Please make my World of Color Dining decision

[Mimi2Cam]

This is my first post although I've been reading like crazy. That may be part of my problem though as I am so confused about where to make WOC reservations.

It's not like I'm expecting the best dining experience ever, but I'd like to make reservations for August and have more confidence than I do at this point.

The attendees will be my husband, five year old grandson and me. We love Italian and we love seafood.

Please help me figure this out!
Thanks!

 

[HydroGuy]

This is my first post although I've been reading like crazy. That may be part of my problem though as I am so confused about where to make WOC reservations.

It's not like I'm expecting the best dining experience ever, but I'd like to make reservations for August and have more confidence than I do at this point.

The attendees will be my husband, five year old grandson and me. We love Italian and we love seafood.

Please help me figure this out!
Thanks!

It sounds like Wine Country Trattoria is a good bet for you. Lots of pasta dishes there.

 

[Cinderpamela]

Have you looked at the menus for all the options? If you havent already I would probably start there and that might narrow it down a little.... over on the menus page:http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/dining/menus.cfm

We have not really felt the need to do the WoC dining packages and only on our last trip in 2012 did we do it. Before that trip we were perfectly fine getting FP's early in the day to view WoC without doing the dining.

If you haven't already, I would recommend studying Hydroguys tips on the WoC Superthread and determine if you even want or need the dining package to accomplish what you want to do.

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


This last trip in November of 2012 we did the WoC dining at Carthay Circle because we knew we wanted to eat there anyways since it was a brand new restauraunt at that time, and so we figured why not get the dining package?

So basically I would say get the WoC dining package if you would eat at one of the places anyways.... but if not, then just grab a free WoC fast pass and dine somewhere else that you would rather go.

Most importantly to get a good viewing spot, get to the FastPass return line in the WoC viewing area as early as possible for a spot as close to the front and center of the Pier as possible. If you aren’t in the FastPass return line early, all of the previous planning is out the window even if you did the WoC dining package. Spots at the front of the return line are more likely to assure you centered locations on the Pier, and you want to be as close to the center and the front as possible. You will have to wait a bit more, but it is well worth it!

Even with our Carthay Circle WoC dining FP's we were not back as early as we should have been to line up for the show, and had quite a few people in front of us, and thus not as good of a view.

 

[Escape2Disney]

I'd agree with Wine Country Trattoria. Be sure to try the Italian Wedding soup! We actually prefer the viewing area over Carthay. That being said, they don't seem to have a problem with you moving from one reserved viewing area to another if it's not too crowded.

 

[Tink1017]

Does anyone have an updated menu for WCT? The disney website doesn't show the world of color package meal menu? Or at least I couldn't find it. We are planning on eating at AG for the princess lunch and it looks like the menu is the same so that's out and we tried CC a year ago and the menu was a bit too fancy for our group.

 

[sukhakuli]

We did the WoC dining with the Wine Country. Blech. The whole experience was awful, from the meal to the seating area. The service was terrible and slow, and the food was so bad that no one in my party ate anything. Except the desserts. The kids enjoyed those, but my dh and I weren't impressed. The menu is VERY limited. And then the seating area for the dining package isn't all that great, either. We were right upfront, but because of the way the fountains are set up we got rained on the entire time. Not just some mist, but full out rain. We left absolutely soaked. I'm not exaggerating, like sopping hair, and completely soaked shirts. My husband spent the entire show with his back to the fountains trying to shield our infant. It might have been a quirk of the wind, but it made the entire experience a $150+ mistake.

On the flip side, we did the fastpass, and had a really enjoyable time. My husband and kids waited in line early and we got there right as the seating area opened up. While they did that, I got a counter service meal, and we sat down and ate dinner while we waited for the show in our seating spot. The view we got was great, too. And we didn't get wet. It worked out so well we do that for all the evening shows now. We give the kids a late snack, and then we eat a late dinner while we wait for the show in our spot.

 

[Mimi2Cam]

Thanks to all of you for your help. I will read some more and try to ease my mind.

I guess the real issue is that I am lazy. At this point, I would rather throw some money at this opportunity than to risk missing the experience because I didn't get fast passes and/or jockey for a good viewing spot.

Spending this much money on a meal after flying across the country to get there is a pretty big deal, so that's part of the over-thinking.

At any rate, thanks for the help and for making me feel good about my first post!

 

[Jairy]

Thanks to all of you for your help. I will read some more and try to ease my mind. I guess the real issue is that I am lazy. At this point, I would rather throw some money at this opportunity than to risk missing the experience because I didn't get fast passes and/or jockey for a good viewing spot. Spending this much money on a meal after flying across the country to get there is a pretty big deal, so that's part of the over-thinking. At any rate, thanks for the help and for making me feel good about my first post!

