WOC - Dining Package or FastPass?

[Frozen2014]

There are many threads out there on the WOC Dessert Package. I'll admit that it does sound nice to have a seat and not having to get there 1hr+ for a good view, but Disney is part of a 10 day trip for us so we need to watch our budget (as we are a family of 4).

Thus, I have a few questions of Dining Packge vs Fast Pass

1. Is the WOC Dining Package worth it? Or is it not much advantage over grabbing a FastPass? If we did the dining package, we would probably book Wine Country Trattoria as the menu looks best for our tastes.
2. How early do you recommend to arrive for the show if you have the dining package?
3. How early do you recommend to arrive for the sow if you have a Fast Pass?
4. For Fast Pass, do you need to run to grab them first thing? Or do they last into the morning?
5. For dining package, I assume selecting lunch vs dinner makes no difference in your spot for the show? (lunch is a lot cheaper)
6. We will be at the parks from Tues Aug 29 - Fri Sept 1. Is there a day that is best for WOC in terms of crowds?

Thanks.

 

[Napoleon Dynamite]

I'm interested in answers to this also!

 

[Niltiac]

1. I think it depends on if you want to eat at the restaurant in the first place. If you would be going there just for the FP, then I don't think it's worth it. You could invest the time you would have spent on the meal waiting for a spot, and save money. If you want a nice sit-down meal anyway and WCT looks good to you, then I think it's worth it.

2. Someone else would probably be better to answer this. I did a dining package back in 2014, and we arrived at the viewing area less than an hour ahead of time (I don't remember specifics) and had perfect spots. But it was a weekday in 2014, and things are generally busier now. But it was a halloween party night which generally boosts crowds in DCA, so it's hard to say if that experience was typical.

3. I've never watched with a regular FP and invested the time to get a good spot, so I'm not sure.

4. They last. If there are two showings, the FP for the first one is given out first, and different sections are given out in order. So decide if it's important to you which showing you see and/or which section you get before deciding how long to wait for FP.

5. Lunch/dinner won't make a difference in your place for the show, but if there are two showings that day I believe your reservation time will determine which show you get.

6. I would generally assume Friday will be your busiest day overall, just since it's a Friday.

 

[pharmama]

I want to make sure you are aware you will not have a "seat" or chair of any kind for WoC unless you do the Dessert party. The dining packages offer access to reserved premium viewing areas but there are still no chairs.

1. I agree with the PP. If you think you will eat at the restaurant anyway then I'd do the dining package. The access to the reserved areas is nice and the viewing is good. We did WCT during a very busy day around New Years and still had a great view arriving a little over 30min before showtime. When we do dining packages, we try to book a mid afternoon late lunch/early dinner and just grab snack items when needed, thereby making it count for two meals.

2. We usually try to arrive around 30-45min ahead for the reserved sections

3. It's been a while since I did WoC on a regular fastpass but we used to arrive at least 1hr-1.5hr ahead (for the first show. I've never done the late show)

4. Fast passes don't run out right away.

5. In theory there is a time where they switch over to the late showing and I've read/seen that stated here, but every time we've done a dining package (4 times), we were asked which show we wanted the fast passes for.

6. I am not sure if you are aware that the Disneyland Half Marathon takes place over the course of the weekend at the end of your trip. Race events begin that Friday morning (5K) and crowds will be larger then too. It won't matter much if you're doing the dining package but will matter more if you decide to just do regular fast passes.

 

[Frozen2014]

Thank you for the responses.

To comment from above...yes, I know that the only way to get a seat is by dessert package. But $79 x 4 = $316 USD = around $430 CAD. If we were just doing Disney for 4 days, then we'd splurge, but it's a 10 day trip so a lot for just one activity. Also, aren't the seats for the dessert party further back? Must give good views though since you only hear good things.

1. So in terms of dinner, we do like sit down meals to unwind and relax. Having said that, without WOC we probably wouldn't pick Wine Country Trattoria for one of our table service meals as there are others that are more interesting/our budget, etc, but I think from the menu we would be happy there. I assume lunch still offers appetiser, entree and dessert?

2&3 - If the difference is arriving 30-45 min early with dining package vs 1hr - 1.5hr early, then that in itself sounds worth it.

5. We're coming with kids so we will be seeing the first show if two are offered that last week in August.

6. That helps...so don't do WOC on Friday (or Fantasmic...which is the other show). Yeah...I did hear that there is some marathon over the long weekend so Friday (and Thursday?) may be busier. Maybe the Wed would be our best bet? This would be our second park day. (WE have hoppers so it doesn't matter what park we visit in the day).

 

[Niltiac]

Also, aren't the seats for the dessert party further back? Must give good views though since you only hear good things.

Yes, it's farther back but somewhat raised. I didn't like the view and thought it was way overpriced. We had a much better view using the dining package and standing front and center. My opinion is in the minority though, everyone just raves about the dessert party.

