World of Color Dining FIASCO!

[Eeee-va]

FOr those who have watched the show, how was crowd control handled in your opinion? BOth before and after the show? thanks!!

I had read some negative reviews about crowd control via CMs, so I was concerned about utter chaos. From where we were (preferred dining/center section, right by a walkway) there were no real crowd control issues, IMO. There were a lot of people clustered around the entrance so there was really no way to find your way to the preferred dining section without asking CMs. But none of them steered us wrong. We did stand near a young woman who was very, VERY concerned/frustrated that her kids would be unable to see the show, and talked with the CM at length trying to figure out how they would manage it. We would have let them stand in front of us but with the wall in front of us it wouldn't be the best view for them (though I think it would've been OK). I'm guessing she and her husband ended up holding their kids but honestly I was so engrossed in the show I didn't look!

I also think a few people on the bridge area may have waited there for a while before being told they had to leave. But I wasn't a part of that at all.

At the end, we had no problem being up against the rope and staying standing to watch the small fountain "encore" at the end, which I'd bet was designed in part to help the crowds disperse a little slower without a big crush (as in some people will leave right the main finale while others will stay to watch a show that's kind of like the credits in some of the Disney movies--cute but not as exciting as the real show). But the preferred seating area was not very full at all (though I know that's done on purpose with all the sections).

Once out of the park it was basically wall-to-wall people. They would not let you go down the San Francisco street area (well, you COULD have because there weren't many CMs and it's a wide street so there was plenty of room to sneak past, and people coming from the OTHER direction were allowed just fine). We just went with the flow and then got out of the crowds by sitting at Blue Sky Cellar for a little while as the crowds dispersed (though by the time you got to that point, it was more like Fantasmic! exiting crowds).

Anyway, for US it was fine and we had fewer troubles than I'd had going from fireworks to Fantasmic! last June, or even the Haunted Mansion to the Fantasmic! seating area on Wednesday night.

 

[angel22]

Okay so let me clarify about the tip toe thing. We were basically almost the last dining people to arrive. From what I can see, the preferred dining section is in the front, up some stairs, and then the round circle in the middle. We were at the back of the people in the round circle, although most of that circle was empty and maybe 3 rows deep from the wall (there is a wall around the circle about waist high). We could see the upper part of the show just fine, but no lower near the water. In my personal opinion, I wanted to see all the stuff going on lower too and not just the top. And I wanted a clear view of the images so I found a spot where I looked through people's heads and stood on my tip toes and saw quite a bit that way.

I completely enjoyed the show, I just don't think not that exact spot was the 'best' for viewing and I'll be curious to read reports from others. Now, if I was on those stairs and elevated slightly from the people in front of me or right at the wall I think that would have been really good.

By the way, I did feel a lot of mist and got wet once. And we were not crowded in there. Leaving was a breeze, just followed the crowd and were at the exit to GC in no time.

 

[PinkBudgie]

So exciting to read how it went last night. I'm glad we aren't going until Aug. so they have time all get on the same page. I can see how it would be confusing for everyone the first few nights.

Not having you down as a WOC package makes me wonder if I should call to confirm. I hate to bother them but I would hate to be surprised that they had it down wrong. Of course, we are at AG at 5 so I believe at that time they are all WOC dinners.

If you had dinner tickets to the first show, what time were you supposed to line up to go in the viewing area?

 

[angel22]

For the first show the tickets said to come back from 7:30 to 8:30 but not exactly sure when they started letting people into the area. If I did it again, I would book the dinner but get an early seating and then go down there as soon as possible to try and get a good spot. You can enjoy your dinner more then too, I felt so anxious about the show it was difficult to relax and enjoy the meal.

For me, I think I would have also enjoyed the show much better if I wasn't behind other people, just my opinion.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Thanks, good to know. Our dinner is early so that sounds good.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Ugh ~ what a mess, I'm glad you enjoyed the show!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

Just interesting to me because that is not what I got from OP's story. Her last comment was:

It was Angel 22 that said she had to stand on her tip toes, and I took away the same interpretation, that you might not be able to see all that well, even with doing the dining package. That would be a disappointment to me. If I pay extra, like in Fantasmic, then I certainly expect descent viewing.