W.O.C. dining package - Worth it for viewing area?

[palenskec]

We are going to DL/DCA this April and would like to see the WOC show (We didnt' catch it on our last trip - have never seen it).

I am wondering if I should look into doing a dining package to get the "reserved" viewing area. Where is that exactly? Would I be better off watching it somewhere else on our own?

Also, we are staying at the Grand (first time ever staying on property!!!!!), and I heard that there might be a viewing deck in the hotel for guests? Is this true??

Thanks for all the help!

 

[disney world dreamer]

no definitely not in my opinion anyways.
a friend and i considered doing it but decided we weren't fans of the food we would be getting.
then when we went to watch WOC we saw the people that did opt for the dining package and there were very very few of them and once they were in place the CM's dropped the ropes and we moved right up next to them.

 

[palenskec]

no definitely not in my opinion anyways.
a friend and i considered doing it but decided we weren't fans of the food we would be getting.
then when we went to watch WOC we saw the people that did opt for the dining package and there were very very few of them and once they were in place the CM's dropped the ropes and we moved right up next to them.

That is what I was thinking too.

Now, I just noticed that there is a dining package that includes a viewing area for the Paint the Night parade .... anybody think that might be worth it? We haven't seen that parade, and the nighttime parade crowd gives me a bit of anxiety!

 

[pepe3penelope]

The viewing area for WOC in GCH is supposed to be for DVC members only. When we stayed there, CM's would come by (I assume to check). Maybe someone else can confirm this. It's a decent view but not ideal because it's at an angle & from the side.

 

[Nonsuch]

The viewing area for WOC in GCH is supposed to be for DVC members only. When we stayed there, CM's would come by (I assume to check). Maybe someone else can confirm this. It's a decent view but not ideal because it's at an angle & from the side.

The 6th floor patio is for all guests at the GCH, both regular hotel and DVC villas. A room key is required to open the door. I've never seen a CM up there.

The view of WOC is rather poor, and I recommend viewing WOC from inside DCA

 

[bethwc101]

We did dining for Carthay circle and I must say we were seriously disappointed. The food was amazing, but our seating was terrible. We arrive 20 minutes before our ticket time told us to and all carthay dining was in the way back up by Ariel. Everyone was seriously upset and all the regular fastpass people were in front of us. For paying $120+ the dining people were not happy. The CMs kept saying oh no thus is the best view. Yeah best obstructed view.

 

[disneymouse16]

My family really likes it. I think it has been the most useful when we used it for a first showing of the evening. Being a shorty I like not having to fight as much of the crowds to get right up against a railing so I can actually see the show. We just got back from a trip doing Carthay Circle and, yes, the viewing area is further back but it is almost all against the rail, meaning no one can stand in front of you. For me that is worth it.

 

[pepe3penelope]

The 6th floor patio is for all guests at the GCH, both regular hotel and DVC villas. A room key is required to open the door. I've never seen a CM up there.

The view of WOC is rather poor, and I recommend viewing WOC from inside DCA

Thanks for the clarification about the WOC viewing area.

 

[Geemo]

We checked out the GCH viewing deck back in October. There were about a dozen people there all right on the rail. Viewing angle is BAD. We din't stay to see the show once it started, felt our time was better spent doing something else.

See WOC from in DCA or don't bother.
We've never done the dinner packages and have been happy with a FP for Blue or Yellow sections.

Geemo

 

[emmybee]

I don't enjoy showing up super early for a good spot. I would much rather pay for that privilege. My family really enjoys everything about the Carthay Circle, so that is why it is worth if for us (well, me) to get a "two-fer." We get a meal we enjoy in a beautiful restaurant, and we get to show up only a few minutes early for a good viewing of the show. I really think it depends on how much you are willing to wait for the show.

 

[smilezlie]

Not worth it at all. The spot we had was terrible and in the splash zone! Plus the new world of color is just meh. Also, the food at Ariel's Grotto was not worth the price.

You can actually find decent spots for Paint the Night. I like going to the earlier one and watching it down by Small World. My friend and I got a spot by the popcorn cart on the Matterhorn side. Less claustrophobic that way because the cart is next to you. Wonderful views.

I would skip any of the packages and just do a nice dinner. Save some money.

 

[DetroitAvant]

We didn't think the view was worth it and while the food and service was great, we didn't realize how long the meal was going to be.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

I have done the Ariel's Grotto and Wine Country Trattoria packages and found them to be worth it, BUT that's because we were willing to spend a bit of time waiting. The dining tickets tell you to show up 15 minutes before show time or some such nonsense, and if you do that you will end up with a terrible view, dining package or not. We showed up an hour before show time and got really awesome rail spots on the level just above the splash zone. I consider this to be the best view because no one can stand in front of you, you are high enough to see all of the water surface, and you don't get wet (or just barely misted if the wind is bad). I wouldn't do the Carthay Circle package because the viewing area is further back and I don't prefer that.

