Fantasmic Package

[profolly]

Hi all

My daughter and I will want to book a Fantasmic package when we visit WDW next year. We were going to book Mama Melrose but, having read quite a few negative reports recently we are having a change of mind. Does anyone have a recommendation ? How about Hollywood and Vine and Sci Fi Diner or is it bad luck that a few people have had a bad experience at MM

Ta

profolly

 

[dpuck1998]

We have never had a bad meal at MM. We've been 5 times at least. If your booking the fantasmic package then you can choose from Hollywood and Vine, Mama Melrose or the Brown Derby. Unless they changes recently, Sci-Fi isn't on the list. If your too worried about MM then try Brown Derby. Little more expensive however. I don't think you'll be upset with any of them. (FYI, HWV is a buffet)

 

[whogirl'smom]

We really enjoyed Mama Melrose for DH's b-day. The food was really good and our waiter, Kevin, was fantastic, bringing extra whatever we needed. I didn't book the Fantastmic package and I'm glad I didn't--those seats are WAAAYY over to the right and I think we got much better seats just walking in. Just leave yourself about an hour before the show and you can get good seats. Enjoy!

 

[Robo]

Hi all

My daughter and I will want to book a Fantasmic package when we visit WDW next year. We were going to book Mama Melrose but, having read quite a few negative reports recently we are having a change of mind. Does anyone have a recommendation ? How about Hollywood and Vine and Sci Fi Diner or is it bad luck that a few people have had a bad experience at MM

Don't think Sci-Fi is a part of the Dinner Pkg.

No one can predict EXACTLY how large the crowds will be or how early you should go to find a seat for Fantasmic! on any given day.
It has totally to do with the whim of the crowd at MGM on that day, and the general crowd LEVELS.
How much time you wish to "invest" in waiting is a personal decision. We never do the formal Dinner Package, and have always seen the show (dozens of times).

(Take all of these as "average" numbers, sometimes the crowd will be MUCH greater and the theater can fill up much sooner.)

VERY Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 75-120 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
45-60 minutes before: Good seats
20-40 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests.

Busy days:
If you go to the first show of the evening (or "only" show that evening), if you arrive about 50-60 minutes before show-time, you can sit just about anywhere.
40 minutes before: Good seats
25-35 Minutes: will vary between seats at edges and rear of theater to SRO or even "closed" to further guests. (The crowd of "last-minute" arrivals can be slow to get seated before show-time.)

Off-Season (not busy days):
You should be OK to enter by 10-20 minutes before, but you'll likely be seated to the outer edges, and/or way at the back.

If you do the Fantasmic! Dinner Pkg. you still SHOULD enter by AT LEAST 35 minutes (much "safer" at 45 minutes) before show-time and still be guaranteed "pretty good" seats (not my "first choice" area, but fine), regardless of crowd-levels. Remember, the DP is only valid for the first show of the evening, if there are 2 or more. If you do have DP and you spy some seats outside the DP "reserved" area, you are free to choose to sit anywhere outside that area you like, no problem.

If there are TWO Fantasmic! shows in one evening, the second one will have lower crowd level than the first one. You can arrive a bit later and still find a seat.

Be aware that the second show waiting area will LOOK like the show is "too crowded".
That's because they HOLD the 2nd crowd outside the theater while the CMs CLEAN it after the first crowd has exited.

Then, they will let those waiting together in that big group IN... all at once, and there will be PLENTY of room.

(The theater holds 10,000 guests!)

We like to eat our evening meal while waiting for Fantasmic! to start.
You can bring in items from the counter-service places in MGM, or they DO have concession stands at the rear of the theater serving "baseball stadium-type" food and drinks. Yes, even beer, sold strictly ONE-at-a-time, one-only-to-a-person, so a single person can't go and buy beer for other members of a group... all guests wanting to buy a beer must be present in-person at the counter.

 

[profolly]

Thx Robo
That was great help
profolly x

 

[profolly]

NB
We are going 13th Oct - 26th Oct is that classed as a busy season ?
thx
profolly

 

[Robo]

NB
We are going 13th Oct - 26th Oct is that classed as a busy season ?
thx
profolly

Most times, if its not a school holiday (Summer, Christmas, Spring Break, etc.), it is not considered "busy season."

 

[kmccain]

I have been thinking about this too!

Do you mean there are places in the resturant that you can see it from without purchasing the package?

How much money am I going to save?

I was thinking about Hollywood and Vine, can anyone give me some input?

Thanks so much!

 

[Robo]

I have been thinking about this too!

Do you mean there are places in the resturant that you can see it from without purchasing the package?

Whoa there.

You can't "see" Fantasmic! from inside ANY restaurant.

The "restaurant package" just entitles you to a seat at the Fantasmic! THEATER (the theater is outdoors) later that night.

Read all about it here:

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/fantdin1.htm

We have never done the package and have seen the show dozens of times.

