Help with World of Color

[CoCoMo]

I am a WDW veteran but have never been to DL. We are planning a trip next February and I was wondering if someone with experience could enlighten me on the WOC dining packages. I am a bit confused because I read that some of the restaurants offer you the opportunity for advanced viewing area and other restaurants offer a reserved spot for viewing area... What's the difference? I am not much of a line waiter and even if it means purchasing an expensive dinner I think it would be worth it to me to have a good spot. Does the reserved viewing area mean less of a wait in line? Sorry if I sound confused lol...

 

[8lovesmickey]

I can give you a little help on this one. We were there last weekend (June 29 at DCA to be exact) and had never seen WoC so, like you, we were looking for a guaranteed place to get a decent view without standing for hours. We were told that we could get a fastpass, but that only lets you into massive viewing areas and it's still a mob of humanity.

We opted for the dinner package at Wine Country Trattoria restaurant. It was a fixed price menu, and I want to say it was $39.99 for adults. I thought the dinner was pretty good - it came with bread, soup or salad, entree, and dessert sampler. We also ordered wine, which was extra of course! The service was good and the location was nice - outside, in the shade, cool, relaxed. After dinner, we got our tickets to WoC.

The best part was the WoC seating. We chose the 9:00 show and headed over there at 8:30 or so. We were sent to a specific podium and had to show our tickets, then we were let into a roped-off area that also happened to be on some steps. We sat and chatted with the CM and didn't feel squished at all. There were lots of CMs around, so no one was sneaking in or out of anywhere they didn't belong! Many people were turned away from blocking the walkway or getting in our section. We were right in the middle of the show facing the Mickey Wheel. In front of us was a walkway, then a roped-off viewing section right up against the water. While those people were closer to the water, they were also standing one behind the other and squished together. We were able to sit on the steps until the show started, then stand on the steps during the show for an excellent view.

Overall I would definitely recommend this route, especially if you haven't seen the show. Now that I have seen it once, I may opt for a cheaper option next time, but this time we both felt it was completely worth the money for the ability to sit and wait for the show in a relatively uncrowded area! I should also say that our CM Marty was amazing - he made the time fly and spent all his time chatting with the people in our section. Just an added bonus!

Hope that helps a little...

 

[disneegrl4eva]

I would recommend reading this:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2542717

and this one will answer about the good spots and wait times from dining experience:

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2950982

also, you have the choice between Carthay Circle and Wine Country Trattoria for your dining options as well as the WOC picnic...but as you read the 2nd thread you will see the picnic is not that great of a deal

 

[HydroGuy]

I can give you a little help on this one. We were there last weekend (June 29 at DCA to be exact) and had never seen WoC so, like you, we were looking for a guaranteed place to get a decent view without standing for hours. We were told that we could get a fastpass, but that only lets you into massive viewing areas and it's still a mob of humanity.

We opted for the dinner package at Wine Country Trattoria restaurant. It was a fixed price menu, and I want to say it was $39.99 for adults. I thought the dinner was pretty good - it came with bread, soup or salad, entree, and dessert sampler. We also ordered wine, which was extra of course! The service was good and the location was nice - outside, in the shade, cool, relaxed. After dinner, we got our tickets to WoC.

The best part was the WoC seating. We chose the 9:00 show and headed over there at 8:30 or so. We were sent to a specific podium and had to show our tickets, then we were let into a roped-off area that also happened to be on some steps. We sat and chatted with the CM and didn't feel squished at all. There were lots of CMs around, so no one was sneaking in or out of anywhere they didn't belong! Many people were turned away from blocking the walkway or getting in our section. We were right in the middle of the show facing the Mickey Wheel. In front of us was a walkway, then a roped-off viewing section right up against the water. While those people were closer to the water, they were also standing one behind the other and squished together. We were able to sit on the steps until the show started, then stand on the steps during the show for an excellent view.

Overall I would definitely recommend this route, especially if you haven't seen the show. Now that I have seen it once, I may opt for a cheaper option next time, but this time we both felt it was completely worth the money for the ability to sit and wait for the show in a relatively uncrowded area! I should also say that our CM Marty was amazing - he made the time fly and spent all his time chatting with the people in our section. Just an added bonus!

Hope that helps a little...

Just clarifying that 8loves was ambiguous above because there is no WOC seating.

 

[DisneyMommy403]

I had the same question a few weeks ago. I've never seen WOC either, and my family is visiting DL/DCA in November.

To save you from clicking here there and everywhere, these are the answers and conclusions I got:

The "Preferred Viewing" area is now for guests who elect the WOC dining meals at CCT & WCT. From the reviews I have read... both are well worth it, and you are given your preferred viewing passes for WOC, and CMs recommend you still arrive 30-60min before showtime.

WCT is a prix fixe (price fixed) menu.

CCT is a little different; requiring you to order an entree & your choice of appetizer OR dessert

The time of your reservation determines which WOC show you will receive a FP for.

Picnic FPs are the same as general FPs that anyone can get from the machines. The benefit to them is not only the food, and kid goodies, but that you don't need to rush to the FP podiums to get your FPs. However, waiting for 90 min before showtime seems to be recommended when using a general WOC FP (from FP machines/picnics)


Based on the menus, and the viewing area for the Preferred Dining - my family and I are going to CCT, and we'll probably get to the show about 40 min to showtime.

 

[8lovesmickey]

Just clarifying that 8loves was ambiguous above because there is no WOC seating.

True enough! Although we did sit on the steps until the show started, it's definitely not "seating."

I would say, though, that near us pretty much everyone sat on the sidewalk until the show started, unlike Fantasmic where everyone was standing for an hour or more.

 

[CoCoMo]

Wow thanks everyone! Lots of fantastic information already!

 

[MsDisATC]

Yeah, we tend to sit on the ground as long as possible up until showtime for WOC.

I just wanted to add that we recently did the picnic boxes for WOC, and we did receive a very small benefit as compared to the regular FPs. When we went to line up at the designated place/time the CMs were distinguishing between the yellow FPs from a machine and the yellow FPs purchased with the picnics. All of us with the picnic FPs were led into the section first and taken along the very front rail on the right side above the boardwalk. After our section was settled, then they led in the remaining yellows with FPs from the machines.

However, I agree that if it's your first time the dining packages might be worth it. I did that for my first time and rather enjoyed the dinner at WCT along with the fantastic view. Granted that was back in 2010 so I'm sure some things have changed.

 

[ktlm]

Fellow WDW veteran, and in my opinion WOC is an absolute don't miss. We have done the WCT WOC dinner package twice and loved it both times. I will say that while it keeps you from waiting for HOURS in line for a good spot, you still have to stake out a spot and wait. Be aware that everyone stands during the show, so if you are short like me, getting a good spot is important. The first week of June we went about 55 minutes before the show started there were still front row spots in the splash zone (but not in the "dry areas), it was terrific. If you do get in the splash zone, I would recommend ponchos or a hoodie. I had a hoodie on and I took it off after the show and was dry. DH and DD didn't have jackets and they were pretty wet after the show. A CM had come by and told us the wind was blowing in a way that we would get fairly wet that night. He said sometimes that area stays completely dry, and sometimes people come out soaked. The year before we went about 45 minutes before the show started and managed to get a spot in the second row of people...this year if we had come that late we would not have been that close.