Warning on fantasmic dinner package

[NancyIL]

Disney's web site is certainly vague about the details: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/fantasmic-meal-packages/. However, before I booked something with the word "package" in it, I would want to know the price and what was included.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

The info on this out there is definitely on the vague side. We did it back in 2010 and while I had every intention to eat and was using a DDP credit for the meal, I didn't know how it worked until I was literally sitting at the table in Mama Melrose.

 

[Bellamouse]

I had no idea this was a "prix fixe" meal, and that all courses were included. We are a group of four and wonder if it's worth it to pay for 4 appetizers and 4 desserts if we all don't want them and some choose not to get them.

I also have a beef with Disney's description (or lack of description). NO WHERE does it say that this is a pre-set price and pre-set number of courses (click the link in the above post and see for yourself). Even when I called no one mentioned this to me. I just assumed we would order off the menu as usual. I specifically asked if there was an extra charge for doing Fantasmic! and the representative said no. But clearly there is, if you can't just order a la carte off the menu and have to pay a pre-set price

So my question to those who have done this, is it worth having the preferred seating to do the package, or should I just book a regular reservation and take my chances with getting a decent seat for the show without the vouchers.

We are going first week of October if it helps to know that.

Thanks.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

I think the prices are ridiculous for the sub par TS restaurants at DHS. We never participate.

 

[Bellamouse]

OK that's an unhelpful response

We want to eat at HBD no matter what, and I'm just wondering if the fantasmic package part is worth the extra cost. Meaning, are the reserved seats for the show worth paying for (not the meal). Maybe someone who likes HBD can give me an opinion.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

OK that's an unhelpful response

We want to eat at HBD no matter what, and I'm just wondering if the fantasmic package part is worth the extra cost. Meaning, are the reserved seats for the show worth paying for (not the meal). Maybe someone who likes HBD can give me an opinion.

If you are eating at HBD no matter what, then yes, I would say the convenience is worth it. It is nice knowing that you do not need to wait for a super long time in that line for a decent seat. Your time spent in line can be much less. However, the seats are not so great to me that it would be worth the expense of eating somewhere that I was not already planning on eating. A little extra expense to have someone hold decent seats is a nice benefit. Those seats are not worth big bucks, though.

 

[Tikitoi]

5/28 5:05 pm MM F! - 1TS 4200 XXXX XXXX OOP $229.98


Mary

 

[disneyfav4ever]

The FDP has always been a set price, at least since 2005. Mama's has changed what's included a bit since then, but the cost has always been about the same, and it's never been a la carte dining.

I think that's fair. As a business Disney doesn't want people to be able to just come in and just order the cheapest thing. Since the dining package seating is always full, I don't see that changing anytime soon.

 

[BriarRosie]

I did the Fantasmic Dining Package pre-Disney Dining Plan. (The show was canceled due to weather, but we still had the prix fixe meal.) This pre-dates the online booking system, so the phone agent did mention what the package includes. If this comes to people as a surprise, I might as well bring up the Candlelight Processional Dining Package during the holidays. That also is a fixed price meal similar in scope to the Fantasmic package.

No, it doesn't state it online, and that's a problem that Disney should fix. Because online booking has only been around for 6 months or so, most people were getting the correct information from the phone agents.

I hope the info in this thread will help others who choose to book online.

 

[CuteAsMinnie]

OK that's an unhelpful response

We want to eat at HBD no matter what, and I'm just wondering if the fantasmic package part is worth the extra cost. Meaning, are the reserved seats for the show worth paying for (not the meal). Maybe someone who likes HBD can give me an opinion.

O maybe this reponse will be more helpful....

Enjoy a wonderful dinner at HBD! If a reserved seat is important to you, the extra cost most certainly is worth paying for!!

Enjoy!

 

[crashbb]

I made the reservation months ago online. It did not say anything about a fixed price.even the girl at the podium acknowledged this and told me that is why she was telling me at check in

It was that way when we did it in January 2011.

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

O maybe this reponse will be more helpful....

Enjoy a wonderful dinner at HBD! If a reserved seat is important to you, the extra cost most certainly is worth paying for!!

Enjoy!

I don't think she was referring to your post as unhelpful. It was the one above your post that was rather strange.

 

[SgtClaymore]

Well that stinks my girl and I went there and it cost me $170 with tip! I gotta say tho, it was pretty delicious...

 

[Bellamouse]

No, it was her post that I was referring to. Telling me that the food is subpar and not worth paying for was not my question.

