Renewed Interest in Dining Packages...

[bcrook]

With the tests running at Hollywood Studios, I wonder if the Dining Packages will surge in popularity. If I was planning on going to Fantasmic!, I think I would look into this again as an option to avoid hassles. My next trip will be with 8 people, and if we decide to go to the night time show, it would the most simple way - but the cost is substantial!

From RustyScupper:
Mama Melrose - fantasmic . 09/28/2015 Adult: $40.46, Child: $13.84
Hollywood and Vine fantasmic . 10/04/2015 Adult: $43.66, Child: $22.36
Brown Derby fantasmic . 09/28/2015 Adult: $60.70, Child: $18.10

I really enjoyed the DCA option for World of Color. Lunch was very good and didn't totally break the bank. Plus we had the preferred viewing spot (I did get drenched though!)

World of Color Dining Package Prices
Wine Country Trattoria
Lunch, starting at: $32.39 adults
Dinner, starting at: $45.35 adults

Carthay Circle
Lunch, starting at: $42.13 adults
Dinner, starting at: $63.73 adults

Back to DHS - I have done the H&V package in the past, and it was ok.

With the addition of Rivers of Light, I would imagine similar pricing will go into affect there with the new Pizzafari table service being the cheaper option, Yak and Yeti the mid price, and the new Pandora restaurant the top end?

I would probably fork over the money for the select seats there. I like to go into that park later in the day anyway, and if these seats are distributed like World of Color or Fantasmic (DLR), I would probably miss out.

Those seats are going to ring the lake with lots of different types of access - some are going to be special. I would guess most are going to be standing areas like Fantasmic in Disneyland.

And will it be next at the Magic Kingdom? If they are getting $49.00 for the Wishes Dessert Party, and they just converted the entire foregrounds of the castle into a giant reserved seating area, and they have some interesting elite areas popping up on the sides - could dinner packages be on the way? I wonder what that pricing would be? Skippers Cantina, Liberty Tree Tavern and Tony's?

The Wishes and Parade Fastpass+ are the first things to go, so it looks like the demand is there.

What is this going to be in the Magic Kingdom facing the Castle?

I guess there is no need for this at Epcot.

 

[Ceryssa]

Interesting theories. With rumors floating around that Fantasmic! may be updated with the park makeover, it very well could make the dinner packages more desirable. I hadn't considered they might do the same thing at other parks, but given how Disney seems to like their packages it certainly doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility. As for Epcot--it's already happening seasonally with Eat to the Beat concerts. You never know.

 

[bcrook]

Interesting theories. With rumors floating around that Fantasmic! may be updated with the park makeover, it very well could make the dinner packages more desirable. I hadn't considered they might do the same thing at other parks, but given how Disney seems to like their packages it certainly doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility. As for Epcot--it's already happening seasonally with Eat to the Beat concerts. You never know.

I don't know about the Eat to the Beat dining packages...hmmm. Should I?

 

[Ceryssa]

They started doing them last year. Reserved seating with a lunch or dinner reservation, similar to the Fantasmic! package at HS. Many (if not all) of the TS restaurants participate in the package. They also do it for the Candlelight Processional in December. They may do it for the Flower Power concerts (I think that's what they're called?) at Flower & Garden in the spring, but I'm not sure. Plus they have the Illuminations Sparkling Dessert Party there, the Wishes Dessert Party's counterpart.

 

[bcrook]

They started doing them last year. Reserved seating with a lunch or dinner reservation, similar to the Fantasmic! package at HS. Many (if not all) of the TS restaurants participate in the package. They also do it for the Candlelight Processional in December. They may do it for the Flower Power concerts (I think that's what they're called?) at Flower & Garden in the spring, but I'm not sure. Plus they have the Illuminations Sparkling Dessert Party there, the Wishes Dessert Party's counterpart.