But the problem is, you still have to jockey for a good spot, even with the reserved seating. We did the WOC dinner at Ariel's Grotto in March. The meal was pretty good, but waaaay overpriced. The location was amazing. We sat outside in the sunshine and thoroughly enjoyed it.
That being said, we still arrived 2 hours before show time. We were second in line and had an amazing spot. We barely got misted and were up front and center. Because of our great view we also enjoyed the show immensely.

 

[sgrap]

Thanks to all of you for your help. I will read some more and try to ease my mind.

I guess the real issue is that I am lazy. At this point, I would rather throw some money at this opportunity than to risk missing the experience because I didn't get fast passes and/or jockey for a good viewing spot.

Spending this much money on a meal after flying across the country to get there is a pretty big deal, so that's part of the over-thinking.

At any rate, thanks for the help and for making me feel good about my first post!

We had the opposite experience at Wine Country. We went in March 2013 and had a wonderful dinner with fabulous service. My kids loved it so much that it was the one sit down meal they asked to do again when we were there this May. Had another great meal and the same waiter was working, so we requested a table with him again. You will get heavily misted throughout the show in the reserved area, so be prepared if you don't want to get wet. Bring ponchos or waterproof jackets. Great area for viewing!

 

[sonnyjane]

. I'd rather jockey for a spot and be mildly disappointed if I got a bad view after spending NO money than jockey for a spot and be GREATLY disappointed if I had just spent big bucks on a mediocre meal.

 

[HydroGuy]

Thanks to all of you for your help. I will read some more and try to ease my mind.

I guess the real issue is that I am lazy. At this point, I would rather throw some money at this opportunity than to risk missing the experience because I didn't get fast passes and/or jockey for a good viewing spot.

Spending this much money on a meal after flying across the country to get there is a pretty big deal, so that's part of the over-thinking.

At any rate, thanks for the help and for making me feel good about my first post!

As noted by a PP you are misinformed. A WOC dining reservation will not keep you from having to jockey for a spot at all. In fact there are less good spots in the reserved dining area than in the non-reserved area IMO. But if you get one of those good spots in reserved dining it is the best spot of all.

Please read the WOC Superthread.

 

[Mimi2Cam]

I guess I mis-spoke. I did, in fact, read a lot of the WOC superthread and realized that research, analysis and jockeying (the word of the day, haha) were in fact, inevitable. Waiting is inevitable no matter what.

As of now, I think I am going to study Hydroguy's map and see how thing go.

Thanks all.

 

[Julylady]

I recently made a reservation for Carthey Circle WOC package for our June trip, but decided to cancel after reviewing the price fix menu. It seemed like a lot of money for very limited choices and way too much food at one time. We prefer grazing our way through the parks. We just order entrees at TS meals and then find dessert much later in the evening.

I suggest you review the menus and if it includes food you would order anyway, go for it! Else , as others have said, the fast pass itself isn't worth the price you pay. You still have to line up early,
The only exception would be if for some reason you were not able to get to DCA earlier in the day to pull a WOC fast pass.

On the other hand, we always do the Fantasmic dessert package since that actually provides a reserved seat!

 

[sukhakuli]

Thanks to all of you for your help. I will read some more and try to ease my mind.

I guess the real issue is that I am lazy. At this point, I would rather throw some money at this opportunity than to risk missing the experience because I didn't get fast passes and/or jockey for a good viewing spot.

Spending this much money on a meal after flying across the country to get there is a pretty big deal, so that's part of the over-thinking.

At any rate, thanks for the help and for making me feel good about my first post!

We're of the same mind. We were going for a big trip after a 3 year hiatus, and I wanted to make sure we got a great spot for the show since it was the first time we were going to see it, and I figured the meal would be enjoyable. We all love italian.

I think if it wasn't so expensive, I mean, I paid, what, 50 bucks for my 11 year old to take one bite, and say she couldn't eat it because it was so bad. My husband choked it down because it was so expensive, but I could tell he thought the food was terrible. I'm so not picky, and I thought it was pretty bad, too. But anyway, for the expense, the bad food, and the bad viewing area, I ended up feeling like I'd been rooked. I think if we didn't have a bunch of kids, and didn't sit right up front and center during the show, we would feel differently about it. Honestly, it was so bad my family ribs me about it good naturedly every time we go. when we walk by the Wine Country, I always say "Hey kids, how about dinner at the Wine Country?" And they all gag and we have a good laugh. It was that bad.

I recently made a reservation for Carthey Circle WOC package for our June trip, but decided to cancel after reviewing the price fix menu. It seemed like a lot of money for very limited choices and way too much food at one time. We prefer grazing our way through the parks. We just order entrees at TS meals and then find dessert much later in the evening.

