Carthay Circle seating for WOC??? How was it?

[mt mommy]

I have lunches booked at Carthay Circle and Blue Bayou, but now I'm second guessing myself. Needing advice on dinner at Carthay Circle to take advantage of seating with WOC. Will it be worth it? Will my 2 kids ages 11 and 9 be able to see very well? Any advice is appreciated!! Thanks!!

 

[Lomky]

We got the later WOC show tickets. Basically you just hang around this area (we arrived about 20 minutes early) and they look at your ticket you got from the dinner, and invite you down. We stood right in front of a fence with barely anyone else around us, no on behind us. The next people were separated by a fence and stepped down so we had a great view!!

I really liked Carthay, my wife not so much. I had the steak it was great! I also had the halibut appetizer, which we also enjoyed. My wife had the ono fish and son had bacon wrapped shrimp. Wife wasn't impressed with hers. Son had the peach dessert which he liked and we shared the monte cristo sunday which was just ok.

I think the wife wasn't impressed because of the cost of the meal, with tip I think it came to about $235 for 3 of us. She thought for that money it would be amazing. But my steak was awesome!!!

It was odd because we had reservations, but we ended up still waiting for 1/2 hour before we were seated, and the hostess didn't ask us where we would like to sit. She sat us outside which I didn't like, so my wife asked to be moved and they moved us to the main dining area. We could see inside the kitchen which was cool for me.

Anyway, it was once in a lifetime for us. And I'm glad we did it. The WOC viewing was excellent!

 

[HydroGuy]

I have lunches booked at Carthay Circle and Blue Bayou, but now I'm second guessing myself. Needing advice on dinner at Carthay Circle to take advantage of seating with WOC. Will it be worth it? Will my 2 kids ages 11 and 9 be able to see very well? Any advice is appreciated!! Thanks!!

What are you hoping to achieve by going to CCR? If you are hoping to achieve a guaranteed better view with a lesser wait, then it is absolutely not worth it.

 

[BriannaRuth]

When are you going? It hasn't been too crowded lately so if you're going off-season you would probably be fine without. The viewing area is terraced, so as long as you arrive early and get in front of one of the rails, your kids would be fine. Having said that, I did WOC on Friday through CC and really enjoyed CC. It was expensive, but no more expensive than Blue Bayou. We arrived 10 minutes before the show started with CC FPs and were right in front of one of the rails (maybe 2/3 of the way up) and could see everything.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

we have decied not to eat there just to go in look around maybe get one the deserts in the lounge and take pics but save the 100 we had budgeted for other food treats and with the 225 price above for 3 ppl im like outch my math may have been off

 

[tinkerbelt]

I think that's wise. I've heard reports that the food is good, but we did WCT for WoC seating last week, and while it was nice, I would have been just as ok with regular fastpass seating.

 

[mt mommy]

I have lunches booked at Carthay Circle and Blue Bayou, but now I'm second guessing myself. Needing advice on dinner at Carthay Circle to take advantage of seating with WOC. Will it be worth it? Will my 2 kids ages 11 and 9 be able to see very well? Any advice is appreciated!! Thanks!!

We got the later WOC show tickets. Basically you just hang around this area (we arrived about 20 minutes early) and they look at your ticket you got from the dinner, and invite you down. We stood right in front of a fence with barely anyone else around us, no on behind us. The next people were separated by a fence and stepped down so we had a great view!!

I really liked Carthay, my wife not so much. I had the steak it was great! I also had the halibut appetizer, which we also enjoyed. My wife had the ono fish and son had bacon wrapped shrimp. Wife wasn't impressed with hers. Son had the peach dessert which he liked and we shared the monte cristo sunday which was just ok.

I think the wife wasn't impressed because of the cost of the meal, with tip I think it came to about $235 for 3 of us. She thought for that money it would be amazing. But my steak was awesome!!!

It was odd because we had reservations, but we ended up still waiting for 1/2 hour before we were seated, and the hostess didn't ask us where we would like to sit. She sat us outside which I didn't like, so my wife asked to be moved and they moved us to the main dining area. We could see inside the kitchen which was cool for me.

