WoC: Is it a must-see?

[askamy]

We'll be visiting for two days in April (past spring break, but still forecasted as "busy"). Anyhow, Fantasmic is NOT showing, but WoC is (two shows).

We have never seen WoC - in your opinion, those of you who have, is it worth it? Or, should we spend our second morning doing things we like in DCA, then just spend our second afternoon/night in DL, skipping WoC? (We'll spend all of the first day in DL.)

Our group is me, DH, DS 12, DD 9.

Thanks!!

 

[HydroGuy]

We'll be visiting for two days in April (past spring break, but still forecasted as "busy"). Anyhow, Fantasmic is NOT showing, but WoC is (two shows).

We have never seen WoC - in your opinion, those of you who have, is it worth it? Or, should we spend our second morning doing things we like in DCA, then just spend our second afternoon/night in DL, skipping WoC? (We'll spend all of the first day in DL.)

Our group is me, DH, DS 12, DD 9.

Thanks!!

WOC takes time and some level of planning. And then early arrival. If you have other priorities and are not willing or able to spend the time and effort needed to get a good viewing spot, I would say WOC is not worth it.

However, if you are willing and able then IMO it is very much worth it. A totally unique, groundbreaking show. Not everyone agrees mind you, but our experience was that WOC is amazingly good.

See

"World of Color Superthread" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=37986447

"The Best World of Color Viewing Spots" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2655956

 

[marcemc]

If your family enjoys Disney movies, then it's totally worth it !!!

I think your kiddos will like it, the pics really don't make it justice, it's an amazing show.

Worst case scenario, if you don't like it, at least you experienced it by yourself & not through some else's opinion.

Have fun!!!!

 

[wdwfan22]

This is very subjective, and everyone will have a different opinion. But since you asked, here's mine If I had only 2 days, I would not take the time to see the show. I have seen it once, and it was just ok for me. We were near the front, had a pretty good view, so that was not the problem. I just wasn't that into it. It was good, very pretty, but I guess I didn't like the format. The lack of a story I guess is what bothers me. I LOVE Fantasmic. But WOC is just, to me, a really cool water show, with Disney clips shown on the water mists. I love Disney movies as much as anyone, probably more than most.

I guess I really don't like the way you have to see it. For Fantasmic, if you show up early (or pay for seating), you get rewarded with a good spot. For WOC, it is just dumb luck. They would only let us line up about 15 mins before they let us into the viewing area, then it was a mad dash. So we got a good spot, but others around us got a really crappy spot behind us. I felt bad for them and their little kids, but also didn't really want to give up my good spot for their crappy one. The whole process really bothered me.

I am also going in early May for 5 days, when no Fantasmic is showing, and was not going to see WOC, but since I can't see Fantasmic, we may go see WOC, but I am just going to show up shortly before show time and stand in the back. I don't want to do the whole seating process again.

 

[DahliaRW]

This is very subjective, and everyone will have a different opinion. But since you asked, here's mine If I had only 2 days, I would not take the time to see the show. I have seen it once, and it was just ok for me. We were near the front, had a pretty good view, so that was not the problem. I just wasn't that into it. It was good, very pretty, but I guess I didn't like the format. The lack of a story I guess is what bothers me. I LOVE Fantasmic. But WOC is just, to me, a really cool water show, with Disney clips shown on the water mists. I love Disney movies as much as anyone, probably more than most.

I guess I really don't like the way you have to see it. For Fantasmic, if you show up early (or pay for seating), you get rewarded with a good spot. For WOC, it is just dumb luck. They would only let us line up about 15 mins before they let us into the viewing area, then it was a mad dash. So we got a good spot, but others around us got a really crappy spot behind us. I felt bad for them and their little kids, but also didn't really want to give up my good spot for their crappy one. The whole process really bothered me.

I totally agree. We were there for 6 nights, saw WOC the first night and figured we'd see it again on a weeknight since everything closed at 8 and WOC was at 8:15, so we wouldn't miss park time. We decided going back to the hotel and bed was a better use of our time!

