Thoughts on the Fantasmic Dinner Package?

[pinkxray]

I have the package booked for May 25 and this will be our one day at DHS. The dinner is at 430 so it isn't too early since we normally eat dinner at 5. I would love to see Fantasmic since my daughter will like it. Not really sure if it is worth it to do the dinner though. I have heard the seating isn't the best and you have to arrive an hour early anyway. How early do you have to arrive if not on the package?
I just can't get thrilled about using a TS credit at Mama Melrose when there are so many other places I would like to try.

 

[llaxton]

We were pleasantly surprised how good it was after reading the reviews on the board. In fact we are planning on eating there Fantasmic package or not.

 

[catne]

we've done the Fantasmic package several times at Mama Melrose, and we really like the food there (service is usually slow, but food is very good.) Love the calamari appetisers there. You DO get an appetizer, entree, dessert & beverage when you use the dinner package there, even if you're on the regular dining plan that usually doesn't have apps included.

The Fantasmic package theater seating is fine -- the way the theater is set up all the seats are good. We were there about the same time as you're talking about last year (and the year before, too) and can tell you last year the crowds started lining up 2 hours before the show. When we took our Fantasmic seats about an hour before the show, in the rain no less, the rest of the place was full - they were already showing other guests to the standing room only section at the back. And it stayed full, even though it started pouring 30 minutes before the show.

If you really want to see the show, and don't want to line up 2 hours before it starts, keep the Fantasmic package.

 

[VW camper Dan]

4:30 for a 9pm fantasmic show?
is it just that I'm new to the WDW dining & shows stuff or is that awefully early?

maybe it's May 25th a busy time,
but we're going to HS May 5th and I was planning a near 7pm dining for the 9pm fantasmic show.. we're not doing the fantasmic package as we wanted to eat @ Sci-Fi Dine-in. and are hoping if we arrive & seat early, then we can leave in time for fantasmic w/o hours of sitting/standing
we're ok with not seating right up front anyways.. and again I'm planning around 5/5 (heh Cinco De Mayo I finally noticed) not being peak or overly crowded, that's also a AK EMH day but is only midweek day with a Fantasmic showing for our stay.

Dan from NY

 

[CSwan1]

Sorry to hijack your thread but can anyone tell me the price of the dinner package? Does it vary by the place you eat? TIA!

 

[Jareds_mommy]

we have ours for May 1 and the best time we could get was 3.30 for MM

I think the CM told DH that the price was $38 per person at MM

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We did the F! Dinner Package in January at MM and thought it was totally worth it. We were not on the dining plan, so we paid out of pocket. Our friends were on the DDP and thought it was definitely worth it. Not only do you get to choose an appetizer per person (which you don't get for regular DDP meals), but the food was good and it was great to get to the theater 45 minutes before the show to find the two reserved seating sections almost empty and the rest of the theater packed! If you have the dinner package, you can sit wherever you want, but the only seats outside the reserved sections when we arrived were way up top.

If you definitely want to see the show and you don't mind eating at 4:30 (we ate at 3:00, which was quite early but still worked), the dinner package is a great deal, particularly if you are on the DDP. If you don't want to spend a TS credit, you can bring food into the theater, but I'd get there at least an hour early.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

but we're going to HS May 5th and I was planning a near 7pm dining for the 9pm fantasmic show.. we're not doing the fantasmic package as we wanted to eat @ Sci-Fi Dine-in. and are hoping if we arrive & seat early, then we can leave in time for fantasmic w/o hours of sitting/standing

Dan from NY

You may be cutting it close. We saw F! on a Thursday night in January - a 4 crowd level day according to touringplans.com. The park was not crowded at all until 5:00 (for a 6:30 show). My DH couldn't understand why the ToT, RnR, F! area was wall to wall people when we hadn't seen any crowds to speak of all day. We arrived at the theater 45 minutes before the show and the general admission area was packed to the top rows. If the 9 pm show you are seeing is the second show, you'll probably be fine. If it is the only show that night and one of few that week, you might find it full by the time you get there. It will probably take you an hour to eat at Sci-Fi, plus the walking time to the theater.

 

[VW camper Dan]

Yes, but what time did the Fantasmic show start in January?
I think it starts @ 9pm in May. so a ~7pm Ressie @ Sci Fi Dine in I am hoping will allow us time to make the walk and get decent (not primo) seating.

 

[Jareds_mommy]

last time we went to sci fi we checked in and still had a 30 minute wait for our table and that was at a slow time of year.
So just because your ADR is at 7 that does not mean your table will be ready at 7

 

[Tinker mommy]

Last year we did the dinner package at the Brown Derby and had a great time. The food was great and we were really glad to have reserved seating when we saw the crowd trying to get in at Fantasmic. The seats were good, no problem seeing everything. I highly recommend it!

 

[OrangeCat04]

We loved it! Mama Melrose was really good. And when we arrived (about 45 mins early) the bleachers were already PACKED in the regular sections... We spent a little time getting drinks and etc.. and before we knew it, it was starting!! Would DEFINITELY book it next time! The seats were great too.

 

[catne]

Yes, but what time did the Fantasmic show start in January?
I think it starts @ 9pm in May. so a ~7pm Ressie @ Sci Fi Dine in I am hoping will allow us time to make the walk and get decent (not primo) seating.

Figuring even if you're sat at 7 at the restaurant (which probably won't happen, by the way...they all get backed up between 6 & 7:30 at night during the most popular family meal times) But then it will take you at least 45-60 min. to eat, then a good 15 minute to hike over to the Fantasmic theater. So you won't be getting to the theater until less than an hour before the show starts. We've been to Fantasmic several times since they started the cut-backs on number of showings and have to give you a heads-up on the possibility that you will not get any seat an hour before the show starts...we've seen that happen to people even in slow times of the year (January, September & May)...and even on nights when they had a 2nd showing later. Heck, last year at the end of May in the pouring rain the place was still full long before the show was supposed to start. EMH at another park won't stop the crowds at Fantasmic -- if people want to see Fantasmic, they'll skip the EMH elsewhere to get to the scheduled show