What the heck? Fantasmic Dinner Package?

[pumpkin5156]

Okay. At DL Fantasmic is played over Tom Sawyer's Island, and you have to get there like 2 hours ahead of time to get a good seat.

But occasionally as I'm lurking through the boards and posts, I see that people mention a Fantasmic Dinner Package at MGM. And it seems that there are 3 restaraunts to choose from and then you go to the show...??? Why do you have to pay to see Fantasmic at WDW? Please help a girl out here, and help me understand what is going on.

And what restaraunt should we pick with a 2 and a half year old??

[bretluvscruella]

You aren't paying to see fantasmic...you are paying for dinner and "priority seating" to see fantasmic. As I understand it, they have a special section of seats for the dinner plan people so you are certain to get in where as if you just join the queue you might not get a seat but be jammed into the standing room.

Never having been myself and using the knowledge I have gleaned from the boards here, I would suggest Mama Melroses (kids love italian or at least my nieces and nephews do).

[Clotho]

bret is right. Fantasmic doesn't cost. It's the cost of the dinner, and the special reserved seating section comes as a bonus.

We were going to do it, but are cancelling for a few reasons:
1) we wouldn't plan to eat at those restaurants otherwise, necessarily.
2) it is only good for the first showing if there are two showings. And the reservation times are limited. So we, who normally eat at 8pm-10pm at night, would have to eat at 5:30 to do it
3) In the off season, when we are going, we have been made aware that you have better seating if you wait in line and just grab seating than the reserved section.

So decide what is best for you.

[pumpkin5156]

bret is right. Fantasmic doesn't cost. It's the cost of the dinner, and the special reserved seating section comes as a bonus.

We were going to do it, but are cancelling for a few reasons:
1) we wouldn't plan to eat at those restaurants otherwise, necessarily.
2) it is only good for the first showing if there are two showings. And the reservation times are limited. So we, who normally eat at 8pm-10pm at night, would have to eat at 5:30 to do it
3) In the off season, when we are going, we have been made aware that you have better seating if you wait in line and just grab seating than the reserved section.

So decide what is best for you.

When are you going? We're going the first week of November, and I know most forums say that is a moderate time to go. We really like Fantasmic, and would probably want a nice sit-down meal at the end of our day anyways. Are the priority seats really that good?

[Clotho]

We are going in September. Depending on WHEN ytou go in November, it might be a boon. But I understand the seating is off to the side, and while no seat is "bad", you can find better during slower times. And like I said, for us, we would rather eat AFTER the show, later, than to eat at essentially our lunch time! So it depends on your schedule!

[geoffa]

I'm with Clotho. We did this once and chose Mama Melrose (Italian) for our dinner. Being Brits our main problem was that dinner was served at 4:30 p.m. - way too early. We prefer dining around 8 or 9. Yes you get priority seating and thus you don't have to wait in an endless line. The place holds 10,000 - 6,500 seated and 2,500 standing. YOu meet to the left of that gas station near Crossroads of the World and are then taken behind the scenes - up the back of the Beauty & the Beast theatre and directly to the priority seating. It is not in the middle and it is not exactly near the front. We were about ten rows back and to the right. We still had a tremedous view - apart from the itchy butts in front of us who couldn't stay seated. I liked the fact that I had a seat and didn't have to compete with a sea of blankets trying to save space for coach parties (like you get at DL *). So suppose I was paying for a meal and getting a priority seat as a bonus. IF you don't plan to go for the package be prepared to stand in line for over an hour and a half at busy periods.

* I believe that DL has now succombed to an area designated for priority seating - see their website for details.

[disneygirl17]

I have done the fantasmic dinner package for the last 3 times I have gone.
Allearsnet.com will have the menu's for you to look at.

There are three restaurants... The Brown Derby - from what I have heard not for kids. My sister and Mom went there and thought is was okay.

Mama Melrose's - Italian true sit down restaurant as well. Okay for children but I heard the service can be slow so it might not be good for a toddler.

Now Hollywood and Vine is a buffet and I personally would take a toddler there over Mama Melrose's. They have a variety of food, you can still sit down and eat in air conditioning. However a buffet always has a more relaxed environment and the child can get up and move around a little without feeling like you are bothering the other guests because everyone is moving around to get food. They also have a great sundae bar for kids.

SEATS
I do the fantasmic dinner package because I am going to sit down and eat at a table service anyways and I don't have to wait for a seat at the show. Since some people wait for over an hour. I am willing to get there a little early (about half hour) and take seats off to the right of the stage a bit to have that extra time in the parks. I have never had a problem seeing from those seats. Plus just because you are sitting in that section doesn't mean you have to stay there. You can move if you see a better seat.

