WOC and Paint the Night questions

[westie55]

WDW vet here, but I'm making my maiden voyage to Disneyland in April! A couple of questions:

Does everyone stand for WOC or is there seating? If you have a fast pass, how far in advance do you have to arrive to be able to have a decent view of the show? Are the viewing areas with the dining packages better than the FP viewing area?

For PTN, how much in advance of the parade do you need to find a seat? In WDW, Main St. fills up looooong before the Electrical parade starts, but it's pretty easy to find a seat elsewhere much closer to the start of the parade (even under 20 minutes). Is it the same in Disneyland Park?

If we are getting a babysitter one night for our infant, which of these would be better for us to see alone /more difficult with a stroller?

Thanks for any info!

 

[figment_jii]

Does everyone stand for WOC or is there seating? If you have a fast pass, how far in advance do you have to arrive to be able to have a decent view of the show? Are the viewing areas with the dining packages better than the FP viewing area?

The viewing area for WoC is standing room only. I think WoC is one of the hardest viewing areas to deal with, but it depends a lot on how good of a view you want and how tall you are. The taller you are, the easier a time you'll have in seeing the show (i.e., finding a spot). I think that even with a FP, you still need to get there at least an hour before the show starts if you want to have a chance at finding a railing spot. If you willing to be further back or further off to the side, you can get there closer to show time, but if you're short, you'll miss out on half of the show (the bottom half because you won't be able to see the water surface through the guests standing in front of you). The WoC SuperThread has a good map of the viewing area.

For PTN, how much in advance of the parade do you need to find a seat? In WDW, Main St. fills up looooong before the Electrical parade starts, but it's pretty easy to find a seat elsewhere much closer to the start of the parade (even under 20 minutes). Is it the same in Disneyland Park?

PtN is still very popular and it's not uncommon for all front row spots along the parade route to fill up at least an hour before the parade steps off, especially on busy days. I think the parade route tends to fill up in whatever direction the parade is going; so when it starts near IaSW that area seems to fill up first and when it starts on MS, that area fills up first. Unlike MK, the DLR parades change direction depending on how many parades there in a given day.

 

[Kkb0517]

The viewing area for WoC is standing room only. I think WoC is one of the hardest viewing areas to deal with, but it depends a lot on how good of a view you want and how tall you are. The taller you are, the easier a time you'll have in seeing the show (i.e., finding a spot). I think that even with a FP, you still need to get there at least an hour before the show starts if you want to have a chance at finding a railing spot. If you willing to be further back or further off to the side, you can get there closer to show time, but if you're short, you'll miss out on half of the show (the bottom half because you won't be able to see the water surface through the guests standing in front of you). The WoC SuperThread has a good map of the viewing area.


PtN is still very popular and it's not uncommon for all front row spots along the parade route to fill up at least an hour before the parade steps off, especially on busy days. I think the parade route tends to fill up in whatever direction the parade is going; so when it starts near IaSW that area seems to fill up first and when it starts on MS, that area fills up first. Unlike MK, the DLR parades change direction depending on how many parades there in a given day.

Is there anyway to know which direction the parade will come?

 

[figment_jii]

You can ask a CM on the parade route and they should know.

There can only be one parade stored behind Main Street at any one time, so that's generally the easiest way to figure it out. Usually, the first PtN will go from IaSW to MS and the second will go from MS to IaSW.

 

[JoMarch]

With WOC I like to arrive an hour early and score a spot on the bridge right at the stone railing. You have to claim your spot and stay there.

 

[chateau]

With WOC I like to arrive an hour early and score a spot on the bridge right at the stone railing. You have to claim your spot and stay there.

I really hate having to do that, so much I pass up great shows because I don't stake very well (especially when someone claims ignorant and just walks in on your spot, then speaks no English, until their family arrives).