WOC Dining Packages vs. FP?

[NewbieMouse]

I haven't seen WOC since 2010, so we were thinking of doing a dining package. I must say, it really burns my bacon that there isn't some sort of "tween" option for these packages - I have 11 year old twins and I know they'd rather order off the kids menu any day of the week (I know I can and pay full adult price, but it's the cost that irks me). Anyways.... I'm wondering other than the meal, if it's that much better than doing a FP? We're not foodies, so I'd probably be just as happy to have the PWC broccoli cheese soup in a bread bowl, or the bacon mac n' cheese cozy cone and pull a FP, but I'm wondering if there's a significant advantage to going the dining package route that I don't know about since it's been so long... Any advice from wise DISers?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

You don't have to go the Preferred Dining route if you'd rather not. There is good viewing in all the WOC sections, as long as you do your research and are willing to invest the wait time. Since your twins aren't little, you'll have an easier time and more flexibility. The real advantage to the PD FPs is having the center section with less wait time. (Although it is still possible to have poor viewing in that section, so even a PD FP isn't a guarantee for a perfect experience.) When will you be visiting (January during Holiday Time or later)? If your trip is scheduled for a less busy time and if you don't need to be right up by a railing, then you should be fine with a regular FP in eiher the blue or yellow sections and with a reasonable wait time. You can even get your soup in a bread bowl to go and eat while you're waiting.

 

[NewbieMouse]

You can even get your soup in a bread bowl to go and eat while you're waiting.

A dream come true! I'll even get a Mickey Pretzel then as a bonus! How far in advance should we invest in waiting? I'm not a stickler for front row, just a decent view so I feel it was worthwhile.

ETA; We're going January 4-8 but will likely do WOC near the end of the week - maybe Thursday so it should have slowed down a bit.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If your family is on the tall side, then you should be fine investing an hour or less (the taller you are, the less time you'll need to wait since you'll be able to see over other people's heads). If your family is shorter, then you probably need an hour minimum to get closer to the front or to the railings. The second show later in your visit might be less crowded.