Hollywood & Vine for Fantasmic!?

[KingdomofDreams]

So is it really awful? Would appreciate any honest, objective feedback.

I'm thinking of doing something I've never done before... Fantasmic! Dining Package. The last few times we've been at DHS, standing in that long line at the end of a hot, crowded day to get in and having to be there an hour or more before it begins, just about stressed us all out, but especially the kids. I love F! and don't want to miss it, so this alternative seemed worth it. I know HBD is the better restaurant, but it's a little more than we wanted for this particular night. We have other dining reservations throughout our stay at locations we prefer. Our second choice was Mama Melrose's, but unfortunately it's already booked solid. Soooo... I'm somewhat reluctantly looking at H&V.

 

[sxeensweet]

So is it really awful? Would appreciate any honest, objective feedback.

I'm thinking of doing something I've never done before... Fantasmic! Dining Package. The last few times we've been at DHS, standing in that long line at the end of a hot, crowded day to get in and having to be there an hour or more before it begins, just about stressed us all out, but especially the kids. I love F! and don't want to miss it, so this alternative seemed worth it. I know HBD is the better restaurant, but it's a little more than we wanted for this particular night. We have other dining reservations throughout our stay at locations we prefer. Our second choice was Mama Melrose's, but unfortunately it's already booked solid. Soooo... I'm somewhat reluctantly looking at H&V.

I never do the package as we usually don't have much of a wait to get a seat when we go, but if I had to choose it would be MM or HBD, and MM is out so I would not do HV and pay the extra and do HBD. That's just my opinion.

 

[Disneydreamer23]

Despite many people not liking H and V I love it I think the food is amazing I always have great service and I love the F Package. I am able to hang out around the parks and then 20 minutes before the show I get to go in. I Would never wait the 90 minutes most people do. I find it easy and I do it every time I go!

 

[jpittore1]

I gave up on H&V a few years ago, then this year for Star Wars Weekends they have the Disney characters dressed as various Star wars characters for dinner at H&V. A local food critic did a review of SWW and ate at the H&V, he was shocked at the turn around the restaurant has made. He enjoyed the buffet. I made my reservation for June 7th...fingers crossed.

 

[zurgandfriend]

I'm not a fan of H&V however I didn't like Avatar either so what do I know. Give it H&V a try you might hate it or love it or say it's meh you won't know until you try.

 

[dave&di]

We always do the Fantasmic Dinner Package, we used H&V several times, it's nothing special, the food is ok, I feel it's a bit like a staff canteen. BUT, it serves it purpose, as you said you have other ADR's that you are probably doing the the food and ambience. The H&V gets you fed and into Fantasmic!

Last year we tried HBD instead (used the DDP!) great atmosphere but the food a bit too posh for me! Maybe the H&V could deliver to the HBD!

 

[mickeysshoes]

We also avoid H&V.....had a really bad meal a few years back on Thanksgiving. I thought that this places just does not have the "DISNEY" feel to it.

 

[dreamfinder]

I'd pass. Unless a ton of positive reviews start to appear, it's definitely not worth it. Adding in the fact that the F! dining package times are 3:30, 4:00 and 4:30 I can't justify having to eat dinner at that time. Instead of spending the hour in the restaurant, grab food at one of the CS locations outside F! and spend that same hour waiting. Same yourself cash, and get better food.

 

[docdebbi]

first, if it is the only option for a Fantasmic package, and you want a Fantasmic package, why would you not do it. unless it is poisonous, it fulfills your need. so i would say do it
second, we like H&V. have done the package through there several times. it obviously is not as good as HBD or MM, (we have eaten there several times also) but you are paying less so you expect less.
the food is very good, not stellar, but very good. and several selections i think are indeed stellar. it is a typical buffet. it is tasty, tons of choices, feeds you quickly, and typical dessert bar with sunday station. we enjoy the place.

 

[KingdomofDreams]

I gave up on H&V a few years ago, then this year for Star Wars Weekends they have the Disney characters dressed as various Star wars characters for dinner at H&V. A local food critic did a review of SWW and ate at the H&V, he was shocked at the turn around the restaurant has made. He enjoyed the buffet. I made my reservation for June 7th...fingers crossed.

Well that sounds rather encouraging! I'd love to hear your impression after you're there June 7th.

I'd pass. Unless a ton of positive reviews start to appear, it's definitely not worth it. Adding in the fact that the F! dining package times are 3:30, 4:00 and 4:30 I can't justify having to eat dinner at that time. Instead of spending the hour in the restaurant, grab food at one of the CS locations outside F! and spend that same hour waiting. Same yourself cash, and get better food.

