Thinking of booking a Fantasmic dining pkg but I have questions.....

[southern_redhead]

I am thinking of booking a dining package for Fantasmic (mostly for the seating but, hey, another meal I don't have to cook can't hurt.) First, let me tell you about my crew - you know how some people say their kids can't eat pizza and chicken nuggets all week? Those aren't my kids! We are mostly doing buffet type meals to try to have "something for everyone" available. My children would be happy to eat pizza/hamburger/chicken every night of the week. We *do* eat other things but when we go out that is what they want, if I cook at home they will eat things like spaghettti, chicken with fettucini alfredo, very bland things... Anyway, it appears there are 3 choices: H&V, MM, and Brown Derby and you can book for lunch or dinner. My 1st choice would be lunch so we could stop in and eat then head back out later for Fantasmic. The days available are 6/26, 6/28, and 6/30.... I thought H&V looked okay since it was a buffet but it is not available. That leaves me with MM and BD. *I*, personally, would love to eat at BD but I looked at the menu and I don't think my kids would be happy. I don't think DH would be happy. What about MM? Would it be a good fit for sort of blah eaters? It appears the kids could do pizza or fish (?) on the kids menu. Unless that fish comes in sticks my kids won't touch it so.....that leaves pizza. And two of our kids are Disney adults so how about that flatbread stuff? Is it good? Would pizza eaters like it?

And, I'm confused, it shows the park hours for June as 9-9 for DHS. It says Fantasmic starts at nine. How does that work? We aren't on property so is it only for people with access to EMH? That wasn't how it sounded. Or is it just that you have already gone in and sat down (around 8 while the park was open) and then when it is done and you leave the show the park is closed and you leave the park? I'd hate to book a package and then not get to use the seats.

Oh, and one last (quick) question. I know I give a card to hold the ADR and they don't charge it until the day of the meal BUT will I provide them with the card (or cash) at the dinner or do they charge your card prior to you dining and just use the card on file? I wasn't clear on that and, if it says it on the website I couldn't find it.

Thanks so much!

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Hello !

I LOVE and highly recommend the F! dining package... in May 2010 We did HBD F! and in July 2008 we did H&V F! package....

SO unfortunately I can't help you with MM...although I do plan to do that next...

My vote however is to keep trying to get H&V because in my experience it's perfect for your family....
I am one of the few people who liked H&V and I actually did not care for HBD... (maybe an off night? I really wanted to like it !)

You are correct about the 9p 'closing'... that won't prevent you from heading to the 9p Fantasmic at all.... it's not JUST for on site guests...holds... (what) 7000 people !

I always use my same debit card to 'hold' the ressie as to pay for the meal....but my guess is that you can use 2 cards if necessary because after your meal... you will put your card on the tray just like a regular restaurant to pay for the meal..... (we paid OOP at HBD and used dining plan at H&V)

Hope that helps !
Mary

 

[southern_redhead]

Thank you! I could probably go for an early-ish dinner to H&V...we could just make sure to have an afternoon snack between then and lunch. We have one card that we use online and not "in real life", we've never had a problem using it to hold hotels or what not and then just pay with another card when we got there so I wondered if this was the same. If not, no biggie.

So, you like H&V? Can you tell me a little about it? What did you like or not like?

And, one other thing, I read that the package has a $10 per person charge "if cancelled within 48 hours". I am thinking they mean you have up until 2 days before the ADR to cancel without penalty? I was a little worried about this as I have had to cancel one ADR and push it back an hour when i rescheduled it......with only 3 days to pick from I think I can be pretty sure of getting this ADR right the first time but I'd hate to end up paying $60 for an hour time change or something like that.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Thank you! I could probably go for an early-ish dinner to H&V...we could just make sure to have an afternoon snack between then and lunch. We have one card that we use online and not "in real life", we've never had a problem using it to hold hotels or what not and then just pay with another card when we got there so I wondered if this was the same. If not, no biggie.

So, you like H&V? Can you tell me a little about it? What did you like or not like?

And, one other thing, I read that the package has a $10 per person charge "if cancelled within 48 hours". I am thinking they mean you have up until 2 days before the ADR to cancel without penalty? I was a little worried about this as I have had to cancel one ADR and push it back an hour when i rescheduled it......with only 3 days to pick from I think I can be pretty sure of getting this ADR right the first time but I'd hate to end up paying $60 for an hour time change or something like that.

RE: Cancellation.. I believe that means... if your ADR for H&V booked for June 26th.... and you cancel on June 24th... there will not be a charge for cancellation... BUT if you cancel WITHIN the 48 hour window.. you will be charged.. this is because they can't guarantee they will re-sell that reservation since it is so close....

Here is my H&V Review from the time we did H&V F! Package..

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...r18053475-Hollywood_Vine-Orlando_Florida.html

Let me know if you have problems viewing as I can copy paste it into this thread....

Have a magical visit !
Mary

 

[southern_redhead]

Thank you! Your review was great and made me feel better about booking an earlier dinner. I think we will book H&V for dinner and just make that afternoon a DHS day. Off to book I thought that was the cancellation policy but wasn't 100% for sure. I wish it would just have said "cancellations after XX/XX/XXXX subject to $10 per person cancellation fee" like hotels do ) I am such a literal person and my first thought was "I have to keep this ADR for 48 hrs before I can cancel it?" *sigh* Hopefully we wouldn't have to cancel it anyway but I believe in being prepared!

 

[Order66]

I also have kids that are happy to eat hot dogs, pizza and burgers for every meal.

We've done the F!pkg at Mama Melrose before and have it planned again for this year. My picky kids liked the pizza there just fine. I had the grilled chicken flatbread and thought it was good. On the F!pkg you also get an appetizer so I couldn't finish my meal. My kids ate the rest of my flatbread. I only had to tell them it was a "fancy name for pizza" and they were OK with that.

Also, last year my kids were "disney adults" and I found that any place I asked for the food from the adult menu to be prepared "plain kids menu style" they were very accommodating. My son ordered the peperoni pizza at WPE and it looked wonderful.....to me......not to him with sun dried tomatoes and such in addition to peperoni. Not only did they take it back and make him a completely plain one, they did this AFTER they had officially closed. We had arrived only 15 minutes before closing time and it was after closing when our food was served. Great food and great service there. I think it's probably our favorite place to eat.

regards

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Love Disney's Customer Service PP ! I never get tired of hearing how they go "above and beyond!"

The only thing I'll add is that they have changed the "Special" Fantasmic Dining entrance since my above review...and the entrance is now near B&B..not far from the 'regular' entrance.... but a very similar feeling...

DS18 and I did F! dining in May 2010 and walked RIGHT in... got GREAT seats...

Another thing... REMIND your server that you are doing F! dining. We (and another family dining near us) at HBD in May almost did not get our passes....and remind them BEFORE you order ... if you are at HBD or MM....so they know you get the 'package' which includes appy and dessert...

Have a magical Visit !

Mary

 

[Hopefully]

H & V is one of only 2 restaurants in ALL of WDW that we will never return to. It was horrible, and I went in with reasonable expectations.
The hot food was not hot. The cold food was not cold. We sat among dirty, unbused tables. Our server was RUDE, the only time I have experienced that at Disney. The Ladies Room was FILTHY!!
Never Again for any reason.