Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
237
Dinner & a Show
Tips
At press time, Disney was offering preferred seating at the end-of-the-day spec-
tacular,
Fantasmic!,
along with a fixed-price dinner at one of Disney's Hollywood
Studio's sit-down restaurants. All you need to do is make Advance Reservations
(
&
407/939-3463
) and request the Fantasmic! package for the Hollywood
Brown Derby ($46.99 adults, $11.99 kids 3-11), Mama Melrose's Ristorante Ital-
iano ($32.99 adults, $11.99 kids 3-11), or Hollywood & Vine ($24.99 adults, $11.99
kids 3-11). You'll get your line pass at the restaurant and instructions on getting
to the special entrance to the preferred seating area of the show.
Note:
The prices above are for a fixed-price meal and do not include sales tax,
tip, or alcoholic beverages; if you order off the menu, you'll pay more. The prices
also don't include a reserved seat at Fantasmic!, only a pass that will get you into
the preferred seating area (you must arrive at least 30 min. in advance—a much
shorter wait than usual for good seats).
the show include the rousing “Be Our Guest” opening number and the poignant title song
featured in the romantic waltz scene finale. The sets and costumes are lavish, and the pro-
duction numbers are pretty spectacular. There are usually four or five shows a day.
Disney's Hollywood Studios Backlot Tour
Frommer's Rating:
B+
Recommended Ages:
6-adult
This 35-minute tram tour takes you behind the scenes for a close-up look at the vehicles,
props, costumes, sets, and special effects used in your favorite movies and TV shows. On
many days, you'll see costume makers at work in the wardrobe department (Disney has
around 2 million garments here). But the real fun begins when the tram heads for
Catas-
trophe Canyon,
where an earthquake in the heart of oil country causes canyon walls to
rumble. A raging oil fire, massive explosions, torrents of rain, and flash floods threaten
you and other riders before you're taken behind the scenes to see how filmmakers use
special effects to make such disasters. The preshow is almost as interesting. While waiting
in line, you can watch entertaining videos hosted by several TV and movie stars. The
Backlot Tour is a solid ride that's of the same type as Universal Studios' Disaster! A Major
Motion Picture Ride . . . Starring You! (p. 273).
Fantasmic!
Moments
Frommer's Rating:
A+
Recommended Ages:
All ages
Disney mixes heroes, villains, stunt performers, choreography, laser lights, and fireworks
into a spectacular end-of-the-day extravaganza. This is a 25-minute visual feast where the
Magic Mickey comes to life in a show featuring shooting comets, great balls of fire (my
apologies to Jerry Lee), and animated fountains that really charge the audience. The cast
includes 50 performers, a giant dragon, a king cobra, and 1 million gallons of water, just
about all of which are orchestrated by a sorcerer mouse that looks more than remotely
familiar. You'll probably recognize other characters as well as musical scores from Disney
movie classics such as
Fantasia, Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,
the
Little
Mermaid,
and the
Lion King.
You'll also shudder at the animated villainy of Jafar, Cruella
De Vil, and Maleficent in the battle of good versus evil, part of which is projected onto
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