Is the WoC Dinner package at Wine Trattoria worth it?

[CableKC]

Just wondering for those that have tried it. I heard about it and was wondering if it's worth a try. I saw that the Fantasmic Dinner package has some fancy Dessert tray....I'm wondering if it's similiar to the WoC dinner package.

Any insight into a $40 dinner like this would be helpful for me to decide whether it's worth dragging a 6 and 2 year old to.

 

[NewbieMouse]

We did it on day 3 of WOC - and I believe they have made some changes since then - but I thought it was pricey for what you got. If I were to do it all over again I would go with the picnic option.

 

[jodeja]

There are several threads about this, though it may take a little digging to find them. What I have seen is that the Ariel's Grotto WOC dining package consistently gets better reviews than Wine Country Trattoria.
On our visit in June, we did the Fantasmic Dessert Seating and the WOC dining package at Ariel's Grotto. They are very different.
The Fantasmic dessert seating includes just a box (but a very nice box) of assorted desserts plus a small bunch of grapes and mini cheese wheels (I think 3) and crackers. You also get drinks (pop, hot chocolate, or bottled water). There are also some threads regarding this which have pictures of the dessert box. You eat your dessert while watching F!
The dining packages for WOC are full meals in the restaurants some time before the WOC show. You definitely get more food with the WOC meal than the F! dessert seating, but -in my experience- not as good of a view of the show.
I have 2 boys, ages 9 & 11, and they enjoyed both experiences very much, though they didn't actually like the desserts at either place - the meal at Ariel's Grotto had several of the same desserts that were in the Fantasmic dessert box the night before that they didn't like. But they did like the food (the tri-tip and the chicken skewer) at Ariel's Grotto a lot.
Like the previous poster said, there is also a picnic option for WOC which is about half the price. I looked at those and we did not care for the food choices, so we stuck with our reservations at Ariel's Grotto even thought it was much more expensive. It was our only expensive meal of the trip so I thought it was worth it. We did see people eating their picnic meals right next to us while waiting for the show to start, so apparently it is possible to get the same viewing location with either the picnic or the restaurant dining option.
All of the menus and pictures of the food are contained on this board somewhere, you'll just have to use the search function to try to locate them.
Hope that helps!

 

[NewbieMouse]

jodeja, by any chance did you do the F! dessert seating on Wed., June 16th? I remember reading that someone with two boys on here was doing F! dessert the same night as us but I couldn't remember who. You may have been sitting in front of us [My one dd dropped her dessert box under the seats...]. Could it have been you?

 

[jodeja]

Hi NewbieMouse, We did the F! dessert seating Thursday, June 17 - but we were sitting in front of a family whose son dropped his dessert box under his seat!

 

[NewbieMouse]

Hi NewbieMouse, We did the F! dessert seating Thursday, June 17 - but we were sitting in front of a family whose son dropped his dessert box under his seat!

Too funny! Glad to know we weren't the only ones.

Cable KC, I replied already for this, but just to let you know, we will be doing the picnics when we go again in December if WOC is on then. My dh said the WCT was too much for what we got as well.

 

[ChickenCarlos]

not sure about the Wine Tratoria, but we did the Ariels Grotto on sunday, and it was well worth every penny.

 

[Califgirl]

My DH and I did the WoC package at WCT and we really enjoyed it. I had the lamb shank, and he had the steak. Both were excellent, perfectly cooked and tender. The service was good, and the servers very friendly.

Whether it's worth the money is a personal call, but my DH and I would eat there anyway. so the WoC tickets were a 'bonus' to us. If it's not a place you would normally eat, try for a WoC package closer to your regular dining habits so you don't come up disappointed if either the meal or WoC doesn't meet your expectations.

