Hi all

we would like to see the fantasmic show atthe end of our day at MGM> I have read that you can book a dinner package at Mama Melrose to see Fantasmic - is this the way to go? Is this easier/ more comfortable than getting to the amphitheatre early and hoping for a good seat?
How do I book? There only seem to be phone numbers,and a web link is easier for us being in Africa - time differences etc

Thanks for your opinions

Might depend on the age of your children. If you book one of these packages...they get you out to the show quite early, and there is a long long wait in your seats, maybe 90 minutes for some, and way too long a sit for young kids.

The children are 11 and 15.
The long wait was what i was hoping to avoid. With the california grill youeat and watch at the same time I think - very easy.
Is there nowhere else similar for Fantasmic?

That is not quite correct. We booked a Fantasmic Package. There were three restaurant choices. We chose the Brown Derby. YOu book right at the guest service place after you enter MGM. We ate our dinner and were given a ticket that said to arrive at the theater about 30 minutes before the show. You go in a special entrance (no lines) and they have a section of the theater roped off for you. It is also MUCH easier to exit the theater at the end.
The 90 minute wait is for people who do NOT book the Fantasmic dinner package.

Is the Movie Diner that looks like an old outdoor big screen movie theater where you sit in the vintage cars an option on the pkg. now? It was when we went, we got the pkg. and it was a BLAST to eat there! It was my kid's favorite part of MGM, aside from Rock N Roller Coaster.

Thank you all - I feel more organised now. We will book a package when we walk though the entrance. I do like the idea of the movie Diner so I hope thatis ontheir list, otherwise we can go to Mama Melrose

I dont believe you can book in advance anymore. The last time we did it ( we have done this twice) we just went to the restaurant earlish but not first thing (you dont want to give up the first ride on TOT!) They book you right at the restaurant. This will save you and your family quite ALOT of time especialy on the busier days.

When we booked we could not do it in advance either. We went to the Guest Service booth the day we wanted to do the dinner package and they told us the restaurant options and booked it for us.
I just found a fact pack on the Fantasmic dinner package and it said this:
How do I book the Fantasmic! Dining Experience?

Y"ou can book the package now for dates 180 days in advance by calling 1-407-WDW-DINE. "
Here is a link to the page. It will give you all the facts:
http://www.allearsnet.com/din/fantdin1.htm

Thank you so much - most helpful

We are in Orlando the week the American and the European children go back to school- us Africans get a long Dec/Jan holiday as its our summer break - so I am hoping the theme parks will be slightly less crowded.
We will book the dinner package when we arrive, though I agree not compromising hitting the rides early

Do you recommend any particular restaurant - we are 5 people - ages 11, 15 and up to 69

Cheers

What park are you asking about? If you are going all the way there and area skign about any park, I'd go to a really unique restaurant like Coral Reef at Epcot. There you dine surrounded by an aquarium that on the walls- a BIG aquarium that goes on forever it seems, w/people diving in it (and the aquaraium is so big that it sometimes looks like the divers are miniature toys as they are far away, then they come closer, along w/the fish and other marine life).

You need to make priority reservations, even coming from as far away as you are, even at slow times of year, for a restaurant that is this popular. Food is very good there also- of course it is seafood mostly.

If you are asking only about MGM, then the 50s diner is unique, as is the drive-in movie one where you sit in the cars (although you don't really interact w/each other, except for the person sitting in the car next to you). If you want a better meal re the food, Brown Derby is rated as the best at MGM.

The restaurants in the Fantasmic package are Mamma Melrose, Hollywood and Vine, and the Brown Derby. The lowest price is Hollywood and Vine. Go to the link I put in my previous post and find out about each restaurant.