Anyway, it was once in a lifetime for us. And I'm glad we did it. The WOC viewing was excellent!

Great to know, I'm think we might eat there another time.....

What are you hoping to achieve by going to CCR? If you are hoping to achieve a guaranteed better view with a lesser wait, then it is absolutely not worth it.

HydroGuy,
Thanks for the input, I think I'll just get a FP for WOC and skip Carthay. If we have never eated at BB and I cannot afford both, do you think we should eat at BB rather than Carthay?

When are you going? It hasn't been too crowded lately so if you're going off-season you would probably be fine without. The viewing area is terraced, so as long as you arrive early and get in front of one of the rails, your kids would be fine. Having said that, I did WOC on Friday through CC and really enjoyed CC. It was expensive, but no more expensive than Blue Bayou. We arrived 10 minutes before the show started with CC FPs and were right in front of one of the rails (maybe 2/3 of the way up) and could see everything.

Great to know!

we have decied not to eat there just to go in look around maybe get one the deserts in the lounge and take pics but save the 100 we had budgeted for other food treats and with the 225 price above for 3 ppl im like outch my math may have been off

The $225 price has definitely changed my mind. We are splurging and staying at the GCH, so to eat at CC on top of that is a bit much! Maybe next time!

I think that's wise. I've heard reports that the food is good, but we did WCT for WoC seating last week, and while it was nice, I would have been just as ok with regular fastpass seating.

Great to know, I think we're going to just use the fastpass. We will be there in 2 weeks, so I'm hoping the crowds won't be too crazy! Thanks..

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i had added up everything to be 100 for the three of us, the 200+ for 3 makes me wonder what i missed or what not but ya we too will just wait

 

[TheZue]

i had added up everything to be 100 for the three of us, the 200+ for 3 makes me wonder what i missed or what not but ya we too will just wait

Well it all depends in what you order. I don't think you missed anything, you just chose cheaper things to eat. I could spend 250 there easy; but we won't be getting the steak which would more than double the costs of entrees. We are thinking well make it out of there for around 150 with AP discount and tip...but that's going for lunch (which is almost always cheaper for fine dining), getting the lowest priced entrees, and will be skipping the booze even though the pear Martini looks amazing!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

we were getting the 22 burger so 44 there 13+15 for desert then my sons would be 8 and 4 , then we added tax and tip but still we decied not to do this we will just get the fp ticket when we head in and get there early for the time and grab some fast food on the way to line up

tho id love the food i think we can make out better by doing cheaper food

 

[ballarinamom]

Remember, to receive the FP, you have to order and entree and dessert or an appetizer and dessert. That extra course can really build up that ticket. We'll be eating here in November (the weekend before Thanksgiving) so we thought we would be needed the FPs..

 

[HydroGuy]

HydroGuy,
Thanks for the input, I think I'll just get a FP for WOC and skip Carthay. If we have never eated at BB and I cannot afford both, do you think we should eat at BB rather than Carthay?

Sorry can't say. I missed the chance for CCR in July and will try again next month. I suspect the answer will be BB.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

This thread is making me have reservation remorse.

l have a dinner reservation at CCR next week to get fast passes for WOC. The menu didn't look super special to me or anything, but I wanted the "best spots in the house." I don't really want to get wet, but getting great pictures is very important to me. I don't really mind waiting for an hour or more to get a good spot, but it seemed the WOC superthread was pointing to dinner either at WTC or CCR, which is why I went with CCR for dinner.

I don't know what do to guys. Help

 

[PetePanMan]

Just back...

We went for WOC lunch @ Carthay and it was outstanding (fire cracker duck wings were a huge crowd favorite!). We arrived ~20 mins before start of WOC and had excellent view (mid way up in central area).

 

[Mary09]

I've seen WOC only about 3 times but decided there isn't a big difference in views and for us it's not worth any upcharges or waiting for seats. I honestly wish I could watch it from behind the viewing area, on the walkway. The viewing area isn't tiered in most spots so you're right behind other standing people who block your view, or you're up against the front rail and it's too close to really appreciate the scale and tell what the projections are. I just find it frustrating to spend extra money and then also spend an hour holding your seat and still your kids can't see.

