Here are a few observations from last night's show (July 22, 9:00pm):
First, I enjoyed the show!
The Preferred Dining's Return Time was "between 8:00pm & 8:30pm," but guests started to enter at the preferred entrance at 7:27pm. Within 2 minutes, the entire front railing of the preferred dining section was full.
I stood at the front railing of the preferred section -- on the right side of the front railing (as you're looking at the "stage"). There are steps that go to the area that's between the yellow Wet Zone and red Wet Zone -- I was 10 feet from those steps. I wanted to be away from the steps, because I thought that someone might stand on those steps and block the view, but that couldn't happen. IMO any spot on the front railing of the preferred dining section will give you a good view.
This photo was taken at the height of the front railing, so this would be a child's view of the show from the front railing in the preferred dining section (the people in front are standing in the yellow Wet Zone):
This photo was taken during the pre-show. The "kids on shoulders" are in the yellow Wet Zone, and they don't block much of your view when you're in the preferred section.
Mike Wazowski says "Hi."
This photo was taken after the show, in front of the VIP section:
I didn't see anyone from the preferred dining section move to the yellow Wet Zone or red Wet Zone. There's a CM between the blue Wet Zone and yellow Wet Zone, and there's a CM between the red Wet Zone and the yellow Wet Zone. In general, the guests stayed in their sections.
Many guests in the preferred dining section watched from the "round" area. I think they wanted to stay away from the water, and since the front railing was full, they probably figured that they would have a better view standing back from the railing, a few steps higher.
It was not windy last night, so I only felt a light mist throughout the show. At the very end of the show, there was one moment when things were slightly wet, but only slightly. After the show I walked by the yellow and red Wet Zones, and the floor in those sections was really wet.
I've only seen WOC once, so I'm not an expert on the different views. If you want a completely unblocked view, then it would be better to be in the front railing in the yellow or red Wet Zone (the blue Wet Zone seemed too far from the center of the show). The show is very W-I-D-E, with things happening on the sides and not just in the center, so it would probably be a good idea to also see the show from in front of the VIP section.
It was a little chilly last night. IMO it wouldn't hurt to have some long pants and long-sleeved shirts. I wore blue jeans and a long-sleeved shirt and I was comfortable.
At 6:45pm I asked a CM, who was standing at the preferred dining entrance, where the line would form for preferred dining, and he unfortunately told me where to line up for the 10:15 show. So if you're talking to a CM, be sure to mention that you're going to see the 9:00pm show. The "preferred line" formed on the viewing area side, across from the "Palace of Fine Arts." The "preferred line" was long at 7:20pm -- if you want to watch from the front railing in the preferred dining section, my guess would be to arrive around 6:45pm, but that's only a guess.
Hope this helps.