World of Color

[CountryCharmer]

What can you tell a first time visitor to Disneyland about the World of Color?? Is it a must see?? Where do you suggest viewing, etc??

 

[skiingfast]

See it, and read the WoC superthread.
WoC Superthread

 

[Go Mickey]

Absolute must see. We watched it the other night. We had FP for the Red Zone. We got in the "un-official" line about 6:15 and were at the front. As we debated where to go, there was a gentleman there that convinced us to go right up front, in the "Wet Zone". He said we wouldn't get very wet, maybe just misted and since that day it was 103, a misting would feel great. We ended up front and center, with only the rail between us and the show ..... it was great and he was right, we only got misted a few times.

 

[Dramamama]

I hope you let kids stand in front of you, it irks me when adults are at the railing and kids are behind them and can't see. It won't block an adults view if a kids stands in front.

I wish Disney would put a kids zone against the railings and an adult zone behind that.

 

[HydroGuy]

I hope you let kids stand in front of you, it irks me when adults are at the railing and kids are behind them and can't see. It won't block an adults view if a kids stands in front.

I wish Disney would put a kids zone against the railings and an adult zone behind that.

The issue is more complex than just not wanting kids in front. Many have had experiences like I had earlier this year seeing Illuminations at Epcot where I let two small kids in front of me and the parents stood behind me. Then the mother bumped me the entire time with her purse and talked around me to her kids the entire time throughout the show. It was the fourth time I had seen Illuminations and I only committed a short time to wait for the show. So it did not bother me immensely other than they ruined that particular show for me.

Imagine if that happened at World of Color after spending $200+ on a preferred dining spot, arriving 90 minutes early and was seeing the show for the first time? My experience would have been quite negative. Many people do not let kids go in front of them because of hard experience with how they behave once they are there and how their family behaves - often trying to crowd up front "to be closer to their kids".

Further, the first time we saw WOC we showed up 2 hours early to get a good spot. Some people came 60-90 minutes later. And then wanted to push their kids to the front. Sorry, they should have showed up earlier. We waited a very long time for that spot and did not want to yield it to a possible negative experience like I had at Illuminations. Now that I have seen WOC multiple times I woud be more inclined to let selectively allow kids to move in front of me at WOC. But some families show up at the last minute for shows and parades with a large group and then impose on others who have waited a long time. That irks me.

 

[cloudconnected1039]

The issue is more complex than just not wanting kids in front. Many have had experiences like I had earlier this year seeing Illuminations at Epcot where I let two small kids in front of me and the parents stood behind me. Then the mother bumped me the entire time with her purse and talked around me to her kids the entire time throughout the show. It was the fourth time I had seen Illuminations and I only committed a short time to wait for the show. So it did not bother me immensely other than they ruined that particular show for me.

Imagine if that happened at World of Color after spending $200+ on a preferred dining spot, arriving 90 minutes early and was seeing the show for the first time? My experience would have been quite negative. Many people do not let kids go in front of them because of hard experience with how they behave once they are there and how their family behaves - often trying to crowd up front "to be closer to their kids".

Further, the first time we saw WOC we showed up 2 hours early to get a good spot. Some people came 60-90 minutes later. And then wanted to push their kids to the front. Sorry, they should have showed up earlier. We waited a very long time for that spot and did not want to yield it to a possible negative experience like I had at Illuminations. Now that I have seen WOC multiple times I woud be more inclined to let selectively allow kids to move in front of me at WOC. But some families show up at the last minute for shows and parades with a large group and then impose on others who have waited a long time. That irks me.

That's what I've experienced MANY times, mostly at WOC. I was at DCA last night watching WOC from the non-FP section right in front of Little Mermaid and a family of four came in about half way through the show and wanted to stand in front of me and my niece and nephew (7 and 11 respectively). I said no, as my niece and nephew had never seen the show before and they deserved to see it just as much as anyone. We had waited for 45 minutes in that spot so we could have a good view, and I wasn't about to let their experience get ruined.

I'm all for letting kids in front of me to see the show, but the parents, who are more than likely taller than I, should probably stand behind if they got to that spot after me.

 

[perrinej]

Hydroguy - I totally understand what you are saying. My adult daughter and I went to DL and DCA for the 1st time this June. We had a wonderful week and so looked forward to seeing the WOC. We stood in our color coded line for a long time and was so excited for the show to began. Once it started I could only see the back of parents heads. I am only 5 feet tall. We are planning another trip this next summer, but I don't want to waste my time for hours and only see the backs of heads!! Any suggestions?

 

[rentayenta]

OP: it's totally worth seeing. We had good spots with both the WoC dining and the picnic options.


I agree with HydroGuy. We let some kids up with our kids and the next thing we know their adults were squeezing and gently pushing to get in front of us. No mas. If people want their kids up front then they are going to have to get there early.

