Hollywood and Vine or Mama Melrose

[Twilight Sparkle]

We like decent food - doesn't have to be out of this world, just tasty. DH loves buffets because he likes quantity. I like the variety at buffets but do not feel DD and I eat enough for the money. Pleasant atmosphere is high up on our list of priorities. Characters, not so much. We don't try to avoid characters. They just aren't a must-do. Knowing this, which would you suggest we try?

Sci-Fi would be in the running, but I am hoping to snag a Fantasmic dinner pkg. If I can't get the pkg, is Sci-Fi better?

Thanks!

 

[Hans Olo]

My family and I loved Mama Melrose! Had lots of tasty options and even my picky eater was able to find something he loved

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

Thanks, Hans Olo. Love your name! Do you remember if the entrees were on the larger side? I wouldn't want DH to starve! Ha!

 

[Hans Olo]

We were on the DDP and had the Fantasmic package so an appetizer was part of it.

DH, my mom and I all got the ceasar salad which was refreshing and tasty. I had a chicken pasta with cheese sauce, DH had Chicken Parmesan and my mom had the steak. I want to say there was rolls/bread too...

All were pretty good sized portions. I don't even think DH finished all his food.

My 4 kids got pizza and chicken Parmesan. They all loved it.

Dessert was awesome as well. Adults got a trio sampler and kids all picked ice cream for theirs.

Mama Melrose was my favorite in park restaurant we ate at Hope this helps!

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

That helps a ton! Sounds great, actually. Thank you!

 

[annej]

We love Mama Melrose and the portions are fairly large. My DD and I just ate at Hollywood and Vine for dinner in March and while the food was good it was not anything I would do again. I did not think there was much variety. the pork was excellent but that is honestly the only thing that really has stayed in my memory. The characters are there at dinner - Mickey Minnie Daisy and Goofy and Donald are the ones we saw. If it were me, I would choose Mama's every time!!!

 

[goav2000]

My family (all adults) ate at MM about three years ago on the F! package and it was a fantastic experience. Food was plentiful and service was top notch.
I haven't experienced H&V yet but I feel secure in my vote

 

[Baklava]

We enjoyed both. We went into H and V expecting pretty bad food (but needing the characters) and were very pleasantly surprised. One of the better buffets we had. (And we did 10 days of DxDDP. We did a LOT!) Mama Melrose was also excellent. The food there edges out H and V, but we'd do both again.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

Thank so much, all of you! It sounds like Mama Melrose it will be. Love the help people give around here.

 

[Mr & Mrs DD]

Mama Melrose gets my vote. We had a very good meal there.

 

[mom2travel]

We've eaten at both and enjoyed both. Head-to-head, I'd pick Mama Melrose. We all just like the food and atmosphere. We decided to do a dining package at AK for Jungle Book show this year or else would've done MM for F!
Enjoy!!

 

[jpolak]

another vote for mama's

 

[CRSNDSNY]

We've enjoyed both many times, but for a quieter, calmer experience, Mama Melrose is the way to go.

We have young children, so that time in a quieter restaurant, sans stimulation is a good break from all the excitement.

IMO, the food is better, too.

 

[Lisa F]

another mama melrose. though I am taking my kiddo to H&V, he LOVES the characters. for atmosphere though, MM hands down. I love it in there honestly, haven't been in years. Having seen pictures I don't think your DH will go home hungry but if the 3 course meal is not enough maybe you and the kids can share with him.

 

[Misha72683]

Not H&V. The only good things about that restaurant were the deserts and the characters and it's an awful lot of money just for dessert if you have no interest in the characters.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

When are you going?
Like you, I like the variety, rather than quantity, at buffets. I am big on salads, fruits & veggies, and buffets offer a lot of choices, vs. regular menus offerings are limited. For Halloween, H&V characters are dressing in Halloween costumes. I don't care about meet & greets or signatures, but would like to see them all in their costumes. Halloween costumes are so much fun.
The F! package at Mama Melrose is great if you are on DDP, but you have to order the most expensive items to break even. If you are OOP, it is better to just order what you want (and share with DH).

Edit: It is an additional $6 or $7 per person for the F! reservation. So unless you really want the reserved seat, you might want to think about that. If you are going when they do 2 F! a night, the 2nd is always easier to get into. (That does not matter if you are on DDP.)

 

[xwewhisper]

Another vote for Mama's if you aren't set on meeting characters. The food is tasty and the portions are reasonable-to-large I'd say. We also loved H&V but mostly for the character experience! The food was good as well but we aren't huge eaters so buffets have gotten less appealing to us.

 

[Twilight Sparkle]

When are you going?
Like you, I like the variety, rather than quantity, at buffets. I am big on salads, fruits & veggies, and buffets offer a lot of choices, vs. regular menus offerings are limited. For Halloween, H&V characters are dressing in Halloween costumes. I don't care about meet & greets or signatures, but would like to see them all in their costumes. Halloween costumes are so much fun.
The F! package at Mama Melrose is great if you are on DDP, but you have to order the most expensive items to break even. If you are OOP, it is better to just order what you want (and share with DH).

Edit: It is an additional $6 or $7 per person for the F! reservation. So unless you really want the reserved seat, you might want to think about that. If you are going when they do 2 F! a night, the 2nd is always easier to get into. (That does not matter if you are on DDP.)

We are going towards the end of Jan, so H&V would have the silver screen theming, I think. That would be terribly cute, but after all of the positive reviews for Mama Melrose, I think I'll focus on that. We will probably get the dining plan again but not certain at this point.

 

[TheInvernessie]

I've definitely done both. H&V was terrible. It was sad, and just...dingy. Mama Melrose was the opposite! Lovely, fun and just a decent Italian style dinner or lunch. If my opinion weighs in for anything, Mama Melrose is the way to go!

 

[Elissajoy]

I agree with the folks who liked MM. My family ate there twice, second time with the Fantasmic ! package. My whole family plus my daughter's friend loved it! Both times, our waitress was friendly and accommodating.