Thoughts on Fantasmic Dinner Package

[TitzelFamily]

We're planning a trip in Sept and don't want to miss the Fantasmic show at MGM. Has anyone done the dinner package? If so, which of the three restaurants would you recommend (Brown Derby, Mama Melrose's or Hollywood Vine)? Also are the reserved seats for the show in a good viewing location? Thanks!

 

[Leeanne]

We did this last year in June at Hollywood & Vine and loved it!! We actually got there an hour and half early because we were so tired from the day but we just sat back and watched it fill up, the CM push people over, and fill up some more. Meanwhile, we were just hanging around and chatting with people beside us, not being squished together at all! We were able to take frozen lemonade in and ate it there as well as get up and go to the bathroom with out worries of losing our place (we did this one at a time). We actually liked it so well we are going to do Mama Melrose this Sept. If you haven't booked already and they say they don't have available keep checking. We used a travel agent last year (big mistake) and she wasn't able to get the reservation but we were able to call up and get it. We checked different times of the day (morning, evening, lunch, way home from work) and bam were able to get a spot! Dinner is early. Our booking last year was at 3:30 and this year we wanted it later if possible. Our time.......3:45 guess it is later! We loved it and will probably keep doing this! The Brown Derby is on the package as well, but we decided to not do it. In case you don't know it takes 2 table service credits and we wanted to do Hoop Dee Doo this year so skipped Brown Derby.
Hollywood & Vine - buffet
Mama Melrose - prefixed package - includes app, entree, and dessert
Brown Derby - menu
Also check out the allears page at http://allears.net/din/fantdin1.htm

The seating is over on the right hand side of the stage. Althought the way the stage is, we still had a great view. The way the show is I think you probably have a great seat from anywhere in the theater. One thing to keep in mind. If they cancel the show you don't get a refund or raincheck for a later show. This stage had a ton of metal and looks like a lighting rod waiting to happen!
Hope this helps!

 

[momtobrynncess]

We're planning a trip in Sept and don't want to miss the Fantasmic show at MGM. Has anyone done the dinner package? If so, which of the three restaurants would you recommend (Brown Derby, Mama Melrose's or Hollywood Vine)? Also are the reserved seats for the show in a good viewing location? Thanks!

We LOVE it, and plan to do it again this year. Yes, you have to eat earlier in the day, then kill some time before the show, but the convenience is worth doing the package imo. We like the Brown Derby, and we decided to splurge on the deluxe dining package this year, so it's do-able for us. Hollywood and Vine is also a fun restaurant. The biggest thing I think is just understanding that it is not scheduled so that you do dinner, then go directly to the show. I am not sure why they schedule the meals so early (I was told it was to ensure folks have enough time to eat and still get to the show), but it is what it is. But as I said, imo, it is worth doing for the convenience of the seating. It also has a separate entrance for folks who do the package, and you don't have to fight with all the other folks trying to get into the theatre area.

 

[iwrbnd]

We did it in September and found it really wasn't necessary. This summer we're going in July and we're doing it since it will be more crowded.

 

[Ike&Jakesmom]

We did the Fantasmic Package in October and thought it was great. Our dinner was at Mama Melrose, the food was delicious. They gave us a card and told us where to report and what time. At the appropriate time we went to the gate, gave them our card and got to go right in to the assigned seating area. No waiting in line, and the seats were great. We plan on doing this again for our trip in December!

 

[badblackpug]

We did it one year in Oct. We didn't feel it was necessary, either. We had a very early dinner time, then had to wait outside the "special entrance" to be let in, then had to walk what felt like 2 miles to the theater, then had to wait another hour in the theater for the show. We did Fantasmic the next year without the package and found we got better seats and could eat dinner at a "normal" hour without the package (and without using the extra TS credit)

 

[TitzelFamily]

Thank you for everyone's feedback. I wish I knew about this site sooner!

 

[KatMark]

Thank you for everyone's feedback. I wish I knew about this site sooner!

You should be okay in September. We've done the package in September twice and really it wasn't necessary...but we did it anyway (it was necessary in the summer months). We've done Mama Melrose (always good food and good service), Hollywood & Vine (NEVER again--twice it was horrible). We've never done it with the Brown Derby because the one time we went to eat there for lunch we didn't find it worth the two table service credits and certainly not what they charge for Fantasmic Package.

 

[ValinWV]

We did this a couple of years ago. That time we chose Hollywood and Vine. We were not very impressed with the Buffet. This year we are trying Mama Melrose. We thought the seating was just a good as if we waited in line for a seat. Which we have done on several occasions.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

We've done the package and ate at Mama Melrose three times. Honestly, we thought the food was the best the first time we ate there. The food quality just isn't as good there as it used to be.

This time, we aren't going to do the package at all.

On a later trip, maybe we will try the Hollywood Brown Derby.

 

[catne]

have done Hollywood & Vine on Fantasmic package once; have done Mama Melrose with Fantasmic package several times. We like Hollywood & Vine O.K., but we really like Mama Melrose better (although the service tends to be slow there, the food is always good.) But really, ever since they cut back on the Fantasmic showings we have found the F! package very valuable. We go in May and September, not the busiest times, but still find the Fantasmic theater really fills up...especially in September they really cut back on the showings (just twice in a week) so the crowds were big at Hollywood Studios.

Used to be September was SLOW so yeah, package not needed. But that was before Free Dining and before they cut back on number of showings.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

We did the F! Dining Pkg back in July '08...and LOVED it....we did it with H&V..and while it gets a bad rap on disboards...I do like it...and think it appropriate in some cases...

(Mine being at the time... I had Me, DH, and 3 Teens... Picky, VERY PICKY, and "Newly Pescetarian"... )

It worked out GREAT for us and we got our $$ worth.. On the way OUT of the show.. the Teens felt like VIPS because they actually saw the LONGLONG lines of folks waiting to get in...while we had pranced in like it was nothing....

It's just me and DS18 going in May...and I've booked HBD F! pkg... The menu should be Great for us...

I just prefer to pay for a GOOD MEAL...and not have to wait an hour for the show... TIme is precious to me... and that is time we can spend experiencing something else... and we just don't happen to be those folks who can plan 2-3 weeks visits to WDW....so every minute counts...

Hugs,
Mary

 

[jraymond503]

OK.... clear up my confusion. If you have the dining plan, does it cost you anything extra to book the Fantasmic package?????

 

[FlightlessDuck]

OK.... clear up my confusion. If you have the dining plan, does it cost you anything extra to book the Fantasmic package?????

No. The restaurant costs the same amount of credits with or without the package. Remember, Brown Derby is two credits.