 

[amym2]

We did the WOC meal at WCT a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it. The starter salads were yummy and a good size. The kids got an appetizer (can't remember, think it was carrots, mozzarella cheese, and something else) and didn't care for it but were happy eating the bread. DH had the beef tenderloin and it was delicious, as were the potatoes it came with. I had the chicken and it was yummy as well. DD (6) had the spaghetti and meatballs (no sauce) and ate it all. DS (8) had the chicken and pasta (no sauce) and ate it all. Both kids liked their chocolate tarts for dessert (and typically would turn their noses up at such things). We enjoyed the dessert platter, although I would have preferred tiramisu as was originally on the WOC menu. We asked about substitutions, but our server said she couldn't and was apologetic. We sat on the terrace and enjoyed being outside, our server was friendly and prompt, and our 5:50pm dinner was over by 7:00pm. Not sure if we just got lucky or if things have improved since they started the WOC meals at WCT. We'd certainly be willing to do it again if we had the chance (but we'd do a better job of finding a spot for WOC). Whether it's "worth it" is obviously a matter of opinion, but we thought it was a great experience.

 

[NewbieMouse]

Whether it's worth the money is a personal call, but my DH and I would eat there anyway. so the WoC tickets were a 'bonus' to us. If it's not a place you would normally eat, try for a WoC package closer to your regular dining habits so you don't come up disappointed if either the meal or WoC doesn't meet your expectations.

That is an excellent point - it depends on what you mean by "worth it". We were looking at it as a way to get WOC passes, and we probably wouldn't have eaten there if that weren't the case - that's why I would go with the picnic for next time. But if you were already thinking of going there, it may make more sense than it does for us. I know there is a different viewing section for the picnics, but that doesn't worry me too much - I just don't want to wait in the FP line. Also with the picnics, I can take them back to my hotel room fridge and eat them the next day, to not take opportunities away for other yummy DLR meals

 

[barngro]

We did the WCT dinner on July 15th at 4:15 for the first showing of WOC. My bill was over $100.00 for 2 adults and a childs meal. And I'm not cheap as we eat at Napa Rose and Steakhouse 55 at least 3 times in the 5 days we were there. But what a ripoff! I'm sick and tired of Disney offering a so called good view for some overpriced meal. We arrived at 8:00 for the viewing and were stuck way back in the center viewing area. I was talking to a waiter at one of DL's best restaurants and he said business is down 40% this year! It's no wonder. Wake up Disney!

 

[amym2]

We did the WCT dinner on July 15th at 4:15 for the first showing of WOC. My bill was over $100.00 for 2 adults and a childs meal. And I'm not cheap as we eat at Napa Rose and Steakhouse 55 at least 3 times in the 5 days we were there. But what a ripoff! I'm sick and tired of Disney offering a so called good view for some overpriced meal. We arrived at 8:00 for the viewing and were stuck way back in the center viewing area. I was talking to a waiter at one of DL's best restaurants and he said business is down 40% this year! It's no wonder. Wake up Disney!

When we got our WOC tickets at WCT our server told us to come back in front of the restaurant at 8:00 and a CM would walk us over. From reading these boards I knew that we needed to be at the barracades with everyone else at 7:30pm. We still had issues with viewing, but I do think we were better off than had we followed our server's instructions.

 

[catigger]

I was able to make ressies for next Wed. for WOC at Wine T. There were many time slots available to choose from which suprised me. I hope we will enjoy it.

 

[mdsd8700]

We ate at WCT last Thursday for the WOC dinner package. The food was good, not great but good and enjoyable. Certainly not bad, although there could have been a bit more. Worth the price, well no. Worth the viewing spot, that depends on each individual and how they like to spend their vacation dollars. For us we are always willing to spend extra for perks. Character meals, IMHO are never worth the price, but no waiting for pictures and autographs, definately worth the premium. Same goes for WOC and Fantasmic in WDW. Overpriced for what you get, again IMHO yes. Worth the preimum of seating and time saved, for us the answer is yes. We got to WOC at 8:30 just as the pre-show started. We were 2/3 of the way to the back but could see just fine, no issues at all. We could have worked our way up a bit more if we wanted to but since we are all over 5'5'', no one had a problem seeing. So although I agree that Disney shouldn't charge so much for these types packages it all comes down to what you are comfortable with. I am sure the picnic meals offered similar viewing at a more reasonable rate, but we always do one table service meal per day and this was how we decided to go about this particular one. I would do it again and not give it a second thought. Again, eveyone has to decide what works best for them.

