Going in July, want to do one extra

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I'll be going over the 4th and for cost reasons only want to do one 'extra' experience (such as woc dessert party or dinner, or fantasmic dinner or parade dinner).

Which do you all think is best experience/value?

 

[BadPinkTink]

the parade packages are not worth it IMO. I did the Main Street Electric Parade in June 2017. My must do restaurant on every trip is Blue Bayou so it made sense to me to do the dining package. BUT on the day I could have had just as good a view without having to be in the reserved section. I should have saved the money and had a regular meal at Blue Bayou and found my own parade viewpoint.

Now on the other hand, the Fantasmic and World of Colour Dining Packages are worth it.

In 2016 I did the World of Colour Dining Package at Wine Country Tratoria. I enjoyed the meal and the viewing section is well worth it. I was about third in the line in the roped sectioned pre line up. Then when the CM's opened the viewing area I was right at the railings in the middle and had an amazing view. The only section in front of me was the splash zone. The viewing section did fill up fast though and many families who got there after me were angry at how crowded it was. One family tried to squeeze their child in front me of at the railing and I had none of it and made sure the child DID NOT squeeze in! A few years before I did WOC Fastpass but the dining package area has a much better view.

I have also done Fantasmic Dining Package, again at Blue Bayou, but that was before it went into refurb. Again I got there early and was at the railings. And yet again a family came late and tried to squeeze in.

So
1. Dining packages for shows = Yes
2. Dining Packages for parades = NO
3. Go to the viewing area line up EARLY
4. Watch out for space invaders and parents pushing their kids in front of you

 

[PHXscuba]

I think the Fantasmic dining package is the best "value" as you are only paying a small upcharge over the value of the food, assuming you can eat the appetizer, meal and dessert. For us it worked out to less than $5 each for the reserved area. Since we wanted the back row of the seating anyways, we didn't get there until about 25 minutes before the show. So that $5 bought us an extra hour of ride time, plus the chance to SIT after a long day.

I haven't run the numbers on the WOC dining package, but I don't believe it gets you a seat, just a special area.

The WOC dessert package would be lovely (I love me some dessert), but I just can't see how the value of the desserts/drinks gets anywhere close to $79. And I've never had as much trouble getting a FP or good view for WOC.

PHXscuba

 

[peterpanandwendy]

^^^ Because of these reasons I have opted for the Fantasmic dining package as our one "extra". I have heard that it is still easy to get fast passes for decent viewing areas for WOC, but getting fast passes for Fantasmic! Is more challenging.

The desert package for WOC is not worth it to us at all. At $80/person that is $320 just to see WOC from a seat with a few cookies. I just can't even wrap my head around that.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

So it sounds like parades are definitely out.

I am still a bit torn on WOC versus Fantasmic though. I am very short, so I have trouble seeing WOC if I don't get on a rail.

The dessert party for WOC does sound like you're just paying for the chair/view, not the food/drinks. I wouldn't mind eating at Carthay Circle so the dining package wouldn't seem that bad, though it sounds like I'd still have to show up early and guard my spot for about an hour ahead of time.

 

[DLgal]

If you are short, WOC is a better one. Plus, having an actual seat for that whole time is well worth the price!

 

[mel2014]

Maybe I've just been lucky, but the last two times I've been on crowded days (on Veterans Day last year, which was also the first day of Winter WOC and the previous year in August on the first day the SoCal blockout ended), we had no trouble getting good spots for WOC for the second show. I don't know if a lot of people just don't know there's a second show, or just want to get to bed early, but based on those experiences, if there's a second show I would do that instead of a dining package.

 

[mamapenguin]

the parade packages are not worth it IMO. I did the Main Street Electric Parade in June 2017. My must do restaurant on every trip is Blue Bayou so it made sense to me to do the dining package. BUT on the day I could have had just as good a view without having to be in the reserved section. I should have saved the money and had a regular meal at Blue Bayou and found my own parade viewpoint.

Now on the other hand, the Fantasmic and World of Colour Dining Packages are worth it.

In 2016 I did the World of Colour Dining Package at Wine Country Tratoria. I enjoyed the meal and the viewing section is well worth it. I was about third in the line in the roped sectioned pre line up. Then when the CM's opened the viewing area I was right at the railings in the middle and had an amazing view. The only section in front of me was the splash zone. The viewing section did fill up fast though and many families who got there after me were angry at how crowded it was. One family tried to squeeze their child in front me of at the railing and I had none of it and made sure the child DID NOT squeeze in! A few years before I did WOC Fastpass but the dining package area has a much better view.

I have also done Fantasmic Dining Package, again at Blue Bayou, but that was before it went into refurb. Again I got there early and was at the railings. And yet again a family came late and tried to squeeze in.

So
1. Dining packages for shows = Yes
2. Dining Packages for parades = NO
3. Go to the viewing area line up EARLY
4. Watch out for space invaders and parents pushing their kids in front of you

LOL SPACE INVADERS!!! That is as funny as it is accurate. Thank you for the reminder

 

[gottalovepluto]

Since you’re short WOC dessert party. Do not be tempted by dinner packages! You still have to show up an hour early to those and viciously guard your spot. One big group ahead of you and forget it, view partially blocked whole show. Yes, you need to buy your own dinner if you do WOC dessert party. BUT, you sit there sipping on your sparkling wine, blue vodka drink, tea, hot cocoa, whatever while watching everyone below you jockey for spots and then when the show starts you have an amazing view WITH a chair. I did it once as a splurge and loved it so much I kept squeezing together the cash to do on my next couple trips. ALSO: show up 30-45 mins ahead of when the party starts to get a high top table at the rail. High tops are the best