World of Color Superthread

[23bw]

After following this thread and seeing WOC 4 times, I thought I had this show figured out. Not completely though. I have a question about the "Reserved Dining" section(s).

Our family watched the first showing WOC on 12/24 with dining FPs from WCT. We showed up a little over 1 hour before the 9pm show time and the only section open was the center reserved viewing area. The front rails were already taken so we stood on the stairs.

I wanted to get to the rails by the RED line on the this marked up map but that entire section was roped off. The CM told me that area is not available. I presumed it was wheel chairs but about 30 min before the show started, they opened that area up to premium dining!!!

Shouldn't that area be available on first come first served basis? Is this normal practice?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

CMs may have been told to reserve that area for disabled guests or for another reason (after all, it was Christmas Eve), then later been told that it was all right to open that area up for other guests. Since CMs don't always know exactly how many PD guests to expect on any given night, the protocol is flexible, not hard and fast. On another night, that roped off area might have remained roped off. It depends on various factors.
And, as you discovered, HydroGuy's advice about allowing at least 90 minutes before the stated entry time on the FP is solid. The spots at the railings go very, very quickly.

 

[Walleandeva2011]

After following this thread and seeing WOC 4 times, I thought I had this show figured out. Not completely though. I have a question about the "Reserved Dining" section(s).

Our family watched the first showing WOC on 12/24 with dining FPs from WCT. We showed up a little over 1 hour before the 9pm show time and the only section open was the center reserved viewing area. The front rails were already taken so we stood on the stairs.

I wanted to get to the rails by the RED line on the this marked up map but that entire section was roped off. The CM told me that area is not available. I presumed it was wheel chairs but about 30 min before the show started, they opened that area up to premium dining!!!

Shouldn't that area be available on first come first served basis? Is this normal practice?

What exactly does premium dining mean?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Preferred Dining is the WOC dining package that can be purchased at the Wine Country Trattoria (lunch or dinner, although the viewing areas may differ between the two) and at Carthay Circle Restaurant. The WCT has prix fixe meals that come with a WOC FP. CCR lets you order a la carte (an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert per adult) and gives you a WOC FP if you request it. The viewing areas for PD are marked on the map in the first post of this thread and Preferred Dining is explained there, too.

 

[23bw]

CMs may have been told to reserve that area for disabled guests or for another reason (after all, it was Christmas Eve), then later been told that it was all right to open that area up for other guests. Since CMs don't always know exactly how many PD guests to expect on any given night, the protocol is flexible, not hard and fast. On another night, that roped off area might have remained roped off. It depends on various factors.
And, as you discovered, HydroGuy's advice about allowing at least 90 minutes before the stated entry time on the FP is solid. The spots at the railings go very, very quickly.

OK, that makes sense. While I would have loved to have our kids on the rails, I can understand the CM's reasoning to hold these spots. Though it would have been better for the CMs to say they are holding that area for HC folks just in case instead of telling us that area isn't available.

 

[Walleandeva2011]

Preferred Dining is the WOC dining package that can be purchased at the Wine Country Trattoria (lunch or dinner, although the viewing areas may differ between the two) and at Carthay Circle Restaurant. The WCT has prix fixe meals that come with a WOC FP. CCR lets you order a la carte (an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert per adult) and gives you a WOC FP if you request it. The viewing areas for PD are marked on the map in the first post of this thread and Preferred Dining is explained there, too.

Ohh so preferred dining simply means reserved viewing for restaurant WOC packages, not lunch packages?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

No, PD does have a lunch package at WCT. Several months ago, the PD FP areas for WCT lunch and WCT dinner were different. That may or may not be the case now.

If by "lunch packages" you are referring to the WOC picnic lunches, then the answer is that a picnic FP and a regular FP are the same. The picnic FPs do not get you into the PD viewing area.

 

[Walleandeva2011]

No, PD does have a lunch package at WCT. Several months ago, the PD FP areas for WCT lunch and WCT dinner were different. That may or may not be the case now.

If by "lunch packages" you are referring to the WOC picnic lunches, then the answer is that a picnic FP and a regular FP are the same. The picnic FPs do not get you into the PD viewing area.

right but we have Carthay Circle reservations for WOC reserved viewing and it seems like the space for this in the reserved area is in the rear, but reading Hydroguy's recommendations, it seems like you can ask to move up to wherever you want in that reserved area if you ask...

