Must make up my mind with these 3 ADR's. Help!

[Nolie]

What would you do. Kids are 10, 7 and 3.

I have a fantasmic package with Mama Melrose booked. I booked it solely for the fantasmic aspect for reserved area.

I just managed to score a 50's Prime time Lunch and a Hollywood & Vine dinner. I want the H&V for the characters and the 50's Prime Time I keep hearing how the atmosphere must be checked out.

What would you do? Keep the Mama Melrose and suck it up to fight for seeing space for Fantasmic or ditch the other 2?

 

[Nolie]

Travel Agent was quick to reply with her recommendations. Mama Melrose cancelled.

 

[ses1230]

What would you do. Kids are 10, 7 and 3.

I have a fantasmic package with Mama Melrose booked. I booked it solely for the fantasmic aspect for reserved area.

I just managed to score a 50's Prime time Lunch and a Hollywood & Vine dinner. I want the H&V for the characters and the 50's Prime Time I keep hearing how the atmosphere must be checked out.

What would you do? Keep the Mama Melrose and suck it up to fight for seeing space for Fantasmic or ditch the other 2?

Dinner is not a character meal. Characters are at H&V at bfast and lunch only.

 

[marchingstar]

if you can get your hands back on the Mama Melrose package, I definitely would. Along with no characters at dinner, the food at H&V is forgettable at best, terribly memorable at worst. if you can do sci fi for an early lunch before the fantasmic package, I probably would. I'm excited to visit the restaurant, and mostly because of the staging.

I'm sure this isn't quite what you want to hear, but I figure it's better to say something now while you might still have a chance at getting the F! package back.

 

[Nolie]

Dinner is not a character meal. Characters are at H&V at bfast and lunch only.

Ya I noticed that after the fact

 

[Nolie]

if you can get your hands back on the Mama Melrose package, I definitely would. Along with no characters at dinner, the food at H&V is forgettable at best, terribly memorable at worst. if you can do sci fi for an early lunch before the fantasmic package, I probably would. I'm excited to visit the restaurant, and mostly because of the staging.

I'm sure this isn't quite what you want to hear, but I figure it's better to say something now while you might still have a chance at getting the F! package back.

The Mama Melrose was 1:15 which leaves us nothing else we can do for lunch and screws us for dinner as we want to see Fantasmic but dinner after the show is too late for my kids and eating before would be too close to the Mama Melrose reseravation and kids wouldn't be hungry. Also according to my TA my kids are pretty young to enjoy Mama Melrose.

 

[HarkiQuinn]

Travel Agent was quick to reply with her recommendations. Mama Melrose cancelled.

What did you decide to do in the end?

 

[Nolie]

What did you decide to do in the end?

Cancelled Mama Melrose. Currently no H&V fantasmic package for our date but will keep an eye on it. Will drop what we do have if I find better options for that date but can live with these if not. I am going to have a full hair of grey hair by the time we land in Disney.

 

[monique5]

I see were you cancelled Fantasmic! Dining Package. Try to get it back for MM or H&V. As other person mentioned, no characters for H&V dinner. Also, with 3 kids no need to chase the crowds. Also, if your 3 yr old is in stroller, that's off to the side (stroller parking). Fantastic! Dining seats are center stage. With 3 kids, I wouldn't use FP+ (seats right of the stage/show. for Fantasmic! since dining package offers seating. That's valuable park time waiting when there are other options. Get that dining package back!!!!!

Edit: they would not enjoy MM as much as H&V, which is the only place to see Doc McStuffins (B & L only). However, if you take your kids out to eat @ home (Outback, Longhorn, Olive Garden, etc), no difference. It's still an enjoyable meal with family @ a new place. FWIW, my DD6 enjoyed HBD last year. Definitely not her favorite, but staff was extra nice to all kids there. Special treat, special dessert. Probably not the norm, but we weren't the only ones. Also, take all recommendations with a grain of salt. Everyone has different perspectives. We were traveling with a child in stroller last year, & handicapped GP & things like time & convenience always win for us. Maybe you can grab a H&V Fantasmic meal.

 

[Nolie]

I see were you cancelled Fantasmic! Dining Package. Try to get it back for MM or H&V. As other person mentioned, no characters for H&V dinner. Also, with 3 kids no need to chase the crowds. Also, if your 3 yr old is in stroller, that's off to the side (stroller parking). Fantastic! Dining seats are center stage. With 3 kids, I wouldn't use FP+ (seats right of the stage/show. for Fantasmic! since dining package offers seating. That's valuable park time waiting when there are other options. Get that dining package back!!!!!

