Mama Melrose or Hollywood and Vine for Fantasmic?

[Chef Mickey]

This choice is for Fantasmic Dinner Package and I don't want Brown Derby. I haven't been to Mama Melrose in a couple years, but I think it's considered pretty good Italian and one of the better restaurants at WDW.

I am already eating at Crystal Palace and Chef Mickey's, so I'm leaning toward Mama Melrose.

The other factor is I can't seem to get a dinner reservation with Minnie and Friends for the character, so I'll be stuck with those Playtime characters at lunch...we aren't too interested.

If the food at Mama Melrose is good, I think we will choose that. What would you prefer from a food perspective?

 

[sxeensweet]

Mama Melrose hands down!! Not even a question between those 2.

To add we also love 50's and HBD at HS. Also enjoy Sci-Fi.

 

[Chef Mickey]

Mama Melrose hands down!! Not even a question between those 2.

To add we also love 50's and HBD at HS. Also enjoy Sci-Fi.

We think the 50s Prime Time fried chicken is some of the best anywhere. We will definitely be eating there.

 

[sxeensweet]

We think the 50s Prime Time fried chicken is some of the best anywhere. We will definitely be eating there.

Yep DH loves the fried chicken and we are from the south where we know good fried chicken! Haha! So that says a lot as he is picky about his fried chicken. I personally get the sampler because all of it is delicious.
If you like the fried chicken at 50's, if you have not done Hoop Dee Doo another must for us you must go there too. They also have an amazing strawberry shortcake!

 

[LAKid53]

If your choice is between Mama Melrose and Hollywood and Vine, definitely go with Mama Melrose - the chicken parm is the best! Hollywood & Vine is the typical unimpressive Disney buffet. However, if the Fantasmic! dining package now includes Prime Time, I'm going for the awesome fried chicken. Don't get the sample platter - the meat loaf is worse than what my mom made (and hers was pretty bad, sorry Mom, still love you ) and the pot roast, well, it was okay. But not as bad as the meatloaf *shudders*

 

[Clarissa McDaniel]

Mama Melrose, without hesitation

 

[dreamfinder]

We had one meal at H&V a few years ago for dinner, it was pretty bad. I think there were maybe a dozen parties in the restaurant for dinner if that gives you any idea. I know they have made some changes lately, but it was pretty much hands down the worst meal I have had at WDW. Would need alot of people giving positive reviews or some drastic changes to get us to go back.

 

[DisneyFans4Life]

I'd vote Mama Melrose as well. We ate there a couple months ago and really enjoyed it. Now...I'm not knocking H&V as we just ate there on Saturday night and it was delicious...probably some of the best roast beef I've had in a while...paired with the green beans they had, mmm delicous.

To me...they offer two different types of dinner and it depends what you're going for. If you're looking for a character experience (which it seems you have enough of those already), then H&V is my pick. But if you're going strictly for a good meal, Mama Melrose for hands down.

 

[networkpro]

Mama Melrose without doubt.

 

[graphite1326]

I can honestly say I have never been to Hollywood and Vine. I guess I have missed that one. Every year we go somewhere to eat we haven't been before. This may be the one. I have been to every other restaurant in HS but not H & V. Anyone been? I was wondering how good it was?

MM is a nice sit down place with Italian food. You can't go wrong there.

 

[LAKid53]

I can honestly say I have never been to Hollywood and Vine. I guess I have missed that one. Every year we go somewhere to eat we haven't been before. This may be the one. I have been to every other restaurant in HS but not H & V. Anyone been? I was wondering how good it was?

MM is a nice sit down place with Italian food. You can't go wrong there.

Don't waste your money or dining credit. We ate at H&V once, using the Fantasmic! dining package. I was not impressed. Mediocre buffet, even for Disney. Stick with MM, Sci Fi, Prime Time or Brown Derby for TS.

 

[graphite1326]

Don't waste your money or dining credit. We ate at H&V once, using the Fantasmic! dining package. I was not impressed. Mediocre buffet, even for Disney. Stick with MM, Sci Fi, Prime Time or Brown Derby for TS.

Ok thanks. We ate at Brown Derby last time we were there. Pricey but real good.

 

[c1aire.griffin]

H&V is terrible bad service and food each time we have been which is twice for the children

 

[Weather_Lady]

Hollywood & Vine is the only Disney restaurant that my family absolutely hated. The food on the buffet was so universally bad that we didn't care to have a second bite of any of it, and actually left hungry. I've read many similar reviews of it since.

Although we've never been to Mama Melrose, I have consistently read great things about it. That would be my choice, for sure!

 

[MagicalMaci]

We actually had great food at both and I absolutely LOVED the character interaction at Minnie's Holiday Dine. Where I've personally had problems with Mama Melrose is the service - waiting over 45 minutes past an ADR, into a half empty restaurant, and then still the meal just dragged out (the slow pace of the meal has happened twice and I never see it full inside) BUT the food we did get was great!

Since you already have character meals planned and you are leaning towards Mama Melrose I'd say go with that!

 

[Marianm]

I also had horrible horrible service at MM. Now, I don't judge places for service if it was a one time thing. However, I also hated the food.
Last trip we did lunch at Hollywood and Vine and liked it.