 

[catigger]

Where can I find the WOC menu for WT or Ariels?

Thanks!

 

[Funball]

The dinner package for WOC is not some dinky dessert thing, you get much more plus a ticket for reserved viewing

In case no one else has posted this yet:

World of Color Dinner Packages with Preferred Viewing
A full-service prix fixe dinner at Ariel's Grotto or Wine Country Trattoria includes tickets to a Preferred Viewing section at Paradise Park.

Ariel's Grotto World of Color Dining
Enter the undersea-themed dining room for a sumptuous 3-course meal and select from seafood, meat and vegetarian delights.
First and second show dinner packages (on applicable nights):
· 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., first show
· 7:05 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., second show
Sorry, the outdoor dining area closes at 7:30 p.m.
$36.99 adults
$20.99 children ages 3-9

Wine Country Trattoria World of Color Dining
Experience the bounty of California wine country with a delicious 3-course meal than includes choice of starter, entrée and dessert. Complement your meal from the wide selection of wine, at an additional cost.
First and second show dinner package (on applicable nights):
· 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., first show
· 7:05 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., second show
$39.99 adults
$20.99 children ages 3-9
Reservations are recommended; call (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463.
For all non-dining questions, please call Guest Services at (714) 781-7290.


ariels:
Menu:

• Shared Antipasti Tower for the table (your choice of roasted vegetables and salad or meat and cheese)
• Choice of one entree:
  • Mafalde Pasta with Italian Sausage - Curly ribbons of pasta tossed in a Piemonte-style ragu with spicy Italian sausage, sauteed bell peppers and sweet onions.
  • Herb-Crusted Chicken Breast - Served with Cheddar-herb mashed potatoes and a medley of seasonal vegetables.
  • Santa Maria-style Tri-tip - Slow roasted over rock salt and smoked with red oakwood. Served with Cheddar-herb mashed potatoes and a medley of seasonal vegetables.
  • Filet of Redfish - Grilled Redfish served over wild rice pilaf, delicately topped with a sweet & spicy pineapple chutney. Served with a medley of seasonal vegetables.
  • Spinach and Ricotta Agnolotti - Topped with fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, julienne onions and asparagus served in a light mushroom broth.
  • Cioppino - A fragrant bowl of the ocean's finest, including lobster claw, pink scalllops, redfish, green-lip mussels and shrimp, plus Bilbao chorizo bathed in a robust fire-roasted tomato broth.
• A shared dessert platter of Seahorse Lava Cake, Chocolate-Chip Strips, Cheesecake Tarts with Raspberries, S'more Chocolate Bites and a White Chocolate Conch Shell with Garden-fresh

wine country menu:

Menu:

• Shared antipasto platter for the table and starter salad.
• Choice of entree
  • Grilled fish (I didn't catch the preparation for this one)
  • Herb roasted chicken breast w/ pasta
  • Seafood pasta with shrimp and scallops
  • Lamb shank w/ polenta
  • NY strip loin with Gorgonzola mashed potatoes
• Choice of dessert, options include tiramisu, chocolate crunch tart and fresh seasonal berries with balsamic reduction

[Update: All AP discounts apply at the standard rate, as do CM discounts.]

 

[catigger]

Thanks for posting the menu. I need to call and switch us to Ariel's. That menu suits our family much better!

I hope the dessert tray is as good as it sounds

 

[ChickenCarlos]

here are some pics from Ariels desserts, Mafalde Pasta with Italian Sausage, Cioppino, everything was AWESOME, so good

 

[tdashgirl]

I know it's not everybody's thing - but my family LOVES the food at Ariel's. I highly recommend the tri-tip. YUM.

 

[tdashgirl]

And oh - Funball - I took a mini-break from the boards - but is the Cove Bar still charging cover?