Fantasmic Package - Worth It?

[huckabear]

Is the Fantasmic dining package really worth it?

We don't want to eat at the HBD because of the 2 meal price tag so we'd have to do HV or MM, neither of which sound that great to me. And then I read conflicting things about whether the seating at Fantasmic is that great when you still have to arrive early.

So tell me, is it worth it? I'd rather eat somewhere else in DHS, to be honest but my mom is insistent that we need the Fantasmic package.

 

[ToddyLu]

The only reason it is worth using 2 credits at HBD for the F! Package is that your appetizers are included in that meal. So an app for each person--not bad, then we didn't go see F!.

No you can get seating at F! without a package. I would be there at least 45 minutes before time, maybe an hour if it is DHS EMH that night. My pick would be 50's Prime time.

 

[ToddyLu]

the bleachers are metal and there is a concession stand nearby I believe.

 

[MrRomance]

It's about the wait time really. Personally, we always get the dinner package to stop the kids arguing and fighting in line to get a seat at F! but we always have the DDP. If you're paying OOP, then it's a tougher call.

My last trip was 2008 and we did the HV dinner package. THe food was OK (nothing spectacular) but being a buffet you can always find something to eat. I wouldn't pay OOP or 2 Credits for the HBD, I think that's a little much, but the package itself with a cheaper dinner is worth it in my opinion.

 

[stitchaholic]

we did the Mama Melrose fantasmic package and I would do it again in a heartbeat , we got the free appetizer and we all loved our food from there , we got to go into fantasmic through a different door with not as many people waiting , i appreciated that after a busy day in the parcs, It was a great show tht I will never miss now

 

[PoohsFan1]

I think it is worth it, not for 2 credits though, but it is definitely worth it especially if you go to MM (we really like that restaurant so we may be a little biased there). Like the one PP said, it is all about the waiting in line. We saw F twice, once with the dining package and once without, and let me just say we will never see F again without the dining package...we hated waiting in that line with the other millions of people waiting to get in, I would much rather get in one more ride under our belt and then head over for the show. As for the seating, yeah it is off to the side, but the way the auditorium is set up, you don't miss much of anything. Where we sat, in the reserved area, you could look towards the other side and see the performers getting ready to go on stage or go on the boats, that was kind of cool and entertaining in itself .

 

[lindsroc]

we did the Mama Melrose fantasmic package and I would do it again in a heartbeat , we got the free appetizer and we all loved our food from there , we got to go into fantasmic through a different door with not as many people waiting , i appreciated that after a busy day in the parcs, It was a great show tht I will never miss now

Ditto to this! Everyone in our family loved MM. And, it was awesome not having to arrive hours in advance. We still got there early but it was not nearly as bad as without the package. We paid OOP and i think it was definitely worth it.

 

[TDluvsDaisy]

I won't do Fantasmic without the package. We've done Brown Derby (cause we like it and were on the Deluxe Dining package). However I prefer Mama Melrose. We've had excellent service and the food is good as well. You couldn't pay me to go back to Hollywood and Vine.

The seating for the package is on the right side of the area. I thought it was well worth it for us to show up 35 to 40 minutes early instead of an hour or more. Really my max is 40 minutes with a snack to keep everyone occupied. The package works great for us!

 

[momtwoboys]

we have never done this package and I'm reading along! We are afraid of waiting hours to get in to the theater?!?! We are also on the Basic dining plan, so the only restaurants that participate are MM HV for 1 TS? We are going in April and planning on hitting DHS on the 15th. My sons want to go to Cape may that night. Now I am wondering what to do also??? interested to hear more!

 

[huckabear]

We will be on the DDP so not paying OOP and just don't want to use a 2nd credit to go to the BD.

I tried to book online for our trip but there are no April dates available yet. I guess I'll have to call. I'm leaning toward MM.

Thanks! I have 3 kids under 8, so a shorter wait would be helpful.

 

[2010Disneymom]

We will be on the DDP so not paying OOP and just don't want to use a 2nd credit to go to the BD.

I tried to book online for our trip but there are no April dates available yet. I guess I'll have to call. I'm leaning toward MM.

