WOC vs Fantasmic vs rush from airport (who will win)

[daae3]

Yet another WDW person making their first trip to Disneyland… Just got my OBB tix and I’m so excited to experience this strange new world…trip is blast week of Sept… But in researching and reading threads… It seems that fantasmic and world of color are only on weekends after August? Is this right? If so… Would you suggest… Fantasmic versus world of color… we would need to do the premium RBT package and it would be tight with our arrival time, etc.… Doable… But rushed…(we are old and do not sit on the ground…) In the alternative… If world of color is on offer… We would do a dessert party… flights get into LGB at 5:45 PM… And if these are only offered on Saturday night… It would be our only option to see either one… Any help y’all could offer would be greatly appreciated… Thanks and I’ll try and think of a better thread title…

 

[cruisehopeful]

I'd be worried about the timing. If your flight is on time, you'll want to assume at least 90 minutes to get to the park. Are you renting a car? Are you taking a ride share? You'll need to take your luggage to the hotel before you go to the park. I can only see you going to the second show of world of color and that's only it your flight isn't delayed.

 

[LAS2AMS]

They’re offered on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. So if you’re willing to spend the $$$ to enter the parks a few hours, you could see both. Alternatively, if you have a park hoper you could see both: there’s two showings of Fantasmic and WOC, both usually around 9PM and 10:30PM (WOC second showing is after the park closes). You can easily walk from WOC to Fantasmic in under 15 minutes.

As to Fantasmic vs. WOC, that’s a matter of opinion TBH. We’re locals; Fantasmic is a must for us but we rarely watch WOC, Many people have the opposite opinion. And while I prefer DL Fantasicmic over DHS, the shows are similar so if you had to skip one…

Also, note that WOC went on hiatus last year for the fall, beginning in late August. As of yet, we don’t know what their plans for this year are.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Also, change the thread title to: Arriving LGB 5:45pm - Fantasmic River Belle premium or WOC dessert party?

 

[daae3]

Thanks for the responses! I have budgeted 30 minutes to deplane and get bags, 30 minutes to get from airport to our hotel… sounds like that may be optimistic… And I wish I knew how to change the title of a thread, but despite having been on the boards every 10 years… I don’t normally post threads… But I really appreciate everyone’s help… seems like Saturday is probably going to be our only option… I have the feeling the vote is going to be for world of color… I hate to miss the Disneyland Fantasmic though… It looks very cool

 

[cruisehopeful]

You should have an edit button on the first post if you want to change the title. I think you'll get a lot more help if you are able to do that.

It might be possible to see both depending on the schedule at the time. You'd have to high tail it over to watch Fantastic after WOC and you'll be standing to watch it, but that might not matter if you were sitting at WOC. @LKing might know how things were scheduled last year and be able to predict this year.

 

[katyringo]

if I had to choose one given your circumstances it would be WOC. The River belle premium seating is a hard to get reservation while WOC dessert party isn't. Also- the River belle premium doesn't always have the best view while the WOC does.

Also- I don't know but if you will be using scooters there is scooter seating in the back of the sit on the ground sections for Fantasmic... they would be able to stay sitting in their scooter.

 

[Iceman93]

Two points in favor of WOC:
- Fantasmic is largely the same show as at WDW, which presumably you have seen. I know many people consider the DL version to be superior (I'm not one of them), but regardless it is essentially the same show.
- The dessert party at WOC is really a spectacular way to see that show. Seats, tasty treats, adult beverages... and a great view of a unique nighttime spectacular for any Disney park.

 

[LAS2AMS]

Two points in favor of WOC:
- Fantasmic is largely the same show as at WDW, which presumably you have seen. I know many people consider the DL version to be superior (I'm not one of them), but regardless it is essentially the same show.
- The dessert party at WOC is really a spectacular way to see that show. Seats, tasty treats, adult beverages... and a great view of a unique nighttime spectacular for any Disney park.

Fantasmic has the same storyline and is similar but sans the opening and closing, it’s not the same show.

World of Color is very similar to Rivera of Light, if the OP saw it during its brief run. The original Rivers of Light was superior to WOC, I never saw the revised version. Pretty sad they’re not bringing it back (cheaper to close the AK early).

 

[OlliePop27]

Just my two cents, I would be hesitant to plan anything "can't miss" on your arrival night with such a late flight arrival. If anything happens to delay your flight, it could cause a problem. LGB is very close and you have some wriggle room, but a mechanical or other delay could easily set you back 1-2 hours (or bad weather in another part of the country where your plane might be coming from before it takes you to SoCal).