 

[Frozen2014]

Yes, it's farther back but somewhat raised. I didn't like the view and thought it was way overpriced. We had a much better view using the dining package and standing front and center. My opinion is in the minority though, everyone just raves about the dessert party.

First time going, but I totally get that. For shows I always like being front row.
Mind you, for front row at WOC, isn't that the splash zone?

 

[pharmama]

First time going, but I totally get that. For shows I always like being front row.
Mind you, for front row at WOC, isn't that the splash zone?

In my opinion, WoC isn't a "front row" type of show. And yes, you do get wet in the front few zones. How wet depends on the direction and strength of the winds as its largely due to the mist generated by the fountains and water screens.

I think you are better able to take in the whole picture presented by the show from a few sections back. This and the wet zone (though the WoC section does include the very back of the "wet zone") is why the reserved dining sections and the dessert party section are placed where they are.

 

[Niltiac]

First time going, but I totally get that. For shows I always like being front row.
Mind you, for front row at WOC, isn't that the splash zone?

Yes it is, but how wet you get really varies based on wind. We stayed completely dry. I've heard others refer to it as a heavy misting. I'm guessing it's not too common for there to be any actual "splashing" in the splash zone. But there are other "front" rows you can get to avoid the wet zone. If I remember right there are tiers and if you get front row for a higher tier the view should be pretty good.

I really think WoC is best experienced from the front. That was my favorite memory from the entire trip (first time to DLR). You can see everything. From farther back, even with the dessert party seating, some of the effects at the water surface will be blocked unless you're quite tall.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

We did the Carthay Circle dining package last night. We arrived to the viewing area exactly 9 minutes before the show started and had a perfectly nice view. I saw the dessert party seating nearby and honestly, it didn't look all that special to me. I don't mind standing and there's just no way I'm paying $80 for a few dessert items and seat. It's not like this is a 2-hour show. It was 30 minutes. WOC was a very neat show, I really enjoyed it and I liked not having to wait for an hour or more to watch it. We wanted to eat at Carthay Circle anyway, so the WOC package was just an added bonus for us. The only thing I slightly regret is that we had a limited menu to choose from at Carthay, but the food was still good.

 

[Frozen2014]

Yes it is, but how wet you get really varies based on wind. We stayed completely dry. I've heard others refer to it as a heavy misting. I'm guessing it's not too common for there to be any actual "splashing" in the splash zone. But there are other "front" rows you can get to avoid the wet zone. If I remember right there are tiers and if you get front row for a higher tier the view should be pretty good.

I really think WoC is best experienced from the front. That was my favorite memory from the entire trip (first time to DLR). You can see everything. From farther back, even with the dessert party seating, some of the effects at the water surface will be blocked unless you're quite tall.

Thanks. Will have to experience it (can't wait) but I have a feeling I'm one in the vote to sit close too.

We did the Carthay Circle dining package last night. We arrived to the viewing area exactly 9 minutes before the show started and had a perfectly nice view. I saw the dessert party seating nearby and honestly, it didn't look all that special to me. I don't mind standing and there's just no way I'm paying $80 for a few dessert items and seat. It's not like this is a 2-hour show. It was 30 minutes. WOC was a very neat show, I really enjoyed it and I liked not having to wait for an hour or more to watch it. We wanted to eat at Carthay Circle anyway, so the WOC package was just an added bonus for us. The only thing I slightly regret is that we had a limited menu to choose from at Carthay, but the food was still good.

Wow...only 9 minutes early and you still got a great view. Thanks for sharing. Sounds like it was a great experience. I agree...for 30 minutes, standing is not a huge deal (then again, not sure what our feet will feel like by end of day...but totally agree that it's too $$$ for a seat)

 

[met19]

Wow...only 9 minutes early and you still got a great view.

That depends on the day, and time of year you go. I have arrived 10 min early with no problems so days and other days usually 20-30 min. Once I was 20 min early and CC dinner package area good viewing was full. In other words, no people in front of you or if there people in front, they are on steps. What you really want is either the front of a terrace, or on steps so that way nothing obstructs your view.

 

[Frozen2014]

That depends on the day, and time of year you go. I have arrived 10 min early with no problems so days and other days usually 20-30 min. Once I was 20 min early and CC dinner package area good viewing was full. In other words, no people in front of you or if there people in front, they are on steps. What you really want is either the front of a terrace, or on steps so that way nothing obstructs your view.

Thank you. This helps in terms of where to stand. (We would do WCT so I think the reserved area is different?)
I should say too that we are coming with our kids. Our younger one will be 8 when we travel. She's tall for her age, but still under 5 ft.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

That depends on the day, and time of year you go. I have arrived 10 min early with no problems so days and other days usually 20-30 min. Once I was 20 min early and CC dinner package area good viewing was full. In other words, no people in front of you or if there people in front, they are on steps. What you really want is either the front of a terrace, or on steps so that way nothing obstructs your view.

True. It was a moderately busy day. We got to stand on the steps in the viewing area. It was really nice.