WOC : Which is better - FP or dining package? How does having an ECV work here?

[Minniekins]

We are going for first trip to DL in May. With FP available for WOC, which would be a better way to get in to see WOC, the FP option or a dining package, and why? And, if a dining package would be better, which restaurant would be better, and how much do they cost? Are they as expensive as the PTN dining packages at BB?' Are they only available for dinner, or lunch as well? And, we might want to do one of the restaurants, so maybe combining the show and dinner might good anyway?

Thanks for any help figuring this out, lol! Wdw vet here, so we are used to lots of planning, at least you would think so, lol, but this is a bit overwhelming having to figure out how to do the nighttime shows.

 

[AussieNSW]

We did the fast pass in Jan. I had actually booked the package and cancelled it as due to our schedule we could only do the dinner package. When I checked the menus they were not suitable for our family. I did not regret doing this on the night we went as the area that we got the fast pass for was extremely close to the dinner area and I could not see that there was that much of a difference. We saved the money and put it towards the BB PTN package which we loved. That evening was the highlight of our trip to Disneyland.

 

[PHXscuba]

I hope someone can chime in on seating for ECV users -- that changes the whole equation. Maybe repost with that as the subject line -- "World of Color ECV seating -- FP or dining package?"

PHXscuba

 

[Minniekins]

We did the fast pass in Jan. I had actually booked the package and cancelled it as due to our schedule we could only do the dinner package. When I checked the menus they were not suitable for our family. I did not regret doing this on the night we went as the area that we got the fast pass for was extremely close to the dinner area and I could not see that there was that much of a difference. We saved the money and put it towards the BB PTN package which we loved. That evening was the highlight of our trip to Disneyland.

Hmm, interesting, thanks for sharing that! I might like to save the money and have just as good of a spot, as well, but hoping to hear more to help us decide. I was going to do the PTN package but have read so many stories lately from those who were pretty unhappy with how that's working out, so waiting to see if things change there.

I hope someone can chime in on seating for ECV users -- that changes the whole equation. Maybe repost with that as the subject line -- "World of Color ECV seating -- FP or dining package?" PHXscuba

Thanks, I went ahead and changed, as the ECV might be a big game changer in how we should do this, so I also hope others will chime in! I thought I read something of people having to sit on the ground, so that wouldn't work so well for me, especially without a curb, lol.

 

[Nonsuch]

I hope someone can chime in on seating for ECV users -- that changes the whole equation...

There are benches available for handicapped guests, so I assume guests on an ECV would transfer to a bench. The benches for regular fast passes are at the back, off the main walkway. There are also benches within the preferred dining sections.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

We've seen WOC from with Preferred Dining FPs and with regular FPs. All areas have good and poor viewing. It comes down to planning and how much time you're willing to invest to get a good spot. Since you'll be in HC viewing, this changes things a bit. From what I've heard, the HC benches have a good view of the show. Look over the WOC PD package menus to see if anything appeals to you. If you decide that you would like to eat at any of the participating restaurants for either lunch or dinner, go ahead and do the package. If nothing on the menus appeals to you, then you can save the money to spend on something else. Paying for a relatively expensive meal does not guarantee you a better view. Lastly, have you looked at the thread about the WOC Dessert Party? That area is next to the PD area for CCR (I believe) and has actual seats. The Dessert Party has received positive reviews.

 

[Iceman93]

All areas have good and poor viewing. It comes down to planning and how much time you're willing to invest to get a good spot... Paying for a relatively expensive meal does not guarantee you a better view.

I realize others have had less wonderful experiences than I have, but I have always gotten a wonderful view in the Carthay Circle viewing area walking up five minutes before the show. To me, that is the biggest benefit to the dining package--the stress-free availability to not worry about where in the FP section I'm going to end up and having to waste lots of time lining up really early in the hopes of getting a decent spot. Stress is the one thing I try to minimize on vacation (and even a day trip to DLR is a vacation to me), and it's worth paying a little bit of money to do so! But I will point out again, others on this board have reported being stuck behind tall people or whatever even in the Carthy Circle viewing area, it just has never happened to me and my family.

