Fantasmic Dinner Package: Hollywood & Vine v. Mama Melrose's About This Page:

[TSP]

I am considering the Fantasmic Dinner Package. The Brown Derby is too pricey. So it's Hollywood & Vine or Mama Melrose's. We love Italian, but I hear many good things about Hollywood & Vine. Any strong opinions either way? I am bringing two children, 9 & 11 years old. Thanks!

[churros]

We are interested in doing this in September too but have heard that the reserved seating is not crash hot as it is off to the side and the sound and action are out of sync.

[lela12982]

we did the hollywood and vine package, and the food was ok, a typical disney buffett, nothing amazing. The seats were great, we had good views and the best part was not waiting in a HUGE line. The line started over an hour before the show, so you'd have to wait a long time, and there is no guarantee that you would get better seats than the reserved seats with the fantasmic package!!

we got there 30 min before the show (we had to sit at the top cuz we had a stroller and a wheelchair) and sat around for a while waiting. I will still get there 30 min beforehand this time around, since its me and hubby we can get good seats anywhere we want ( in the reserved area)

personally, i have seen the pics of mama melrose, and being a picky italian eater, they don;t look very good to me. But everyone says they are delicious. So which would you prefer- a buffet or a sit down. That will answer your question!

[Annabel]

I can't comment on Mama Melrose as we've never eaten there but have eaten at Hollywood & Vine for the FDP many times - it's DH's favourite buffet. The food is lovely and they have a big selection of desserts. My favourite is the pot roast I would definitely recommend it.

[Disnyfan83]

I have eaten at both, and both are very nice. Our family really loves Mama Melrose's though. The food is excellent, and they have some really nice choices - not just pasta and pizza. My kids LOVE the decor! My only suggestion is to decide if you really need to do the Fantasmic package. I think the seating area they put you in is not the greatest, and dependeing on when you are planning to visit, if the crowds aren't bad, my suggestion is to not do the package, wait in line a bit and perhaps have a better seat for the show.

[jimmymac]

We've done both. The food at both Mama Melrose's and Hollywood & Vine is very good. The seats, as others have said, are not the best but it sure beats waiting in line. I actually prefer Hollywood & Vine

[Irenaroo]

My children love the Hollywood and Vine. The buffet has something for everyone and the desserts are especially good. We've booked Mama Melroses for our Fantasmic package for our upcoming April trip, so I'll have to let you know on that one!

[jpod523]

hollywood and vine is the only TS place i've eaten at just because of the fantasmic package. I guess it's my favorite TS by default! the food is decent. i their chicken. it's a nice array of food, but nothing out of this world good. if i were on the dining plan, i might have picked MM, but i was paying cash and i liked having a buffet.

[JoanneS]

We ate at Mama Melroses on our Fantasmic Dinner Package. It was ok, but the spaghetti was a little mushy. The portions are HUGE! I don't think I'd go back there because I wasn't all that impressed. We got to the Fantasmic Entrance just as they were letting passholders in. SIT IN THE MICKEY SECTION!! Don't listen to the CM's directing you to the side areas. Also, if you sit up close, you will get wet. We sat toward the back and had an easy escape at the end of the show and a great view.

[jhoshowski]

We ate at H&V last September. I was apprehensive because the last time I ate there, it wasn't very good. Granted, it was in 1995, but still. This time, it was phenomenal. I think we all got seconds - okay, thirds. . .maybe fourths!! They had a yummy pork with apples that I adored, and I don't even like pork! DS9 and I were both salivating over the creamed corn cornbread. He requested that we return there for our trip this August.

[Mares75]

I've never gone to Hollywood and Vine but we loved MM our last trip. We both got Eggplant Parmesian - delicious! We stuffed ourselves past being full simply becuase it tasted so good. We liked the atmosphere as well - not too noisy either. We'd definitely go back.

[bfth]

We've never been that thrilled with MM. Of course it's more of a "california" based Italian which doesn't quite fit our palate.

I'd personally go for H&V

[saibot0001]

We've eaten twice at Hollywood & Vine with the Fantasmic Package (our last visit was 2/4/08). We liked the buffet b/c we have children under 10 and they can eat anything off the buffet so it allows for them to have some variety in a meal outside of the chicken tenders/PBJ etc. We also love the seats for Fantasmic. We have always sat on the front row (yes, the reserved section is off to the side, but the way the show is done, without giving anything away, you can see everything). The best thing is not having to wait in line hoping to get a good seat. JMHO

[Nysa]

My family used to love Mama Melrose's but we ate there in May and the food wasn't very good. Some of it was overcooked, but even the food that was well cooked just didn't taste very good. We will be trying something new next time we go to Hollywood Studios.

[Cam22]

We have done H & V twice and MM three times. We them both for different reasons. We'll be doing H & V this June. For us it just depends on whether we want Italian or buffet.