World of Color Superthread

[HydroGuy]

Do they allow people to sit while waiting? DD and I would be perfectly fine standing, but DH and DS would be complainers. If no sitting is allowed, we'll just have to leave them at the hotel.

Yes. You only have to stand during the show.

 

[sonnyjane]

Do they allow people to sit while waiting? DD and I would be perfectly fine standing, but DH and DS would be complainers. If no sitting is allowed, we'll just have to leave them at the hotel.

Yes. You only have to stand during the show.

Although please do be careful. When everyone is rushing in to grab a good spot, it might be dangerous for you to be sitting on the ground in the dark! In my experience from the five or six times I've seen the show, most people are standing.

 

[HydroGuy]

Although please do be careful. When everyone is rushing in to grab a good spot, it might be dangerous for you to be sitting on the ground in the dark! In my experience from the five or six times I've seen the show, most people are standing.

Of course you do not sit when everyone is rushing in. After the crowd around you has settled then sitting down works.

 

[Love Tink]

Seriously, some local UC campus should offer a masters degree in planning for this show!

The more I read, the less I know.

 

[HydroGuy]

Seriously, some local UC campus should offer a masters degree in planning for this show!

The more I read, the less I know.

I guess as the OP I qualify since I do in fact have a Masters Degree from UCSB. Maybe they did teach me something after all!

 

[sonnyjane]

Seriously, some local UC campus should offer a masters degree in planning for this show!

The more I read, the less I know.

I guess as the OP I qualify since I do in fact have a Masters Degree from UCSB. Maybe they did teach me something after all!

And upon graduating you get one free FastPass for the blue section

 

[HydroGuy]

And upon graduating you get one free FastPass for the blue section

Part of me wonders if I missed my calling and should have gone to work for Disney as an imagineer.

 

[sonnyjane]

And upon graduating you get one free FastPass for the blue section

Part of me wonders if I missed my calling and should have gone to work for Disney as an imagineer.

I can see the details now...

"Please note that FP's for the blue section will only be given to those earning a master's degree. Those earning a bachelor's degree will receive a FP for the yellow section, and those earning an associate's degree will receive a FP for the red section. Those wishing to earn a doctorate will have access to the preferred viewing area upon publication of their thesis."

 

[babyruth]

Anyone want to weigh in on if you think/know the crowds for WOC are worse/better on a Sunday night vs a Wednesday night? My family actually does want to do the picnic and see WOC and these are our two options for fitting it in. We'd do the first show at 9:15.

 

[skiingfast]

Anyone want to weigh in on if you think/know the crowds for WOC are worse/better on a Sunday night vs a Wednesday night? My family actually does want to do the picnic and see WOC and these are our two options for fitting it in. We'd do the first show at 9:15.

It may not make a difference even though that parks are always busier on weekends.

WoC was "selling out" (tickets are free not sold) every night wether it had 1, 2, or 3 shows for a long time. But during November it stopped filling the latest shows. During the holidays it mostly sold out even though the bumped back up to three shows a night. In the 2011 offseason it again wasn't always selling out. Now that we are into Spring break not too sure, but they are running it twice nightly instead of once and twice on weekends.

Point is the crowds determine how many shows a night there will be, they have even added shows unannounced base on the days attendance. Wether they fill paradise park to capacity is largely dependent on the season, not the day of week. And more so on weather which can empty DLR quite signifigantly.

 

[ktlm]

I tried to scan through this whole thread, but if the answer to my question is there I missed it.
For the WOC dining package, it is a pay in advance when make your reservation? If so, is it no refund for any cancellation or is there a cancellation policy? If you don't pay until the restaurant, do they have a cancellation policy and what is it? Thanks!

 

[JimmyJam838]

You pay at the restaurants after you finish your meal. If you order the picnic meal, you pay in adavance. I'm not sure of the cancellation policy though.

 

[kikiq]

We're AP holders and were able to first see WOC during one of the CM family previews on the bridge which was to us the perfect full viewing area. Since then, we have usually watched from behind on Paradise pier near the the Wheel of Death or several times in the top blue section when security has "shooed" us in after they take down the ropes (last show).

