WoC-Dessert Party or Carthay Circle Lunch?

[jsmla]

Which would you choose? We currently have reservations for both. I'm pretty sure we'd enjoy the food at lunch but sitting for the show sound fabulous and I would really like to avoid crowds/queueing as much as possible. If it makes a difference DH cannot sit on the ground due to a medical condition.

 

[kristabelle13]

Oooo, I can't wait to see the results! I've been having this debate for weeks now! lol

 

[eeyorefanuk]

Me too

 

[snowybelle]

I'm going in a few weeks and chose the dessert party because... sitting!

 

[wanderlust7]

We did the Carthay Circle package for lunch. With a family of 4 (2 little kids), I'm not about to pay more than double for dessert.

I thought the view was great. We got there a little after 8 pm (for a 9 pm show). There was a line for "dining packages" (which I assume is for Ariel's and Wine Country Trattoria), but Carthay Circle is a separate entrance and NO LINE! I think only 2-3 groups were there then. There was plenty of railing space to choose from. The reserved area is pretty big and it was not crowded at all. It is further back, but it's elevated.

This was the view:

 

[jsmla]

We did the Carthay Circle package for lunch. With a family of 4 (2 little kids), I'm not about to pay more than double for dessert.

I thought the view was great. We got there a little after 8 pm (for a 9 pm show). There was a line for "dining packages" (which I assume is for Ariel's and Wine Country Trattoria), but Carthay Circle is a separate entrance and NO LINE! I think only 2-3 groups were there then. There was plenty of railing space to choose from. The reserved area is pretty big and it was not crowded at all. It is further back, but it's elevated.

This was the view:

View attachment 162942

That sounds lovely! One of the main things my husband hates about WDW is the crowds. It looks like the view with dining package is better than the dessert party?

 

[lmmantini]

Votes are split 50/50 right now! We opted for lunch at Carthay Circle. Our reservation is 4/26.

 

[wanderlust7]

That sounds lovely! One of the main things my husband hates about WDW is the crowds. It looks like the view with dining package is better than the dessert party?

I haven't done the dessert party, so it's hard to say. From pictures I've seen, it seems the CC area is more center to Mickey's Wheel. I felt that we had a completely unobstructed view with the exception of the projection light poles.

I should add that this was during spring break (Monday 4/4 to be exact). Well worth the money considering that if we had ordered a la carte, it would be more than the package.

 

[wanderlust7]

Just a note for anyone with little kids or people sensitive to noise, there are air cannons that shoot up white smoke in front of the railing at the CC reserved area. My 4 year old was a little scared of them since they're pretty loud, but she was okay when I held her. I thought it was cool though, very immersive.

 

[tlovesdis]

I have been debating this too! I am taking my niece for her 10th birthday in June and she has never seen WOC. So I figured I would do one of the two as a birthday surprise. She loved dining at Blue Bayou and niether of us have tried Carthay Circle yet. $$158 for dessert is a lot! LOL! Plus I am diabetic and can eat a bit of sweets now and again, but not all that stuff it comes with.

I finally went with Carthay Circle lunch and am very much looking forward to it!!

 

[Nonsuch]

...It looks like the view with dining package is better than the dessert party?

The dessert party is on the center line of the show. While not a critical difference, it is a slightly better location.
My comments in the Desert Party thread.

 

[Iceman93]

I used to be one of the biggest fans of the Carthay Circle WoC packages, in fact it was the only way I would recommend people see the show. But now that I've done the dessert party, I have a new favorite. My suggestion would be to do the dessert party, but still have a lunch at Carthay Circle. It is the best in-park restaurant in the world, and now you won't be limited to the package menu options!

 

[Disney_Alli]

I used to be one of the biggest fans of the Carthay Circle WoC packages, in fact it was the only way I would recommend people see the show. But now that I've done the dessert party, I have a new favorite. My suggestion would be to do the dessert party, but still have a lunch at Carthay Circle. It is the best in-park restaurant in the world, and now you won't be limited to the package menu options!