 

[bethy]

I have the exact same dilemma. We are DL vets from out of state who visit once or twice per year. I feel like I need to see this show just to cover my bases. I'm sure it's lovely.

But if there is one thing I HATE that stresses me out it's jockeying with other people for a spot. Yuck. And I have short young children. I am happy to pay for the privilege of avoiding that. Plus I don't mind occasionally staking out a spot for Fantasmic b/c we get to sit down and take turns making dessert and ride runs.

But tell me, even if we shell out the momey for the Ariel's Grotto dining package we still have to jockey for a spot and stand and wait don't we? And there's still no guarantee that my kids will be able to see. . .

If not I think we'll have to pass.

 

[nunzia]

We'll be visiting for two days in April (past spring break, but still forecasted as "busy"). Anyhow, Fantasmic is NOT showing, but WoC is (two shows).

We have never seen WoC - in your opinion, those of you who have, is it worth it? Or, should we spend our second morning doing things we like in DCA, then just spend our second afternoon/night in DL, skipping WoC? (We'll spend all of the first day in DL.)

Our group is me, DH, DS 12, DD 9.

Thanks!!

Well worth seeing..YES!

 

[calidreamz]

I've been wondering this too. My DH and DD10 really want to see it when we are there in May, but to me it just seems like too much work. Getting to the FP machine in the morning or shelling out big bucks for a dinner package or even medium bucks for a picnic and you could still end up with a poor view. Plus I know that DD2, my tiny little pixie, would not be a big fan of having to get their early and waiting around and then she would need to be held the whole time in order to see anything.

It really looks like it's a nice show and all but I'm not absolutely Dying to see it, so, I'm thinking that maybe I'll just have DH and DD10 get a picnic and go one night just the two of them. I'll either hang out at the hotel with DD2 or do some kiddie rides with her.

 

[wdwfan22]

No matter what type of pass you get for the show, from preferred viewing from dining, to fp's from picnics or machines, you still enter the standing viewing area en masse. That is what I don't like. It just is so random. I thinking the lining up to enter procedure changes from time to time. When we were there in November they would not let anyone line up until about 15 minutes before they let us in. So everyone hovered around the area, not lining up. then when it was time to line up, it wasn't really a line, it was a quick gathering of a couple hundred people in a big group. It just wasn't worth it to me. But that's just me.

If they had a well defined queue a couple hours ahead of time, I would rather do that and it be in an organized fashion and spend the time then try to get a spot at the same time as hundreds of other people. or just let people claim seats on the ground, WITH their passes as early as they want like Fantasmic.

 

[dmked]

Yes, it's SO worth it!

When we went last Aug. we decided it wasn't worth the hassle to get FPs for WOC, this time around we decided to give it a shot, it was AMAZING! The day we went, CA opened at 10, but the turnstiles opened at 9:30, we sent one person over to GRR for WOC FPs and then they met back up with us after rope drop we met over at Toy Story (which is a must do first thing in the AM)

 

[TheColtonsMom]

When we went at Christmas we decided to skip it...MY DL TIME IS VALUABLE TO ME!

The whole setup lacks good organization, good planning good anything...They did a terrible job of handling this whole thing in my opinion. Maybe I will see it someday when and if the crowds disperse and/or they figure a way to do this right.

In the mean time an AM trip for FPs or a expensive dinner or even the picnics seem like way too much of my DL time or way too much money to watch a some lights, some fountains, a little fire and some movie trailers and I don't choose to submit either myself or my 6 year old to being the center of a stampede. Beyond that the fact that you pay for the pricey meals and then get to be in the stampede anyway...without a guarantee of a good viewing position...What are you paying for?

 

[Disneyfreak616]

YES!!!! I personally think that it is one of the best in-park shows that Disney has ever done. It is breathtaking. You will love it!

 

[DeluxePrincess]

I definitely want to see it in June. We just have to decide once we get there if we want to devote valuable attraction time hanging around trying to get the best spot. I will not be buying the dinner since I don't see the real benefit in that. Most likely we will be the people admiring it all from afar.