 

[tzeitel]

We did the package in Oct for the Trattoria. MIL and FIL both have mobility issues, FIL had an ECV. We had an amazing spot on the benches (well, FIL and MIL sat while DH, DD and I stood) right behind everybody standing who had the package. It was a little higher than everybody in front and there was enough separation that DD and I stood in front of a tree and had enough room to sit down and still see with no one blocking us.

Usually I would not pay for a spot but was so glad we did for this show. Totally worth it, especially with an ECV.

 

[lorijohnhill]

My mother and I have to use ECVs to tour the parks and we definitely prefer the view from the dining packages. We've done Ariels and WCT and the view from both were fantastic. When we did Ariels's we stayed in our ECVs and for WCT once we stayed and once we transferred to the benches. If I can get right up to the rail, I prefer to stay in the ECV as it is more comfortable for me. The time we transferred it was busier and we would have been behind the standing people, which is pointless on an ECV. The nice thing is that only the disabled are allowed to sit on the benches, so if you aren't able to stand for that long there will be space for yo to sit. I still aim to get there early though.

 

[Minniekins]

Thanks to all of you who have shared your experiences! I appreciate hearing how things worked for you, still feeling not to comfortable not knowing how things will work since this will be our first visit. That's what I like about WDW, I'm definitely pretty comfy there knowing better what to expect and how things work, lol. Thinking of doing the Trattoria lunch. Sounds like this might be best with the ECV, but we'll see, I may reconsider closer to our ressie, lol. I figured lunch was a bit cheaper than dinner, same food for the prix fixe menu.

So, how early do we need to get there to get a good spot for the show? Will it be a long wait, and will DD25 have to stand the entire time then, or can she sit on the ground, at least while waiting? Looks like WOC will probably be around 8 on week nights and 9 on the weekends, at least using the week before our trip as a guide. Our week isn't available yet, May 7-14.

Thanks again!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

How early you need to line up for WOC depends on the crowd level that day. If the crowd level is high, I would line up earlier than the stated FP return time. Your DD will be allowed to sit on the ground while waiting. She will be asked to stand right before the show starts. If you do eat at WCT, maybe you can time your meal so that you will be able to watch the Pixar Play Parade from the patio area. We enjoy watching the parade from there.

 

[Minniekins]

How early you need to line up for WOC depends on the crowd level that day. If the crowd level is high, I would line up earlier than the stated FP return time. Your DD will be allowed to sit on the ground while waiting. She will be asked to stand right before the show starts. If you do eat at WCT, maybe you can time your meal so that you will be able to watch the Pixar Play Parade from the patio area. We enjoy watching the parade from there.

Thanks for that advice, theluckyrabbit! And thanks for the heads up on that idea to watch the parade at the time, I'll have to check into that timing. I was thinking of doing the lunch to save a bit of money, but I'm gonna look at it all again!

 

[Minniekins]

Just bumping to see if anyone else might have some thoughts to share on this or personal experience. Thanks for sharing if you are so inclined, appreciate it!

Also, another question - which weeknight might we have the best shot of having a less crowded area for the viewing? I was thinking of doing this on a Tuesday night, with a lunch pkg, and then maybe FP on Thu night. Thoughts on that? If you get a FP, when to do you get it, where, and can you still get other FP's during the day? TIA!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

You can get the WOC FPs at the machines by GRR. There are CMs there to help you, if needed. The FPs don't seem to have been running out recently, so you should be fine getting one throughout the morning into afternoon. The FPs run First Show Blue section, then Yellow; Second Show Blue, then Yellow. And they are not connected, so you will be able to pull another FP right away.

