WOC During "Slow" Season

[dnamertz]

I've read the World of Color superthread, but since it is mostly geared toward the crowded season when there are two shows per night I would like to hear more about the less busy times of year when there is only one show per night.

With our trip approaching (at which time both parks open at 10am and there is only one WOC show per night), I'd like to hear people's WOC experience if you did not do the preferred dining/picnic options on nights when there was only one show scheduled. Here are some following things I'd like to know:

1.) What time did you get in line to get your FP, and how long did you have to wait in line to get it?
2.) What color FP did you end up getting?
3.) How long before the show's start time did you line up at your designated area?
4.) What was the experience like when they finally let you into the viewing area? How easy was it to get a spot at a front rail? How good of a spot did you get?

 

[kirstie101]

On Tuesday 10/25 we got our fast passes at 2pm. They were for the blue section.
Thats about as much as I can help you. We didn't really plan on seeing the show, got the FP's just in case. We did end up heading over to see the show about 15 minutes before it started. Oh well. We were in the very back of the section but managed to find a decent "window" of people to look though, but of course couldn't see great. But I enjoyed what I did see enough to want to go back and get a better spot next time! After waiting 3 hours on Sunday night for a good fantasmic spot, no one in our group was wanting to give up that much time again.

 

[Disluvney]

We were at CA on Monday - Sept. 19th which I recall being 3/10 in terms of crowds. This was our first time viewing WOC and it was the only show of the night.

1)We picked up our FPs once we got to the park at about 10:10am and there was no wait.

2)We got Blue FPs at that time.

3)We showed up at the red tower area at about 6:45pm and stood up and got in the queuing area around 7pm. At that time there was a little line of 3 or 4 families in front of us.

4)Before they let us into the viewing section, there was a lot of confusion among other guests as to where the blue section entry line was because CMs were telling everyone different things about where to stand. Next thing we know, what was a nice line quickly became a mass of people clustered around us so there was no longer a line. We were all shoulder to shoulder in a crowd and we stood like that for about 35-40 minutes. The wait was dreadful (especially for the little kids)and I began to rethink if this was going to be worth it.

Finally at around 7:45pm, they opened up the viewing section and people behind us were surging forward to get into the area. It was chaotic and my older parents were pushed. Luckily DH and I were holding our kids as I am sure they could have been knocked over too. We safely and luckily made our way to a railing spot that was perpendicular to the Mickey Wheel (based on recommendations from this board) and waited some more. Those railing spots in the non wet zone filled up fast. It was a good spot. Since the crowd levels were smaller, the CMs then opened up other areas for the blue to merge into about 10 minutes before 8:15pm show time. We opted to stay where we were and enjoyed the view. It was a lot of work to get there, but it was worth it. Hopefully they come up with a better queuing system in the future. If it was like this during our visit, I can only imagine how much more difficult things are during the crowded season. Good luck

 

[HydroGuy]

I've read the World of Color superthread, but since it is mostly geared toward the crowded season when there are two shows per night I would like to hear more about the less busy times of year when there is only one show per night.

With our trip approaching (at which time both parks open at 10am and there is only one WOC show per night), I'd like to hear people's WOC experience if you did not do the preferred dining/picnic options on nights when there was only one show scheduled. Here are some following things I'd like to know:

1.) What time did you get in line to get your FP, and how long did you have to wait in line to get it?
2.) What color FP did you end up getting?
3.) How long before the show's start time did you line up at your designated area?
4.) What was the experience like when they finally let you into the viewing area? How easy was it to get a spot at a front rail? How good of a spot did you get?

Actually, as the superthread author, I think you have drawn incorrect conclusions. The Superthread applies as well to off-season as high season for the simple reason that WOC has been popular and essentially "sold out" ever night since it opened in June 2010.

 

[monicatb]

We were at CA on Monday - Sept. 19th which I recall being 3/10 in terms of crowds. This was our first time viewing WOC and it was the only show of the night.

1)We picked up our FPs once we got to the park at about 10:10am and there was no wait.

2)We got Blue FPs at that time.

3)We showed up at the red tower area at about 6:45pm and stood up and got in the queuing area around 7pm. At that time there was a little line of 3 or 4 families in front of us.

4)Before they let us into the viewing section, there was a lot of confusion among other guests as to where the blue section entry line was because CMs were telling everyone different things about where to stand. Next thing we know, what was a nice line quickly became a mass of people clustered around us so there was no longer a line. We were all shoulder to shoulder in a crowd and we stood like that for about 35-40 minutes. The wait was dreadful (especially for the little kids)and I began to rethink if this was going to be worth it.

Finally at around 7:45pm, they opened up the viewing section and people behind us were surging forward to get into the area. It was chaotic and my older parents were pushed. Luckily DH and I were holding our kids as I am sure they could have been knocked over too. We safely and luckily made our way to a railing spot that was perpendicular to the Mickey Wheel (based on recommendations from this board) and waited some more. Those railing spots in the non wet zone filled up fast. It was a good spot. Since the crowd levels were smaller, the CMs then opened up other areas for the blue to merge into about 10 minutes before 8:15pm show time. We opted to stay where we were and enjoyed the view. It was a lot of work to get there, but it was worth it. Hopefully they come up with a better queuing system in the future. If it was like this during our visit, I can only imagine how much more difficult things are during the crowded season. Good luck

We had exactly the same experience on 10/18, for the 8:15 pm show, except that they let our mass into the viewing area at 7:00 pm. We got a spot two levels or rails above the wet zone, in the middle, but could easily have gotten one anywhere we'd wanted, since we were among the first families there. Most of the people ran to the wet zone first. We couldn't stand by the first rail above the wet zone because it was blocked for walking, but guests were allowed to stand there later. I didn't notice at what time. But our spot was perfect and the show totally worth it. But we did had to wait for more than an hour and the kids were getting very antsy. Fortunately we sat down as soon as we got our spot, so we were by the rail and seating, otherwise we wouldn't have lasted long enough standing for more than an hour.

 

[dnamertz]

Actually, as the superthread author, I think you have drawn incorrect conclusions. The Superthread applies as well to off-season as high season for the simple reason that WOC has been popular and essentially "sold out" ever night since it opened in June 2010.

I appologize...the superthread is great and has a lot of good info. From reading it, it just seemed to me that most of the responses in that thread were discussing experiences from days when there were two shows. For example, I haven't read many responses like Kristie101 above who says blue FP were still being handed out at 2pm. That's a different experience than most I've read where on busy days the FP's were going fast.

 

[kirstie101]

Sorry OP - my Mom corrected me - It was red, not blue, that we got at 2pm.

 

[HydroGuy]

I appologize...the superthread is great and has a lot of good info. From reading it, it just seemed to me that most of the responses in that thread were discussing experiences from days when there were two shows. For example, I haven't read many responses like Kristie101 above who says blue FP were still being handed out at 2pm. That's a different experience than most I've read where on busy days the FP's were going fast.

No need to apologize. A lot of people are reluctant to respond to info about when certain colors are available because it is so variable.