 

[LKing]

Thanks for the responses! I have budgeted 30 minutes to deplane and get bags, 30 minutes to get from airport to our hotel… sounds like that may be optimistic… And I wish I knew how to change the title of a thread, but despite having been on the boards every 10 years… I don’t normally post threads… But I really appreciate everyone’s help… seems like Saturday is probably going to be our only option… I have the feeling the vote is going to be for world of color… I hate to miss the Disneyland Fantasmic though… It looks very cool

How many people are in your party? Will you have young kids or people who walk slowly? If the stars align and you are indeed at your hotel by 7 pm, I'm more concerned about getting from your hotel to the parks, through security, through the entrance turnstiles, and to Paradise Gardens Park and/or Rivers of America.

I second the suggestion to change your thread title. It is extremely rare that a post would not receive multiple responses. If you are on a desktop, look below the title to the right. If you are on a phone, look below the title. You should see the option to UNWATCH a thread along with three dots and a down pointing caret. Tap on the caret and select EDIT THREAD. Type in your new thread title.

 

[daae3]

How many people are in your party? Will you have young kids or people who walk slowly? If the stars align and you are indeed at your hotel by 7 pm, I'm more concerned about getting from your hotel to the parks, through security, through the entrance turnstiles, and to Paradise Gardens Park and/or Rivers of America.

I second the suggestion to change your thread title. It is extremely rare that a post would not receive multiple responses. If you are on a desktop, look below the title to the right. If you are on a phone, look below the title. You should see the option to UNWATCH a thread along with three dots and a down pointing caret. Tap on the caret and select EDIT THREAD. Type in your new thread title.

View attachment 978630

Thanks, this was helpful and was able to change the title… two active people in party who qualify for AARP… No mobility issues though no one moves as fast as we used to… and while we may be able to get down to the ground… Getting up is a little more questionable…

 

[daae3]

Fantasmic has the same storyline and is similar but sans the opening and closing, it’s not the same show.

World of Color is very similar to Rivera of Light, if the OP saw it during its brief run. The original Rivers of Light was superior to WOC, I never saw the revised version. Pretty sad they’re not bringing it back (cheaper to close the AK early).

I was able to see Rivers of light back in the day… so this is good to know… And I do wish they would extend the hours for AK for more nighttime Activities… Pandora is absolutely beautiful at night… And I highly recommend riding expedition Everest after dark…

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I am curious where you read that WOC is only shown on weekends? It’s always been nightly (except on Oogie Boogie party nights when it’s not shown).

 

[LAS2AMS]

I am curious where you read that WOC is only shown on weekends? It’s always been nightly (except on Oogie Boogie party nights when it’s not shown).

I’ve lost track of the time, but it’s been weekends-only off peak for awhile.

 

[daae3]

Thread 'Fantasmic Daily Summer Season Performances End on August 24'

Friday at 10:46 AM

Fantasmic stops its daily summer season run on August 24.
F! will not be showing on August 25th and August 26th.

• joseph821
• Replies: 11
• Forum: Disneyland (California)

• 

This thread led me down a rabbit hole where I read all the Sept/Oct 2024 threads and the weekend only for WOC and Fantasmic was referenced in a few places… I’m still hopeful… That at least one of those shows will be shown on non-OBB nights… And we do not have to do this crazy rush from the airport to try to get to just one of them… so right now I’m being cautiously optimistic with a back up plan…

I am curious where you read that WOC is only shown on weekends? It’s always been nightly (except on Oogie Boogie party nights when it’s not shown).

 

[Pluto468]

If Saturday is indeed your only night, I would try for the late WOC dessert party. You just never know what can happen as far as delays on your travel day. That said...having an expensive non-refundable ADR might be stressful. I'm pretty sure WOC will be going on during the non OBB nights, so Saturday might not be your only chance to see the night time entertainment.

Not sure if this is possible, but if you switched your flight to SNA maybe you could get an earlier arrival time. It's very close to Disneyland.

 

[LKing]

LGB is 15-20 miles from Disneyland depending on if you take surface streets or a freeway. Sometimes during rush hour, surface streets are faster than a freeway. SNA isn't all that much closer.

 

[daae3]

we are going to be relying on Uber or Lyft as well to get ourselves from the airport to our hotel… Not willing to change flights… We didn’t have many options so we have the ones that work best for us… And the original plan was to not even try to go into the parks when we got there… how far in advance do they announce the nighttime entertainment? I just checked the calendar and it’s only posted out for August 10… But that can’t be right… Because you have to have at least 60 days for booking a dining pkg or dessert party? Am I missing something?

 

[LAS2AMS]

LGB is 15-20 miles from Disneyland depending on if you take surface streets or a freeway. Sometimes during rush hour, surface streets are faster than a freeway. SNA isn't all that much closer.

LGB is the closest airport to Disneyland Hotel. It’s 13 miles if you take surface streets (several options in which the majority of the ride is spent on one street). SNA is 14 miles at its shortest point.

SNA’s advantage is that those 14 miles are on the freeway. But traveling from LGB adds only 5-10 minutes, and during rush hour taking surface streets to/from LGB will almost always be faster than any option from SNA.

We really need a sticky on this, LOL!