NEW Fantasmic Dinner Package, Mistake?

[MamaKate]

I booked the NEW Fantasmic Dinner package yesterday for Monday, 12/9 @ Mama Melrose's. I had to prepay at the time of booking, but I have 48 hours before to cancel. IS THIS A MISTAKE?

I had originally planned to not book the package & just hope it wouldn't be too crowded & wait in line. But after ready reviews, it sounds like it can still get packed for Fantasmic, even during low season, and I didn't want to waste 2 hours of my day in line.

I figured I'd book the package, and if it is crowded at least I'd have a seat without waiting in line. And if it isn't crowded, then I'll just have to eat dinner at Mama Melrose's & I can try for a better seat.

Has anyone done the NEW package? Was this a mistake? Should I cancel? Is Mama Melrose good? Are the seats good if I get the best seat of the section? Will it be CROWDED??

I'm so confused!! Any help is appreciated!

Thanks a bunch!

,
Katherine

 

[Synonymous]

Mama Melrose's is a good restaurant. My wife loves it, I think it's okay. The pizzas are good, as is the pasta, although it's not a spaghetti-and-meatballs place. Think pasta with seafood. I don't know what is on the fixed-price menu that you have for Fantasmic.

The seats for Fantasmic are fine, too. We sat in them last year and had a great view. If you plan on being one of the first in line for the package seats, you'll be very happy with them.

 

[luvdisnee]

We did the Mama/Fantasmic package and had wonderful food. The kitchen and pizza baking oven area is open and you can watch the food prepared. A bit disappointed with the package's seats for Fantasmic though--we were on the way right side of the coliseum and I thought we'd be more "front and center". My fault for not checking as to where the package seats are reserved.
You may want to check.

 

[CamColt]

We loved MM(went once on each of 5 consecutive trips), until our last visit. We were very disappointed in the changed menu. After that meal we decided we would probably only go back to do the package,and we would stick to the pizza as our meals. Now, since you cant do that and you have to get a pizza and an entree, and we dont really care for the entrees, we probably wont do it again.
As for the seats, yes it is the section to the right. We have sat as far right as possible and on the left end of the right section. Both times we had great views and definitely found the package worth it. I dont know how worth it I feel it is now, but thats because of the food, not the seats.

 

[two-foxes]

I just had the most annoying time yesterday trying to figure out what is happening with this package. I had been told by one operator/CM about a month ago while making PS that the old package is still available (don't need to give your credit card ##, and you are not forced to pay for food you may not eat) - wrong answer #1. This person also told me that the new package would count as 2 wishes off my Discovery Magic Plan - wrong answer #2. Then I was told that the old Fantasmic package is not being offered any longer (I called guest services at the BC to find this out because I was hearing so many different things here and there.) Then I was told that the new package should only count as 1 wish off the plan - wrong answer #3. Then I called to get my PS for the new package, and was put on hold for some time (the first person to actually take time to try and get good answers), only to be told that the Discovery Wishes can not be used at all with the new package and that if I wanted to do this at all, I would have to pay out of pocket (totally defeating the reason why we did the Discovery Magic Plan in the first place!) So ultimately, we did regular PS for BD at 5:20 and we'll take our chances for waiting in line with the regular folk! I did tell the last operator/CM that I talked to that this was the fourth different answer that I had gotten while trying to get info on this and that I wasn't pleased that the Discovery Magic wishes couldn't be used on this (you can go to any other dinner show with it!) and that the powers that be need to inform all CM's of the info!!!

So, I think the whole thing is less than magical! I felt bad about "telling off" the operator, but my goodness, what a pain in the rear!

 

[ceecee]

We went last week and I decided not to do the package due to the increased cost and am I glad...NO WAITS. People actually came in with 15 minutes to spare. We got there an hour early and got seats in the middle about 10 rows from the bottom. Some people on the way out said they did they package and the reserved seats weren't as good as others that were available.

 

[queenofhearts]

Oh no, two-foxes. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience, but thank you for sharing it with others. I thought that you could use a "wish" to book the Fantasmic Dinner Package and that it was one wish per person. In fact, the AKL concierge staff booked this for me, and I told them that I wanted to use my wishes. They made the reservation. But, now, I'm worried. I hope they didn't charge it to my credit card. I think I'll call tommorrow to verify and maybe cancel. You're right...the whole point of us doing the Discovery Magic package was to try to save money by using wishes for meals. Thanks again, and I'm sure that you're Fantasmic experience will still be spectacular!

