Organizing my days in SoCal/DLR

[momof2n2]

Have you read this: World of Color Superthread? The first post is very informative and helpful. I totally hear you on being petite and needing a decent, but not absolutely perfect, view of the shows. Are you planning on booking any dining packages for WOC or on going with free FPs? That choice will make a huge difference in how much wait time you'll need to invest to get a great/good view of the show. We've gone with all three options (Dessert Party, Dining Package, Free FP) -- and I'm seriously height challenged -- and had really good to great views almost every time, thanks to info and tips gleaned from that Superthread and due to investing whatever time was needed to wait for the spots we knew we wanted. WOC viewing is tricky, but very doable.

I have read it. Well, the beginning page and the last page.
I'm torn on the best approach.
We have about $1000 to play with for dining as a whole (from our Visa Rewards) and we have roughly 8 meals to use it over. I'm not opposed to using it for enhanced viewing areas, though at this point I'm thinking the F! package is a better bang for our dollar (???) and that we'd do the WOC FP option.
I really do NOT have any problem sitting for a long time before the occasional show/parade. It is the "quiet time" others use to leave the park and return. We either snack, or show pictures to one another, talk about our day....

I feel like I have built my WDW knowledge over many visits, starting back to when it was NOT as crazy-complicated as it is these days. Now, I feel like I am in a crash course. I do appreciate that the learning curve is far more gentle for DLR. Thankfully, we are pretty excited about what makes DLR different and can focus on that.

 

[mom2rtk]

My mom is all of 4'11" tall and almost 70. In May, 2016, I saw an entirely different version of my mom when moments before the nighttime entertainment at MK a man and his child tried to sit in front of us after we had been sitting for over an hour. While we hadn't labeled our spot as the one, perfect viewing spot, it was the spot we'd been squatting at for 90 minutes. She politely, but firmly, gave the guy the what-for and marched her self over to a CM and he made the guy move.

I don't so much need a perfect spot for these things, but I am concerned enough about a good spot for WOC. My youngest is only 5, and solidly built. And I also have a somewhat short 8 year old... we can't lift them for the show. I will probably need a trick or two for that.

Maybe @mom2rtk will let me use some of her shots in my trip photobook....

I knew I liked your mom!

Of course you know I'd share my shots for your photobook, but alas I won't get to see this new show. If you're OK with the Christmas show, then sure!

Regardless of the photography issues, I just have a personal affinity for fireworks over a castle. Seeing them without the castle just doesn't offer me the emotional attachment.

Unfortunately though, I don't have any secret viewing tips to offer. Get there early is all I have, and that one's pretty obvious. I do know that I enjoy sitting and chatting after a long day in the parks, so a long wait never bothered me too much.

My biggest piece of advice is to watch the boards closely after the new show premiers. I know there was tons of great advice here after the new 60th fireworks premiered. I do think that if the UP balloon does fly, it's something I would invest time wanting to see. I loved seeing Dumbo fly and same thing for Zero during Halloween Screams. If it's something you think you'd care about, then watch for specific advice for a spot where that part of the show won't be blocked by trees.

If there's no Fantasmic that night, you can watch from the Rivers of America, but there's no view of the castle so we have never done that. Once again, for me, if there's no view of the castle, I just don't watch.

 

[mom2rtk]

I have read it. Well, the beginning page and the last page.
I'm torn on the best approach.
We have about $1000 to play with for dining as a whole (from our Visa Rewards) and we have roughly 8 meals to use it over. I'm not opposed to using it for enhanced viewing areas, though at this point I'm thinking the F! package is a better bang for our dollar (???) and that we'd do the WOC FP option.
I really do NOT have any problem sitting for a long time before the occasional show/parade. It is the "quiet time" others use to leave the park and return. We either snack, or show pictures to one another, talk about our day....

I feel like I have built my WDW knowledge over many visits, starting back to when it was NOT as crazy-complicated as it is these days. Now, I feel like I am in a crash course. I do appreciate that the learning curve is far more gentle for DLR. Thankfully, we are pretty excited about what makes DLR different and can focus on that.

I do think that Fantasmic is a place to put your efforts if you are considering a dining package of some sort. The Hungry Bear has a package for $30. While not cheap, the view is still very good. And a dining package is the only way to avoid standing in roped off sections.

If you do the early Fantasmic show, you should be able to stay put for fireworks. It would be a pretty pleasant experience. But only if you don't care about seeing it over the castle.

World of Color it's all standing. I don't think the dinner packages offer enough of a difference in viewing, and you still have to get there somewhat early. The dessert party is great (and the only seated option), but very pricey for a large group. I'd just go with a FP there and go 90 minutes early.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... at this point I'm thinking the F! package is a better bang for our dollar (???) and that we'd do the WOC FP option.
I really do NOT have any problem sitting for a long time before the occasional show/parade. It is the "quiet time" others use to leave the park and return. We either snack, or show pictures to one another, talk about our day...

