Quick WOC questions

[mrswh]

Surprised there is no WOC sticky thread!

Is the viewing area for the picnic package the same as for those who obtain fastpasses?

Would love to hear from anyone who has tried the picnic option - we have two small children and don't want to spend hours waiting in line for a FP or hours staking out a spot before the show.

Thanks for any info!

 

[mrswh]

Got my own answer - for anyone who is wondering. The CM I spoke with explained it to me as restaurant packages = 1st tier viewing area, picnics = 2nd tier, FP holders = 3rd tier. I recognize that there are personal preferences, exceptions, etc., but at least I got the general idea.

We have WCT WOC reservations and I also bought picnic meals (for a different night) - I'd love to hear from those who have done either one how it went!

Thanks!

 

[prncssmel]

I haven't been, but from everything I have read, that isn't true. From my understanding, the restaurant packages are in one area of viewing, but the picnics and FPs are mixed, meaning they both are in the blue and yellow viewing sections.

 

[mrswh]

If the picnic and FP are mixed, do the picnic people have an earlier arrival time, or are they all the same?

 

[Raindown]

I've done all three options. Unless there has been a change, FP and picnic share the same viewing areas. The dining option is really the only one to get its own area/tier.

They all work well if you get there early. However, I do find that the wait is longer for the first showing. (get there at 7ish for a 9pm show). When I got a FP for the third show I only had to wait around from about 10ish to 11:15 because they would not even allow lining up before that. However, you do get the carnival of color show with the first WoC showing.

Of all options, I would repeat my FP experience with the third show. One down side is you don't get to end the evening walking down main street.

 

[mrswh]

Thanks for the reply! When you say get there at 7 for a 9pm showing . . . why? What is the time window that you are allowed to show up? And what happens if I wait until the end of that window to get there? There is no way I am sitting there for 2 hours waiting for the show to start.

(I wish I could go to the later viewing but that's way too late with two little kiddos!)

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

If you want your small children to be able to see you will get there and be ready to enter the area before 7. We did a dining package and were let in a little after 7 and got great spots so our kids could see. You can sit and relax until about 8:15 when they make you stand up. At 8:30 there is a cute pre-show that lasts about 15 minutes. You remain standing for the rest of the time until the show is done.
We did not go for a front spot but took the stairs and stood there. I think the further back you are the better the viewing, but in the case of small kids they may or may not be able to see.

Sarah

 

[jodeja]

We did the Ariel’s Grotto WOC dining package last month. I don’t know if they were supposed to be there or not, but I saw several people eating their picnic meals right next to us while we were waiting in the preferred dining viewing section. That gave me the impression that the picnic meals could get the same viewing area as the preferred restaurant dining.
The issue with WOC is that the viewing areas are not set up well and it’s hard for shorter people, which includes most kids, to see. We arrived at 7:35 for the 9pm show and all of the spots on the rails were taken. People want the rail spots so that no one can stand in front of them and block their view. We stood at what I thought was the next best option, at the top of the little staircase but there was one row of people in front of us and my kids (ages 9 & 11) had a very hard time seeing the show over the heads in front of them. I would have had a hard time seeing if the women in front of me had been any taller. There were two women behind me (I’m 5’4”) who kept asking their boyfriends to lift them up so they could see!
Some people have found great viewing spots and had a wonderful experience; some have had views blocked by people in front of them and had a stressful experience trying to hold up their kids or crane their necks to try and see as much of the show as they could.
I knew we were in for a long wait so I let my kids bring their DS to play – something I would NOT ever normally do. I brought a book to read. It was a disappointing view after investing so much money in the meal (though we enjoyed the meal very much) and so much time in waiting. However, I feel that if we would have arrived 15-20 minutes earlier we might have scored a significantly better spot.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Here is the superthread if you are interested.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2443719&page=58&highlight=woc+superthread

Jack

 

[silence]

Here is what I can tell you from our experience tonight.

We did Ariels, so we had the preferred section. When they split up the lines, the picnic folks were with us in the "holding" area. They then split us up from them, and they got into the Red/Yellow/Blue sections before everyone else with a normal fast pass.

Loved the show. LOVED it. We got right up next to the rail in the green section and my little ones could see fine. I did not appreciate the parent that shoved her kid in front of us very rudely. If you want your kid to see, show up at 6:30 with the rest of us to get your spot. BEYOND RUDE! Sorry to vent.

 

[Raindown]

Here is what I can tell you from our experience tonight.

We did Ariels, so we had the preferred section. When they split up the lines, the picnic folks were with us in the "holding" area. They then split us up from them, and they got into the Red/Yellow/Blue sections before everyone else with a normal fast pass.

Loved the show. LOVED it. We got right up next to the rail in the green section and my little ones could see fine. I did not appreciate the parent that shoved her kid in front of us very rudely. If you want your kid to see, show up at 6:30 with the rest of us to get your spot. BEYOND RUDE! Sorry to vent.

You experience gives me hope they are getting more organized. I've only ever been placed in a giant blob of people. I agree, with what you said about parent. I'm always impressed when people show up 5 minutes before a show and then pout about the view, especially after they waited 60 minutes for a 3 minute ride. WoC is 27 minutes, invest a little time.

 

[indiesgirl4ever]

Last night,we did not do the FP or Dining and found a great spot! We arrived at around 8:05 for the 9:00 showing and if you go across from toy story mania by the popcorn stand there is a small area and its a great hidden spot

 

[Raindown]

Last night,we did not do the FP or Dining and found a great spot! We arrived at around 8:05 for the 9:00 showing and if you go across from toy story mania by the popcorn stand there is a small area and its a great hidden spot

How is the view from the backside?

 

[SamuraiFiction]

Does anyone know when they start giving out FPs for the 11:15 show? Does it change every day? Thanks.

 

[Raindown]

Does anyone know when they start giving out FPs for the 11:15 show? Does it change every day? Thanks.

It changes, but once the 10:15 runs out it switches over to 11:15. It is kinda hard to gauge and if you are in Disneyland you won't hear any DCA announcements. I got one at 1:45ish, but at that time I thought I was pushing it. Maybe not.

 

[NorCalGuy]

I'll be visiting next week. I'm thinking that I really want to see the 10:15 show since it sounds generally less crowded than the earlier one. Since it sounds like it's hard to know exactly when FP stops giving out 9:00 tickets and begins giving out 10:15 tickets, if I happen to get a 9:00 ticket, can I somehow trade it in for the later show--or am I simply stuck seeing that one?