Mama Melrose and Fantasmic package...???

[db2dzny]

We're newbies and will be at WDW in November for 8 days. We thought we could do dinner and Fantasmic for something special. I've heard to stay away from Hollywood and Vine. What is your expert opinion/advice?

 

[belleatheart]

We have done the fantasmic package and it is nice...but not a necessity so if you can not get it do not worry just go with a normal ressie and then go to fantasmic after. Do you plan on doing DDP. I would for sure go to Mama, did H&V and disliked it immensely.

 

[Greg K.]

Brown Derby is another excellent alternative. Love the Grapefruit Cake!

 

[KatMark]

We have done all three restaurants involved in the Fantasmic Package--Mama Melrose (3 times), Hollywood & Vine (2 times) and Brown Derby (did not do with the Fantasmic Package--ate lunch there for my DH's 50th birthday). We like Mama Melrose--nothing spectacular--probably on an even keel with Olive Garden, but we've always had good food and good service; Hollywood & Vine we will not go to again--both times the service was terrible, the food bland and lukewarm at best...and often it took forever to replenish food when it ran out; we did not like Brown Derby--had absolutely terrible service, our waiter did not want to be bothered with questions; both my DH and my meals were some sort of steak and it was terrible and my DH hates the grapefruit cake (and he is a big dessert eater). We have thought of giving it another chance, but there are too many other restaurants we have wanted to try and we do not want to waste two table service credits on it.

As a previous poster said, you may not even need the package. We do it because we go during free dining and we no longer travel with kids, so we don't mind sitting off to the side where the Fantasmic Package seats are.

 

[macjodi]

Do Mama's. Didn't care too much for BD. Always enjoyed Mama's.

 

[BillyFeat]

We had a disappointing meal at Mama Melrose in 2006. Maybe things have changed, but we found the food average at best.

 

[ms_mckenna]

We have been in Nov and there was really no need for the package but I really think it depends on what part of Nov you are there during. (We were in the beginning of the month). As for Mama Melrose we were there in August and it was really really bad. The food was ok but nothing spectacular our waiter was really bad though. On a positive note the table next to us was getting GREAT service. My point being it is a crap shoot with the waitstaff lol.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I guess I'm in the minority- I had excellent meals at both places.

Hollywood and Vine- When I called for the Fantasmic Package, I could only get the first dinner seating (I believe it's 4:20, or 4:30, but the memory is a little fuzzy.) It ended up being PERFECT- a downpour started right at 4:15ish. Everyone was wishing they had ADR's for that moment! Anyway, I guess this is why we enjoyed it so much, because the restaurant was totally clean and the buffet hadn't been touched when we walked in. Our server was wonderful- so much so that I remember that she was from PA because she was very personable and talked to us quite a bit. We got to the back entrance for Fantasmic pretty late. I think we were one of the last people they let through. But, luckily, they still had the ropes up. We sat all the way to the left of the special section, and I thought the seats were good. Oh, and a bonus- that rain at 4:15 delayed the parade, so by the time we were done eating, we were able to walk right out on the porch and hear the parade getting ready to start.

Mama Melrose- We didn't do the package, but we had an excellent meal. However, this was on free dining. This is one of the only places that brought out what the bill would have been, and it was $169. We were 2 adults, 1 Disney Adult 10 y.o., and an 8 y.o. And that doesn't include Dh's Italian beer, which of course we were billed separately for.

I still haven't done Brown Derby. It's the only restaurant at DHS that my family hasn't eaten at!