Is the World of Color dinner and reserved seating worth the $$$?

[OregonMickeyLover]

We probably won't be doing a character meal this trip, but are looking at doing the World of Color dinner/seating. This sounds worth it, just to avoid dealing with WOC seating/fastpass. Has anyone done this yet, and if so, what did you think?

 

[ArchOwl]

Well, I did it last summer and I am glad that I used it the first time we saw WOC. It was busy and crowded and we didn't have to wait nearly as long as some folks. The dinner was fine (nothing special), but the view for the show was excellent.

Maybe someone can speak to the preferred dining section as it stands now, because isn't it smaller? When I was there last summer, there was more than enough room for everyone and we didn't have to fight for space. It may be smaller now, which means you may have to line up earlier than you did in the past to get a good view. If that is the case, I am not sure it is the same value as it was in the past.

We did it mostly because that was a travel day and we could arrive, eat a nice dinner and get into WOC without having to get a FP. However, if you have the time and availability to get a free FP, it might not be worth it to you. The lines to get a FP for WOC aren't nearly as bad as they were last summer, so it is not a huge time commitment to get them.

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Thanks ArchOwl! So I have a few more ?'s now On the DL website it says first show dinner packages are 5:00 to 7:00 and second show is 7:05 to 8:30. So are you eating between those times and then the show is after? Do they give you a ticket for the reserved seating and then you still need to get in line ASAP to get a good seat in that section? If this is true, then I would think making your dinner reservation earlier rather than closer to the show time would be better so that you could get in line sooner. I am just confused about why they give those time blocks when the shows aren't until much later. Help!

Traci

 

[ArchOwl]

Oh yes, those time blocks are for eating in the restaurant. You have to make a WOC dinner reservation and they only let you do it during those blocks. Probably so that people eating a WOC dinner have zero chance of missing the show. Then once you eat and pay the check, the server comes back with FPs for every member of your group for either the first or second show. They say "preferred dining section" on top and instructions on what time and where to line up.

So yes, there will be time between your dinner and WOC, but it gives you time to do a couple of things perhaps and then get in line. I am not sure it would be a good idea to eat at 7pm for the first show especially, because the first show is more crowded and you need to line up earlier. So if possible, I would eat later and see the second show.

So yes, the earlier you eat, the earlier you can line up for the show. Hopefully someone who has done it more recently can tell you how early you need to line up to get a good view for the preferred dining section these days. In any case, your line will be shorter than the others.

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Thank you so much for the explanation! It is starting to make sense now. So because we are typically a late dinner family, I think we will shoot for the second show. Are you sitting on the ground like at Fantasmic or is their some kind of seating? Just wondering if a blanket will be needed or not.

Thanks,

Traci

 

[sonnyjane]

OP, you keep using the word "seating" so I just want to make sure you're clear that there is no seating for WOC. A preferred dining package gives you access to the preferred dining area, but all guests stand and watch the show. After your meal they will give you a paper card as the PP mentioned that will allow you into that area, but you still need to show up enough in advance to ensure you are standing in a good spot (i.e. Not behind a family of NBA players lol).

 

[dsny1mom]

Thanks ArchOwl! So I have a few more ?'s now On the DL website it says first show dinner packages are 5:00 to 7:00 and second show is 7:05 to 8:30. So are you eating between those times and then the show is after? Do they give you a ticket for the reserved seating and then you still need to get in line ASAP to get a good seat in that section? If this is true, then I would think making your dinner reservation earlier rather than closer to the show time would be better so that you could get in line sooner. I am just confused about why they give those time blocks when the shows aren't until much later. Help!

Traci

First of all there are no seats. It's a standing only show.

