Need Fantasmic Dinner Package Help!

[madamgeo]

We will be going on our FIRST trip to WDW in October and our kids are 3 and 7. I am wondering if the Fantasmic Dinner Package with advance seating is a good idea. If it is which restaurant would be good for kids at those ages. From what I understand the restaurant choices are Hollywood & Vine, Mamma Melrose, and Hollywood Brown Derby. Please help??

 

[Matt'sMom]

We love the Fantasmic Package, as it gets you in the 'back door' to the show's seating area and allows you to avoid having to wait in any line. Your waitress/waiter will give you a special pass for Fantasmic, and directions as to where to find the reserved seating entrance. You just show the gatekeeper your pass, and then walk right through to the reserved seating area. Our family has always chosen to eat at Hollywood & Vine, because we really enjoy the flexibility of having the buffet style meal (and their food has always been excellent, with plenty of choices to please everyone, in our experience).

 

[#1mom3kids]

For upcoming trip, we have our Fastasmic package with Hollywood and Vine because it will be eaiser to feed our kids ages 3, 8, 12. The Brown Derby is more upscale so I didnt think this would be best. Enjoy.

 

[cpbjgc]

We did the Fantasmic Dinner Package during our trip this past January. We ate at Hollywood and Vine with 4 adults and DD(3) and DS(9) (who can both be picky eaters). There was a kids portion to the buffet plus a number of salads and lots of fresh fruit which both kids really enjoyed (along with the desert buffet, of course!).

 

[SteeleTig]

I agree, H&V is the way to go... it's the cheapest choice plus you can't go wrong with a buffet for kids, soooo many choices!

 

[stacy6552]

Mama Melrose! No question. H&V was ok, but nothing special. Brown Derby was very nice, but didn't have enough pixie dust for us w/the kids. MM is totally the way to go.

 

[tara98]

I was curious as to what kind of items were on the menu at H&V as far as the kids section of the buffet. We were also thinking of doing the Fantasmic Dinner package but I was thinking that MM would be better for our 4 yr old.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We've done all three of them. It is so much easier to get the FDP than worrying about having to wait so long just so you can get a seat for Fantasmic. Our favorites (in order of preference) are: Hollywood Brown Derby, Mama Melrose's, H&V.

 

[crjack]

We did the Fantasmic Dinner Pkg. last July and I'm glad we did. DS was 10 and DD 8 at the time but with the heat, we did not want to wait to get into the show. Plus, I figured we needed to eat dinner anyway so it made sense to get the package.

The only available restaurant was H&V and we thought it was nice. DS is very picky and the buffet was huge so even he found something he liked. I liked that it also included wait service for drinks so those were brought to the table. Mine can handle their own plates now but years ago all of my buffet memories involve DH and I each juggling two plates....our own and one child's!

H&V was also the cheapest and since my kids dont each much it worked out well. If it was just DH and I we may have tried for reservations somewhere else but our family meals are generally pretty casual.

I think you enjoy it at any of the restaurants. Have a great time.

 

[disneygoof]

Mama Melrose serves pizza, making it the only choice for our kids. The adult menu is great as well.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Can you use the dining plan? If so when you book do you still need a credit card or just tell them you are on the dining plan.

 

[Tjaleks]

Yes, you need a cc to hold her ressie, even on the dining plan. However, they do not charge your card unless you are a no show.

 

[Now Mom of 3]

We did the Mama Melrose package in Jan. One thing to consider. Service was very very slow, even when they knew we were trying to finish up quickly to get to Fantasmic! And we had a fairly early ressie time of about 5:30 I believe. We had to really book it to get there by the time they suggest to arrive by and that is very hard with young kids. The restaurant is very far from the special entrance too. Keep that in mind when you are picking and picking your ressie time.

 

[crjack]

Now Mom of 3 great point about the location....I didn't even consider that. When we were there last July they were running two shows per night because of the time of year but in Oct. I don't know if that is the case.

H&V was very close to the dinner package entrance. Just something else to consider.

 

[txaggiemomof3]

We just booked our ADR for the Fantasmic Dinner Package with Mama Melrose as our restaurant choice (Allearsnet.com has dining reviews and menus on their site if you want to see what each restaurant has - just look under dining on the top). Our reservation is for 4:50 which seemed way too early for us to be eating but after reading Now Mom of 3's post I'm not so worried about that