WoC Dessert Party - bit of critisicm

[Sherlee]

I love World of Color! I had seen the show previously in 2013, this was the first time for my daughter. I purchased the dessert package for last Saturday at a cost of $79 per person and was given a check-in time of 9:00 pm for the 9:45 pm show. We had just ridden Little Mermaid at 8:00 pm and since we were right there thought we would see where we would be sitting and where we needed to check-in. We surprised to already see lines for both FP and Dessert Party. I quickly and blindly jumped in line while my daughter asked questions at the podium. Yes, it was people already lining up...at 8:15 pm! Since we had pretty done all we had to do at CA, we stayed and were maybe about 15th in line. They started letting us in at 9:00 pm and we selected a low table due to my daughters back issues. She did not think the director's chairs at the high top tables would be very comfortable. We were placed at Table #2 in the very front row. These are not good seats! Due to the people in the standing FP area, the lower part of the movie projections is not visible. Even worse, several men in the FP standing area put their children on their shoulders totally blocking our view in certain directions!!! One man at a table near us complained, but nothing was done. Finally, as a party of two, we were placed at our table with other people. This was a bit uncomfortable and they really need to have tables of two. Yes, the ability to sit through the show is great, but for $79 and a little plate of treats, you should get your own table.

 

[Kindermouse]

I often see people say that the dessert parties are worth it since they dont want to waste limited park time waiting in line for even dining package FP sections. Well, if the dessert party wait is just as long than all you paid for is a folding chair, a couple of cookies and cheese and grapes. Then people say that the view is perfect-but I have heard several people talk about having an impeded view. Is a folding chair really worth that much value? I was thinking of doing a dessert party for just myself for my solo trip but I feel more and more like the experience is overhyped for what you actually get.

Also I have been stalking some of the dessert party threads for the star wars show as WDW and the food we get at the DL WOC dessert party totally pales in comparison to what they serve at WDW. They even have 3 different cocktails to choose from!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Have you sent a comment about this to Disney? Use the contact us link on the Disneyland Resort web site. They can't address or fix what they don't know.

 

[5forMickey]

Sorry you didn't enjoy it. I sure hope they don't go to letting people line up early as that takes us right back to the three hour stalking for a spot issue.

I understand how a party of 2 might be uncomfortable sitting with others but the profit margin is designed for four guest at a table.

 

[Laurajland]

I had the exact same experience at the party we attended on 9/30. We were also seated at a front row table with the low chairs and couldn't see the projections through the standing crowd in front of us. Then a man put his daughter on his shoulders and we *really* couldn't see anything. I was definitely frustrated that I'd spent so much money and this was my family's first time seeing World of Color, but I thought maybe it was a fluke since everyone else raved about the view.

 

[Mousequake]

I probably would be uncomfortable seated with another group too, but it's pretty clearly disclosed on the website that shared seating is a possibility.

 

[ejdmomma]

We have a trip scheduled right after New Year's (1/1-1/4). With kids still out of school, I'm expecting the parks to be busy. So I have been debating booking the dessert party so my elderly mom and young children won't have to stand or be squished in a crowd.

We will be a party of 5 - will we be divided into 2 groups or all at one table? Will we be able to get higher seats without lining up at 8pm?

 

[cruisehopeful]

Would it matter if you just came at the regular time? I don't like to wait in lines. I purchased a dessert party to avoid that and to have a seat. If I have to wait in a line anyway, I'll cancel it. If the line is only because people like to wait in lines and I can still walk up at my designated time, I'll keep my reservation.

 

[mom2rtk]

Would it matter if you just came at the regular time? I don't like to wait in lines. I purchased a dessert party to avoid that and to have a seat. If I have to wait in a line anyway, I'll cancel it. If the line is only because people like to wait in lines and I can still walk up at my designated time, I'll keep my reservation.

I'm struggling with the same thing. We have it booked on a busy Saturday night but it's frustrating to think we might need to line up early anyway. I saw a report in another thread of someone at a lower table with someone in front of them with a child on their shoulders blocking their view. I would like to get a high top table in back to give us some more height, but does that mean I have to be there 60-90 minutes early?

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Thank you for taking the time to post about this. We will be there right before Christmas and I have been waiting to book this party. Our family loves special events and seating. I cannot justify it, though, if we won't be able to see the show. Ugh...Now I don't know what to do....

 

[Kindermouse]

I'm struggling with the same thing. We have it booked on a busy Saturday night but it's frustrating to think we might need to line up early anyway. I saw a report in another thread of someone at a lower table with someone in front of them with a child on their shoulders blocking their view. I would like to get a high top table in back to give us some more height, but does that mean I have to be there 60-90 minutes early?

I have also heard reports of there being high top tables in front of other high top tables and the people who were seating behind the other table also couldnt see.

I am very short (5'1 and a half-I never take off the half and often round up) so either one of those possibilities would mean I wouldn't be able to see. I really want to se the new holiday WOC and im thinking it would be best with a dining package and lining up early.

 

[Butterfly123]

Thanks for sharing your experience. It really is a shame that they can't do more to make sure that everyone that pays for the seating gets a good view. Having to line up that early is also disappointing. Please do make sure you give Disney your feedback.