EATING TIMES
Our reservations have always been for around 5:30 or so but this year we are eating at 6:30 with Fantasmic at 9:00. The last time we went we had the late fantasmic time not the first show. When I went last year. I made reservations early and they asked what fantasmic show I wanted to go to. The first show or the second. This year it is only showing once the day we are there. I personally don't think that 5:30 is too early to eat. I can't imagine having dinner after 8:00. That is when the sun goes down and the parks cool off. Perfect park weather in my opinion.

Hope this helps and have a great time. Fantasmic is a wonderful show.

[FMTX]

We did the Fantasmic package last week. Disney tries to fill their three nice MGM restaurants for early seating times by enticing you with reserved seating at Fantasmic. The sections are off to the far right but no section is bad in that stadium IMO. You call Disney Dinning and say your want the Fantasmic package and which restaurant. The cost is just for the food at the restaurant and for going early to dinner by booking the package they give you the reserved seating for the first show of the night.

I booked almost 6 months prior and the latest seating time for the Fantasmic package I could get was 6:00pm. We went to Mama Melrose and it was great. A huge note here is because we were on Disney Dinning Plan we were able to order off the regular menu and there was not a special menu for us. When we checked in, they asked if we were on Disney Dinning Plan. We sat down and they gave us the regular menus. I asked the waiter when he first came up about a special Fantasmic menu and he said, no because you are on the dinning plan you can do the Fantasmic package but still order from the regular menu so that was nice.

We went 45 minutes prior to the show and the seating was fine, but honestly we would have gotten better seats if we had not done the package and just showed up with the masses. I know it is different every time but at least for us we would have gotten seats more to the middle. Since they let you go through a special entrance, it was very nice not to have to fight the crowds and they never had the reserve section scoot over to cram more people in so we were very comfortable. All in all, our food was great, it was less of a hassle and we were probably more comfortable but if we had not done the package, we could have eaten at Mamas later and had a little better seats. I probably would not do it again but I may.

Just a note, IMO Fantasmic is better at WDW than DL because of the seating. No seat is bad at WDW and it is such a pain in the you know what at DL to save and protect your seating that it takes away from the show. Yes the sailing ship is nice and being on TS Island is cool and having New Orleans around you adds to it but I have never enjoyed the show at DL because it is such a pain for seating where as WDW all seats are good and you do not have to fight over them.

[pumpkin5156]

I have done the fantasmic dinner package for the last 3 times I have gone.
Allearsnet.com will have the menu's for you to look at.

There are three restaurants... The Brown Derby - from what I have heard not for kids. My sister and Mom went there and thought is was okay.

Mama Melrose's - Italian true sit down restaurant as well. Okay for children but I heard the service can be slow so it might not be good for a toddler.

Now Hollywood and Vine is a buffet and I personally would take a toddler there over Mama Melrose's. They have a variety of food, you can still sit down and eat in air conditioning. However a buffet always has a more relaxed environment and the child can get up and move around a little without feeling like you are bothering the other guests because everyone is moving around to get food. They also have a great sundae bar for kids.

SEATS
I do the fantasmic dinner package because I am going to sit down and eat at a table service anyways and I don't have to wait for a seat at the show. Since some people wait for over an hour. I am willing to get there a little early (about half hour) and take seats off to the right of the stage a bit to have that extra time in the parks. I have never had a problem seeing from those seats. Plus just because you are sitting in that section doesn't mean you have to stay there. You can move if you see a better seat.

EATING TIMES
Our reservations have always been for around 5:30 or so but this year we are eating at 6:30 with Fantasmic at 9:00. The last time we went we had the late fantasmic time not the first show. When I went last year. I made reservations early and they asked what fantasmic show I wanted to go to. The first show or the second. This year it is only showing once the day we are there. I personally don't think that 5:30 is too early to eat. I can't imagine having dinner after 8:00. That is when the sun goes down and the parks cool off. Perfect park weather in my opinion.

Hope this helps and have a great time. Fantasmic is a wonderful show.

Wow. Thanks for all the great info. We usually eat dinner around 4-4:30 (the earlier the better for your metabolism!!), so 8 or 9 would be super late for us. Yes, after looking at the restaraunts offered, Hollywood and Vine is the cheapest and the most kid-friendly.

Can I make a reservation before hand just like with all the other restaraunts? Do I then just show up at the restaraunt, eat, then walk over? Do I have a special ticket?

Sorry for all the questions. Also, at Hollywood and Vine, my child will not be 3 so I wo't order him a buffet, but are we allowed to choose off of the kids buffet anyways as adults??

[disneygirl17]

You eat at the resturant and they give you a ticket to get into a special entrance. They will give you directions of where to go and what time to be there.

You can call and make a reservation. Tell them you want the fantasmic dinner package. You can still get food from the kids buffet if fact I usually get something off of there.... usually mac-n-cheese.... I love mac-n-cheese.

