Mama Melrose- Fantasmic Package or not?

[Mickeyluver37]

Ok, so right now we have 6:00 PM dinner reservations for Mama Melrose, on a night with one showing of Fantasmic at 8:30. It's a Wednesday evening in September.....is the Fantasmic package necessary? I can't decide which menu I like better (they are nearly identical) and cost isn't really a factor because we have free dining! Should we keep our ressies as is or call back and try to get the package? I've never been to WDW while school is in session, so not sure how light the crowds really are!

Thanks!

 

[mrzrich]

Lets put it this way right now if you start your meal at 6:00 you might not get to fantasmic.

By the time you order, get your appitizer, entree, and deserts and pay your bill, you will be hustling to get there in time.


Some people stand in line for Fantasmic 90 minutess before the show starts. I don't know for sure if this will be necessary during your stay.

Your ADR if you do the FDP will be much earlier dinner, like 3:30 or 4:00, which many people don't care for.

 

[LISAMWDW]

mrzrich is correct, your adr should be earlier in the day. I've been many times and have not nor needed to do the package. We've had great seats and have never had a problem. You do need to get there early, we usually do an hour early, get our seats then one of us goes to get some snacks!

 

[jenjersnap]

IME, 5:00-5:30 ADR is plenty of time to get to Fantasmic. Oftentimes, the only available time slots are the super early ones more than 90 days out.

I can't tell you about MM, we're trying it for the first time this trip. (Though we have often done the FDP package with other restaurants). I like that pizza is an appetizer, not an entree, on the FDP menu so we'll all get to try some.

 

[beattyfamily]

I think 6:00p might still be enough time to eat and get to Fantasmic. Just arrive early to be sure you are seated right at 6:00p. If you want to play it safe, then go ahead and make it earlier but I've had Disney give me ADRs exactly 2 hours before the show (with the package) and we had plenty of time to get to the show at about 45/30 minutes before.

MM might take about 1 1/2 since its not a buffet so maybe you could try for 5:30p??

Anyway, IMHO, based on my experience doing the package several times and then realizing I didn't need it (the stadium was half full) and then doing Fantasmic without the package twice now (end of August and end of Oct) and having had the best seats ever, arriving at 1 hour before in August and 45 minutes before in Oct, I think you will be just fine not doing the package in September.

Good luck and have fun planning.

 

[MzDiz]

My upcoming MM ADR for the FDP (haha, I'm talking like a DISer) is at 5:10 with Fantasmic starting at 8:30.

 

[Tam1067]

First, the menus are now the same. If you get the Fantasmic package, you'll get an appetizer, entree, dessert, and non-alcoholic beverage included with the total. But, you need to call and make a reservation specifically for the package. Otherwise, you will not get the tickets for the reserved seating, even if you eat at Mama Melrose and even if you finish in time to make it to the theatre.

Also, I would agree that with a 6:00 reservation, you're pushing it. Mama Melrose is not a super fast dining experience, and it's way at the back of the park, about as far away from the Fantasmic theatre as you can get. You have quite a walk after dinner to get there. Disney Dining might not even let you do the package with an ADR that late (though I'm not completely sure about that one).

If you do decide to do the package, you'll have to give a credit card deposit, and if you fail to cancel 24 hours ahead of time, you'll be charged $10 per person. If you just make a regular ADR there, you do not need to do the credit card.

 

[beattyfamily]

Disney Dining might not even let you do the package with an ADR that late (though I'm not completely sure about that one).

Disney Dining has given me ADRs at exactly 2 hours before the show with the package. That is the latest ADR they give so they must think 2 hours is enough time, although I prefer eating at about 2 1/2 hours before.

 

[chia92]

I am going in September too and I booked the FDP at MM and thy gave me a 4:40 ressie. I figure once we finish we can hit a few more rides before hustling to Fantasmic! I have never been in September so I don't know what the wait would be like but I have been in January and it wasn't too bad. I just like the comfort of the reserved seat. Personal preference I think . . .

 

[LMarge]

Where did you see the menu for both options? I had no idea they would be any different! TIA Sorry - saw the other post about them now being the same! That makes me feel better!!!(don't know why, but it does!!!LOL)

 

[mrzrich]

The difference with the FDP is you have flatbread pizza's for appitizers the # of pizza's depend on the # of people at your table

 

[jenjersnap]

The difference with the FDP is you have flatbread pizza's for appitizers the # of pizza's depend on the # of people at your table

That is what I thought too - pizza and salad as appies, then you can order any entree and dessert on the menu. That is no longer the case? Anyone have the FDP in the past month? If they are the same, I might cancel the FDP altogether.

 

[Scornelius]

There isn't a special F! menu at MM anymore. Now you get the standard app, entree, dessert and non-alcoholic drink from the regular menu. It just changed this month!

 

[Tam1067]

There isn't a special F! menu at MM anymore. Now you get the standard app, entree, dessert and non-alcoholic drink from the regular menu. It just changed this month!

This is exactly what I've heard as well. The allears menu is no longer correct, or so others have reported on these boards.