Edit: they would not enjoy MM as much as H&V, which is the only place to see Doc McStuffins (B & L only). However, if you take your kids out to eat @ home (Outback, Longhorn, Olive Garden, etc), no difference. It's still an enjoyable meal with family @ a new place. FWIW, my DD6 enjoyed HBD last year. Definitely not her favorite, but staff was extra nice to all kids there. Special treat, special dessert. Probably not the norm, but we weren't the only ones. Also, take all recommendations with a grain of salt. Everyone has different perspectives. We were traveling with a child in stroller last year, & handicapped GP & things like time & convenience always win for us. Maybe you can grab a H&V Fantasmic meal.

My hope is to end up with a H&V Fantasmic meal. I swear these meals have been the most stressful part for me of the planning.

 

[Baptist]

When are you going? The Fantasmic dining package might not be that important if it's a slower time.

Mama Melrose's is not a great place. No love loss there.

 

[Nolie]

When are you going? The Fantasmic dining package might not be that important if it's a slower time.

Mama Melrose's is not a great place. No love loss there.

We will be at HS on November 4th.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

Fair warning I give to anyone planning on taking toddlers to Fantasmic, it can be terrifying. You see parents taking kids out of the theater all the time. Suggest you watch it on YouTube particularly minutes 15-24.

That being said if you think it's appropriate I'd grab the Fantasmic dinner package.

 

[mguilford1]

Any other comments or opinions about HV? I have an ADR for a Fantasmic package there week of Halloween. We are going with 7 yo granddaughter who has ADHD and does not stand still for long especially after dinner time! We went 10 years ago and never waited in a line for Fantasmic, but have heard things are different now! If you didnt like the food at HV what was the reasons?

 

[monique5]

Any other comments or opinions about HV? I have an ADR for a Fantasmic package there week of Halloween. We are going with 7 yo granddaughter who has ADHD and does not stand still for long especially after dinner time! We went 10 years ago and never waited in a line for Fantasmic, but have heard things are different now! If you didnt like the food at HV what was the reasons?

DD6 loves the food. DH & I, it's okay. Around 2 dishes we really enjoy. IMO the buffets/character meals are nothing to write home about food wise, except TH which we all ABSOLUTELY love. You are going for the atmosphere, characters, experience. All different for 6yr old vs parents. With that being said we do these character meals every trip. So I guess we enjoy food to a certain degree.

I do not believe anything @ Disney is walk up any more. You have Fantasmic! Dining Package reserved area & FP+ reserved area, now leaving less room for SB in amphitheater.

 

[Nolie]

Fair warning I give to anyone planning on taking toddlers to Fantasmic, it can be terrifying. You see parents taking kids out of the theater all the time. Suggest you watch it on YouTube particularly minutes 15-24.

That being said if you think it's appropriate I'd grab the Fantasmic dinner package.

I got bored at the 4 minute mark and closed the video. Tried to skip forward to the part you mentioned but youtube hates me and it wouldn't play if I skipped forward.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

I got bored at the 4 minute mark and closed the video. Tried to skip forward to the part you mentioned but youtube hates me and it wouldn't play if I skipped forward.

At that point there is a 9 minute section where some of the worst villains attempt to invade Mickey's dream and turn it into a nightmare. Tons of evil witch screams, a massive snake that takes up the whole stage while Mickey cowers in fear, tons of explosions while the villains pronounce evil upon Mickey. Eventually Mickey overcomes them, but not till every villain screeches the agony of defeat screams.

To me it is the best nighttime show in WDW but it is intense. Damn if it doesn't get a bit dusty in that theater every time Mickey prevails

 

[Nolie]

At that point there is a 9 minute section where some of the worst villains attempt to invade Mickey's dream and turn it into a nightmare. Tons of evil witch screams, a massive snake that takes up the whole stage while Mickey cowers in fear, tons of explosions while the villains pronounce evil upon Mickey. Eventually Mickey overcomes them, but not till every villain screeches the agony of defeat screams.

To me it is the best nighttime show in WDW but it is intense. Damn if it doesn't get a bit dusty in that theater every time Mickey prevails

Ya forget the toddler the 7 year old will freak out. Thanks for the heads up.