 

[Minniekins]

You can get the WOC FPs at the machines by GRR. There are CMs there to help you, if needed. The FPs don't seem to have been running out recently, so you should be fine getting one throughout the morning into afternoon. The FPs run First Show Blue section, then Yellow; Second Show Blue, then Yellow. And they are not connected, so you will be able to pull another FP right away.

Thank you, theluckyrabbit! Sorry, but what is GRR? The railroad or something? Glad they aren't running low real early these day! So what is the Blue section and Yellow section? Which is better to try to get and will it work with having an ECV?

 

[Disney_Alli]

Thank you, theluckyrabbit! Sorry, but what is GRR? The railroad or something? Glad they aren't running low real early these day! So what is the Blue section and Yellow section? Which is better to try to get and will it work with having an ECV?

GRR is Grizzly River Run, the water ride that runs through Grizzly Peak (it's very, very similar to Kali River Rapids) the FP machines there distribute for both the ride and the show - at different well signed machines of course.

 

[Kindermouse]

FYI if you cannot get out of your ecv you are wasting your time doing a dining package. My son was in a wheel chair on our last visit (March 7) since he had had knee surgery recently. He was not comfortable leaving the wheel chair or walking even a short distance by that evening after spending a lot of the day in the park. Well. We couldn't even get to the preffered dining area. We were sent to handicapped fast pass are in the back because of stairs the line went down to get to the preffered dining area. We were in the same handy capped area as people who didn't spend 80 bucks on a meh quality dinner at Ariels Grotto.. I was not at all happy. The cast member we talked to about it wasn't really sympathetic. I won't waste the money on dining with a disabled person in our party ever again.

For the truly handycapped, don't waste your money.

 

[Nut_Meg]

I'm going next week and have a dining package booked for Paint the Night at Aladdin's Oasis, and am considering doing the Wine Country Trattoria package for World of Color. It seems like a lot of people have been successful with just using Fastpass for WoC, but I think I'll splurge on the dining because I just don't want the added stress. It's worth it to me to have a plan already in place instead of fretting all day about how I'll get a good spot. It's just a big weight off your shoulders.

If you do lunch at WCT instead of dinner, it's significantly cheaper than any of the packages at all the restaurants ($34.56 per person for lunch at WTC vs $48.28 - $66.96 per person for every other package). If you're going with a large group, those savings can add up! You just have to book your reservation for before 4pm to qualify for the lunch price. For PtN, I chose Aladdin's Oasis over Blue Bayou because not only is it much cheaper ($22.99 per person vs $66.96 per person) but the reserved seating area was more appealing to me. Blue Bayou seats you on the Main Street curb, while Aladdin's Oasis gets you into the area in front of It's A Small World. Even though Main Street will give you a better view of the fireworks (if you're watching the first parade, the fireworks will go off right afterwards), it's supposed to get seriously congested there. I figured there would be more breathing room around IASW. ECV users may want to consider choosing that area instead. Just be advised that Aladdin's Oasis is a "fast food" place with only 3 meal options (meat lasagna, veggie lasagna, or chicken) whereas Blue Bayou is an upscale restaurant with a 3-course meal.

If you want, I'd be happy to take photos of the reserved areas while I'm there and let you know what my experience was like.

 

[Nut_Meg]

Oh, and someone mentioned the Pixar Play parade - unfortunately that's not happening anymore, at least not this month. If you're going in May it might be back by then. Fingers crossed! It looks pretty cute, I'm bummed to be missing it.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Thank you, theluckyrabbit! Sorry, but what is GRR? The railroad or something? Glad they aren't running low real early these day! So what is the Blue section and Yellow section? Which is better to try to get and will it work with having an ECV?

Read the first post in this superthread: http://www.disboards.com/threads/world-of-color-superthread.2542717/. The map there shows the different sections and where the HC viewing areas are. There is good and bad viewing in both blue and yellow, so one isn't totally better than the other. Yellow is bigger, so it can be easier to get a good spot. Since it sounds like you'll be doing the dining package before trying to view with a free FP, use your first WOC night to scope out where you would like to be when you try to see WOC again.