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I'm not sure I'm following your questions. Hope this clears things up: your meal at CCR, lunch or dinner, will incude a WOC PD FP if each member of your party orders 1 appetizer, 1 entree, and 1 dessert (children do not need to order as much). The CCR PD area is toward the back of the viewing area (for a big picture view), but you can ask CMs to allow you to go closer to the front to the WCT area. Which is a better view is a matter of opinion. Some people really like being close up (warning: you might get damp/wet and glasses stay misted which makes it hard to see) and other people really like the big picture view.

 

[Walleandeva2011]

I'm not sure I'm following your questions. Hope this clears things up: your meal at CCR, lunch or dinner, will incude a WOC PD FP if each member of your party orders 1 appetizer, 1 entree, and 1 dessert (children do not need to order as much). The CCR PD area is toward the back of the viewing area (for a big picture view), but you can ask CMs to allow you to go closer to the front to the WCT area. Which is a better view is a matter of opinion. Some people really like being close up (warning: you might get damp/wet and glasses stay misted which makes it hard to see) and other people really like the big picture view.

yeah that is helping. Thanks! I was also told that it is either a entree and dessert or an entree and appetizer that buys it, you don't have to get all three. As long as we can go up to the front where the WCT peeps are, that's fine with me

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Yes, I think you are right about the entree plus either appetizer or dessert combo for WOC FPs. But the food at CCR is good, so we usually end up ordering all 3 anyway!

 

[adykate]

My husband and I have a trip to Disneyland planned for early March. We have a 2 year old and 9 month old. After reading up on WOC, I am wondering if there is any point in even trying to see it. Even if we get a fastpass either on our own, or through dining, there is no way our 2 year old will stand in line one hour + just to get into a viewing area, and then stand another 30 minutes for the show. I know the views from non fastpass areas are not ideal, but are they good enough to do, if it means we can just walk into the area 15 minutes before the show? We will not be "those" people who put their kid on shoulders, so we really need to be in a place that is viewable for her, or be back a bit so we CAN put her on shoulders with no one behind us. Any suggestions for how to view WOC without crazy long waits? Or should we just do it in the future when they are older and able to wait better? I grew up a F! fan, and would very much like to see WOC, but I am not sure it is worth the hassle to have a cranky, bored toddler, and a husband who, well...let's just say he isn't a crowd person, so the whole waiting for hours and "pushing and shoving" to get a good spot is really not his cup of tea. Maybe I should just ditch him with the kids at the hotel one night and go myself.... How easy is it for us to maybe stake out a spot, but then have him take our toddler out and about to roam, and then make his way back in 15minutes prior to start? Is that possible? Or would people throw a fit?

 

[HydroGuy]

My husband and I have a trip to Disneyland planned for early March. We have a 2 year old and 9 month old. After reading up on WOC, I am wondering if there is any point in even trying to see it. Even if we get a fastpass either on our own, or through dining, there is no way our 2 year old will stand in line one hour + just to get into a viewing area, and then stand another 30 minutes for the show. I know the views from non fastpass areas are not ideal, but are they good enough to do, if it means we can just walk into the area 15 minutes before the show? We will not be "those" people who put their kid on shoulders, so we really need to be in a place that is viewable for her, or be back a bit so we CAN put her on shoulders with no one behind us. Any suggestions for how to view WOC without crazy long waits? Or should we just do it in the future when they are older and able to wait better? I grew up a F! fan, and would very much like to see WOC, but I am not sure it is worth the hassle to have a cranky, bored toddler, and a husband who, well...let's just say he isn't a crowd person, so the whole waiting for hours and "pushing and shoving" to get a good spot is really not his cup of tea. Maybe I should just ditch him with the kids at the hotel one night and go myself.... How easy is it for us to maybe stake out a spot, but then have him take our toddler out and about to roam, and then make his way back in 15minutes prior to start? Is that possible? Or would people throw a fit?

Honestly I would skip it with the family and then if you have time to sneak out on your own, get a regular FP and take the time to get a decent spot.

Watching from the far rear (non-FP area) or any sub-par viewing spot is just not worth it IMO - unless you are very tall - and even then probably not. Many people who dislike WOC came to that dislike, IMO, because they had a poor viewing spot. The lack of good viewing spots is Disney's mistake. But it really, really detracts from the show. If you can see it from a good spot then I think it is the best Disney show anywhere, anytime.

 

[PoohBearFriends]

Is it still good to get there 90 mins early?

We are going to the one show next Thurs on the 24th.

We have viewing in preferred area with lunch pkg from WCT.

 

[HydroGuy]

Is it still good to get there 90 mins early?

We are going to the one show next Thurs on the 24th.

We have viewing in preferred area with lunch pkg from WCT.

Yes. 90 minutes is not always necessary but often enough it is. With a preferred viewing package you may be able to get away with 60 minutes. Hard to say and depends on how much of a chance you want to take.

