Questions: Fantasmic dinner package

[bangzoom6877]

DH and I talk about doing the Fantasmic dinner package on our next trip, since we did not go to Fantasmic when we were at WDW in July, and it would be nice not to have to wait in line for as long to get a good seat for the show. I hear terrible things about Hollywood & Vine for dinner, although we loved the character breakfast there in July (I know there are no characters at dinner, but I am referring to the food too which we enjoyed). I am not so sure if we would like Mama Melrose because we are "snobs" when it comes to Italian food and I don't know if we will be disappointed. How is the food though, really? I know that with the Fantasmic package the dinner includes an appetizer there, even on the dining plan (which normally does not include an app, at least for the regular DDP).

We will be on the dining plan again when we go next, so we would like to avoid Brown Derby so we can use only one TS credit for the package. So this narrows it down to MM or H & V. So, here is what I would like to know about the Fantasmic package:

1. If weather ends up being inclement and they cancel Fantasmic, do we still get the dinner part of the package? In this case (if they cancel the show) what is the penalty if we cancel the dinner and eat someplace else?
2. Who has better food, Mama Melrose or Hollywood & Vine?
3. What time could you get the dinner for? Is there only a certain time window or is it anytime during dinner hours?
4. Would you recommend Fantasmic for two children, ages 3 and 5? Or will they be too little and should we wait a few more years? (No problem, we are DVC members and going to WDW every other year with them.). We are not worried about the time of night since the following day would be a relaxed day at the resort going in the pool, etc. So no theme park the next morning to worry about.

Thanks everyone!!

 

[marlower]

DH and I talk about doing the Fantasmic dinner package on our next trip, since we did not go to Fantasmic when we were at WDW in July, and it would be nice not to have to wait in line for as long to get a good seat for the show. I hear terrible things about Hollywood & Vine for dinner, although we loved the character breakfast there in July (I know there are no characters at dinner, but I am referring to the food too which we enjoyed). I am not so sure if we would like Mama Melrose because we are "snobs" when it comes to Italian food and I don't know if we will be disappointed. How is the food though, really? I know that with the Fantasmic package the dinner includes an appetizer there, even on the dining plan (which normally does not include an app, at least for the regular DDP).

We will be on the dining plan again when we go next, so we would like to avoid Brown Derby so we can use only one TS credit for the package. So this narrows it down to MM or H & V. So, here is what I would like to know about the Fantasmic package:

1. If weather ends up being inclement and they cancel Fantasmic, do we still get the dinner part of the package? In this case (if they cancel the show) what is the penalty if we cancel the dinner and eat someplace else?
2. Who has better food, Mama Melrose or Hollywood & Vine?
3. What time could you get the dinner for? Is there only a certain time window or is it anytime during dinner hours?
4. Would you recommend Fantasmic for two children, ages 3 and 5? Or will they be too little and should we wait a few more years? (No problem, we are DVC members and going to WDW every other year with them.). We are not worried about the time of night since the following day would be a relaxed day at the resort going in the pool, etc. So no theme park the next morning to worry about.

Thanks everyone!!

I can answer a couple of your questions:

1. You are paying for the dinner portion of the the fantasmic package, so you are really just paying for dinner (nothing more) and basically fantasmic is free, you are not paying any more for dinner than if you didn't have the package. You will have to pay for the package when you make the ressie, so no cancellations!

2. I think Mama Melroses has better food, but if you are an italian food snob, I'm not sure if you will be satisfied. They do have a good variety of italian food, but it is not the best italian food I have had

3. Dinner times will be limited. In order to get the package we had to eat at 430pm. Which worked out well, we ate a late breakfast, and a light snack and then the dinner

4. Sorry, not sure about the ages. Mine were 10 and 13 when we went and they liked it. Younger ones might like it even more. But not sure

 

[ajsrph]

I can only speak to #4 The first time we took our boys to see Fantasmic, they were almost 4 and almost 6, and they loved it. There are some semi-scary/evil parts that might bother your 3-year-old. See if you can find it on youtube and watch it to see what you think.

I *think* there are certain dinner reservation times for the package, but I'm not sure on that one. We are eating MM's on our next trip (never eaten there before), and have eaten at H & V twice before--it's a buffet, so you'll definitely find something everyone will like. There's thread somewhere on here discussing the pros and cons of doing the package--it seems I saw it just yesterday.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I can answer a couple of your questions:

1. You are paying for the dinner portion of the the fantasmic package, so you are really just paying for dinner (nothing more) and basically fantasmic is free, you are not paying any more for dinner than if you didn't have the package. You will have to pay for the package when you make the ressie, so no cancellations!

2. I think Mama Melroses has better food, but if you are an italian food snob, I'm not sure if you will be satisfied. They do have a good variety of italian food, but it is not the best italian food I have had

3. Dinner times will be limited. In order to get the package we had to eat at 430pm. Which worked out well, we ate a late breakfast, and a light snack and then the dinner

4. Sorry, not sure about the ages. Mine were 10 and 13 when we went and they liked it. Younger ones might like it even more. But not sure

Thanks a lot, this helps! I'm actually glad to hear you dined so early. 4:30 would be okay with us. I was worried that since the Fantasmic show is around 9:00 PM in the summer, that we would have to eat a late dinner. We don't mind early, even 4:30. We tend to eat breakfast in the room very early (or in the park before it opens, so 8AM the latest), and be at the park before rope drop. We also eat an early lunch, around 11 or 11:30 AM. So an early dinner is usually in order. Normally we do 5:30-is but 4:30 would be fine too. Also, we will be staying at BWV, so within walking distance of DHS. So if dinner is over hours before the show begins and there isn't anything else we want to do in the mean time or it is too crowded in the park, we can walk back to the resort for an hour or two then arrive very early before the show and get our seats.

 

[kellypooh]

I1. You are paying for the dinner portion of the the fantasmic package, so you are really just paying for dinner (nothing more) and basically fantasmic is free, you are not paying any more for dinner than if you didn't have the package. You will have to pay for the package when you make the ressie, so no cancellations!

Actually you can cancel without penalty if you do it at least 48 hours before the reservation. If you are within the 48 hour mark, there's a $10 penalty.

 

[emh1129]

Is there a special menu that you have to order from if you're on the Fantasmic Dining Package?

 

[bangzoom6877]

In case we change our minds and decide to try Hollywood Brown Derby, does the Fantasmic package there include the appetizer as Mama Melrose does? It might be worth the 2 TS credits if we could get an app with our meal. I know at MM we can, and of course H&V is a buffet.

 

[KatMark]

In case we change our minds and decide to try Hollywood Brown Derby, does the Fantasmic package there include the appetizer as Mama Melrose does? It might be worth the 2 TS credits if we could get an app with our meal. I know at MM we can, and of course H&V is a buffet.

I am sure you can get the appetizer at Brown Derby. Truthfully, we didn't care for the food--it was only so-so (we also had really bad service) five years ago and haven't gone back because we think it is overpriced and not worth two credits when we have so many other options of places to use those credits. But like Mama Melrose you get the appetizer (stay away from H&V).