Thanks for the information. I will be there when Sugar Ray will be performing. I can't see paying these prices for that.
Restaurant Marrakesh
Lunch Adult: $45.00
Dinner Adult: $55.00

Now I might consider it for .38 Special - but I missed them by 3 days.

 

[subtchr]

They also do private buffet Illuminations dinners in a couple areas, usually the patios on the UK side of the bridge between France and the UK. I'd think they'd keep that for group sales (I've been there with high school bands and choirs), but who knows? With the popularity of the other events you have mentioned, they might consider selling that to individual guests. A couple pics from one of the dinners last spring:

Untitled by Sue, on Flickr

Untitled by Sue, on Flickr

Untitled by Sue, on Flickr

Untitled by Sue, on Flickr

 

[MataHari22]

"From RustyScupper:
Mama Melrose - fantasmic . 09/28/2015 Adult: $40.46, Child: $13.84
Hollywood and Vine fantasmic . 10/04/2015 Adult: $43.66, Child: $22.36
Brown Derby fantasmic . 09/28/2015 Adult: $60.70, Child: $18.10"

Wow, that is even more for Brown Derby than I thought it was. This is the first year that I didn't do the dining package for F! We wanted to try the HBD, and I just cannot justify me paying that much for food, when I probably won't eat more than an appetizer and maybe a dessert. I hardly eat anything.

 

[bcrook]

They also do private buffet Illuminations dinners in a couple areas, usually the patios on the UK side of the bridge between France and the UK. I'd think they'd keep that for group sales (I've been there with high school bands and choirs), but who knows? With the popularity of the other events you have mentioned, they might consider selling that to individual guests. A couple pics from one of the dinners last spring:nted by Sue, on Flickr

Untitled by Sue, on Flickr

That is a beautiful photo.
I would love to sit there during Illuminations. That looks fun.
Alas, I have sworn off all Disney Buffets at this point. So, I would pass even if it was available.
On another note, I was really disappointed with the view and food at LaHacienda on the other side of the lake.

 

[bcrook]

What's up with the Spice Road Restaurant during Illuminations? Is that just the standard battle for the 8:30 ADR routine?

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Thanks for the information. I will be there when Sugar Ray will be performing. I can't see paying these prices for that.
Restaurant Marrakesh
Lunch Adult: $45.00
Dinner Adult: $55.00

Now I might consider it for .38 Special - but I missed them by 3 days.

I thought, "Hmmm, this might be interesting" so I looked who would be there on our Epcot day. Air Supply. LOL. I mean, I'm so lost in love with my husband, but there's no way he'd shell out money for reserved seating for Air Supply.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think dining packages are going to be wildly popular for the new DAK night show. Especially since it is going to be SO crowded at first. And I'm sure the dining packages will have the best locations to view the show.

As far as pricing, they seem to just be going for it and not caring so much if people buy them or not. The Wishes Dessert Party is a perfect example, doubling the price! That's bold. And it's still selling out, so I guess they were right that they could charge more.

On the other hand, I seem to remember though in Epcot that they cut back that Illuminations dessert party to less nights per week. I guess it wasn't selling out but rather than lower the price, they would rather just have less of them.

 

[bcrook]

I think dining packages are going to be wildly popular for the new DAK night show. Especially since it is going to be SO crowded at first. And I'm sure the dining packages will have the best locations to view the show.

As far as pricing, they seem to just be going for it and not caring so much if people buy them or not. The Wishes Dessert Party is a perfect example, doubling the price! That's bold. And it's still selling out, so I guess they were right that they could charge more.

On the other hand, I seem to remember though in Epcot that they cut back that Illuminations dessert party to less nights per week. I guess it wasn't selling out but rather than lower the price, they would rather just have less of them.

Disney does seem to have a dilemma though with the NEED for more FP+ slots to dole out to customers and the DESIRE to sell these slots for $60.00. I wonder where that line will fall.

At MK, those FP+ for Wishes are the first to go. And DHS is experimenting with taking the night time show out of the FP pool. Contradictory.