 

[PoohBearFriends]

Yes. 90 minutes is not always necessary but often enough it is. With a preferred viewing package you may be able to get away with 60 minutes. Hard to say and depends on how much of a chance you want to take.

Good to know. Confusing with Carthay and WTC having different viewing areas. Glad I will have a smart phone this time to pull up maps you made of viewing areas.

 

[CarrieR]

Honestly I would skip it with the family and then if you have time to sneak out on your own, get a regular FP and take the time to get a decent spot.

Watching from the far rear (non-FP area) or any sub-par viewing spot is just not worth it IMO - unless you are very tall - and even then probably not. Many people who dislike WOC came to that dislike, IMO, because they had a poor viewing spot. The lack of good viewing spots is Disney's mistake. But it really, really detracts from the show. If you can see it from a good spot then I think it is the best Disney show anywhere, anytime.

I have tons of respect for you, HG, but I have to be a voice of dissent here. The summer WOC opened, my friends and I spent two days at DLR. Day 1, we followed all of the "rules" and got a great spot down in the wet zone. My friends were so astonished that they begged me to alter the next night's plans so we could see it again. I agreed but refused to devote hours to it, so we grabbed FP for the late show and arrived just before show time. We ended up standing in the back, just behind the hc benches, and found we loved the show even more.

I am sure our view was clouded by night 2's vantage point building upon night 1's, but if the only way you could see WoC at all was at the top, I would say go for it. Especially if you are not investing a lot of time to do so.

(Note: the area we stood in may no longer be allowed/accessible, and an acceptable late-arrival vantage may not exist at this time, I am just reporting my prior experience )

 

[HydroGuy]

I have tons of respect for you, HG, but I have to be a voice of dissent here. The summer WOC opened, my friends and I spent two days at DLR. Day 1, we followed all of the "rules" and got a great spot down in the wet zone. My friends were so astonished that they begged me to alter the next night's plans so we could see it again. I agreed but refused to devote hours to it, so we grabbed FP for the late show and arrived just before show time. We ended up standing in the back, just behind the hc benches, and found we loved the show even more.

I am sure our view was clouded by night 2's vantage point building upon night 1's, but if the only way you could see WoC at all was at the top, I would say go for it. Especially if you are not investing a lot of time to do so.

(Note: the area we stood in may no longer be allowed/accessible, and an acceptable late-arrival vantage may not exist at this time, I am just reporting my prior experience )

No problem for you to disagree. But I am not talking about the top at the rear of the normal viewing area. I am talking about the non-FP area which is a roped off area right in front of the LM ride. With trees in the way. I suspect if you saw it from there you might feel differently.

I love, love, love WOC and in December saw it from the far right of the yellow section as I got held up trying to arrive early. And even at 6 ft tall I found the show very hard to like from that angle. I would call that a sub-par area.

I have seen WOC from the fire hydrant spot at the rear of the blue section and found it quite good from there.

I hope that clarifies my thoughts.

 

[CarrieR]

Ah, I understand what you're saying now. We're speaking of different spots. What I was thinking, for this family, is that they could probably pull up +/- 15 minutes before showtime and get a standing spot to the rear of the seating area, behind the HC area, and it would be a reasonable view, without a wait, and they could put the toddler on shoulders without blocking anyone behind them. If they get there, and the view is terrible or the toddler can't handle it, it's no-harm no-foul as the only things wasted are a) time to grab the FP and b) the walk to Paradise Bay. They can always exit the viewing area as needed, too.

I am of the opinion that it would be better to take the chance to *possibly* be able to see WoC than to *definitely* not see it by not even trying, kwim?

 

[HydroGuy]

Ah, I understand what you're saying now. We're speaking of different spots. What I was thinking, for this family, is that they could probably pull up +/- 15 minutes before showtime and get a standing spot to the rear of the seating area, behind the HC area, and it would be a reasonable view, without a wait, and they could put the toddler on shoulders without blocking anyone behind them. If they get there, and the view is terrible or the toddler can't handle it, it's no-harm no-foul as the only things wasted are a) time to grab the FP and b) the walk to Paradise Bay. They can always exit the viewing area as needed, too.

I am of the opinion that it would be better to take the chance to *possibly* be able to see WoC than to *definitely* not see it by not even trying, kwim?

As I understand it and have observed it, guests are not allowed to watch WOC from behind the HC area. They have to move even further back to the LM ride where there is an area for them.

For the last year-and-a-half I understand on nights with a second show that all of the FP are not even distributed. In such cases walk-ups are allowed into the normal viewing area.