World of color- past experience with small kiddo

[katyringo]

While I would love to do the dessert party, $336 for my family of 4 is a bit steep. I'm not completely ruling it out, but I am wondering about past experiences with one of the color coded standing room areas and a smallish kiddo.. my daughter will be 6.

Thanks in advance!

 

[dieumeye]

I’ve had awesome views in the standing room areas. And depending on where you are standing, some views in the standing room areas are arguably the best views.

The issue with the standing room areas are that you need to get there very early to get the best spots, everyone is really crammed together, and if you are shorter than the crowd it can be difficult to get a full view. These issues are compounded with kids who may have trouble waiting, are uncomfortable crammed together, and won’t be able to see over the crowd.

I think one of the main reasons people prefer the dinner and dessert packages is partially for the view, but also for the huge reduction in hassle to get a good spot.

I don’t know if it’ll be different when WoC returns, but the dinner packages traditionally put you in an area with stairs so you can get a slightly raised view to see over the crowd, are generally packed less dense so you have more room, and you can show up closer to show time so you aren’t waiting as long.

The dessert party gives you a table and a raised view over the crowd (and more so if you get a high top table).

I know the dinner or dessert packages are out of the price range of many people. But I also understand why there are a lot of people who say they wouldn’t even consider going to WoC unless it was with the dessert package.

In the end WoC is a great show. It’s my favorite. For me it is totally worth splurging to get the best viewing experience.

 

[Cal-Pie]

If you invest the time to wait in line before they let you into the area, and then secure a spot right on the railing, the views are spectacular. The hard part is holding the rail spot once the show starts and everyone behind you attempts to shove their own kids in front of you. I'm only 5'2", so I don't appreciate this, but I've had it happen every time I've been on the rail.

 

[BadPinkTink]

If you invest the time to wait in line before they let you into the area, and then secure a spot right on the railing, the views are spectacular. The hard part is holding the rail spot once the show starts and everyone behind you attempts to shove their own kids in front of you. I'm only 5'2", so I don't appreciate this, but I've had it happen every time I've been on the rail.

Same thing happened to me. I waited in line before the viewing area opened, got an an amazing spot right at the railings in the section behind the splash zone, then 15 minutes before the show starts a family comes into the viewing area, gets angry that its so crowded and tried to get their kid to squeeze me off the railings. Didnt happen and I called them out on it, very loudly.

 

[gelatoni fan]

For the best view, I recommend arriving an hour early and getting a spot in front of a railing. I prefer the middle section to the Splash Zone which is too close and can be uncomfortable when the wind is going in your direction.

The dessert party spots are further back so they're not as good. But if you don't arrive early to the free spots, your daughter likely won't be able to see over the crowd. So doing the dessert party would guarantee she won't be blocked by someone tall standing in front of her.

Incidentally, does anyone know what is happening with the spots that used to be for the Carthay Circle, etc Dining Package? That area is probably my favorite.

 

[Pluto468]

$336 really is steep. It's such a personal decision about spending money for something like that. We're going to do it anyway since it's the first time we've ever seen WOC and I have a bad back so I really need a seat. For me it's worth it to avoid arriving early and waiting in the crowds. I love a guaranteed seat with a good view. We did the Fantasmic dinner at River Belle Terrace in 2019 and I really had a hard time deciding to spring for it but it was so worth it to just wander over just before show time and have a seat waiting for us. I ended up canceling one of our character meals in order to better afford the Fantasmic dinner.

Luckily it seems like you do have some other good options for viewing WOC if you decide against the dessert party. I haven't read much about the dining packages yet, but perhaps one of those could help you have a good view for your 6 yo. It really is tricky with little kids!

 

[smartlabelprint]

You have to get there early as others have said. If she can wait for over an hour (they let you sit for quite some time) the free viewing will be fine. I have to do the dessert party because my 6&7 with disabilities can’t wait that long.

 

[katyringo]

Thanks everyone! The issues with the dinning packages is we don't really have a desire to eat any of those places lol.

Sounds like if we are okay giving up a chunk of time to waiting prior, we would be okay. I will have to think about it!

 

[ktlm]

I'm short. Before the dessert package, we would get the dining package at WCT, get there an hour early, and get to the rail in the wet zone. Even getting there an hour early we typically were too far back in line or too late to get on the steps. Bring ponchos if you are going in the wet zone. If the wind is blowing the right way, you can get really wet. We have had people kind of chuckle when we pulled the ponchos out and then when the show ended and they were soaked and we were dry saying they wish they had been smart like us.

 

[Mr. Mike]

The dessert party spots are further back so they're not as good.

Disney considers the best viewing to be further back. The VIP seats (for Disney execs, celebrities, etc.) are in the last row. The dessert party seats are in the next to last row. Being further back enables you to see the entire scope of the show. It's a huge show - wider than a football field!

Suggestion: Go to YouTube and search for "World of Color Front Row", "World of Color Dessert Party View", and "World of Color VIP Seats View". You'll see the obvious differences between the various views.

