Fantasmic! Dinner Packages?

[ChesireCat]

I will be at WDW in early Feb with my family and we are planning on getting a Fantasmic! Dinner package on Tues. Feb 5th at the Brown Derby. Has anyone here ever done the dinner package and if so how did it go? Were the seats good? What would be the best time to make the dinner reservations if Fantasmic! is showing at seven? Also, do you think it will even be necessary to reserve a package for the date I want?

~sasha

[mcconkey]

We did the Mama Melrose dinner package last summer. It was great and you get to enter a back route behind the Beauty and the beast se. You see the behind the scenes(not so squeaky clean side of disney). the wait was greatly reduced and the view is just asgood. Food was good too and cheaper than the Brown derby. enjoy

[ChesireCat]

We ate at Mama Melrose's last time and my family really wants to go somewhere different. Plus I've never eaten at the Brown Derby and have been wanting to try it for a long time. Thanks for the info though.

~sasha

[The Mom]

Originally posted by ChesireCat
I will be at WDW in early Feb with my family and we are planning on getting a Fantasmic! Dinner package on Tues. Feb 5th at the Brown Derby. Has anyone here ever done the dinner package and if so how did it go? Were the seats good? What would be the best time to make the dinner reservations if Fantasmic! is showing at seven? Also, do you think it will even be necessary to reserve a package for the date I want?

~sasha

I did the BD package last June. As I recall, we had 5:30 or 6:00 reservations for the 8:00 show. If you are there for the package, they do things to speed it up, like taking your whole order at once (including dessert) and bring the check with your entree,or dessert. Be warned that everyone in your party must order an entree (even if only off the kiddie menu for the younger crowd) which might be a problem if you're used to splitting entrees. As you might know, the Brown Derby is a little pricey, so expect to pay a bit more...average entree price was in the $20 - 25 range, as I recall. With a drink, appetizers or desserts,and a tip, the dinner can easily cost $75 -100 a couple, more in our case (we had a bottle of wine)

I must admit the seats were a let-down. They weren't bad, just not "the best in the house" if you know what I mean. Also,many latecomers who had not been part of a package just slipped under the ropes and sat in our section. (the dinner guests come in a different entrance)

I enjoy the BD, so we would definitely eat there again, but I'm not sure I would do the package again! I would have been happier taking the time to really enjoy the meal, and taking my chances at finding a good seat another if it weren't a busy time.

[Beauty and the]

We used the Dinner Package in August because the park was very full and I knew the kids wouldn't have waited two hours to see the show. As Marcia said the seats aren't the best but they are OK, we went to see Fantasmic a second time when it was shown at 10pm there was no line for a good seat, we arrived about 20minutes before and sat centre. It might be worth checking if there will be a late show during your stay.

[Disneynutcase]

This is a great and informative discussion. I think because of price and because I'll be in a party that will have four small kids, Brown Derby is not for us.

However, we heard about this Dinner Package and and its special seating and are intrigued. Question is, how does one go about getting a Fantasmic Dinner Package reservation? Is it a "day-of" kind of reservation or something that can be made in advance? Since it sounds like you guys have done it before, what does it entail? I've been told not to call the WDW Dining line since "Priority" reservations are not considered the same thing.

Also are the only choices Brown Derby and Mama Melrose? Anyone ever get into 50's Prime Time Cafe or Hollywood & Vine for the dinner package?

We'll be at Disney MGM about nine days after Easter. Not sure what kind of crowds to expect but with our little ones, we're pretty much stuck having to see ther earlier Fantasmic show.

[The Mom]

Originally posted by Disneynutcase
This is a great and informative discussion. I think because of price and because I'll be in a party that will have four small kids, Brown Derby is not for us.

However, we heard about this Dinner Package and and its special seating and are intrigued. Question is, how does one go about getting a Fantasmic Dinner Package reservation? Is it a "day-of" kind of reservation or something that can be made in advance? Since it sounds like you guys have done it before, what does it entail? I've been told not to call the WDW Dining line since "Priority" reservations are not considered the same thing.

Also are the only choices Brown Derby and Mama Melrose? Anyone ever get into 50's Prime Time Cafe or Hollywood & Vine for the dinner package?

We'll be at Disney MGM about nine days after Easter. Not sure what kind of crowds to expect but with our little ones, we're pretty much stuck having to see ther earlier Fantasmic show.

My recollection was that I made reservations from my WDW Resort room after check-in, but at least 48 hrs before the show. I was not there during a "peak" period, so would assume that you might have to do this further in advance. If it's not handled by regular PS reservations, I'm not sure who you would call! James was good about getting me the correct number for my cruise reservations...you could try sending him a PM.

As far as I know, the two restaurants you mentioned are the only ones that offer the dinner packages. The Brown Derby offers a children's menu...they're pretty standard at all of the sit-down restaurants. (ie, the same items are listed at all of them)

You are going at a busy time. Getting the package might be a good idea.