 

[two-foxes]

Queenofhearts---

If you do hear differently from what I did, will you post it, please!
I just want to eat at the Brown Derby and see the show with the smallest amount of hassle, you know? (Also, w/o paying out of pocket to do it!)
We are staying at the AKL, too, for the first 3 days, then to the BC for another 3, then the 4 day cruise! This whole episode will be forgotten regardless the day my foot hits Disney soil! I need my Disney fix! Can't wait!

 

[Luv2Roam]

The reserved seating for Fantasmic has always been off to the side, as far as I know.
We have sat there and front/center. I know to a lot of people it makes a difference. Hasn't really to us. I would think it hard to get a bad seat anywhere.
I have used the (old/free) Fantasmic package twice and can't say it was needed either time. We also have just showed up for the show.
We really didn't save all that much time with the package, but before it was free. So I figured what the heck.
We wouldn't normally spend $40 per person at BD, so I will just bypass the new plan, as it stands.

 

[queenofhearts]

Hi again, two-foxes!

I e-mailed the AKL Concierge and asked if I could use my "wishes" to book the Fantasmic Dinner Package. Here's the response that I received:

"The Fantasmic Dinner Package has been going through some different changes, but at the time of your booking, your package covers the Fantasmic Dining Experience. This will only require one wish per individual."

I booked my Discovery Magic Package in May, 2002. However, I booked the Fantasmic Dinner Package on 10/1/2002. I'm not really sure what they meant by "at the time of your booking." I hope that this helps a bit, though.

Good luck, and have fun no matter what you decide!

 

[two-foxes]

I think I will leave it as is...we booked back in Nov 2001, before they made alot of changes to the dining that we had to deal with! (They made several of our fave. restaurants 2 wishes for 2002...oh well). I just made regular PS for BD at 5:20, and we'll take our chances getting decent seats at the show. I'll talk to Guest Services when we get there to see if anything else can be worked out. Thank you so much for getting back to me! Now, just hope for the rain to go away there by Monday! It looks like rain for Mon and Tues Enjoy your trip! I am so excited to stay at AKL

 

[monte]

Hubby and I did the package and ate at the Brown Derby, which we loved! After dinner we did a ride or two, strolled around looking at shops, then finally headed for the show. We arrived 30 mins. til show time and were seated on the far right hand side, which in my opinion were great seats. The show was packed, so I'm not sure how long others had to sit and wait around. We plan to return in 2004 and do the Fantasmic package again. Oh FYI we have also eaten at Mama Melrose and enjoyed our meal. Enjoy the show!

 

[*123JOANNA123*]

We did the package week before last. GF concierge booked it for us then we called to guest services where they charged us $40 per head on our credit card. Stupid us, didn't realise that included a tip so we ended up tipping on top of that so it worked out kinda expensive, but worth it IMO. The seats are off to the side, but they have 'water screens' on each side, so I think we got to see pretty much everything.

I loved it and thought it was well worth doing.

 

[Synonymous]

Anybody know of a link to the menus for the new package? It's a limited menu, right?

 

[*123JOANNA123*]

I'm pretty sure we just chose a starter, main and dessert from the regular menu. I also think it included a soft drink, but we paid extra for wine.

 

[dandelion]

WDWIG has a good explanation of the menu offerings:
http://wdwig.com/fantdin1.htm

 

[jillybeans]

Has anyone been told that this was two wishes per person? That's the story I got and I'm now thinking of cancelling it because I don't think that they should be "price gouging" like this - so to speak...... I'll go back to a regular PS and only use up one wish! Given that we'll be there during the first week of Dec. I wouldn't think that getting the seats at Fantasmic would be a problem.

 

[two-foxes]

Hey jillbeans-
I was told it was 2 wishes, but then I was told that the Discovery wishes could not be used at all w/ it (read my rant above.) I did decide to just to regular PS at the BD, and deal with what may come. We loved the show, but we saw it last year, so if we don't get to see it well again, life will go on! But, another above post was told it was just one wish. Whatever! We'll enjoy it regardless!