Good! Now study the WOC viewing area map in that first post. Choose your top 3 spots for free FP viewing. The machines distribute in this order: First show blue, then yellow; Second show blue, then yellow. Just ask the CMs at the machines if you want to know which FPs are currently being distributed. Choose which show you want (if there is more than one that day) and which section. Both sections have good and bad viewing. The map shows you this. Earlier in the day, go scout the viewing area. Look around at where you think you want to be and look out at the water from those locations. Be back in the Paradise Bay area well before the FPs say to line up. We usually allow 90 minutes for free FPs, more if the parks are very crowded, like for holidays. Keep watching for the CMs to set up the signs for the different sections to line up. (Feel free to ask the CMs about this -- which sign will be yours, where, when, etc. Look for the CMs with the clipboards, radios, earpieces, etc. -- these are leads and they have more info. Ask more than one CM to corroborate answers.) Then be ready to be first/early in the line. Once the rope lifts, walk steadily and purposefully to the spots you've chosen and set up your gear. (If spot 1 is gone, head straight for 2, etc.) If you need to help your mom, have others in your group walk ahead to your spots. Other people will wander around looking for spots. Your group will already be parked and ready. At this point, you can split up -- some stay and some go for snacks. (We usually head right for Ghirardelli to bring back sundaes for all!) Happy viewing!

 

[mom2rtk]

I have read it. Well, the beginning page and the last page.
I'm torn on the best approach.
We have about $1000 to play with for dining as a whole (from our Visa Rewards) and we have roughly 8 meals to use it over. I'm not opposed to using it for enhanced viewing areas, though at this point I'm thinking the F! package is a better bang for our dollar (???) and that we'd do the WOC FP option.
I really do NOT have any problem sitting for a long time before the occasional show/parade. It is the "quiet time" others use to leave the park and return. We either snack, or show pictures to one another, talk about our day....

I feel like I have built my WDW knowledge over many visits, starting back to when it was NOT as crazy-complicated as it is these days. Now, I feel like I am in a crash course. I do appreciate that the learning curve is far more gentle for DLR. Thankfully, we are pretty excited about what makes DLR different and can focus on that.

The good news is that you haven't made any mistakes yet! No missed ADRs. No missed FPs. All options are still on the table! The hard part is cultivating your patience. Sometimes show times don't even fill in until a few weeks out.

 

[momof2n2]

(We usually head right for Ghirardelli to bring back sundaes for all!) Happy viewing!

This might be my favorite part of your post.


Just kidding.

Thank you for truncating the information into an easy to copy/paste set of instructions.

That is such a great idea of having multiple planned spots.

 

[momof2n2]

The good news is that you haven't made any mistakes yet! No missed ADRs. No missed FPs. All options are still on the table! The hard part is cultivating your patience. Sometimes show times don't even fill in until a few weeks out.

Yes.

A very good friend of mine reached out to me last Saturday asking if I would help her plan her trip to WDW. They haven't been since 2011. I shuddered. I tried to bring her up to date a bit via texting without overwhelming her/scaring her away. Then I realized she's already in the six month window (she's thinking late August - note - she doesn't even have exact dates yet!) and told her she may not get her ADRs. She thought I was making it up. I gave her some homework (make a MM account and FIND DATES ALREADY) and told her we'd talk after she had dates.

I do find it hard for my planning mentality to not have show times already "locked in." But as long as I have DIS connections to refer to, I'm not worried.

My biggest piece of advice is to watch the boards closely after the new show premiers. I know there was tons of great advice here after the new 60th fireworks premiered. I do think that if the UP balloon does fly, it's something I would invest time wanting to see. I loved seeing Dumbo fly and same thing for Zero during Halloween Screams. If it's something you think you'd care about, then watch for specific advice for a spot where that part of the show won't be blocked by trees.

I will do this. Thanks!

 

[agamble]

The rail is nice but you will get wet. And the show is 30 minutes so it gets annoying. Last year we read a tip about looking for the fire hydrant in the viewing area of WOC. It's toward the back of the view area not too far from the bridge area. It's further back and off at an angle so not the first spot people go to. BUT you actually have a good view of the WHOLE show. I think there is a picture in that super thread. Just let us all know what day you plan to see the show so we're not battling for the same location on the same night. LOL.

Fantasmic is a pain. We saw it last July and it was crazy the way they packed people in like sardines. If you were going to pay for show reservations for one show that's what I would choose. We'll just tough it out one night again because we'd rather spend money elsewhere. My kids enjoy the show and my mom hasn't seen the new one yet so it is a must do.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes.