And never having seen the Fantasmic show before, nor having ever eaten at HBD, I don't know if the reserved seating IS that important or not - that is what I am asking. So your replies (CuteAsMinnie) so far haven't answered my questions. Sorry.

I will rephrase the question, maybe that will make it easier.

We want to eat at HBD (despite the fact that it's overpriced, subpar food ). The question is, do we get a regular reservation and just eat what we want (as opposed to paying for an app, entree and dessert for each person which we probably don't really want that much), and then go into general seating for Fantasmic

or

Do we get the Fantasmic package and potentially pay more than we would have if we ordered a la carte just to get the reserved seating. Is the extra we would pay for the set price worth the reserved seating. I can't exactly quantify how much extra it would be to do the package becauase a) I don't know how much it is per person, and b) I don't know exactly what everyone would order. I'm thinking I would only want Cobb salad and grapefruit cake. No entree. And I'm also thinking someone else in our party would order similarly. So that's basically two entrees to pay for that we wouldn't actually order/eat. That seems like a lot just for reserved seating. This is where I don't know what the "value" of those reserved seats are. Never having been, I don't know if it's really that crowded that time of year, or how awful waiting in the line is, or how much better of a seat the reserved seating is, etc. This is my dilemma.

One person said it basically is worth it, but I'm looking for more opinions.

Thanks again.

Oh, and one more thing - thank you simonsmom (OP) for the "warning". I would never have known about the set price thing at all unless you posted it. So for me, it was a good warning indeed. I'm sure there are others like me. I don't mind paying for stuff at Disney, I just like to know about what I'm getting into in advance and then deciding if I really want it badly enough or not. So this info helps a lot. Too bad their website says nothing about it!!

 

[longing4disney]

I made the reservation months ago online. It did not say anything about a fixed price.even the girl at the podium acknowledged this and told me that is why she was telling me at check in

The Fantasmic package was already fixed price when we went in 2007. We are international visitors and knew it was fixed price as it was stated in the Disney website. I can understand why it is fixed price. Otherwise guest can just order a drink and dessert and expect to get the show tickets. Sorry, you did not know before hand. Hope you still got to see the show.

 

[PoohsFan1]

Directly from online booking:
This reservation requires a credit card guarantee. Please provide your card information below. Your card will not be charged at this time.

And this was in Terms that you have to agree to
<LI class=group>Payment and Cancellation Policies

• There is a 2-day cancellation policy and a $10 per-person charge if you cancel within 2 days of the reservation or are a "no show" for the reservation.
• Payment or credit card guarantee is required at the time of booking.
• If applicable, a gratuity of 18% will be automatically added for parties of 6 or more.

Thanks for the information...it's good to know for next time, for some reason I thought I was told that it will automatically charge my cc, I guess I was wrong. Sorry OP for the wrong info.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Fantasmic Dining Plan:

For what it's worth.... I've done Hollywood & Vine Dining plan 2x. (DDP)

DS and I did Hollywood Brown Derby Dining plan in May 2010. (OOP)

(We have MM F! Booked May 2012 OOP)

As far as Fantasmic: We go to WDW during the very busiest of times !

In my opinion it is WELL worth it. I was completely SOLD on the F! Plan our first time using it. (Entrances have changed from time to time)

The kids absolutely felt like VIPS going through the "secret" entrance. When we saw the lines... my jaw dropped. Unbelieveable that we skipped those horrible lines. The seats? Awesome... have NO Problem with the seats.

On the Dining Plan, the F! addition costs nothing more. OOP, it may cost more depending on what you order. I think it is Fair for WDW to expect folks not to get a scaled back meal to enjoy the F! Dining benefits.

So I felt we got our $ worth for F! dining.

However, we did NOT Enjoy our meal at HBD. Some of the offerings however have changed.

For this reason... I do plan to give HBD another chance in May 2012... but particularly because we have Imagineers Dining booked.

Have a magical trip Everyone !

Mary

 

[Bellamouse]

Fantasmic Dining Plan:

For what it's worth.... I've done Hollywood & Vine Dining plan 2x. (DDP)

DS and I did Hollywood Brown Derby Dining plan in May 2010. (OOP)

(We have MM F! Booked May 2012 OOP)

As far as Fantasmic: We go to WDW during the very busiest of times !

In my opinion it is WELL worth it. I was completely SOLD on the F! Plan our first time using it. (Entrances have changed from time to time)

The kids absolutely felt like VIPS going through the "secret" entrance. When we saw the lines... my jaw dropped. Unbelieveable that we skipped those horrible lines. The seats? Awesome... have NO Problem with the seats.