 

[Badge]

I hope you let kids stand in front of you, it irks me when adults are at the railing and kids are behind them and can't see. It won't block an adults view if a kids stands in front.

I wish Disney would put a kids zone against the railings and an adult zone behind that.

I am also going to have to disagree with you on this one like everybody else. I have also had a bad experince at Disney World were I let a small child get in front of me and in the middle of the show, the dad pushes me to the side and rolls up the stoller becuase the kid was telling his dad he wanted to sit. That was the first and last time I will do that again.

If I want a front row spot to see a show that I paid the same money to see as you and your kids, I am going to wait in a line to make sure I am one of the first to get a spot. If you want your kid to be up front, wait in line like everybody else that also wants to be up front. The people like myself that do wait 1-2 hours before showtime to get a front row spot are not doing so out of the kindness of our hearts to save a spot for a kid we don't know.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I hope you let kids stand in front of you, it irks me when adults are at the railing and kids are behind them and can't see. It won't block an adults view if a kids stands in front.

I wish Disney would put a kids zone against the railings and an adult zone behind that.

Then those kid's parents should have got them to the viewing area sooner.

I would have no problem letting a child stand in front of me if it was just the child but you can't just let a child stand in front of you anymore, their parents want to go in front of you as well because they don't want their baby to get away from them.

I understand not wanting to be separated from your child but you can't show up 30 minutes before a show and expect you and your kid to just get a seat up front. If a front row seat is important than you need to do the time waiting for it like this poster did.

 

[cypressmom]

Two nights ago my husband and I decided to watch WOC from the 6th floor terrace at the GCH. We arrived 20 minutes early and were the only ones there. Once the show started, others joined us including about 8 drunk adults and 4 unruly kids. It was miserable. I thought we would avoid drama being so far away. Nope!

 

[Badge]

I have learned that at Disney (and really anywhere you pay to get in) you have "those" people that don't care how loud, rude, or inconsiderate they are, they will do anything to make *their* family happy. Of course, you do have those rare moments where you remember how nice and caring some people can be. Its a shame that normally "nice" people (which I hope everybody trys to be) can have a bad experince with one of "those" people and really ruin their experince. In fact, this is really the main reason why everybody so far on this thread has said that they do not let kids get in front of them anymore. Each one of us has had an experince with one of "those" people that like to push their way to the front eventhough they arrived when the show started, or just before it and becuase of this experince, all of use would no longer allow people (kids) to get in front of us.

It goes back to that old saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me". If I am fooled into allowing your kid to stand in front of me to allow them a better view and then you force your way in front of me to be with them, that was my learning experince. I don't want to be fooled again in this way, so I simply don't allow it anymore.

Back to the OP: I am also a first time vistor while WoC is going on. I went about 6 years ago, so it has been awhile. I know from watching it on youtube that it is a must see for me, and thanks to HydroGuy and his great WoC thread, I have everything all planned out on where I need to be before the event starts. Doing the picnic to get the fastpass this Wed. since I am arriving to the park later in the day and worry about the tickets to the show being gone. The show starts at 8:15 so I plan on getting into the line around 6:30-6:45 to *hopefully* get a front row spot, where I will not be letting any kids in front of me

 

[Cinmon Toast & Tacos]

I hope you let kids stand in front of you, it irks me when adults are at the railing and kids are behind them and can't see. It won't block an adults view if a kids stands in front.

I wish Disney would put a kids zone against the railings and an adult zone behind that.

I agree with others about kids in the front. We were at WOC last week. We got there almost 2 hours early, lined up, and got a great spot on the railing. We had 4 small kids with us and they’re heavy, so we were extra careful to get there early.

About 15 minutes before the show, a woman showed up with a child about 10and kept trying to make people move for her daughter. She never asked anyone directly, just kept announcing loudly “Just ask them to move. They are taller than you are.” Incidentally, she was right on her daughter’s tail, so I’m not sure if she would have shoved in with her or not, but it sure looked likely. Since no one moved, she once again did the passive-aggressive “I guess no one here is NICE. Let’s go somewhere else.” I was glad to see her go -- I’m 5’1” and a kid that tall in front of me would definitely have impeded my view, and of course I’m not letting her in front of my own kids.

As it happened, there was a family directly behind us that got there 10 minutes after we did and had two smallish kids. We chatted with them quite a bit during the wait and were happy to let their kids in front of us with ours.

Right as the show started, another kid showed up out of nowhere and squeezed in between the other kids, smashing all of us over. I never did see a parent. So although my view was great, I spent an uncomfortable 26 minutes holding my 4 year old and standing SIDEWAYS because some kid decided to smoosh in at the last minute.

So now I throw my opinion down on the side of “first come, first serve.” It seems to me parents too often refuse to put the time in for a good spot and just assume that their kids have a right to be obnoxious and knock everyone else out of the way just because they are kids. Not so, I say.