Saturday, we decided we would forgo our usual Saturday night at Carnation Garden swing band to avoid the pirate event crowds and try for WOC FP. We were able to get red FP for the 9:15 show at 5 pm with a return time at the Challenge trail at 8:15. When the first show started, we went to the Challenge trail and they had just started letting people line up. We waited until 8:45, when they started moving us out of that area and into the red area. I knew we need to move left and along the rail but not in the wet zone since my DH doesn't do wet well. BUT had I been alone or with my DDs, there was room along the rail in the wet zone. We manage to get a spot behind a family on the rail on the first tier after the wet zone. We were right along the rope next to the yellow zone. I think we had a better vantage point than the people next to us in the yellow because they were on the platform/steps, so they were already 3/4 deep next to us. Last night, the wet zone got wet, and we were in the "heavy mist" area The little girl behind me in her Dad's arms kept saying "It's raining". She also knew all the movies and songs, I'm thinking she was around 3 or 4 years old.

As Hydroguy says, it is a totally different show depending on where you are.
We totally enjoyed our spot in the red zone. Still trying to figure out how they do some of the laser/water special effects. I don't think the wait for the second show is as long as the first show. The show times are currently 8 and 9:15 with DCA closing at 10. Personally, I wouldn't mind doing the red zone again and heading to the wet zone. It would be a truly "immersive" experience.

 

[HydroGuy]

You pay at the restaurants after you finish your meal. If you order the picnic meal, you pay in adavance. I'm not sure of the cancellation policy though.

JJ is right. Picnics you pay in advance. But the preferred viewing at AG or WOC is pay at the dinner. Which means if you do not show up you are not charged - just like any other dining reservation at the parks.

 

[ktlm]

Thanks so much! We're used to WDW where there are a couple of places (mostly Princess meals and the Fantasmic dining package) that have penalties if you do not cancel at least 48 hours in advance.

 

[Snurk71]

I’m not going back through to read if this has already been reported. I’ll share our experience from last Wednesday in case it hasn’t.

Reading the super thread I thought as a GC guest that we’d be able to get into DCA at 9:00 for our WOC FPs and then in line for Soarin’ at 9:30. We went over to the GC entrance area right about 9:00 and the line of people was past WWS and no one was going into the park (no one was even in the little passage way to the security station). Instead, a CM had a stack of FPs and was handing them out to those in line. And wouldn’t you know it – she ran out with the party right before us. So we had to wait to get into the park at 9:30 to get our WOC FPs (closer to 9:45 by the time we got through bag check) – same time as those coming from the front of DCA. Then we got in line for Soarin’ afterwards – quite a bit back in line for the supposed on-site advantage. So unless you were in the front part of the line last Wednesday, being a GC guest had no advantage over going through the front of the park.

Some of the guests got out of line after they got their FPs handed to them – I assume they were planning on going into the park just for the WOC FP and then back to the room, DL, wherever.

Not sure if this is the standard now or an oddity. But I wanted to share.

Oh - my quick review is that the show is probably twice as long as it should be. There's only so much to do with the water and color. And the story with the movie clips seemed like a poor man's attempt at F!.

 

[HydroGuy]

I’m not going back through to read if this has already been reported. I’ll share our experience from last Wednesday in case it hasn’t.

Reading the super thread I thought as a GC guest that we’d be able to get into DCA at 9:00 for our WOC FPs and then in line for Soarin’ at 9:30. We went over to the GC entrance area right about 9:00 and the line of people was past WWS and no one was going into the park (no one was even in the little passage way to the security station). Instead, a CM had a stack of FPs and was handing them out to those in line. And wouldn’t you know it – she ran out with the party right before us. So we had to wait to get into the park at 9:30 to get our WOC FPs (closer to 9:45 by the time we got through bag check) – same time as those coming from the front of DCA. Then we got in line for Soarin’ afterwards – quite a bit back in line for the supposed on-site advantage. So unless you were in the front part of the line last Wednesday, being a GC guest had no advantage over going through the front of the park.