On the Dining Plan, the F! addition costs nothing more. OOP, it may cost more depending on what you order. I think it is Fair for WDW to expect folks not to get a scaled back meal to enjoy the F! Dining benefits.

So I felt we got our $ worth for F! dining.

However, we did NOT Enjoy our meal at HBD. Some of the offerings however have changed.

For this reason... I do plan to give HBD another chance in May 2012... but particularly because we have Imagineers Dining booked.

Have a magical trip Everyone !

Mary

Thank you, that is helpful!

We always pay OOP - we stay offsite so don't do DDP.

I don't know if the lines will be like what you experienced when we go in October. But I do like the "VIP" thing and I do hate lines, so that's definitely a big consideration for us.

I understand now why they do what they do - as someone who doesn't try to "scam" the system, and doesn't even think in those terms, it wouldn't occur to me to go to a restaurant and order an appetizer or something and expect the special passes.

That said, there is no time when I order an app, an entree and a dessert. I just don't eat that much, ever. I might order a salad and an app, or just an entree, or DH and I might split an app along with an entree each or something like that. We might split one dessert if there's something amazing we have to have. But for all four of us to each have an app, an entree AND a dessert just sounds like way too much food (And it's not about the money - if I could eat that, I would order it - it's vacation!). So I think it's kind of a bummer that I'm forced to either order and eat it or pay for (even if I don't order) stuff I simply can't eat. It's not like you can take a doggie bag either.

So I will just have to keep considering what I want to do. I have some time to think about it

Thanks for the good info though.

 

[raidermatt]

Interesting, I remember when it changed to price fixe quite a few years ago. But on Disney's website for the FDP it actually says "a la carte". It's in the box on the right side of the screen.

Despite the length of my email confirmation, there is nothing in there either about the meal being price fixe.

I can understand why some who are new to the FDP are confused.

As for whether the FDP is worth it, you will get different answers.

For me the answer is a qualified yes. If you are set on seeing the first show (or the only show if it's a one show night) and don't want to arrive more than 45 minutes early, I think it's worth it.

It's not valid for the 2nd show, so obviously there's no point to it if you are going to see that 2nd show of the night.

If you want to get center seats and don't mind arriving more than 45 minutes early, then the the FDP won't be best for you. How early you will need to arrive will vary depending on the night.

But for us, the view from the center isn't really any better than the side sections so we go ahead and do the FDP if we want to see that first show. But when there is a 2nd show we do that and just cancel the FDP (according to Disney's cancellation policy of course).

 

[MBELSANTI]

I am with the OP because when you do to Disney's site to book the reservation, below is what is posted for the Fantasmic show and it doesn't say anything about fixed price. It also says that service is a la carte.



Delight in traditional Italian cooking with contemporary flavors at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano—a colorful, casual and family-friendly restaurant located in the heart of the backlot at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park. Here, you'll take in the sights of Mama's favorite Hollywood memories as you savor the sumptuous aromas and flavors of Italy.

Choose from a variety of delectable dishes, from brick-oven-fired flatbread pizzas to oak-grilled steaks and seafood. Mama's favorites include seasonal pasta creations, crispy calamari and—her signature—chicken alla parmigiana. There's something to satisfy every taste!

For a refreshing complement to the meal, Guests ages 21 and older can enjoy a carafe of Mama's sangria, a cold beer or a glass of wine.

Buon appetite!
The Fantasmic! Dining Package
When making lunch or dinner reservations for Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano, book the Fantasmic! Dining Package to receive designated seating during this spectacular nighttime show at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park. Witness up close the heroic struggle of Mickey, as he faces Disney villains in this lavish spectacle sure to thrill the whole family. Make reservations online or by calling (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463 up to 180 days in advance. Guests under age 18 must have parent or guardian permission to call.


.
Guest Policies
•Specialty celebration cakes are available for an additional charge and should be ordered 48 hours in advance by calling (407) 827-2253.
•This location can accommodate most special dietary needs. Advance notice may be required and cancellation fees may apply. Please indicate any special dietary need at time of reservation booking. Learn more about how we can help accommodate special dietary needs.

$$ ($15 to $35.99)

Price per person*
Location:
Backlot

Cuisine:
Italian


Lunch

Experience:
Casual Dining

Service:
A la Carte

Price Level:
$$ ($15 to $35.99)


Dinner

Experience:
Casual Dining

Service:
A la Carte

Price Level:
$$ ($15 to $35.99)


Sample Menus**

Dessert

Kids

Lunch & Dinner

** Menu items and prices are subject to change without notice.