A very good friend of mine reached out to me last Saturday asking if I would help her plan her trip to WDW. They haven't been since 2011. I shuddered. I tried to bring her up to date a bit via texting without overwhelming her/scaring her away. Then I realized she's already in the six month window (she's thinking late August - note - she doesn't even have exact dates yet!) and told her she may not get her ADRs. She thought I was making it up. I gave her some homework (make a MM account and FIND DATES ALREADY) and told her we'd talk after she had dates.

I do find it hard for my planning mentality to not have show times already "locked in." But as long as I have DIS connections to refer to, I'm not worried.



I will do this. Thanks!

It really is hard to believe unless you have been to WDW and have experience with it. I try hard any more to be vague with people wanting advice on WDW.

You'll be fine with not having specific show times until late. I know it still drives me crazy not to have things nailed down, but it will be fine. I promise!

Just view all of this as your WDW detox!

 

[momof2n2]

The rail is nice but you will get wet. And the show is 30 minutes so it gets annoying. Last year we read a tip about looking for the fire hydrant in the viewing area of WOC. It's toward the back of the view area not too far from the bridge area. It's further back and off at an angle so not the first spot people go to. BUT you actually have a good view of the WHOLE show. I think there is a picture in that super thread. Just let us all know what day you plan to see the show so we're not battling for the same location on the same night. LOL.

Fantasmic is a pain. We saw it last July and it was crazy the way they packed people in like sardines. If you were going to pay for show reservations for one show that's what I would choose. We'll just tough it out one night again because we'd rather spend money elsewhere. My kids enjoy the show and my mom hasn't seen the new one yet so it is a must do.

Sounds good. Tell you what - if I get there first I'll share.
I can't find the fire hydrant on Google Earth right now... but I will keep looking. I'll make that one of my few spots.

And looking at the park on Google Earth is actually dropping my anxiety. It seems less nebulous when I have images to go with my notes.



And I know I can get tomatoes at me for this next comment: I'm just not that keyed up about F! anyway. We had a F! package at DHS last trip which got us great seats at the last minute, but none of us liked that show much. I hadn't seen it since 2000, always skipping it for one reason or another. It's only on our DLR trip list because it is supposedly better... Not sure if it is worth $250 though. Hmmmmmmm.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... We had a F! package at DHS last trip which got us great seats at the last minute, but none of us liked that show much. I hadn't seen it since 2000, always skipping it for one reason or another. It's only on our DLR trip list because it is supposedly better... Not sure if it is worth $250 though. Hmmmmmmm.

Someone posted in another thread that she used the free, standby viewing (non-FP) for F! very recently and had a great view. She waited for the bridge over POTC to open (the first time you walk by the ride on this bridge, you'll know exactly what the view is) and nabbed her spots. The wait was long for the first show, but she had prime viewing, for free, for her whole family, without FPs. She said the bridge opened up around 5-5:30 pm. If you and some of your group are willing to take turns holding rail spots on the bridge for that long, you can save quite a bit of money for a great view of the show.
Also, just another opinion on the WOC wet zone: we've been up at the rail in the wet zone a handful of times and have never gotten "wet" -- misted, yes, sometimes more heavily than at other times (if you wear glasses, this can be a problem). But, while I've heard from friends who got soaked (!), that hasn't happened to us (yet!). It has to do with the wind direction. If the wind is blowing into the viewing area, the spray will blow right into the audience. (Some WOC fans like this -- they want to get wet!) The harder the wind blows, the wetter the audience. DH is very careful about testing the wind direction and speed before we choose our viewing spots (remember how we have 3 chosen spots? If the wet zone is a no go, then we head for the other 2 spots). Of course, if he ever decides that he wants to be a thrill seeker and get soaked, then we'll pack ponchos.

 

[momof2n2]

Someone posted in another thread that she used the free, standby viewing (non-FP) for F! very recently and had a great view. She waited for the bridge over POTC to open (the first time you walk by the ride on this bridge, you'll know exactly what the view is) and nabbed her spots. The wait was long for the first show, but she had prime viewing, for free, for her whole family, without FPs. She said the bridge opened up around 5-5:30 pm. If you and some of your group are willing to take turns holding rail spots on the bridge for that long, you can save quite a bit of money for a great view of the show.
Also, just another opinion on the WOC wet zone: we've been up at the rail in the wet zone a handful of times and have never gotten "wet" -- misted, yes, sometimes more heavily than at other times (if you wear glasses, this can be a problem). But, while I've heard from friends who got soaked (!), that hasn't happened to us (yet!). It has to do with the wind direction. If the wind is blowing into the viewing area, the spray will blow right into the audience. (Some WOC fans like this -- they want to get wet!) The harder the wind blows, the wetter the audience. DH is very careful about testing the wind direction and speed before we choose our viewing spots (remember how we have 3 chosen spots? If the wet zone is a no go, then we head for the other 2 spots). Of course, if he ever decides that he wants to be a thrill seeker and get soaked, then we'll pack ponchos.