 

[mvf-m11c]

This is one amazing show and it is worth seeing by far.

 

[vew-tori]

We saw it a couple of weeks ago a really enjoyed it. We followed the advice on the board, got in line early and got a great spot on the bridge. The night we saw Fantasmic though we just took our chances and arrived a few minutes before the 2nd show, and still enjoyed it even though the view wasn't the best.

We noticed that during the 2nd WOC show it was less crowded and shortly after it started they took up the ropes and barricades. If you are worried abput time I'd try to get FP's for the 2nd show and arrive a few minutes early and enjoy!

 

[cloudconnected1039]

I personally find the show to be AMAZING. That doesn't even begin to describe my love for the show though I can see how people are a little off put by the lack of a storyline, but maybe that's not such a bad thing sometimes?? Granted, it has a theme: dreaming in "color" and using your imagination. For me personally, F! has a storyline, but there are parts of the show that I don't seem to understand where they fit in. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE F!, but I would choose WOC over F! most days.

And a possible solution to those who don't like the FP system and the massacre that is finding a good spot, I would suggest parking yourself on the Paradise Park bridge right next to Ariel's Grotto. You'd have to save a spot about 2 hours ahead of time to ensure a railing spot, but I personally find it to be one of the best places to see WOC from. You have the entire panorama effect, and you don't even have to bother with a FP or shoving your way through to a designated seating area. I really can't say enough good things about this spot.

 

[kikiq]

And a possible solution to those who don't like the FP system and the massacre that is finding a good spot, I would suggest parking yourself on the Paradise Park bridge right next to Ariel's Grotto. You'd have to save a spot about 2 hours ahead of time to ensure a railing spot, but I personally find it to be one of the best places to see WOC from. You have the entire panorama effect, and you don't even have to bother with a FP or shoving your way through to a designated seating area. I really can't say enough good things about this spot.

We walked past that spot on Saturday night right before the 8:00 show and there wasn't anyone standing there. My DH asked if we could just watch it there instead of lining up for the red zone. We have watched it from various spots around Paradise Pier including the spot the PP mentions, but I was determined to experience the FP method that night.

Storyline...there is Disney story line there. My DD has the program given to the media and it is set up in 3 acts. I thought she left it with me but I can't find it. It also had some techy info in there that I thought Hydroguy might want to include in the Super Thread. Here's one fact: There are 24 different fountain nozzles. One is specifically designed and patented by Disney for the WOC show because there wasn't anything available to do what they wanted to do.

My observation is that if you are pushed for time, tired or have small children who are done for the day, you probably will not enjoy your WOC experience. It is important to read the hints on Hydroguy's thread on WOC to maximize your experience. For our first time using FP and getting the red zone, I followed his hints. In fact, I'm pretty sure we had a better viewing spot and experience than the people in the yellow section across from us packed in 10 deep. Everyone around us was blown away by the show.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

We are planning for our first DLR vacation (coming up in June ), and I am trying to make a similar call about WoC. I have read extensively about it here and elsewhere, have viewed some of the show on video, and read about the effort it will take to include WoC in my plans. I love a Disney night time spectacular as much as the next person, but we're talking some lights, fountains, and movie clips... well, let's just say I'm willing to skip it if need be.

Right now I am thinking if I luck into seeing it -fine. But best of all it looks like it sucks up the crowds, which will be nice for doing some DCA touring while the show is going on.

 

[Leshaface]

Just went this past weekend to see it for the first time and it was AWESOME!

And honestly, we didn't really plan it all out...

We grabbed FP's for it around 1030am on friday morning and got the Blue seating for the second show. We showed up late for the lining up (Uva bar cocktails can make you late anywhere! ). It suggested lining up at 8:15pm and we got there at around 8:40 and got GREAT spots right near the front with no one in front of us!

I would definitely recommend seeing this show, just don't overly plan or stress out about it!

 

[Lorelai]

How long does WoC last? And what are the usual summer, weeknight showing times?