The ugly WOC preshow

[Mary09]

Exactly. They also have to keep the designated walkways open for emergency personnel, should anyone need a way in/out of the crowded area. Although many do not understand the why or how of it all, they are assisting in keeping everyone safe by keeping the walkways clear.

I think the poster was talking about the side of the rope that was for standing & viewing, not the walkways.

 

[Funball]

July 14
We bought picnic lunches, received blue section fastpasses, enjoyed the WOC. But there is another show we saw 1 ½ hours before the WOC show began! We chose to view WOC from the bridge – great view – saw everything and didn’t get wet. The fastpasses stated you needed to arrive to the show 1 ½ hrs before (this was the 9:00 show). From where we stood, nothing was going on in the bay, so we turned to people watch those walking over the bridge. The area is roped off about 10 feet from the bridge railing, and large flower pots thick with flowers are placed under the rope. The idea here is to block non-fastpass holders out. During the WOC show, guests are allowed to walk over the bridge as long as they continue to walk. It’s similar to F, as long as you are in a roped area, you don’t have to walk. Along the rope are cast members placed about every 20 feet with glow lights directing guests to walk and not stop at the rope.

That’s where the other show comes in!

So many people did not know that you were required to have a fastpass to view WOC. People assumed you could just squeeze in under the rope the way you do at F or during the DL fireworks. People started shoving strollers, wheelchairs, backpacks, packages, themselves, and their kids between the flower pots and under the ropes. Cast members ran up and down the rope NICELY explaining to the people that they needed a fastpass or had to view the show from the back view on the pier. The first ½ hour, guests responded very nicely and headed over the bridge to the pier to get a spot. And then, all h--- broke loose. Guests were taking turns distracting the cast members so members of their party could squeeze under the ropes. We counted 42 people who were successful getting under the rope and through the flower pots in our section alone. One lady absolutely refused to move for a female cast member, so they called in a very big male cast member. After about 2 minutes of conversation, she moved on. Another guy cussed at a cast member, saying he paid to get in and he wants his kids to see the show. One lady stood there yelling at the cast member that she knows the rules, and she’s just taking a break from walking and the heat. “You can’t force me to move in a public area, I paid big bucks to come here. Would you rather I passed out?” Several guests came back over the bridge angry that no rides were open on the pier and they couldn’t stand there and watch the show. When the preshow started with the puppet characters, the cast members lost total control. People started stacking up behind the rope. The preshow was loud, and guest couldn’t even hear the cast members. After the preshow (15 mins. before WOC started) the cast members were able to get control back and clear the area. But people tried to get under the rope during the entire WOC show. I don’t know what those cast members get paid to monitor that area during that time, but, it’s not nearly enough. Watching all of it was entertaining to say the least, but I can see someone getting physically hurt in the future if they don’t do something to improve that area during that time. It turns ugly there after 8:00!

i dont have sympthay to those that dont pay attention.to those that tried to "squeeze" under ropes to watch WOC.this is not fantasmic.people need to pay attention and listen to the cm's !!! they tell you what you need to do and how to get a fp for woc!! why is it soo hard to understand!!!???

 

[Funball]

Exactly. They also have to keep the designated walkways open for emergency personnel, should anyone need a way in/out of the crowded area. Although many do not understand the why or how of it all, they are assisting in keeping everyone safe by keeping the walkways clear.

i know what hydro and DD is talking about. .. they usualy give the boot to anybody that tries to stay at those walkways for the show...you got to have an emergency area anyway!

 

[Funball]

Exactly. They also have to keep the designated walkways open for emergency personnel, should anyone need a way in/out of the crowded area. Although many do not understand the why or how of it all, they are assisting in keeping everyone safe by keeping the walkways clear.

i know what hydro and DD is talking about. .. they usualy give the boot to anybody that tries to stay at those walkways for the show...you got to have an emergency area anyway!

 

[Katieinwonderland]

When I go next week are are doing the dinner deal.
I am paying good money for that.
Anyone wants to shove or squeeze next to me better be prepared to have my 200 pound butt sit on you!
This has me worried as I will have a small child with me (who is autistic) and I am VERY protective of him and people shoving up against him (don't even let me get into what happened at a Giants game).

Perhaps they need to install collapsible metal gates surrounding the area?

You'll be fine with the dining package - we did that last week and our area was very civilized! It wasn't even totally full, there was room to move around, no one pushed or shoved anyone out of the way, it was fine.

 

[pikaboo27]

DH, our two friends and their little ones (ages 3 and 2) and I went to see WOC with the dining package July 17th and it was great. It wasn't even crowded in that area. We arrived at 8:28 (dining fast pass said to get there between 8 and 8:30 and we were in the third tier (there was plenty of room closer, but I had a friend say that the view was better up high.) The dining package is probably the only way DH and I will see the show.

 

[jankat]

We just saw WOC on the 22nd and did not experience any of those issues from our viewing area (Yellow). We pre-ordered the picnic lunches and arrived at the viewing area around 8:15 pm with 5 adults (one on ECV) and a double stroller and had no issues finding room to watch from the 3rd tier. The people standing at the front of our area were actually very considerate of my MIL on the scooter and allowed her to move in front of them so she could have a better view.

We thought it was an amazing show. DS (3) thought it was too loud, but was content as long as he had his hands over his ears.

 

[Funball]

^ just like what they said. if you line up when your tickets tells you to lineup in the area that your suppose to be in, then when you are directed toward your color you should not have a problem..i was second to the front in the viewing teirs, i did get wet a little, but it was a great area. i had red and it was the 10:15pm show, they had us lineup near GRR and then at 9:45pm they directed us to the WOC viewing area according to out color...

 

[Funball]

Exactly. They also have to keep the designated walkways open for emergency personnel, should anyone need a way in/out of the crowded area. Although many do not understand the why or how of it all, they are assisting in keeping everyone safe by keeping the walkways clear.

So back to the emergency aisles, yes on the pier they have a walkway to keep clear for emergency purposes during the show, before the show that is one crazy place to be!!

 

[tinkcollector]

We had the blue FP from the picnic package (7/16/10, first show). First I want to say, Disney did not pack us in like sardines. We were very comfortable. Second, the CM does take your FP when you enter your area. But, we were told if we wanted to exit to the bathroom or food, drinks etc.. just to approach the CM for our FP and we could re-enter. The people that were just in front of us left several times and never had a issue returning. We never witnessed any chaos.