Good spots in the dining areas were still to be found until about 30 minutes before show time, at which point many families started to show up and were very disappointed with their views.

So, in conclusion...assuming you would enjoy the food offered, the dining packages can be worth it as long as you show up earlier than 30 minutes before show time. However, you can also get good views with a regular FP, you just have to show up even earlier.

 

[MommyJKM]

I love the WOC viewing area. I'm under 5' tall (and my husband is 6'7" so he can see anywhere), but I've never had an issue in the Carthay Circle viewing area being able to see. I'm also not a fan of waiting for shows and I like the food at CC so it works out for us. Ariel's Grotto food is horrible and Wine Country is just okay - if you would enjoy a nice meal and break do the CC WOC menu (and order the biscuits on the side).

As other's have said, the GCH viewing patio is off to the side. We like to get a glass of wine and walk up there and listen to the music but don't expect to be able to see the water screen parts of the show. If it's an off-park day it's a nice way to "feel" you're in the parks. There is also a channel that plays the music if you stay in your room to watch.

 

[kirstie101]

Personally, we loved the WOC viewing area for WCTT and thats the only way my husband is interested in watching WOC from now on. We showed up about 5 minutes before they let people into the viewing areas so we still arrived earlier than the tickets stated, but we also didn't have to stake out a spot in line 2 hours early. We avoided the wet zone and sat on some steps which gave us a perfect, unobstructed, dry view. DS had fallen asleep in his stroller prior to the viewing area opening up and we were allowed to bring the stroller in with us, having it just in front of us at the steps. He slept through the whole show and we had a great view. It couldn't have worked out better for us.

We enjoyed the food we had at WCTT. I've heard of people having issues service there but we didn't experience that at all. So if you're planning on having a nice meal in the parks anyway then I'd say its totally worth it.

 

[texasgingerbread]

Personally, we loved the WOC viewing area for WCTT and thats the only way my husband is interested in watching WOC from now on. We showed up about 5 minutes before they let people into the viewing areas so we still arrived earlier than the tickets stated, but we also didn't have to stake out a spot in line 2 hours early. We avoided the wet zone and sat on some steps which gave us a perfect, unobstructed, dry view. DS had fallen asleep in his stroller prior to the viewing area opening up and we were allowed to bring the stroller in with us, having it just in front of us at the steps. He slept through the whole show and we had a great view. It couldn't have worked out better for us.

We enjoyed the food we had at WCTT. I've heard of people having issues service there but we didn't experience that at all. So if you're planning on having a nice meal in the parks anyway then I'd say its totally worth it.

What time do you recommend making a reservation to be out to line up...if the show is at 8:15? Did dinner take about an a hour and a half including wait time before you were sat?

 

[kirstie101]

I think WOC was at 8:15 for us too. I know it was the first showing. We had a 5:00 reservation for dinner. We waited less than 5 minutes for our table. We were able to watch the Pixar Parade go by as we were eating. We took our time during dinner and did not rush at all. I'm gonna say we were there til 6:30 most likely. After dinner we hung around the area, did some of the rides nearby and then got in the line just before they opened the seating area. I think they opened it an hour before the show started if I remember correctly.

 

[suyama]

We are considering the WOC dining plan. If we ate at Carthay Circle, would they let us watch the show from the Ariels Grotto area or do we have to stay in our specific area?

 

[AZMermaid]

We loved our experience with WOC dining at Carthay Circle. First dinner was amazing and we were given a private room/alcove for our party. They said there were only three in the restaurant so we were lucky, ironically our friends were in another one.

We got to the viewing area about 20 min early. The CM reccomended we stand on the top of the steps which was great. We could see over everyone. Our section was basically empty. They did allow people to fill in the section in front of us right before the show, but I think there were 10 people in our section. Our friends were in another CC viewing area, kind of in front of the entrance to the Ariel ride, but we were about two sections closer to the Golden Zephyr. Just guessing most people go into that first area. We didnt see it, so we got lucky I guess! This was the Sat night of Avengers weekend, so not a slow time.

No one was really monitoring where we stayed or stood, so im guessing we could have moved closer if we wanted.

 

[scrapperkimmydee]

Not worth it at all. The spot we had was terrible and in the splash zone! Plus the new world of color is just meh. Also, the food at Ariel's Grotto was not worth the price.

You can actually find decent spots for Paint the Night. I like going to the earlier one and watching it down by Small World. My friend and I got a spot by the popcorn cart on the Matterhorn side. Less claustrophobic that way because the cart is next to you. Wonderful views.

I would skip any of the packages and just do a nice dinner. Save some money.

So, Ariel's Grotto gave you spots in the splash zone? That's way up front, right?