up on the web site. There is nothing there either telling you when the month will open up.
Whats the best resteraunt to eat at for the experience?
How is the seating they reserve for you in the show?

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

I was able to book September by typing in the date ... 09/01/11. Be careful when you type it in ... double check that it didn't revert back to today's date. I booked it 2/27, my 180 plus 10 date.

We booked a 4:10 'linner' at Brown Derby. It is one of DH's favorite places to eat so I figured it would kill two birds with one stone. Although we are trying Mama Melrose's for lunch without the package another day during our trip.

Good Luck!

 

[RollTyde]

Mine is still showing unavailable, and we are well below the 180. I am confused.

 

[GoofySon'sMom]

Mine is still showing unavailable, and we are well below the 180. I am confused.

Did you try typing in the date? That worked for me ... what date are you looking for?

I didn't go to the calendar ... I just typed the date I wanted over today's date with the zeros ... 09/01/11.

 

[TeaForTulips]

I had to call for our f! package in September and there were limited choices available. I couldn't get mine to work online either. I recommend calling if you haven't yet because they are filling up fast apparently or I picked a busy day. We got stuck with 3:15 time.

 

[princessmom29]

I would call. They should be open. In my experience it has been extremely hard to get a ressie. They typically fill up the first day they open. The latest seating time is usually between 4 and 5 depending on the showtime. The seats that are reserved are NOT the best in the house. They are pretty far to the right of the seating area, but we could still see fine. You are not going to get a front and center seat with the dining package, but you will be able to see the show.

ETA: Our preferred restaurant for this would be Mama Melrose, but good luck actually getting it. We have tried for 3 years in a row to get Mama Melrose on our 180 plus 10 day for this package with no luck. We have always gone with Brown Derby. I ate at H&V one time. Never agian.

 

[squirrel]

I have already booked mine for October online.

Like the pp mentioned you can't select the date from the calendar, you have to type it in 09/29/2011. Double check the date before giving your CC information, but you should be fine if you don't select a grey date from the calendar or click the change search options button.

You start by selecting the Dining Events and then selecting Fantasmic Dinner Pkg from the drop down. Then type in the date you would like and see if anything shows up for any of the restaurants.

I have been able to get Mama Melrose for the past 2 trips and again this year with the 180 days +10.

 

[PEANUT1]

You can do it at 180 days like the rest of the dining reservations...I guess it is possible that nothing is available since you are past the mark.

 

[catne]

Call and ask, but be flexible with what time you'll take...unfortunately, chances are September is fully booked at this point because as others have said, slots fill at the 180 time slot. I know when I booked for September (on 180 day) I did have to put the date in exactly as shown in PP...if I put the date in the wrong format it said nothing available.

If there are lunch slots, go ahead and take it. We've done that...and then either just had a late afternoon snack with late dinner after Fantasmic (when Fantasmic was early evening) or we'd have the 1:30 lunch and then a 6:00 counter service before the 8 or 9 PM Fantasmic.

The restaurant choices are Hollywood & Vine (buffet, 1 TS credit on Dining Plan. We were not impressed, will not return.) Also Mama Melrose (Italian food, 1 TS on Dining Plan, we love the food, slow service, have been back several time.) and Also Hollywood Brown Derby (signature restaurant, pricey, 2 TS credits on Dining Plan...loved the food, loved the service...would go back if we were on the Deluxe Dining again.)

The seats are the two sections of the theater on the far right...they are fine (actually anywhere in the theater is fine view, the way the show is set up everyone can see everything.) We like the separate entrance...and you can also exit that way so you get out of the theater before most of the other 5000 people in there, lol. You still have to show up at least 45 minutes before show, but the difference is you KNOW you will get a seat, and you do not have to wait in line 60-120 minutes before they open the theater to get a seat.

 

[Tinbadge69]

I was ale to do this by phone which kind of stinks. I waited all this time and a lot of times are taken now. If you have any doubts call. Thats a lesson well learned.

 

[minnie mum]

I guess there is an up side to being tech-challenged. Or maybe it's just my age. At the first sign of a glitch I grab the phone!
On MY 180 day (for Sep 25) I was on the computer first thing in the morning. Tried to get the Fantasmic package first and ran into the same problem as all of you. This was back in March. While I waited for "the next available cast member-your call is important to us, yadda yadda" I was able to make most of the rest of my ADRs online. When I finally got to talk to a real live person, she was able to find me a 4:20 slot at Brown Derby. She was showing nothing later at any of the restaurants, and only lunch at H&V (no thanks).

I'm going to try haunting the site for the next few months and see if I can nab a cancellation for lunch at Mama Melroses. But with Fantasmic only showing twice in the last week of Sept, I'm not going to hold my breath.

 

[RollTyde]

I guess there is an up side to being tech-challenged. Or maybe it's just my age. At the first sign of a glitch I grab the phone!
On MY 180 day (for Sep 25) I was on the computer first thing in the morning. Tried to get the Fantasmic package first and ran into the same problem as all of you. This was back in March. While I waited for "the next available cast member-your call is important to us, yadda yadda" I was able to make most of the rest of my ADRs online. When I finally got to talk to a real live person, she was able to find me a 4:20 slot at Brown Derby. She was showing nothing later at any of the restaurants, and only lunch at H&V (no thanks).

I'm going to try haunting the site for the next few months and see if I can nab a cancellation for lunch at Mama Melroses. But with Fantasmic only showing twice in the last week of Sept, I'm not going to hold my breath.

We are going on this trip with my sister and her fam, and she did all of the ressie booking for us. Maybe we were just too late in trying to get this. If that is the case, as it seems it may be, then I'll do like you fine folks suggest, and stalk the site looking for an opening. Thanks for all the responses.

 

[ChrystalUnicorn]

We ate at Hollywood and Vine last year to get the Fantasmic package, food was the worst. Never again!

Hope you get it worked out!!

 

[squirrel]

When I tried booking mine on my 180 day (April 1) there was nothing available for Sept. 29th at Mama Melrose, can't recall if there was anything for the other restaurants.

I was able to get MM on another night later in my trip.

 

[Pine View]

ETA: Our preferred restaurant for this would be Mama Melrose, but good luck actually getting it. We have tried for 3 years in a row to get Mama Melrose on our 180 plus 10 day for this package with no luck. We have always gone with Brown Derby. I ate at H&V one time. Never agian.

Keep trying. I was able to get Mama Melrose at 5 weeks out. I wanted Hollywood and Vine. Brown Derby seems to be the easiest. I keep checking and the Brown Derby will open up on and off. Today three times slots opened up at 23 days out.

Seens lots of people that book 180 days out really double up and than cancel the ones the don't want. That said I just played around to day with all the dates open between now and Sep. Only a hand full of DB where open.

I was just playing with Oct and yes it is open 180 -10 days for resort people. Hollywood and Vine are gone on all the dates I checked. Looks like it goes first.

I ate there in '08 and I found the food OK. We want the Character dinning.

 

[Tinbadge69]

I did the double up thing, so one of mine will be cancelled soon. Just trying to figure out which will be best for us.

 

[beattyfamily]

I'm trying for MM package on 10/13/11 and it won't let me.

I tried changing the date manually and it will let me up to 10/10/11 but once I try for any date after that, it won't change it and reverts back to today's date.

Guess I have to call or wait.

 

[beattyfamily]

Just called and got 10/13/11 at 3:35p at Mama Melrose. Yeah!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

For the F! I definately reccomend calling.

Also be sure there IS a F! that night.