I think Hollywood and Vine is definitly the best decision due to your childs age.

Let me know if you need anymore info I am happy to help whenever I can.

[FMTX]

You have to book ahead of time under the Fantasmic package through Disney Dinning. They will give you a card at the end of the meal that allows you to get in the special entrance. If you are using the dinning plan see my previous post as you will be able to order off the regular menu rather than a special menu at least at Mama Melrose. If you like the eat early anyway, this is perfect for you and it saves you some hassle. If you are use to DL seating, the reserve seating is going to seem like a dream to you. The show is not as intimate as DL but more comfortable and no worries of a 6' 5" guy in the very front standing up and blocking everyone behind which has happened to us before at DL.

[littlej]

I agree with everything said so far, but here's my two cents: we've done the package a couple of times with no complaints, both at Hollywood & Vine, which we love. Personally, you're going during a relatively slow time, and I think you're better off not doing the package. Just eat wherever, and I think you'll find seating that's fine when you get there. I don't know if it's a problem for your little sweetie, but if loud noises get scary or water spray blows the wrong way, you might find it nice to be closer to the back and the exit anyway.

As far as the cost, it's the same as the regular buffet price for Hollywood & Vine ($23.99), but they raised the prices again for the other two: Mama Melrose $32.99 adult, and Brown Derby $43.99 adult. Check the menus and prices out at allearsnet and decide if it's worthwhile.

[Mickeygirlforever]

My family did it in March and loved it. We're huge Disneyland people, and had never been to WDW. My mom and I would almost make a trip to DL to see Fantasmic! because we love it so much. We usually wait 3 hours on the cobblestone ground to get good seats.
We LOVED the stadium and the reserved stuff. We saw people waiting to get in about 2 hours early, but we continued to ride and then went to dinner. We did Hollywood and Vine just to get the reserved seating. It was WAY worth the money to us because we just walked in a little before the show and every seat in that stadium is good. It's not like you're trying to see over someone's head because you have stadium seats. It's nice and I'd recommend it.

[pumpkin5156]

We did the Fantasmic package last week. Disney tries to fill their three nice MGM restaurants for early seating times by enticing you with reserved seating at Fantasmic. The sections are off to the far right but no section is bad in that stadium IMO. You call Disney Dinning and say your want the Fantasmic package and which restaurant. The cost is just for the food at the restaurant and for going early to dinner by booking the package they give you the reserved seating for the first show of the night.

I booked almost 6 months prior and the latest seating time for the Fantasmic package I could get was 6:00pm. We went to Mama Melrose and it was great. A huge note here is because we were on Disney Dinning Plan we were able to order off the regular menu and there was not a special menu for us. When we checked in, they asked if we were on Disney Dinning Plan. We sat down and they gave us the regular menus. I asked the waiter when he first came up about a special Fantasmic menu and he said, no because you are on the dinning plan you can do the Fantasmic package but still order from the regular menu so that was nice.

We went 45 minutes prior to the show and the seating was fine, but honestly we would have gotten better seats if we had not done the package and just showed up with the masses. I know it is different every time but at least for us we would have gotten seats more to the middle. Since they let you go through a special entrance, it was very nice not to have to fight the crowds and they never had the reserve section scoot over to cram more people in so we were very comfortable. All in all, our food was great, it was less of a hassle and we were probably more comfortable but if we had not done the package, we could have eaten at Mamas later and had a little better seats. I probably would not do it again but I may.

Just a note, IMO Fantasmic is better at WDW than DL because of the seating. No seat is bad at WDW and it is such a pain in the you know what at DL to save and protect your seating that it takes away from the show. Yes the sailing ship is nice and being on TS Island is cool and having New Orleans around you adds to it but I have never enjoyed the show at DL because it is such a pain for seating where as WDW all seats are good and you do not have to fight over them.

I didn't realize there were differnt menus available. Is this true for Hollywood and Vine, because this is where we will go. I know this is a buffet, so that'd be hard to give different menus....

Thanks for the advice and info. Fantasmic is a bitter-sweet relationship with us at DL because of the craziness in finding a good seat. I'm looking forward to just walking up and getting a seat! Just to clarify, the prices at Hollywood and Vine are the same with or without the show, right? We'd probably eat there anyways, so might as well throw the show in.

[disneygirl17]

The prices at Hollywood and Vine are the same regardless of if you have the package or not.

Mama Melrose's is the only one with a menu difference that I know of.

[tjrj]

My dislike of how DL "handles" Fantasmic(or rather does not-though maybe that's changed?) is exactly why we did the Fantasmic package for WDW. Loved, loved the seating. You do not "have" to sit in the reserved seating for those doing the dinner package. If you are there early enough and want to sit somewhere else, you certainly can.

