Fastasmic Dining - worth it to have reservations?

[MagicMom of 2]

We haven't seen the Fantasmic show yet, but I'm thinking my DS (7) and DD (4) would enjoy it. Upcoming trip in September

Contemplating ADR at Mama Melrose so we can have resereved seating for the show. Is the show worth it and does Mama Melrose good have good food?

I ruled out the Hollywood & Vine because it's a buffet. And I don't think I want to pay the money for Brown Derby.

Thanks!

 

[faindrops27]

The show is worth it. However. I have never had the Fantasmic package. I just walk up 40 minutes prior to the show to claim a seat. I am thinking of the package since, it's only one credit on the DDP. Debating with Mama' or Tutto Italia. I will still probably not sit in reserved seating. As, I hear the seating is over to the right.

 

[MagicMom of 2]

Can you tell me how long the show lasts? Thanks!

 

[faindrops27]

You're welcome. After so many trips down. I should know the exact second, & minutes. But, I don't. I would say maybe 40 minutes. Enjoy!

 

[pooch]

I've sat in the reserved section 3 times and the seats are fine. You face a "water" screen so have a great view of that & everything else is well in view. I like not having to stand in line. You go in the back entrance and right into a seat. Easy-breezy!!!

 

[JennG]

Exactly what is the Fantasmic show? And if I decide to do an ADR, do I need to pick which restaurant then?

 

[danielle782001]

Exactly what is the Fantasmic show? And if I decide to do an ADR, do I need to pick which restaurant then?

Fantasmic is a show starring Mickey... complete with music, characters, laser lights, dancing water, fire, and fireworks... theme is Mickey saves us from Disney villians... it is something you must do at least once..... But don't sit in the first five to ten rows because you will get wet and it gets really hot from the fire sequence....

The package does not cost extra... They take your credit card when you reserve because they will charge you $10 per person if you do not cancel before 48 hours... You can order anyting on the menu and you can use the dining plan as usual... After you pay the bill you are given passes to present at the back entrance of the show (which is actually near the front of the park)... They say to show up 30 minutes before but I am not sure you really have to... We arrived 20 minutes before and we saw many others come in after us... There was plenty of seating in the package area.... The package area is all the way to one side (right).... Not center.... But you can see pretty well from almost anywhere because the show is so big....

We did the package last May because we did not want to have to wait an hour for the show with two small kids... We went to Mama Melrose because we knew the H & V buffet did not have much we would want.... This was going to be our second attempt at MM...We did not like it the first time but we always give a place two attempts before crossing it off the list.... MM is now off the list....

The food is just not good... We are Italian from NY and I cook Italian so we are a bit picky... I would decribe the food as a bad day at the Olive Garden... The food is oily, tons of spices, the sauce is brownish, and the chicken is like rubber... Atmosphere is nice and both times we were there the service was fine...

I still would not choose H & V and would only suggest MM if you are not picky about your Italian food...

We would likely not do the package again... We love Sci-Fi and Prime Time... If we are sitting down to eat we would want one of those two places... Next time we plan to suck it up and wait the hour.... Our kids will be older and the food at the two places does not make it worth it FOR US.

 

[frdeb1999]

We have done H & V, Mama Melroses and Brown Derby all with the package and we still love H & V hands down. They have alot of choices and the food has always been very good. I honestly think it's better then Chef Mickey's buffet. If you have picky eaters it's the place to go....Mama's has very good food also, but kids were never happy with it. The package is very much worth doing though. The seats are good and you don't have to worry about standing in line.

 

[DisneyCatMom]

I haven't eaten at H&V, but have ressie for mid April with package. We ate at MamaMelrose last time with 3 &6 year old DD and DS. Could only get 4:30 ressie and the kids slept thru the whole thing. Pasta is just a little too heavy for me in the middle of a hot day.
I haven't read good reviews here about H&V, but it gives us more choices and hopefully lighter food choices.
Also, with little one's I find that I rather have a reserved seat (good seats, nothing wrong with them) then have to arrive an hour before the show starts.
So, my thoughts, if you plan on eating in the park that day, go for the voucher. It doesn't cost any more.

 

[chief19spixi]

The package is very much worth doing though. The seats are good and you don't have to worry about standing in line.

that is why I booked the packaged for Late april!! woo hoo!!
Last year we stood in line for quite a while to get pushed around and I was not happy at all!

 

[Merrywheather]

We did the Fantasmic dinner package during our New Year's trip this year. IMO, it was definitely worth it, just because we didn't have to wait in line with 2 children. You go in the back way by Oscar's Garage, and the view from the reserved seating area is pretty good. I would suggest trying to sit at least 1/2 way up so that you do not get wet. BTW, we ate at H&V. It was OK...not the best, but not the worst. My kids found things that satisfied them. It was worth doing it, just to not have to worry about the holiday crowds that time of year.

 

[llori7]

We did the Fantasmic Package last year at MM in September. I am not doing again for this September. MM was ok, but nothing great. There are other places I would rather eat at than MM or H&V. So we are just going to wait in line. It was not that crowded last year, so I don't think we will have a problem.

 

[buckeyebill1995]

We did it last year and it was great! You are off-center, but it is still much better than the year before where we waited over an hour in line for cramped nosebleed seats with a five year old. BTW, we ate at Brown Derby on DDP and were very happy with it, although Prime Time Cafe is still our favorite at HS.

 

[stawes]

do YOU NEDD TO RESERVE IT BEFORE OR CAN YOUR BOOK WHEN YOU ARIVE.

 

[beattyfamily]

IMHO, you do NOT need the package in off season, specifically September, when you are going, OP.

I've done the package many times (probably 5 or 6 times) in the off season due to fear of this line I keep hearing about.

Well, after doing the package several times and eating in a restaurant that I really didn't want to and sitting in seats to the far right and then seeing that the rest of the stadium was still quite empty, I realized I didn't need it.

The last time I did the package the end of August (for the last time) and I saw how empty the stadium was, I decided to save my package voucher as a souvenier and I sat right in the center, half way back. The best seats I ever had.

Since then I've eaten where I wanted to (sci-fi and 50's prime time) and had great seats in the center section. I only entered either 1 hour before or 45 minutes before and there was NO line at all. They open the stadium about 1 1/2 to 2 hours before the show so the waiting is in your seat.

I've gotten a great seat on my own the end of August, Sept, Oct and Dec with no problems.

Even with the package, you have to get there at least 30 minutes before and some waitresses even told me 45 minutes before. At 30 minutes, the package seats could (and sometimes are) be opened up to the general guests if it's standing room only. So you should still get there early.

Have fun planning!

 

[chief19spixi]

IMHO, you do NOT need the package in off season, specifically September, when you are going, OP.

Well, after doing the package several times and eating in a restaurant that I really didn't want to and sitting in seats to the far right and then seeing that the rest of the stadium was still quite empty, I realized I didn't need it.

The last time I did the package the end of August (for the last time) and I saw how empty the stadium was, I decided to save my package voucher as a souvenier and I sat right in the center, half way back. The best seats I ever had.


I've gotten a great seat on my own the end of August, Sept, Oct and Dec with no problems.

!

Thanks for the tip!! I cam currently planning our vacation for next year during the fall time frame!!

 

[pooch]

going the week after Labor Day and have always used the Pkg to see Fantasmic (H & V both times). I had intended (180 days on Sunday!) to book MM this time for a change but my heart really isn't in it. DD and I loved the Pot Roast at 50's Primetime last year. Should I take a chance and go "packageless" this time?