 

[Iceman93]

A Disney exec recently made a really tone-deaf public statement that "some of our guests have more time than money, while others have more money than time." While rude for an exec to say out loud, the sentiment is true. Personally I would never in a million years show up an hour or two early to a show just to get a good viewing spot, but I totally understand why some people would.

My youngest daughter, for one, loves the WoC dessert party and has been asking repeatedly throughout the pandemic when it would be coming back. And I know some people bag on the quality of the dessert plate, but my whole family has always enjoyed all of the items--even the grapes and wedges of cheese are tasty, but some of the dessert items are downright delicious. And the ability to waltz in a few minutes before showtime, have a guaranteed great view and a seat (don't underestimate THAT little perk after a full day in the parks), is definitely worth a few hundred bucks to me.

 

[CeCe0906]

A Disney exec recently made a really tone-deaf public statement that "some of our guests have more time than money, while others have more money than time." While rude for an exec to say out loud, the sentiment is true. Personally I would never in a million years show up an hour or two early to a show just to get a good viewing spot, but I totally understand why some people would.

My youngest daughter, for one, loves the WoC dessert party and has been asking repeatedly throughout the pandemic when it would be coming back. And I know some people bag on the quality of the dessert plate, but my whole family has always enjoyed all of the items--even the grapes and wedges of cheese are tasty, but some of the dessert items are downright delicious. And the ability to waltz in a few minutes before showtime, have a guaranteed great view and a seat (don't underestimate THAT little perk after a full day in the parks), is definitely worth a few hundred bucks to me.

Any advice on how fast the dessert parties go to reserve? Our trip is in August and I'll have 2 adults(grandmas) and 3 granddaughter, ages 5, 7, and 9. We have 3 day park hoppers, and are prioritizing the Fireworks, and Fantasmic on our first 2 nights, as those are more important to our group. We will be there for park days on Tues, Wed, and. Thurs. Thursday is the only day we would have the opportunity to do the princess adventure breakfast, which I think my grandkids will adore.
So that would be the first ADR I would attempt at 60 days out. Then the dessert party. Before was it one that was gone in a few minutes? I'm the only one with a disney account, the other grandma doesn't do much on her phone. It's probably the only way we can see it, as one child has a DAS ,and the crowds would be too much, as well as the wait

Girls trip Aug 2022, Granny, Grandma and 3 granddaughters!

 

[gelatoni fan]

Disney considers the best viewing to be further back. The VIP seats (for Disney execs, celebrities, etc.) are in the last row. The dessert party seats are in the next to last row. Being further back enables you to see the entire scope of the show. It's a huge show - wider than a football field!

Suggestion: Go to YouTube and search for "World of Color Front Row", "World of Color Dessert Party View", and "World of Color VIP Seats View". You'll see the obvious differences between the various views.

The VIP seats are not always the best seats. VIP tour seats for fireworks are behind a crowd that's standing up. WOC is arguable but most people would not prefer to be that far back.

I've seen the show from every single area many times except the front splash zone which I only did once. Maybe you thought I meant middle as in left/right middle? I meant middle as in the section in front of the dessert party, right behind the first row of plants. Right behind the railing to the right of the hub in the yellow section is what I'd usually consider the best spot for most people.

I also usually prefer the first row behind the splash zone more than the dessert party section.

 

[katyringo]

For the record we have done the dessert party before, so I know the view and such. We are just trying to decide where to spend our money.

 

[FeistyDisneyMom]

We have always done dining package for WoC, and arrived about an hour early to get a good spot near the front. The first time we were well within the splash zone unintentionally and it got quite chilly, but the view was great. We have done this with very small children (at one point with 3 of them 5 or younger), and they were always able to see most if not all of the show. We would bring blankets and play games and sing songs and let the kids dance around while waiting - it only becomes crowded about 10 minutes before the show starts. We did always have other families trying to squeeze in, but my husband and I are a bit taller (I'm 5'8, hubs is 6'3, so we'd have our kids in front of us and if other small children needed a view we could usually make room - we just didn't let anyone taller than our kids squeeze in.

All that said, this year I am going to try very hard to get a dessert party res, since we've never done it before and this is out last planned Disneyland trip for the foreseeable future!

 

[smartlabelprint]

Any advice on how fast the dessert parties go to reserve? Our trip is in August and I'll have 2 adults(grandmas) and 3 granddaughter, ages 5, 7, and 9. We have 3 day park hoppers, and are prioritizing the Fireworks, and Fantasmic on our first 2 nights, as those are more important to our group. We will be there for park days on Tues, Wed, and. Thurs. Thursday is the only day we would have the opportunity to do the princess adventure breakfast, which I think my grandkids will adore.
So that would be the first ADR I would attempt at 60 days out. Then the dessert party. Before was it one that was gone in a few minutes? I'm the only one with a disney account, the other grandma doesn't do much on her phone. It's probably the only way we can see it, as one child has a DAS ,and the crowds would be too much, as well as the wait

Girls trip Aug 2022, Granny, Grandma and 3 granddaughters!

Nothing at DLR was gone in minutes. Not sure what the craziness is about. Maybe people are more in planning mode due to reservations. You’ll need to be online at 6 am pacific to try to snag it.