[hadleybarth]

We did this package using the Hollywod and Vine in November. Though not ideal, the seats were fine and we felt this was well worth not having to wait a long time to hold seats with young children. We very much liked the food at the Hollywood and Vine (be warned there are no characters at dinner time). The kids loved the variety of sundae toppings and the adults really appreciated real salad (no iceberg) and plenty of veggies (of course, it's not hte Brown Derby, but it isn't as pricy either). We mad the earliest possible seating (4 pm) and treated this as a late lunch rather than rushing through dinner a few hours later. This worked out very nicely for us--we ate a big breakfast and then held the kids off with snacks until time to eat. Since this is a buffet, there is no wait to be served which will speed things up even if you opt for a later seatring.

[hadleybarth]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that as of November the dinner package reservations could be made only from your (on site) hotel at checkin, or at the park itself on the day of if there was anything left (for those staying offsite). But, it would be worth a call to PS to see if anything has changed.

[ISTCNavigator57]

there aren't any second showings of Fantasmic! in February, and it is INCREDIBLY busy this time of year. If you don't want to line up at 5-5:30 for a seat, the dinner package is the only other possibility. Be forewarned that you will be sitting on the far right side of the Hollywood Hills Amphitheatre.
Kyle

[Worldphile]

Originally posted by Disneynutcase
This is a great and informative discussion. I think because of price and because I'll be in a party that will have four small kids, Brown Derby is not for us.

However, we heard about this Dinner Package and and its special seating and are intrigued. Question is, how does one go about getting a Fantasmic Dinner Package reservation? Is it a "day-of" kind of reservation or something that can be made in advance? Since it sounds like you guys have done it before, what does it entail? I've been told not to call the WDW Dining line since "Priority" reservations are not considered the same thing.

Also are the only choices Brown Derby and Mama Melrose? Anyone ever get into 50's Prime Time Cafe or Hollywood & Vine for the dinner package?

We'll be at Disney MGM about nine days after Easter. Not sure what kind of crowds to expect but with our little ones, we're pretty much stuck having to see ther earlier Fantasmic show.

We were there the second week in December. At that time, we could not make the dinner package reservation at the regular dining reservation number. We had to go in person to guest services in our hotel and make the reservation.

If you go to the "secret" entrance for dinner package people right when it opens, you can still get a decent seat that is reasonably close to center (at least we did.) We felt that the dinner package was well worth not having to wait ~2 hours in line for Fantasmic.

[Beauty and the]

We made our Fantasmic dinner reservation 7 days before at guest services, they don't allow you to book any closer. At Mama Melroses they also have a children's menu so it doesn't work out that expensive. I actually thought it was one of the nicest restaurants in WDW.

[Disneynutcase]

"We made our Fantasmic dinner reservation 7 days before at guest services, they don't allow you to book any closer."

Intriguing. Please clarify what this means. I'm left to assume that you went to Disney Studios sometime during the prior week to book your reservations. Is that what you did?

We're supposed to be doing Disney Studios on our fourth day of vacation, so, even if we can't make Fantasmic Dinner Reservations from home, if it can be done sometime in advance on a prior day while were at WDW, that would be cool.

But again, I'm not quite sure what you mean. what did you do?

[Worldphile]

Originally posted by Disneynutcase
"We made our Fantasmic dinner reservation 7 days before at guest services, they don't allow you to book any closer."

Intriguing. Please clarify what this means. I'm left to assume that you went to Disney Studios sometime during the prior week to book your reservations. Is that what you did?

We're supposed to be doing Disney Studios on our fourth day of vacation, so, even if we can't make Fantasmic Dinner Reservations from home, if it can be done sometime in advance on a prior day while were at WDW, that would be cool.

But again, I'm not quite sure what you mean. what did you do?

As an FYI, last month we made our Fantasmic dinner reservations on Sunday for a Tuesday performance. The only limitation was that the reservation had to be made in person at guest services.

So, you could do it at your hotel during check-in if you are staying at a WDW resort, or at any guest services coutner in any of the parks.

[SleepingBeauty]

The Fantasmic Dinner package is available for booking up to 7 days in advance but only in person at the guest services desk at your on-site hotel. You may also book the package in person at MGM Studios but this is for same-day bookings only.

So, when you check in your on-site hotel, make your Fantasmic package reservations then for whatever day you plan on going (as long as it is within 7 days). If you are not sure then when you will be needing the package, reserve it as soon as you know - preferably earlier than the day of.

Generally, the Brown Derby and Mama Melrose are your options although Hollywood & Vine is sometimes offered as well. It has been quite sometime since I have heard of anyone having the option of 50's Prime Time or the Sci-Fi diner.

The seating for the package is pretty good although it is not centered. Be sure to sit several rows back if you don't want to get misted by the water screens.

Good luck and have a great trip!
Rhonda