Thanks! I have 3 kids under 8, so a shorter wait would be helpful.

I was also having trouble booking an April date online, but I searched information on the Disney website about the Fantasmic Dinner Package and was able to book it online. Booking was not working on the regular reservation page. See if you can book from this link

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/reservations/dining/fantasmic-dinner-package/

 

[huckabear]

Thanks - It just won't show me any dates in the first week of April when we're there. I have my reservation linked to my account too. Hrm!

 

[2010Disneymom]

Thanks - It just won't show me any dates in the first week of April when we're there. I have my reservation linked to my account too. Hrm!

Hmmmmm....let me try to figure out what I did. I know I was having trouble doing it, but went into it some other way and was able to get it. Ironically it was at exactly at the same time as the regular reservation that I made. I will see if I can figure it out.

 

[2010Disneymom]

Unfortunately I cannot figure out how I did it. I keep trying, but I cannot figure it out. I did not book it on the normal reservation page. I was reading info about the Fantasmic Dining Package and clicked on some other link on that page. I think your best bet might be to call. Good luck getting your reservation!

 

[WC*123]

Try calling the dining line. I was trying to book a date in late March about a week ago over the phone. The CM said she saw the show, but couldn't book the package. She opened a trouble ticket and asked me to call back. I kept checking online, but the date never showed as available for booking. I called back the other day and an agent was able to book it...finally! And we were able to book a 6pm package, which was later than I thought we could book. FWIW, there are two shows that night. Anyway, keep trying!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I totally think it's worth it. We did it last December and while I was nervous over the mixed reviews of Mama Melrose - we really enjoyed it! Of course we had to wait forever b/c they had trouble seating a party of 6 and the kitchen was VERY slow- so even with a 3:50p adr we had to sprint to make it there on time. Seriously, we had to be there by 6pm and I think we made it by 5:57p. Still, we didn't have to wait hours on line to get in and the view was still very good- so in the end- completely worth it and would do it again.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I know I am going to get flamed here, but here it goes.

I have never had a good meal @ DHS. In May 09 we went to Mama Melrose for the F! dinner package and the food was not edible @ all! The worst meal I have EVER had on Disney property and it takes A LOT for me to complain about food (haha). We ended up not going to F! b/c DD got sick. Anyway...this past year we finally made it to F! (did it YEARS ago but couldn't really remember it) and I am sorry, just don't see what the hype is about it, just some food for thought if you've never done it and have a crazy crammed schedule.
I don't think I would revolve my meal around F! b/c the choices they give are not good at all. I'd grab a burger or nuggets and then get to F! 20 minutes before the show. In August we went to the 2nd showing, arrived literally minutes before it started and we had no problems whatsoever.

 

[NC State Tigger]

What does the package cost OOP?

 

[2010Disneymom]

I know I am going to get flamed here, but here it goes.

I have never had a good meal @ DHS. In May 09 we went to Mama Melrose for the F! dinner package and the food was not edible @ all! The worst meal I have EVER had on Disney property and it takes A LOT for me to complain about food (haha). We ended up not going to F! b/c DD got sick. Anyway...this past year we finally made it to F! (did it YEARS ago but couldn't really remember it) and I am sorry, just don't see what the hype is about it, just some food for thought if you've never done it and have a crazy crammed schedule.
I don't think I would revolve my meal around F! b/c the choices they give are not good at all. I'd grab a burger or nuggets and then get to F! 20 minutes before the show. In August we went to the 2nd showing, arrived literally minutes before it started and we had no problems whatsoever.

We did the later show in August 2010. We literally walked in right at the start of the show and had no problem getting a seat. Thankfully my kids are older and can handle staying up that late.

 

[mommy2twinprincesses]

We went in Feb. on the DDP and ate at MM with the preferred seating for F! show. We felt it was not worth it. We had a 2:40 reservation at MM and had to wait with two exhausted kids and nowhere to sit for 40 minutes. You would think 2:40 would be an off time. Not the case. The food was just average. Then to top it off we were not impressed with the show. We think the show at MK and Illuminations at Epcot far surpass Fantasmic. The rest of our trip was fabulous, we are not complainers by any stretch, this was our least favorite part of the entire trip.