That said..... Yes if you want a better view without taller people in front of you, you need to line up well before the time they let guests into the viewing area. I don't recall what time our dinner ressie was last Sept ( I think it was around 5-5:30), when we first saw WoC, but we got to the viewing area just as they were letting people in and we got a great sight line view. Everyone in my party for that show was tall enough that we had no need to be in the front row, so we didn't hurry. We did the dinner and show again in Oct and again we had no problems but we liked the food well enough at Ariel's that we did it again.

Yes, you eat between the posted times before you see WoC. So yes the earlier your dinning time the earlier you can line up for WoC. They give you your pass for the show after you pay your dinning bill. We are trying Tratt this trip but the viewing section is the same for both sit down meal packages.

Have fun!

dsny1mom

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Thanks DisneyMom! Well I didn't know you stand for the whole show. How do the kids see? My DD is a tall 9yo, but she still isn't as tall as a grown-up. Is the ground sloped down? Sounds like we need to try and get a front row seat. Any idea how early we need to line up for the reserved area?

 

[ArchOwl]

Yes, like others have said, there is no "seating". It is a standing show. Sorry, I should have caught that earlier, but in my head it sounded like you were talking about seating for dinner, lol.

It can mean a lot of standing, standing in line to get in, standing waiting for the show, and standing during the show.

I think you are smart for trying for the second show, less crowded for sure. Take the earliest reservation you can get for the second show and depending on how important it is to be in the front, etc., make your decision on how early to line up. Doing the second show also means you won't have folks who have literally been in line for hours. You can't start lining up for the second show until after the first show. So that takes some of the pressure off.

 

[sonnyjane]

Thanks DisneyMom! Well I didn't know you stand for the whole show. How do the kids see? My DD is a tall 9yo, but she still isn't as tall as a grown-up. Is the ground sloped down? Sounds like we need to try and get a front row seat. Any idea how early we need to line up for the reserved area?

I think it's time for you to read this: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2542717&highlight=woc+superthread

Scroll down and you can see pictures of the set-up as well as guidelines of how early to line-up (about 60 min. before show time if you want a front row and are doing the preferred section I'd guess...it's 60-90 minutes for regular FP guests). I'll say this: World of Color is a great, great show, but the logistics are still on the nightmarish side

 

[ArchOwl]

I think it's time for you to read this: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2542717&highlight=woc+superthread

Scroll down and you can see pictures of the set-up as well as guidelines of how early to line-up (about 60 min. before show time if you want a front row and are doing the preferred section I'd guess...it's 60-90 minutes for regular FP guests). I'll say this: World of Color is a great, great show, but the logistics are still on the nightmarish side

Very true, SonnyJane. I am glad I saw WOC a few times from Paradise Park, but nowadays I watch from the Cove Bar or do the fire hydrant trick if available.

For the OP, if you can do it, I would try for the front rail of the preferred dining section. But you do have to line up early for it. It is one of the best spots to see WOC.

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Thanks SonnyJane for the link, which lead to more links, they were great! It appears there is some sloping, but hard to tell by pictures.

 

[maelstrom]

How do the kids see?

If you're not in the front row, or they're not tall (well over 5'), or they're not on your shoulders... they don't see. I'm 4'11" (as an adult, so I'm not getting any taller) and all I could see was the tops of the tallest fountains, and maybe a little further down if people moved to the side a bit. It was a HUGE disappointment.

 

[dsny1mom]

Thanks SonnyJane for the link, which lead to more links, they were great! It appears there is some sloping, but hard to tell by pictures.

I don't recall much of a slope, if any. Even if there is one it isn't enough of one to allow a 9 yr old to see over adults in front of them. Sorry!

dsny1mom

 

[Angel Ariel]

We did the WOC preferred dining in April, and we enjoyed it. We didn't,though, line up very early to get in the dining section. We tried to go over when we first got out of dinner, and they wouldn't let us in yet and we came back at the time the CMs suggested. We weren't down front, but we were right at the top of the stairs leading down to the very front section. There was a line of strollers in front of us, which was perfect since no one was standing right there. Even still, though, we could see the mid-height to high-height fountains, but not the fountains at the lowest level.