Some of the guests got out of line after they got their FPs handed to them – I assume they were planning on going into the park just for the WOC FP and then back to the room, DL, wherever.

Not sure if this is the standard now or an oddity. But I wanted to share.

Oh - my quick review is that the show is probably twice as long as it should be. There's only so much to do with the water and color. And the story with the movie clips seemed like a poor man's attempt at F!.

Thanks for the report back. We try hard to capture what Disney is doing and then they go and change it! There have been recent reports of Disney not opening the GCH entrance at 9AM but I have never heard of them handing out FPs. I am going to include this in the OP so others can be aware.

Sorry WOC was not your style. I hope your trip was otherwise magical.

 

[northshoremama]

another question regarding dining. why does the DL website have 2 different terms: "reserved" and "preferred"? what the difference?

"A full-service prix fixe dinner at Ariel's Grotto or Wine Country Trattoria includes tickets to a PREFERRED Viewing section at Paradise Park. A World of Color lunch is also available at Wine Country Trattoria and includes tickets for RESERVED Viewing.

When you pre-order picnics online for either the first or second showing of World of Color, you will receive a ticket that secures your spot in the World of Color RESERVED Viewing section located in Paradise Park."

i see the "preferred dining" section on the map, but where is the "reserved viewing section"??? i'm confused.

 

[HydroGuy]

another question regarding dining. why does the DL website have 2 different terms: "reserved" and "preferred"? what the difference?

"A full-service prix fixe dinner at Ariel's Grotto or Wine Country Trattoria includes tickets to a PREFERRED Viewing section at Paradise Park. A World of Color lunch is also available at Wine Country Trattoria and includes tickets for RESERVED Viewing.

When you pre-order picnics online for either the first or second showing of World of Color, you will receive a ticket that secures your spot in the World of Color RESERVED Viewing section located in Paradise Park."

i see the "preferred dining" section on the map, but where is the "reserved viewing section"??? i'm confused.

Everything is reserved. You cannot see WOC without a reservation. Read the OP again. Some of the reserved area is "preferred". The picnic "reservation" is the same thing that comes out of the FP machines for free.

 

[LoveMyBeautifulGift]

We were there 3/7-3/13 and saw the same WoC FP distribution on the two days we were entering that early...they were handing them out to guests at 9:00 and when they ran out, were telling guests they could get them at GRR after we were let in...we were let in the park at 9:30 each day, which still had hotel guests at FP distribution before non-hotel guests...also, the lady in charge seemed to be working hard to maintain a distinction between early entry for hotel guests and early FP distribution...she kept telling the FP CMs to stay back from the line and kept checking the line for people looking for FPs and directing them to the CMs...the line practically disappeared on the first day, but on Friday the line stayed pretty long...

I’m not going back through to read if this has already been reported. I’ll share our experience from last Wednesday in case it hasn’t.

Reading the super thread I thought as a GC guest that we’d be able to get into DCA at 9:00 for our WOC FPs and then in line for Soarin’ at 9:30. We went over to the GC entrance area right about 9:00 and the line of people was past WWS and no one was going into the park (no one was even in the little passage way to the security station). Instead, a CM had a stack of FPs and was handing them out to those in line. And wouldn’t you know it – she ran out with the party right before us. So we had to wait to get into the park at 9:30 to get our WOC FPs (closer to 9:45 by the time we got through bag check) – same time as those coming from the front of DCA. Then we got in line for Soarin’ afterwards – quite a bit back in line for the supposed on-site advantage. So unless you were in the front part of the line last Wednesday, being a GC guest had no advantage over going through the front of the park.

Some of the guests got out of line after they got their FPs handed to them – I assume they were planning on going into the park just for the WOC FP and then back to the room, DL, wherever.

Not sure if this is the standard now or an oddity. But I wanted to share.

Oh - my quick review is that the show is probably twice as long as it should be. There's only so much to do with the water and color. And the story with the movie clips seemed like a poor man's attempt at F!.