WOC apprehension!

[gatorlisa]

WOC was about the only thing that disappointed me during my week at DLR in May. I don't remember how early exactly I got to the viewing area, but I was not dragging in at the last minute. I'm 5 feet tall and I pretty much didn't see any of it. No matter how I tried to arrange myself, I couldn't see any of the projections. I only saw the tops of the streams of water and heard the music. I'm sure it's lovely if you can actually see it, but for me, it was not worth the effort and I likely wouldn't bother again, unless I was there on an especially slow day with a lot less people wanting to watch. I have a much easier time with the parades, especially when there are two per night and I aim for the later one. Never had a problem getting a good spot for those, including Paint the Night on the same trip last May.

 

[GatorChris]

I've devoted some considerable time to getting good spots at Fireworks, F!, Paint the Night, and World of Color. If you want a good spot, it's what you have to do. That said, there's been times when we missed when the crowd lined up. Your best bed at that point is to head for the "wet" zones. That doesn't mean you'll get soaked, but you will get some mist your way. But most people avoid that area and leave it wide open for excellent viewing. If my wife wasn't such a priss about getting wet, it's where we'd be every time. And my kids love the "you might get wet" factor....especially when they do!

 

[gatorlisa]

I've devoted some considerable time to getting good spots at Fireworks, F!, Paint the Night, and World of Color. If you want a good spot, it's what you have to do. That said, there's been times when we missed when the crowd lined up. Your best bed at that point is to head for the "wet" zones. That doesn't mean you'll get soaked, but you will get some mist your way. But most people avoid that area and leave it wide open for excellent viewing. If my wife wasn't such a priss about getting wet, it's where we'd be every time. And my kids love the "you might get wet" factor....especially when they do!

I didn't know about the wet zone prior to going (not a DL regular). I saw the people down there and wondered how one got to view from that area. Next time I go, I will have to figure that out. I think that's the only way I'll ever be able to see the projections. As long as I'm prepared for it and it's not freezing, I don't mind getting wet.

 

[GatorChris]

I didn't know about the wet zone prior to going (not a DL regular). I saw the people down there and wondered how one got to view from that area. Next time I go, I will have to figure that out. I think that's the only way I'll ever be able to see the projections. As long as I'm prepared for it and it's not freezing, I don't mind getting wet.

It's quite easy. In fact, we were on the second level behind a ton of people when we looked down and saw all that empty space. It wasn't front row, but the people in front of us let our kids stand with their kids. And they squealed with delight every time the water mist would head our way. This was in June, so nice and warm.

And you wouldn't happen to be a UF fan, would ya?

 

[gatorlisa]

It's quite easy. In fact, we were on the second level behind a ton of people when we looked down and saw all that empty space. It wasn't front row, but the people in front of us let our kids stand with their kids. And they squealed with delight every time the water mist would head our way. This was in June, so nice and warm.

And you wouldn't happen to be a UF fan, would ya?

Yep! Sure am. Raised by 2 Gator parents and got my degrees from UF in 2000 and 2001. I noticed your username while reading the forums and figured you must also be a fellow Gator.

 

[GatorChris]

Yep! Sure am. Raised by 2 Gator parents and got my degrees from UF in 2000 and 2001. I noticed your username while reading the forums and figured you must also be a fellow Gator.

Sending private message.

 

[mich311e]

I've only seen WOC once. My son and I were there on a grad night and saw the 9 pm show. We got Blue section fast passes first thing in the morning. We got there at 8:04 and still were so far back we could hardly see anything. We're both about 5'5" so not super short.

I felt like I needed to see it at least once and I don't know if it would be worth the dining expense, but that's just me. We did previously see part of the show at Christmas time from the bridge (the second show of the night, so less crowded) and it looked neat. If we were to try again I would try waiting for that spot so no one is in front of me. I've been told this isn't a great view because it's angled but, jeesh, I don't know if I want to invest more than an hour to try to see it again.

(For the record we did do a Blue Bayou dining package for Fantasmic! last November because I didn't want to put in the time to wait for a seat, etc. And in all my years of going to Disneyland I'd never seen it. I thought that was worth it.)

 

[IBLarsen]

I've only seen WOC once. My son and I were there on a grad night and saw the 9 pm show. We got Blue section fast passes first thing in the morning. We got there at 8:04 and still were so far back we could hardly see anything. We're both about 5'5" so not super short.

I felt like I needed to see it at least once and I don't know if it would be worth the dining expense, but that's just me. We did previously see part of the show at Christmas time from the bridge (the second show of the night, so less crowded) and it looked neat. If we were to try again I would try waiting for that spot so no one is in front of me. I've been told this isn't a great view because it's angled but, jeesh, I don't know if I want to invest more than an hour to try to see it again.