 

[buzznina]

I purchased the MK desert package at WDW a couple of years ago as a surprise for my DW and DDs. They enjoyed it but when DW asked what I paid, I told her and got a look that sent chills through me She then nicely said, do not do it again.

 

[mamapenguin]

We went in August, and as a party of 2 were seated with another party of 2. All of us were there to enjoy the show and we did. I think we were at table 14. It was a high top table, center, back row. We did not line up very early, maybe 15 min before the return time and we were pretty far back in the line. The line moved quickly for check in and we had plenty of time to enjoy everything. CMs offered to take pictures before the show. Time is precious to me so this was the only way that I was going to see WOC. If I had it to do over I would still do it, but will I do it again? Probably not, WOC isn't a must do for me beyond seeing it once.

 

[hsmamato2]

OP brings up a great question for all of us..... do we HAVE to stand in a line for 2 hours to get a table? Or is it already set up who sits where? I am HOPING they assign tables ahead of time, as our party is large..... and I too won't want to pay $$$ to stand for 2 hours waiting, the allure of this is the idea of a shorter wait,and a place to sit. The kids on shoulders in front, well,maybe if OP and others send in a complaint to Disney, they may rearrange crowds directly in front..... but otherwise I would guess there's no way to prevent that

 

[GatorChris]

This is my huge beef with WOC dessert and dining packages, and just WOC in general. First, I've never paid extra to see the show. Why? Because you pay that extra money and you still have to get in line early to get a spot where you can see the show. No thanks. I can do that with just the FP for the show.

Second, this is where Disney World kicks DL's back side. At Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, there's great bleacher seats...where everyone can sit AND see the show. At DCA, forget about sitting (without paying a fortune), and seeing is optional if your short like us.

Here's an idea, Disney: take out Golden Yawner/Zephyr, and stretch out the viewing space, inserting bleachers. This would enable us to sit, to see, and not to spend an hour in line, 30 minutes waiting for the show, and another 30 minutes standing around during the show.

 

[JayDubs]

We just did the dessert party a couple of weeks ago. The reason I decided to comment is about lining up early... I don't know why people do it! That's precisely one of the reasons we booked it--so that we didn't have to waste time in line. And we didn't. We were riding Toy Story Mania right up until the last moment. We showed up about 30 minutes before the show started, which is when they start checking people in. We were at the "end of the line," so I could tell that people had been there waiting for some time. I'm not sure why! There didn't seem to be any advantage to it really, other than wasting time. So even though "everyone does it," I got the feeling it was a lot like EVERYONE crowds up to the gate at airports as soon as they call the first group. Relax. We'll all have a seat.

As far as the view, I can't speak to that. We had a great view, but were not at one of the lower tables. We were at a high top table with a row of high top tables in front of us. We could see without obstruction, but we're also grown adults and not children.

As far as sharing the tables with others, I understand the awkwardness that might come with that. We were a party of two and we were prepared to share, as it does state that when you book it. We lucked out though and it wasn't a crowded party, so we had the whole table to ourselves.

 

[Nevada Jen]

We went last Thursday. So a super crowded time. We did line up early (maybe 20 minutes before the call time) but we didn't intend to. Little mermaid was down and that gave us the extra time. We had a front row low table. True if there was something going on directly on top of the water, we couldn't see it. But I didn't realize we might have missed something until this thread (and I am still not convinced I did). We had an already tall guy put his pretty big kid on his shoulders and one of our stranger table mates went and complained to a waiter and the waiter made him take the kid down. Being at a high top would have solved that problem but I wanted my feet on the ground. My mother thought it was the best part of the entire trip. (She paid). I thought is was cool and one of the better parts of our trip (which wasn't that great because it was crazy crowded) but I wouldn't do it twice I don't think. More importantly, there is no way in HECK I would see it any other way. It is simply not worth it to stand like cattle waiting for slaughter in that crowd for the amount of time those people had to stand. There was literally no room between people and I could see the pushing and shoving going on. It was nuts. Truth be told, I don't think DLR was prepared for last weeks crowds and didn't really have hours and staffing set appropriately.

 

[hsmamato2]

We just did the dessert party a couple of weeks ago. The reason I decided to comment is about lining up early... I don't know why people do it! That's precisely one of the reasons we booked it--so that we didn't have to waste time in line. And we didn't. We were riding Toy Story Mania right up until the last moment. We showed up about 30 minutes before the show started, which is when they start checking people in. We were at the "end of the line," so I could tell that people had been there waiting for some time. I'm not sure why! There didn't seem to be any advantage to it really, other than wasting time. So even though "everyone does it," I got the feeling it was a lot like EVERYONE crowds up to the gate at airports as soon as they call the first group. Relax. We'll all have a seat.

As far as the view, I can't speak to that. We had a great view, but were not at one of the lower tables. We were at a high top table with a row of high top tables in front of us. We could see without obstruction, but we're also grown adults and not children.

As far as sharing the tables with others, I understand the awkwardness that might come with that. We were a party of two and we were prepared to share, as it does state that when you book it. We lucked out though and it wasn't a crowded party, so we had the whole table to ourselves.

cool! so were tables already assigned?

 

[JayDubs]

We were given a choice, not at check-in, but when we actually arrived at the party level for seating. They asked if we wanted high or low and we said high and they obliged!