I suggest you review the menus and if it includes food you would order anyway, go for it! Else , as others have said, the fast pass itself isn't worth the price you pay. You still have to line up early,
The only exception would be if for some reason you were not able to get to DCA earlier in the day to pull a WOC fast pass.

On the other hand, we always do the Fantasmic dessert package since that actually provides a reserved seat!

Because of the expense we have never tried the dessert party. We tend to sit in the area just below it, though, because they allow you to sit during the show. I don't get why DL makes you stand during shows and fireworks, it means kids basically can't see anything. But anyway, are you paying for the desserts or the seating, or both? We're planning a last harrah trip this July with my MIL because we're letting our passes expire, so I'm thinking of doing some things we never do, like the dessert party. We're a big group, we'll be 7, so this would be a major expense. Worth it?

 

[HydroGuy]

Because of the expense we have never tried the dessert party. We tend to sit in the area just below it, though, because they allow you to sit during the show. I don't get why DL makes you stand during shows and fireworks, it means kids basically can't see anything. But anyway, are you paying for the desserts or the seating, or both? We're planning a last harrah trip this July with my MIL because we're letting our passes expire, so I'm thinking of doing some things we never do, like the dessert party. We're a big group, we'll be 7, so this would be a major expense. Worth it?

You are paying for the seating. The dessert is not worth anything close to $60.

If you view the Fantasmic dessert as a major expense and wonder if it is worth it, then I doubt it will be worth it for you.

It would be better to just arrive early like you have in the past and use that money on something else.

 

[Mimi2Cam]

So after reading all of your replies, lazy me has decided to go the FP route. Somehow, in the midst of my other delusions, I assumed that a high priced meal (to me) would merit a shorter wait, a SEAT or maybe even both. Silly, silly Mimi2Cam.

BTW, I realize I am an amateur here, but I really do think that the whole set-up is crazy. But I digress...

I have, however, decided to do the Fantasmic package as it satisfies one of my requirements (i.e. the seat.) I am sure that an overpriced sugar high is well worth the comfort for a grandmother and grandfather traveling with a 5 year old. (And besides, he isn't a big sweet eater (Cam, that is) so it may be enough for a two or three day sugar fix!)

Now I'm on to character meal research. Wish me luck!!!

 

[sampal24]

Maybe we were extremely lucky in late June of 2012 because we had a great experience with the WOC dining at Carthay Circle. We did the second WOC show, waited about 5 minutes after dinner for our reserved viewing spot, got a spot front and center of the reserved section, with jockeying, which was not close enough to get wet but still close.

I was considering Wine Country for our upcoming trip in July, but now I'm not sure about it.

 

[HydroGuy]

So after reading all of your replies, lazy me has decided to go the FP route. Somehow, in the midst of my other delusions, I assumed that a high priced meal (to me) would merit a shorter wait, a SEAT or maybe even both. Silly, silly Mimi2Cam.

BTW, I realize I am an amateur here, but I really do think that the whole set-up is crazy. But I digress...

I have, however, decided to do the Fantasmic package as it satisfies one of my requirements (i.e. the seat.) I am sure that an overpriced sugar high is well worth the comfort for a grandmother and grandfather traveling with a 5 year old. (And besides, he isn't a big sweet eater (Cam, that is) so it may be enough for a two or three day sugar fix!)

Now I'm on to character meal research. Wish me luck!!!

I would say the setup is flawed, not crazy. That kind of thing does happen at Disney parks. Right now the Anna and Elsa meet and greet is a huge mess at DL. I heard it is crazy at Epcot too. At DHS / WDW "the running of the bulls" to TSM was also not a good experience. That has morphed now with FP+ I understand.

I think you are making a good decision on WOC. I recommend you see it. It is worth it if you have a good spot.

 

[mom2rtk]

I would say the setup is flawed, not crazy. That kind of thing does happen at Disney parks. Right now the Anna and Elsa meet and greet is a huge mess at DL. I heard it is crazy at Epcot too. At DHS / WDW "the running of the bulls" to TSM was also not a good experience. That has morphed now with FP+ I understand.

I think you are making a good decision on WOC. I recommend you see it. It is worth it if you have a good spot.

Actually A/E are at MK in WDW now and you can see them with a FP. If you are one of the lucky ones. Otherwise, still not a great situation.


And the "running of the bulls" to TSMM actually got better when they started opening the park 15-20 minutes early every day and got rid of the internal rope drop, so people filtered in at a much more controlled pace.

But I digress.

I would love to see the original WOC but we will be returning in December again, so will have to wait and see what they offer this year. We enjoyed the holiday version but didn't really come away wowed. More like we were wowed by the potential of what it could be like.