 

[HydroGuy]

Just back...

We went for WOC lunch @ Carthay and it was outstanding (fire cracker duck wings were a huge crowd favorite!). We arrived ~20 mins before start of WOC and had excellent view (mid way up in central area).

I do not see people saying your experience cannot happen. But for most people on most nights who arrive 20 minutes before the show - and have kids or people of small stature - odds are the view of the show will be disappointing. When folks like me recommend arriving 90 minutes early it is for those who want to for sure, for sure get a good view for a group of just about any mix.

I am sincerely glad it all worked out for you. And thanks for your report as some people do not mind taking a chance and reports like yours are reminders it can happen. It depends a lot on the night and the height of the group and, in some cases, prior experience with WOC so they know what to look for in a viewing spot.

 

[nunzia]

I enjoy CCR much more than Blue Bayou..unless you get a table waterside. I have found the BB menu is now super small..the only thing I ever get are the short ribs, and those are great. But really..that menu is pretty limited.

 

[BayGirl22]

Did Carthay for lunch yesterday and WOC. For 2 adults and 1 children's meal and 1 wine, 1 beer our bill was $120. I thought the food was very good, the service was good, but still not what I'd expect from a top tier restaurant. We have lunch at BB today so I can compare.

I arrived just before 7 for an 8:15 show and chatted at length with a CM. he told me the CC reserved area is only the area on the highest tier, toward the right facing the water. (can't see the pic now, but I can color it later if that helps.). The spots in the circle are for WCT. The CC area seemed small, he said its not been filled up, most people don't know about it yet.

I decided the reserved seating wasn't good for us. I have a 3 yo and wanted him to be able to see well without being held, DH is 5'4". The pics I've seen taken from that level at the rail just don't impress me. the CM let us use the reserved entry but go up to the boardwalk/wet zone and found us one of the few remaining spots at the rail, just right of the circle. So we didn't even use the reserved area, we were in a blue area. I thought the show was amazing, didn't get very wet, and could totally appreciate the projections on the water screens. 3yo could look through the rail and move around with no adults in the way. I'm sure others would have preferred the back, I think I would have felt crowded and would be holding my DS the whole time.

I had reset my expectations before the trip so I wasn't relying on CC to get us a spot i wanted. Overall we had a great day and are having a magical trip and WOC was so worth seeing.

 

[Rainforest_Elf]

I arrived just before 7 for an 8:15 show and chatted at length with a CM. he told me the CC reserved area is only the area on the highest tier, toward the right facing the water. (can't see the pic now, but I can color it later if that helps.). The spots in the circle are for WCT. The CC area seemed small, he said its not been filled up, most people don't know about it yet.

I decided the reserved seating wasn't good for us. I have a 3 yo and wanted him to be able to see well without being held, DH is 5'4". The pics I've seen taken from that level at the rail just don't impress me. the CM let us use the reserved entry but go up to the boardwalk/wet zone and found us one of the few remaining spots at the rail, just right of the circle. So we didn't even use the reserved area, we were in a blue area. I thought the show was amazing, didn't get very wet, and could totally appreciate the projections on the water screens. 3yo could look through the rail and move around with no adults in the way. I'm sure others would have preferred the back, I think I would have felt crowded and would be holding my DS the whole time.

I had reset my expectations before the trip so I wasn't relying on CC to get us a spot i wanted. Overall we had a great day and are having a magical trip and WOC was so worth seeing.

That's probably the best thing I've read regarding this. I think I'll be cancelling my dinner at CCR since we're already doing Blue Bayou the night before.

Is the blue/wet zone just a normal FP area?? Does anyone know?

 

[nyck]

we went to both Blue Bayou and Carthay Circle for lunch during our trip and loved both! At Carthay Circle we had the cheddar/bacon biscuits, fire craker duck wings, and the bacon wrapped shrimp. This is now my fav restaurant at DCA!
The Blue Bayou was fabulous too! Mom had the Monte Cristo and I had the beef short ribs.