Hollywood and Vine

[mass02703]

I currently have reservations at Hollywood and Vine because it was the only restaurant that was available for the Fantasmic package. I'm looking for opinions on this restaurant, not sure I was crazy with the menu (although it only had very broad discriptions). I am travelling with children 12,11,5, and 1. We have never been to Fantasmic before. Is it worth seeing? Is it worth getting the Fantasmic package (it is during easter week). Would I be better at Prime Time (what I really wanted, although have never been) without the Fantasmic package? Please help!

 

[bcrook]

We have been to Hollywood & Vine three times and we have enjoyed it every time. The buffet has a nice variety. We also had a great experience with the Fantasmic! dinner package. I liked getting a break from waiting in line, and having the preferred seating.

50's Prime Time Cafe is fun too, but I really liked the Fantasmic dinner package, and I am probably going to book it again this summer for a group of 9.

 

[mass02703]

Thank you that makes me feel better about this reservation.

 

[KatMark]

One of two Disney restaurants you could not pay us to go to. Horrible service, horrible food, filthy restaurant--not once, but twice.

 

[disneykc9691]

Last August we ate at Hollywood and Vine with the Fantsamic Package. The Fantasmic Package is totally worth it and it is a great show-you and your family will enjoy it. The food there is not the greatest but the Fantasmic package makes up for it. You do not have to wait for about an hour and half for the show, which I have done and not enjoyable so definetly keep the reservation. Hope you enjoy

 

[catne]

H & V gets very mixed reviews...but we really liked it last May (2008) and we definitely like the Fantasmic seating arrangement back then.

From what people say, having the reserved seating is even better now since they've cut back on the Fantasmic showings.

 

[KatMark]

There is no longer a "separate entrance" for Fantasmic Package holders. You now line up in the regular line with everyone else.

 

[jenseib]

I have heard alot of bad things about the dinner buffet. We actually had it booked and I canceled it. but have no clue about the fantasmic package.
How does that wrok? The restuarant isn't close to fantasmic, is it?

 

[Hopefully]

I agree totally with KatMark, you could not pay us to go back. We have tried it twice with the same results.
It is noisy, we were surrounded by unbussed tables, our waitress was rude, the food was cold and horrible and the Ladies Room was Fllthy. We went with reasonable, not high, expectations. Never again.
That said, Fantasmic during Easter time will be mobbed. If you have never seen it, it is worth it. I don't know if they will add nights during that busy season or not. We did do the dining package when we went and we thought the seats were good.
Personally, I would wait in line rather than eat again at Hollywood and Vine.
Sorry, I know that is not what you want to hear, but it is our opinion.

 

[alan_renfroe]

I absolutely hated H&V for dinner. The buffet was just sub-par all the way around: the lettuce was wilty and salad fixin's weren't fresh, the vegetables tasted like lunchroom cafeteria food, and the meats were fatty. The best item I had on the buffet were chicken nuggets, which weren't really good, but the only thing I found to be palletable. Our server was okay - not great, but not terrible. The atmosphere didn't really appeal to me either - it is art deco, but overly so....and there just seemed to be a funny smell to the place.

I was really shocked, because other than H&V every single meal we had at Disney was terrific....but not this one. You will get lots of varying opinions....and I know lots of people really like H&V, but I promised myself that I would let others know the truth about how much we really didn't like it, so maybe they wouldn't make the same mistake.

As for Fantasmic, other posters may throw rocks at me for saying this, but it was ... uh... good...but not great. I personally enjoyed Illuminations at Epcot and Wishes at Magic Kingdom much, much more. Here is my 12-yr-old son's description of Fantasmic: "It was basically 30 minutes worth of cartoons projected onto a spray of water...and the cartoons didn't even make sense! I did like when the characters came around the lake on the boat, and when the dragon breathed fire, but I wouldn't sit there for an hour waiting on that show again." Yep, I have to agree with him on that one.

Instead of doing the Fantasmic dinner package for our upcoming trip, we've decided to try a completely different experience: on our DHS day, we have a dining reservation at the Flying Fish at Boardwalk. We plan to catch the American Idol finale show at DHS, then walk over to the Boardwalk for dinner.

Hey...different strokes for different folks, right?