We left the area, went to ride TSMM, and when we were done the last show (10:00 or 10:30 maybe?) was in progress. We stopped on the paradise pier bridge, before Ariel's. There were only 3 rows of people - we were at the back, so DH put me on his shoulders the people in front of us ended up leaving midway through the show because their child was not happy, and we ended up at the rail for the rest of the show. We actually preferred this viewing spot to where we were for the preferred dining, because we could see everything - but part of that was because we'd already seen the show once at that point.

This is definitely a show where you take away a different experience when you watch it from different viewpoints.

 

[Disney Princess]

I think it's time for you to read this: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2542717&highlight=woc+superthread

Scroll down and you can see pictures of the set-up as well as guidelines of how early to line-up (about 60 min. before show time if you want a front row and are doing the preferred section I'd guess...it's 60-90 minutes for regular FP guests). I'll say this: World of Color is a great, great show, but the logistics are still on the nightmarish side

I couldn't agree with this statement more. We saw the show three times (yes, we loved it that much!) in May. We did the preferred dining our first night there as an annniversary treat, and the other two times we just Fastpass-ed it. We enjoyed the preferred dining area. We liked not having to get a FP first thing the morning.

All three nights, however, there was no LINE to stand in to enter the section. There was simply a herd of cattle waiting. They were not organized. One night, I'm quite certain we entered the section before people who had been standing in the herd longer than we had; it was accidental on our part, but there was no method to the madness. It was disorganized at best.

We asked the CMs where they would stand to see the show about an hour before our FP return time. They advised us, and we knew where to head when we were allowed in the section. We walked right to the rail in the preferred dining section. The view was great, and children next to us could see with no problems. Before the show, many people were seated on the ground while waiting for an hour. At show time (and often about 20-30 minutes before) the CMs asked everyone to stand. If you sit early while waiting, you can save your legs for later!

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

So Disney Princess, you were there this May as in last month? Do they have an entrance for each area or does everyone line-up at one entrance? Do you remember how early you got in line when you did the preferred dining in order to get to the rail?

Thanks,

Traci

 

[sonnyjane]

Do they have an entrance for each area or does everyone line-up at one entrance? Do you remember how early you got in line when you did the preferred dining in order to get to the rail?

Thanks,

Traci

Each area (red, blue, yellow, preferred) has its own separate area to line-up in. As I said in my other post, for the free or picnic FP's, they recommend you line up about an hour before your show (for example, the last time I went, I had an 8:15 show and it told me to line up between 7:15 and 7:45). They let you into the actual stage area about 30 minutes before the show, so you FOR SURE need to get in line an hour ahead of time if you have a general FP.

For the preferred dining, I haven't done that one but if you really need a front rail spot, I'd say an hour is safe. Hopefully the PP that did in most recently can comment?

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Thanks SonnyJane! Did I read somewhere that if you are going to the second show, that you can't line up until the first show is over? Sounds like a mess to me, but understandable. Also, I am guessing that because we are going during the first week of Nov. that there may only be one show. I will have to wait for the calendar to come out for that time. That would probably mean a more crowded show.

Traci

 

[sonnyjane]

Thanks SonnyJane! Did I read somewhere that if you are going to the second show, that you can't line up until the first show is over? Sounds like a mess to me, but understandable. Also, I am guessing that because we are going during the first week of Nov. that there may only be one show. I will have to wait for the calendar to come out for that time. That would probably mean a more crowded show.

Traci

If you go on a weekday in the off-season, there will likely only be one show. The weekends usually have two shows, even in the off-season. As far as being more crowded because there is only one show, each show only has a certain number of tickets, it's not like everyone that wants to see WOC will be able to attend. They cap the audience at a set number of FP's, so while it might be more crowded than the later show would be on a day that had two shows, it's not going to be "twice the crowd", if that makes sense?