The comment about packing ponchos speaks to another concern for DH and I: this is our first trip in 17 years without a stroller!!!!! I won't have all the cargo space. :'(

Totally noting the free spot for F! you mention! Thank you. That actually sounds excellent.
Do you mean this bridge is inaccessible most of the day, and then it is specifically opened for Fantasmic?
If there are two shows, is it also an option for the second one?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

The comment about packing ponchos speaks to another concern for DH and I: this is our first trip in 17 years without a stroller!!!!! I won't have all the cargo space. :'(

Totally noting the free spot for F! you mention! Thank you. That actually sounds excellent.
Do you mean this bridge is inaccessible most of the day, and then it is specifically opened for Fantasmic?
If there are two shows, is it also an option for the second one?

First: I know someone who rents a stroller (she has no kids) just to keep and carry all her stuff at DLR! If it works for you, go for it!

Second: the bridge by POTC is open to pedestrians all day long. That's why it doesn't get roped off for F! folks until 5-5:30 pm. Only 1/3 or so of the bridge gets roped off, while the rest stays open for pedestrians. The railing is great viewing, but the back rows aren't great unless you are tall. So you will have to be EARLY to make this work for your group. Scope out the bridge earlier in the day to see what it looks like and where you will want to be when the ropes go up. I don't know if the bridge is open for the second show. For the second show, I would be tempted to do the Hungry Bear Dining Package. That area is just to the left of the BB section, up at the waterfront rail. I've read that often all the dining package areas are put together for the second show if none of the three areas are going to be full. If that happens on your night, you would get really great viewing for the least expensive package. Even if it doesn't happen, if you line up early, you could sit just over the rope/tape from the BB section -- just inches away for much less $$!

 

[Symon]

I just wanted to chime in with a few tips about the USS Midway. My husband and I loved it (and we aren't military or ship type people!) We had planned to spend a couple hours there and ended up being there more than 4 hours and still didn't see it all. Make sure you get there when they open (rope drop ) and do the Island/Bridge tour first. This is a free guided tour of the bridge of the ship (the tower that sticks up from the flight deck.) It is very interesting and the waits for this get long as the day goes on.

Also, another thing we really liked in San Diego was Balboa park. There are many museums here to visit, but even if you don't go to a museum the park has lots to look at and some free activities.

 

[momof2n2]

Is this kind of what you mean?

 

[momof2n2]

I just wanted to chime in with a few tips about the USS Midway. My husband and I loved it (and we aren't military or ship type people!) We had planned to spend a couple hours there and ended up being there more than 4 hours and still didn't see it all. Make sure you get there when they open (rope drop ) and do the Island/Bridge tour first. This is a free guided tour of the bridge of the ship (the tower that sticks up from the flight deck.) It is very interesting and the waits for this get long as the day goes on.

Also, another thing we really liked in San Diego was Balboa park. There are many museums here to visit, but even if you don't go to a museum the park has lots to look at and some free activities.

THANK YOU.
We are not military people, either, so to speak. But when I looked up things to do in San Diego on TripAdvisor this really piqued my interest. It's like a healthy dose of reality in the midst of a MaGIcaL Disney vacation.
I'm so glad to hear it was worth your time. Balboa has been mentioned to me a few times and is a real possibility. Thank you.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Is this kind of what you mean?

View attachment 309435

Yes, that's the bridge by POTC and the view of the ROA.
ETA: Be there as soon as the ropes go up and the CMs allow guests inside the area. Go right up to the railing and hold tight to your spots! That area will get crowded, so be prepared to stand your ground since you have a big group.

 

[momof2n2]

Yes, that's the bridge by POTC and the view of the ROA.
ETA: Be there as soon as the ropes go up and the CMs allow guests inside the area. Go right up to the railing and hold tight to your spots! That area will get crowded, so be prepared to stand your ground since you have a big group.

Thank you for all your help!

If they open bridge ~ 5:00 what time is the show?

 

[10SE]

Thank you for all your help!

If they open bridge ~ 5:00 what time is the show?

First show is at 9:00, hence the popularity of the dining packages.

 

[momof2n2]

First show is at 9:00, hence the popularity of the dining packages.

Ok. Somehow I missed that.
Wow.
I can stake a spot for 1-2 hours, but not 4.
I can give up F! if I can’t bring myself to pay $220 for the HB meal. Or just wing it.
Thank you.