I'm not sure those times are currently required for the package. I was looking for something around 5:30 and found that time for HBD and H&V both under the package booking.

Thanks so much everyone for your input! I think we ate at H&V one time, many years ago and were not terribly impressed. In looking at photos online, I have to agree, the atmosphere is still really lacking. It's too bad you can't get the package at Sci Fi or Primetime.

 

[docdebbi]

Well that sounds rather encouraging! I'd love to hear your impression after you're there June 7th.




I'm not sure those times are currently required for the package. I was looking for something around 5:30 and found that time for HBD and H&V both under the package booking.

Thanks so much everyone for your input! I think we ate at H&V one time, many years ago and were not terribly impressed. In looking at photos online, I have to agree, the atmosphere is still really lacking. It's too bad you can't get the package at Sci Fi or Primetime.

They don't need to fill seats at those restaurants. The whole package is all about filling restaurants that need filling at the times they need filling.

 

[KingdomofDreams]

Perseverance does pay off! Just never really felt too confident about the H&V option for the F! package, so I kept checking daily to see if Mama Melrose might become available for the time/date we needed. Sure enough, after over a month of trying to no avail, a time has just opened up that works for us. I think this will be a better choice for us as it seems the theming is quite a bit better and Italian food is a family favorite. And we've never eaten there - we always do Primetime or SciFi - so this gives is an opportunity to give a new place a try.

Now, if we can just get a shot at the lunch FP for BOG we'll be set!

 

[seahawk7]

Great! Perseverance does payoff when making ADRs. We had the Mama Melrose Fantasmic dining package at the end of May and really liked it. The seating that is reserved for the package is in the center so it is perfect. Keep trying for those BoG fastpasses I hope you get them!

 

[71dsp]

Glad to hear you were successful! We're not H&V fans either. Went there for breakfast once, and just didn't care for it. We usually book Mama Melrose's for the Fantasmic package. You hear mixed reviews on Mama Melrose's as well, but we've always had very good food and service there. Sometimes they are a bit slow to seat, as I think we usually end up waiting 15 min or so past our reservation time.

 

[andy773]

We did the Fantasmic Package at H&V in April and really liked it. When I started looking at it, they only had times like 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm available. A few months before April, they opened up more times. We ended up with a 6:20 pm reservation, which worked out perfectly for the 8:30 pm Fantasmic. And the seats for the package were outstanding. We were right in the middle, about 10 rows from the front.

The food at H&V was also really good. There were six of us, ranging in age from 10 to 61, and everyone found something they really enjoyed. The food was all very fresh and creative too. They had a really nice pasta station where a cook would make a custom pasta dish with whatever you wanted, as you waited. They also had a nice carved meat station. As we were getting ready to leave, a guy with a chef's hat wandered by and I stopped him to compliment him on the food. He said they have been really trying to improve the quality and variety of food there lately. I told him he was successful by my book. Maybe the bad reviews are from people who haven't been there recently.

The following night, I had dinner at the Chef's Table at Victoria and Albert's if that gives you an idea of the kind of food I like.

When I made the reservation I was a little concerned because of all the negative reviews I had read. After having dined there, I would have no problem going back and would highly recommend it to anyone.

 

[steamboatjosh]

We are doing Hollywood Brown Derby. I haven't heard a whole lot of good things about Hollywood and Vine. I suppose if you like eat at places like Golden Corral outside of the parks then you might like it. I personally am not big on buffets.

 

[DisneyDelirious]

We have done H&V F! Package every trip. It's an average buffet similar to a Golden Corral, Sirloin Stockade, or other chain buffet. Food is average, like many Disney offerings. We have never had a bad experience or we wouldn't go back. No frills but food is cooked thoroughly. From time to time you will get something that has been out under the ligys and steam table a bit too long. Just let them know and they will get something fresh.

 

[jpittore1]

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Well that sounds rather encouraging! I'd love to hear your impression after you there June 7th.

Hollywood and Vine's, buffet is very similar to the Crystal Palace. It was better though than the last time we ate there. The Star Wars extras helped give H&V some pluses. Everything on the buffet was fresh. I hope they keep it up.

By the way we ate at Mama Melrose a different night for the F! Package, tooand I enjoyed that meal more from a food perspective.

 

[KingdomofDreams]

I had a reservation at H&V in case nothing else opened up, but cancelled it when a time at MM became available. It's good to know the food is fairly good for future reference. They'd probably get more takers there if they also did a little work on the theming.

Also.... the BOG FP became available today! Woot! So we are now officially set with everything. I'm really liking FP+ so far. Of course, the jury's still out until we actually get there and implement all these plans, but I will be arriving feeling confident and relaxed knowing we've got quite a few things already secured.