(For the record we did do a Blue Bayou dining package for Fantasmic! last November because I didn't want to put in the time to wait for a seat, etc. And in all my years of going to Disneyland I'd never seen it. I thought that was worth it.)

Thanks! We always stake out a spot early for Fantasmic, and to us it's a do not miss. I'm a bit annoyed by the seating/standing arrangements at DLR. Especially the need to make everyone stand, everyone can see better with people allowed to sit.

 

[BriannaRuth]

The view from the GCH is pretty far away but it's a nice alternative if you can't handle crowds.

 

[Keels]

I've devoted some considerable time to getting good spots at Fireworks, F!, Paint the Night, and World of Color. If you want a good spot, it's what you have to do. That said, there's been times when we missed when the crowd lined up. Your best bed at that point is to head for the "wet" zones. That doesn't mean you'll get soaked, but you will get some mist your way. But most people avoid that area and leave it wide open for excellent viewing. If my wife wasn't such a priss about getting wet, it's where we'd be every time. And my kids love the "you might get wet" factor....especially when they do!

This! We snuck in at the last minute because we were enjoying our dinner far too much and they ended up sending our group of five down to an almost empty "wet zone" (this was Saturday of Mother's Day/Tinker Bell Half Marathon Weekend, FWIW). And we had a GREAT view. Yes, we got misted on, but it truly wasn't that bad.

 

[avalon451]

I did the dining package for lunch at Wine Country. The area was still packed with people, and I think I waited close to an hour... but I did get a spot right at the rail. That said, there were two little kids and their parents right behind me. When it started, I shooed the littles in front of me so they could see. The view was great.

This time I'm doing the dessert package, and hang the cost. Like you, I really dislike the close packed crowds, and I understand that you can show up last and still get a great, unblocked view-- sitting down, with dessert and champagne. Yes, please. Totally worth it to me.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If you go with the free Fps, use some time earlier in the day to scope out the viewing area (blue or yellow). Know where you want to be and how to get there. Have a backup plan, too. Then after you line up and are allowed in, you'll know exactly where to go. This saves so much time and confusion. DH is tall, so he can see from just about anywhere (as long as there isn't a kid on someone's shoulders right in front of him). I'm pretty short, so location matters a lot. We know which areas work for us, and that's where we head every time. The wait to get a good spot (anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes) is worth it to us.

I have heard people complaining loudly that they couldn't see anything, but from what I could see, they showed up at the last minute and were stuck in the very back. The CMs can't do anything about that.

 

[GeneralTso]

Don't even worry about it. It'll be fine--truly. NOT worth the stress, at all.
You'll see it, once the show starts, it all just works out.
We don't wait for hours or even an hour. We get there very close to start and just find a spot. Lots of spaces open up as people shuffle in right before it begins.
We have done the dining packages and those are nice too, plenty of good spots there as well.
The 60th anniversary version of WOC is our least favorite. We found it very boring at parts, especially the Neil Patrick Harris narration.
We love the Christmas version the best because really, all anyone wants to do is sing Let It Go at the top of their lungs with everyone else.

 

[dina444444]

If you are going when there are two showings for the current celebrate show, get a FP for the 2nd show. It's typically not very full for the 2nd showing.

 

[bevcgg]

We had a really bad experience with fast passes a few years ago- early June. We at the rope when the CM walked people to the locations. During that time several very intoxicated large men pushed through the crowd causing it to surge and physically shoved my very petite DD against the rope that had stopped- almost trampling her. Needless to say a few words were exchanged- security removed us from the crowd- causing more loud outcry's from that group. We were "seated" in the reserved dining area and the other group was removed from the park- I think/hope. The show was amazing and the view was great- but it was hard to enjoy after that scary altercation and left a bad taste. Although this was a one time event I have not heard repeated- we will not do FP again. If it is important to us to see WOC we will do it via the meal package or this next time we are doing the dessert party. Getting the FP, jostling for spaces, standing for the show- is no longer worth all the effort for my family. Disney needs to figure out how to make viewing of WOC easy for people of all ages and sizes- the current system doesn't work well.

 

[Tigerlily75]

We may have got lucky, but we saw it and loved it. I didn't even pick up a Fastpass for it until about 2pm, and then we turned up only about half an hour before the show. Our Fastpass was for the bridge section, and the kind people on the bridge squeezed us in, so it was front row viewing for us. Even waiting for that half an hour was enjoyable, they had the Mickey Fun Wheel game, and the people next to us were playing that game with their phones, I forget what it's called, but it has a word and the rest give clues, or something like that. Anyway, the whole thing was very fun and very enjoyable!