WOC debacle and other adventures!

[HydroGuy]

It seems that most of the problems come from not knowing where to line up and the initial rush of people into the respective sections. Could DCA just not get rid of the return time on the FP for the first show and leave it more similar to the seating that F! has?? Kind of a first come, first serve basis?? Obviously, this wouldn't work well for the later shows, but the system for them works a bit better. I personally sort of cringe at the idea of the first come, first serve as I don't like waiting around for hours for a show (even WOC). But, it is fair enough of a system that would probably be liked better.

For those who don't like the idea of bothering with a FP or don't want to deal with the confusion and crowds of the system, you could easily stand right by AG and see the show with a GREAT view. There's also a stand-by roped off section they've added now that is right in front of Little Mermaid which gives a really good panoramic view as well. And I'm sure there's plenty of other awesome spots as well!!

I think if they tried your idea it would be worse. They can improve the current system but for the time being a FP type system is a necessary evil.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Maybe this should have been the show DL tried to implement the show lottery system for like they have in Tokyo. For those of you that don't know, you enter your ticket in a FastPass machine and the pass tells you whether you get to see the show or not. But I think you have a certain amount of chances per day and you can try everyday of your trip.

 

[A Small World]

Maybe this should have been the show DL tried to implement the show lottery system for like they have in Tokyo. For those of you that don't know, you enter your ticket in a FastPass machine and the pass tells you whether you get to see the show or not. But I think you have a certain amount of chances per day and you can try everyday of your trip.

Which is more or less what happens anyhow - you put your ticket in the fastpass machine and it tells you that you can see the show by giving you a ticket for it.
The problems are with people with the tickets lining up/crowding to get into the areas to watch it.
As far as Im aware they implemented this system to stop people camping out all day and give everyone the same chance of getting tickets to see it however as we all agree something needs to be done about the queuing system

 

[HydroGuy]

Maybe this should have been the show DL tried to implement the show lottery system for like they have in Tokyo. For those of you that don't know, you enter your ticket in a FastPass machine and the pass tells you whether you get to see the show or not. But I think you have a certain amount of chances per day and you can try everyday of your trip.

Which is more or less what happens anyhow - you put your ticket in the fastpass machine and it tells you that you can see the show by giving you a ticket for it.
The problems are with people with the tickets lining up/crowding to get into the areas to watch it.
As far as Im aware they implemented this system to stop people camping out all day and give everyone the same chance of getting tickets to see it however as we all agree something needs to be done about the queuing system

No it's not. The Tokyo system is a lottery system. You get one shot per day. The DLR system is a first come - first served system. We were at TDR for three days and never "won" any lotteries so were not able to see any of the shows. Not sure if that is better. It sure made for no lines. But it also meant we did not get to see much in the way of shows.

 

[wdwmickey]

If there are 2 shows is the queing experience any better/easier at the second show?

 

[Dawn16]

So, is there a 45 min line just to get a FP in the first place? Yikes. If we are staying at GCV (thus getting in the back door) do we have a better shot at a shorter line for the FPs? We sooo don't stress about these things at WDW b/c we are there more often and if we miss something, no big deal. But only getting to DL every 2-3 years we really want to see the important stuff (namely WOC for the first time!). Sounds like I better get a plan for our early Dec. trip!

 

[dnamertz]

I'm another person who is getting worried about all I'm hearing about having to fight for a good spot.

I suggest to everyone reading this that when you line up for WoC, tell the CM "now are you SURE this is the correct place to line up, because I've read many accounts of people being in the front of the line only to later have the CM's disregard the line and turn it into a free-for-all...please tell me you're not going to let people who show up at the last minute go in at the same time I do".

 

[rentayenta]

The more I read about the WoC, the more I am leaning against not seeing it. I'm curious what the new "holiday" segment is like though. If not for that, we wouldn't be seeing it again.

 

[gmi3804]

I suggest to everyone reading this that when you line up for WoC, tell the CM "now are you SURE this is the correct place to line up, because I've read many accounts of people being in the front of the line only to later have the CM's disregard the line and turn it into a free-for-all...please tell me you're not going to let people who show up at the last minute go in at the same time I do".

And then you have to have faith that the CM is humble enough to say no if s/he isn't.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

So, is there a 45 min line just to get a FP in the first place? Yikes.!

This is the part of the OP's story I don't understand. Maybe I am not reading it right?

No, you don't need to wait for 45 minutes to get a fast pass to WOC. We have seen the show on 4 separate trips (including the first week it opened--so talk about crowds!), and we just walked up to fast pass machine and got a pass.

Actally, the first time we saw it we ordered the picnic (it has a fast pass in each picnic), but after seeing how easy it was to get a fast pass, we just got them from the fast pass machine for the next trips.

Basically, by Grizzly River Run there are a bank of fast pass machines (lots of them) designated just for WOC. You wind through the line to get yours. Each time we have just walked up (usually it is around 10:00ish in the morning) and get one. We been in both Blue and Yellow sections. Our last trip in the summer we were staying in the Grand California, and after I walked by to get my coffee in the morning (at White Water Snacks), I saw a CM was just giving away the Fast Passes at the entrance of CA, which was about to open. I took 3--enough for me and my girls.