We chose Mama Melrose's because it was one credit on the dining plan and it was sit down(I dislike buffets for a variety of reasons and we were already doing 2 of them). Friendly waitress. Decent food. Loud, loud atmosphere-not helped by the toddler screaming and banging on his highchair throughout the majority of the meal. Slow service-2 hours from seating to leaving. Our adr was 6pm(the last for the dinner package that night) and Fantasmic was at 9pm. You don't have to eat early just to get the dinner package-some of those 4:30 adr's are for times of the year when Fantasmic is at 7:30.

[Tacey]

Hi There

I have seen Fantasmic 17 times, both through the dinner package and without.

If you don't mind standing inline about an hour(during a busy time) I would suggest going without unless you are very interested in those restaurants.

The best seating, IMHO, is the Mickey section and that is NOT part of the priority seating.

Everyone is different, I agree, check out the menus at AllEars and decide if it sounds like something that would interest you.

Enjoy! It's one of my favs, I see it every trip!

[mzloolue]

If Fantasmic is a must do, and if you are staying on property, check and see if they will be doing an additional performance during the EMH.

If so, then you may just be able to walk right in, especially during the off season.


Seating does not make a big difference in viewing the show and it may be better to be in the back sections as they can get out quicker.

Also the section for the dinner people is in an area that takes longer to get out.

Just a thought

[geoffa]

OFF TOPIC slightly. If any of you folks plan on coming over to the U.K. you'll be in for a shock. 4:30 would be late lunch. 5:30 would be teatime.
Most restaurants don't open until 6:30 or 7. Ever since being a kid my dinner has always been 7 or later. Maybe that's why DTD is so popular with us visitors. It's all about different cultures I suppose.
We have ADRs for our October trip and not one dinner res. is before 7.

[Clotho]

I grew up eating dinner at 5:30. Even then it seemed so early to me.
Now I teach dance classes until 10pm, so I don't eat dinner until 10:30, which isn't ideal either. But on vacation, we tend to eat around 8pm or later. Works great for us to be able to get ressies!

[pumpkin5156]

It's funny how this thread started, and then we started talking about dinner times!! Whatever. To each his own....

Well, I just found we cannot do the DDP, and will probably skip the dinner package. We are going during the off season, and we won't mind standing in line for 45 minutes or so (maybe my DS2 will sleep a little bit!)

So, do you recommend eating at Hollywood and Vine anyways? The other 3 restaurants don't look appealing or good for our family.

Thanks all for all the advice....it brought me lots and lots of clarity!

[Tacey]

yes Hollywood and Vine is great, I myself always eat at 50"s Prime Time just up the street, but as you said, to each is own

As for seating, the ones that sit straight on, great for pictures is the Mickey Section

[TinaMouse]

OFF TOPIC slightly. If any of you folks plan on coming over to the U.K. you'll be in for a shock. 4:30 would be late lunch. 5:30 would be teatime.
Most restaurants don't open until 6:30 or 7. Ever since being a kid my dinner has always been 7 or later. Maybe that's why DTD is so popular with us visitors. It's all about different cultures I suppose.
We have ADRs for our October trip and not one dinner res. is before 7.

See, I KNEW my ancestry had me predisposed to eating later! All of my friends tease us because we don't usually eat dinner until 7 or 7:30, even during the school year! I know this is OT, but I had to give a shout out to my English/Irish/Scottish heritage (yes, I'm a little bit o' this n' that)!

[geoffa]

I think the dinner times are relevant in that it affects how your day is going to run at the studios. Although we have done the dinner package I doubt I would again. I'd probably get in line for the show, watch it and then go to eat afterwards. I'd probably snack prior to the show. A good way to pass time in the line is take some Disney trivia quiz with you or somesuch. If you are occupied the wait doesn't seem so long.

[Pigsty333]

We have done this show many times - both with Fantasmic Package and without and I will never, ever do it unless I have a Fantasmic Package. For those who are afraid of not getting a dinner reservation and you forgot to make one - as soon as you check into your onsite disney hotel (if that is where you are staying) then go over to their Guest Services section and ask them to book your dinners, shows, for you. Most of the time they are able to accommodate you. They also have the menus of all the restaurants available for you to look at.

Yes, you have to wait in line forever if you don't have a Fantasmic Ticket - and then it takes forever to get to the seats and like posted previously, fight the crowd and those holding seats for family members that are still on the ride.

Fantasmic entrance is located as soon as you come into the main gate of the park, near the lockers. There is a gate there and you go to it and they let you through and you make your way. I find the seats are not bad and you can see the whole thing.

Beware: If you sit all the way up front that you can get wet and its not a nice feeling when the weather is cold, like November and December.