 

[profolly]

Promise last question there is so much to ask lol WE are staying at the GF and are planning to book a late character bfast in 1900 Park Fare on the Sunday hoping everyone will be in the MK . Is that a good idea or will everyone have the same idea lol

Profolly

 

[Robo]

Promise last question there is so much to ask lol WE are staying at the GF and are planning to book a late character bfast in 1900 Park Fare on the Sunday hoping everyone will be in the MK . Is that a good idea or will everyone have the same idea lol

Profolly

I would never assume a low attendance at a Character breakfast.

Sundays are particularly busy at all meal-times, but if you have a seating time, you will be just fine.

 

[kmccain]

Whoa there.

You can't "see" Fantasmic! from inside ANY restaurant.

The "restaurant package" just entitles you to a seat at the Fantasmic! THEATER (the theater is outdoors) later that night.

Read all about it here:

http://www.allearsnet.com/din/fantdin1.htm

We have never done the package and have seen the show dozens of times.

WOW! Was I off! Thanks so much for the info!

 

[profolly]

Thx Robo
Profolly x

 

[almburr]

Let me see if I have this right. We have ressies. in Nov. @ H&V we get a voucher at check out take that to Fansatmic they take us to the "reserved spot" and sit. BUT if we see other seat we would rather sit in we can get up and move over there. If some one has done this please let me know. We leave in 5 days. Our Fantasmic is scheduled for the first night after refurbishment. So would that make it more cwoded?

 

[kellypooh]

We have done the Fantasmic pkg. twice -- once at Hollywood & Vine and once at Brown Derby. H&V is a buffet (as someone previously mentioned). Brown Derby is a signature restaurant and is more expensive than H&V. The Brown Derby was also the only place at the World I've eaten that I felt uncomfortable dressed casually. We've never eaten at MM's so I can't compare....we'll probably try that next trip!
One time, crowd level was high and we would have had to wait in line for over an hour to get in. The other time, we could have chosen other seats in the theater outside the area set aside for package purchasers because there wasn't as many people...and yes, you can sit elsewhere if you want. You don't HAVE to sit in the reserved section if you see a spot you'd rather sit. I didn't feel that I missed anything by sitting in that reserved area -- I've been told that the view is good from everywhere in the theater.

 

[*love*2*shop]

Hi all
My daughter and I will want to book a Fantasmic package when we visit WDW next year. We were going to book Mama Melrose but, having read quite a few negative reports recently we are having a change of mind. Does anyone have a recommendation ? How about Hollywood and Vine and Sci Fi Diner or is it bad luck that a few people have had a bad experience at MM

YOU KNOW, jUST GO WITH WHAT you THINK...YOU WILL GET SOO MANY RESPONSES here it will make your had spin..we Just got back and did HOLLYWOOD & VINE with the Fantasmic pkg.....It was Great food, BUT is a Buffet( we would have prefered a little more of a "sit down be served meal" ...we walked by hollywood brown derby and it looks alot fancier, our serv at H&V wasnt good, but again, food was GREAT@!!!...Someone else we spoke to at the fantasmic show ate at the next door rst 50s prime time and had a terrible time.....
good luck...

 

[*love*2*shop]

Let me see if I have this right. We have ressies. in Nov. @ H&V we get a voucher at check out take that to Fansatmic they take us to the "reserved spot" and sit. BUT if we see other seat we would rather sit in we can get up and move over there. If some one has done this please let me know. We leave in 5 days. Our Fantasmic is scheduled for the first night after refurbishment. So would that make it more cwoded?

YES< you go in a TOTALLY diff way then the other guests and sit in a reserved section/guarenteed a great seat!! we did this and worked great! didnt have to get there HOURS early to get a great seat, but yes IF you choose, you can sit anywhere..we arrived at 645 pm and the reguler seating was *PACKED!!!!!!! for 730 show and glad we did have the ressies!!

 

[Mickey1Fan]

We get a snack and stake out our seats. I prefer the centre of the theatre to the seats reserved on the side for dinner package guests. It is a chance to talk to other people, rest weary legs and get my daily journal up to date.

 

[GOODoldPAL]

We did Fantasmic Package in 2000 eating @ Mama Melrose. We thought food was okay, not fantastic but good and service was adequate; plenty of time to get to reserved seating meeting area.
That late Fantasmic show however, was not crowded even when we arrived only 40 mins prior so we ended up moving to a better seat. If place was packed we would have been happy for the reserved seats.

 

[tbthomps]

My family booked the Fantasmic Package on our last trip 10/06...it was our first time and we LOVED IT!!

We ate at the Brown Derby and I can easily say it is my favorite place to eat at MGM!!!!! I can't wait to return.

The seating at Fantasmic was great....we sat on a bench in the very front....I had no idea that people actually GOT WET during this show!! We were soaked!!! I was never so happy when the lake was set on fire....warmth at last!!

We will definitely book a Fantasmic package again at the Brown Derby!!!