There are two shows--early and late. We have always seen the early show, except for one time when the fast pass machine was out of early show passes (that was spring break time). We got the fast pass that day around noon, so a bit later.

 

[skiingfast]

It appears this thread is causing lots of confusion.

I'd suggest reading the WoC Superthread. Read the first post and then the last couple pages for recent experiences, not the first couple pages which are about when it just opened and guests did not know what to expect. If you wonder about the Show Ticket distribution times Disneyland1951 has a few posts in there from different seasons with the distribution times.

 

[A Small World]

No it's not. The Tokyo system is a lottery system. You get one shot per day. The DLR system is a first come - first served system. We were at TDR for three days and never "won" any lotteries so were not able to see any of the shows. Not sure if that is better. It sure made for no lines. But it also meant we did not get to see much in the way of shows.

Yes I understand the way of getting the tickets is different - in Tokyo from what I understand its a lottery and you may/may not 'win' the tickets whereas in DL you get one as long as there are some left in the machine.
However what I meant was its not going to make a difference how you get that ticket (same as whether you get it from picnic or FP machine) you still have to line up, and hope you get told the correct place to wait, and hope the CM doesnt let people from the back of the queue in first etc etc. So having a system like Tokyo where its a lottery whether you get the ticket wouldnt be any different would it.

 

[HydroGuy]

Yes I understand the way of getting the tickets is different - in Tokyo from what I understand its a lottery and you may/may not 'win' the tickets whereas in DL you get one as long as there are some left in the machine.
However what I meant was its not going to make a difference how you get that ticket (same as whether you get it from picnic or FP machine) you still have to line up, and hope you get told the correct place to wait, and hope the CM doesnt let people from the back of the queue in first etc etc. So having a system like Tokyo where its a lottery whether you get the ticket wouldnt be any different would it.

I guess there would be similarities if the WOC was indeed random. But it is not random. It is true that it can be poorly organized and it can be frustrating - partly because the queuing system seems to keep changing.

Regardless, I wish the WOC organizers would come up with a system and stick with it. And I wish Disney would figure out how to create more good viewing spots.

 

[Sdobek]

So, is there a 45 min line just to get a FP in the first place? Yikes. If we are staying at GCV (thus getting in the back door) do we have a better shot at a shorter line for the FPs? We sooo don't stress about these things at WDW b/c we are there more often and if we miss something, no big deal. But only getting to DL every 2-3 years we really want to see the important stuff (namely WOC for the first time!). Sounds like I better get a plan for our early Dec. trip!

The only wait we had at the beginning of Oct was the entrance to DCA using the GCV back entrance to enter the park early. There are only 2 gates there and a bunch of people lined up since it is the only open entrance. It was still only about a 15min wait since we didn't show up early. The FP machines were walk up since just getting into the park was slower.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

My show debacle yesterday came with Fantasmic, though. I like Fantasmic, I think it's great and fun, but it's not my favorite. We saw the 8pm WOC, so we headed over to DL to see the 1015pm F!. They had already blocked off Adventureland access from Main Street, so we really could only go through Frontierland. But when we came to the end right before turning towards NOS, there was a rope and CMs preventing us from going to the area. They did this to make sure all of the people from the previous F! showing could leave easily, which makes sense. The only problem was that they were allowing people from the other side of Frontierland/Fantasyland to go to the ROA seating for F!, so by the time we were all allowed to go claim our spots, the seating was already full. Kind of a mess, and definitely very frustrating after a long day in the parks

Once the fireworks are over, CMs do yell at people trying to get to F! seating from the "wrong" side (or at least from what I've seen). The problem lies in not wanting to stop (and thus annoy) the people who want to get to POTC or HM and don't want to have to wait until the people leftover from the first F! showing who remain in the area to watch the fireworks leave in order to get to their rides. Really, it's usually the ignorant (thus innocent) and rude who go down the "wrong" side to the F! seating.

I agree that the WOC viewing set-up needs to be improved. I saw it for the first time last July (the only time I could see it), and probably won't want to see it until things run smoother.

I know that with all of the new stuff being put into DCA, the DCA CMs are supposed to go through more training so as to bring them up to the same immersion skill level as the DL CMs (as opposed to just hiring CMs that would suffice at the average amusement park).

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

Honestly, seeing WOC for the first time this December is working on my anxiety. I booked Ariel's Grotto for the FastPass but I've heard it's the same free-for-all even for those when being let in.

I have a question though. If I'd prefer to see the second showing that night at 9:15, do I have to change my reservation to a "second seating" time or just ask for those FastPasses?

 

[skiingfast]

I have a question though. If I'd prefer to see the second showing that night at 9:15, do I have to change my reservation to a "second seating" time or just ask for those FastPasses?

Yes, the early WoC dinner seatings are for the first show, when there is a second show the later seatings get Show Tickets for the 2nd show.