This is exactly what we have planned - regular lunch at Carthay and the Dessert Party to see WoC (on different days because that's a lot of food!)

 

[subtchr]

I did the dessert party last night, and I have to say it is now one of my favorite experiences at a Disney park.

Fun and friendly CMs, wonderful service, delicious food, and a relaxed, amazing, comfortable view of the show on a perfect night. Worth every penny!

 

[cmph]

I did the dessert party last night, and I have to say it is now one of my favorite experiences at a Disney park.

Fun and friendly CMs, wonderful service, delicious food, and a relaxed, amazing, comfortable view of the show on a perfect night. Worth every penny!

View attachment 163069

Oh geez, I had NO intention of booking the dessert party until you posted that photo!! In our family of 4, only 2 of us eat a wide variety of desserts, so it seemed like a giant waste of money. But that's more like apps and dessert together with the cheese and bread! Essentially a light meal, instead of a giant pile of desserts. Oh man... what to do!!

 

[jsmla]

Thanks everyone! We're leaning toward the Dessert Party because of the seating. We fly out of Las Vegas pretty early and I'm thinking we'll be ready to sit after a long day. I'm pretty sure this will be our only trip to DLR so I want it to be a great one

 

[Canadian Harmony]

We did lunch at WCT for WOC and it was really good. But... crowded. Even though we were in front (super cool even with the mist and fire heat), I am leaning toward the sitting aspect of dessert. And... well... DESSERT!! LOL

 

[Dvcfan55]

We did the Carthay Circle package for lunch. With a family of 4 (2 little kids), I'm not about to pay more than double for dessert.

I thought the view was great. We got there a little after 8 pm (for a 9 pm show). There was a line for "dining packages" (which I assume is for Ariel's and Wine Country Trattoria), but Carthay Circle is a separate entrance and NO LINE! I think only 2-3 groups were there then. There was plenty of railing space to choose from. The reserved area is pretty big and it was not crowded at all. It is further back, but it's elevated.

This was the view:

View attachment 162942

Thanks for your insight and photo! i was wondering where exactly the viewing area is for CC? I was under the impression it was on the elevated center circle section but your photo looks further back. Was this recent? TIA!!

 

[wanderlust7]

Thanks for your insight and photo! i was wondering where exactly the viewing area is for CC? I was under the impression it was on the elevated center circle section but your photo looks further back. Was this recent? TIA!!

We went 2 weeks ago. On HydroGuy's excellent map, we were in the furthest green section.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/world-of-color-superthread.2542717/

 

[cmph]

Thanks everyone! We're leaning toward the Dessert Party because of the seating. We fly out of Las Vegas pretty early and I'm thinking we'll be ready to sit after a long day. I'm pretty sure this will be our only trip to DLR so I want it to be a great one

I ended up canceling our CC lunch WOC res and booking the dessert party thanks to this thread! Glad you posted it. When I actually sat down to cost-compare, it wasn't that much of a difference to be honest! 4 of us, but the oldest child is 10 so adult prices for her. I calculated that with tax, tip, and 2 (cough cough, probably another for me) alcoholic beverages at CC... we'd easily spend $250 there. Sure, it's not as much food, but the kids will actually like the cheese and dessert plate more than the CC food and will eat the same amount either place; DH is the only one who'd actually eat all that CC food at lunch time. An extra $66 for seats, less waiting, hopefully glow cup souvenirs, and the kids being able to see... and being able to take the 7yo to the bathroom and get back to our reserved table without fighting a crowd = worth it to us. Would I do this if my kids didn't like the dessert party food? Not likely. It's almost like they created those plates with my kids in mind and will be enough for dinner for them (and me). So it works for us. I TOTALLY blew it off when they first introduced it b/c of the price, but if you're willing to pay to do a WOC dining package elsewhere - it may be worth it to actually price out the difference.