My wife and I just returned from a 8 day/7 night trip last week to DLR and I think Ive got the missing pieces of the WoC dinning puzzle.
The short version: expect to get different answers from different cast members for the time being as the new configuration is not very well known to all at this point. This includes everyone from guest services, the dining reservation line, the red vested crowd control team, and unfortunately even the dedicated WoC team, depending on whom you talk to.
After speaking with a WoC team lead, we were told the following information:
- Only two dedicated fastpass zones (yellow and blue) remain. The other zone is referred to as orange and is reserved dinning accessible. This orange label is not well known to many of the cast members; but, the team lead confirmed it is an accurate description for the reserved section and is what guest services issued to us on our make-up ticket for our cancelled reserved dinning show.
-There are two tiers of reserved (WCT/CCT dinner and CCT lunch). According to the team lead, WCT are directed to the lower section and CCT lunch the upper; but, heres the catch CCT dinner reservations have carte blanche and can request to be placed in either location. CCT lunch can only go to the upper location. Dinner CCT can go to either location upon request. This in my opinion, is likely the biggest source of whats causing the confusion between the differences of the two dining options. Many cast members simply direct all of the CCT guests to the upper zone and don't give the CCT dinner guests the option.
The current map is more or less correct; but, I would recommend a few changes based on what we were told and saw. We watched WoC 3.5 times over the course of our visit (the half show was due to a malfunction that caused a cancellation). Our information is based on attending the 2nd showing (10:15) each night; but, my wife was present for the first show each time waiting to get our spot
-The very front railing location in the wet zone should be marked in blue and not reserved, which was a surprise to me. Based on what we were told, I dont think it would be any problem for a preferred dining person to request to go down into this section if they wanted; but, it is not where the ushers were placing anybody while we were there.
-The disabled section in the front railing wet zone should be removed.
-The new disabled section is the area marked in yellow immediately west/left of the WCT? green area on the revised map on the first tier (non-wet zone). This disabled section should be divided into two. The section closest to the centerline is for disabled preferred dining and the section furthest west/left is for regular fastpass (we used yellow; but, I believe either regular fastpass can use this section upon request with a disability).
- Change the reserved dinning sections to orange to match the color coding that is used by guest services for reserved dinning.
For those with disabilities, it is important to note there is a very good location that is available upon request on the first tier just off the centerline. You need to ask for it and the entrance for it is down by the Golden Zephyr as it is only accessible by using the ramp system. My wife is disabled and found that the cast members will first try to place you at one of the back row accessible locations; but, if you ask, they will escort you down front. The view from this location is very good and just off the centerline. The only obstruction is the tall light tower.
Regarding the timing of arrival for optimal viewing, it depends on which show you attend and if you have reserved dinning. Based on our experiences last week (which was by all accounts were moderate crowds for the summer season), the 2nd show remains the best option to get prime viewing locations with less hassle. The very front wet zone did not fill to 100% on any of the nights and two of the showings actually had a few spaces that you could get up to the railing if you desired that never filled. For the three times we got to be in the reserved section, my wife would show up during the first show. The reason she would arrive so early is to guarantee a spot at the shows centerline at the front of the railing as my primary focus of the trip was photography. Since shes disabled and couldnt be out in the parks very long each day, she would meet me at the 10:15 WoC after I left Magical. This strategy allowed us to have the center line spot each night (well, one night someone got into the reserved area before her because she had to take the long ramp down). If we didnt care for the exact center line and just wanted the front railing in the center tiered section, there was typically space available by the time I arrived from the fireworks around 9:50. The entire reserved section never filled for any of the 10:15 shows. At most, it was 2-3 people deep at the railing. The regular disabled fastpass section up front just off the centerline, section never came close to filling up for the 2nd show during any of the times we attended.
I hope this information helps. As with most things at
Disneyland, things can be complicated even for the cast members. If you ever get an answer that is in doubt, have them check with a team lead to confirm. All of the cast members were very helpful.
