Hi, Mark. The cost is right, what you get to eat is right. You do NOT get your Fanstamic ticket when you check in--but when you are seated in the restaurant. I don't know about the seating. When we were there in September, they still had the separate entrance to go into Fantasmic. My understanding is that now everyone, including the Fanstasmic Package guests, all enter at the same entrance, but you then turn in your ticket and are shown to the area reserved to the right.
We have always enjoyed Mama Melrose and had good food. I was a little disappointed in my meal last year, but I think a lot of it was due to the fact that it was our first night there--it was very hot and I was overtired--we had been up since 4:00 that morning for our flight, plus I had not slept well the couple of weeks before because my dad had died the week before our trip. So I think it was more me than the meal...because my DH and our friends enjoyed theirs immensely. I've had the Fourcheese flatbread, DH has had the Penne Alla Vodka, Oven Baked Chicken alla Parmesan, Wood-Grilled Salmon and the Pork Marsela--all very good. I really liked the Calamari, but wish they'd put less peppers in it. Let me know if you want a link to our dining reviews from this past September--they have pictures too.