That said – WOC was awesome and the Hydroguy superthread was extremely helpful in getting us a great view. Yay! Our whole family was really impressed and happy with the experience.

 

[tanyaewa]

Well.... it is a great show - if that is your thing.
But I will chime in here that our group of 19ppl - ages 5-72 did not all enjoy WOC after a long day. It is tough to stand that long - and no amount of pre-planning will make your feet any less restless and sore.
It was the first time for all of us and ALL the kids were less than impressed. It was too long for them to wait. And the show went too long. 5, 6, 6, 8, 8, 11, 12, 13yo.
Most of them ended up siting at their parents feet heads in hand waiting to be done.
The adults were mixed but it's tough to really enjoy it when your kids are restless. I had to make a promise to the 13yo that I would NEVER, in his life, make him go again - just to avoid a mutiny. The older ladies got tired too.

And honestly - I was so embarrassed that I made everyone wait so long wth promises of awesomeness when we saw how the 2000 (I'm guessing?) person crown was literally funnelled out the side gates at the end. It was an awful cattle to slaughter style walk. No escape at all. The whole park is closed (when hours end at 8pm and show is 8:15) and so many exits are boarded up that it is very dismal.

SO..... did I like the show? It was pretty cool. Would I go myself again? not until the whole park gets opened up and the walls come down, and never when the parks close at 8pm. Oh yeah - and never with my kids

 

[StyledSugar]

Just a question about viewing areas. We are doing the dining option (not the picnic, the other one) to get our preferred viewing area. Does that area get overly crowded as well? Is it worth paying that money for dinner at Wine Country Trattoria just for a place to stand for the show?

The dinner sounds fantastic and we have talked my bf's parents into going with a promise of great views of WOC. I hope we weren't wrong.

 

[HydroGuy]

Hydroguy - I totally understand what you are saying. My adult daughter and I went to DL and DCA for the 1st time this June. We had a wonderful week and so looked forward to seeing the WOC. We stood in our color coded line for a long time and was so excited for the show to began. Once it started I could only see the back of parents heads. I am only 5 feet tall. We are planning another trip this next summer, but I don't want to waste my time for hours and only see the backs of heads!! Any suggestions?

With today's process you need to:

1. Show up early (90 minutes)

2. Get to a front rail

3. Hold your ground

See "World of Color Superthread" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=37986447

Good luck!

 

[tanyaewa]

So... to give you an overview. With a 1/2 hour(ish) show - you are standing in one spot (or sitting on concrete *sidewalk*) for 2 hours if you show up 90 min early. Shoulder to shoulder with humanity It can be good - or it can be pretty crummy.

And I have no idea why more people don't complain about the procession after the show... with all the boarded up areas in DCA it is VERY crowded leaving in one funnelled direction.

I don't mean to be negative at all - I *sparkley heart* DCA on most accounts. It is more just a reality that it is not as easy as it sounds - in real life - with my 7 & 9yo boys. And other members of our group.

It's not a a make or break part of the Disney vacation imo.

And FWIW - we had many of the same issues with F!

 

[HydroGuy]

So... to give you an overview. With a 1/2 hour(ish) show - you are standing in one spot (or sitting on concrete *sidewalk*) for 2 hours if you show up 90 min early. Shoulder to shoulder with humanity It can be good - or it can be pretty crummy.

And I have no idea why more people don't complain about the procession after the show... with all the boarded up areas in DCA it is VERY crowded leaving in one funnelled direction.

I don't mean to be negative at all - I *sparkley heart* DCA on most accounts. It is more just a reality that it is not as easy as it sounds - in real life - with my 7 & 9yo boys. And other members of our group.

It's not a a make or break part of the Disney vacation imo.

And FWIW - we had many of the same issues with F!

No one said it was easy! It is what it is.

When Remember Dreams Come True fireworks came out in 2005 it requried a 60 minute wait in the hub in a strategic spot if you wanted kids to be able to see while everyone stood. Seeing the first Fantasmic show can require a 2+ hour wait.

For some people none of this is worth the hassle. If so, then be glad so many other people are tied up at the shows and go hit the rides with shorter lines!

 

[vettegirl]

I saw it for the first time in August and had the WOC dining package. It was the best decision I ever made. The meal was excellent and I was the first one to be let in to very front! I had to wait an hour for them to let me in but the view was perfect! I was so close I got wet. WOC is the best Disney show I have ever seen, it was amazing and brough tears to my eyes.

 

[rramstad]

Random aside. When we saw WOC in July, I was in line early, with my family behind me somewhat having joined the line a bit later, when they started letting people in, I found a good rail spot, marked the rail with clothing, and sat down, marking the area pretty clearly. My family was there within 10-15 minutes, even through the crowd. Once everyone was situated, I left, and hit the Corn Dog Castle and grabbed a bunch of Mickey ice cream, and came back. By the time everyone finished eating, and I ran the trash out so we didn't have to deal with it later, and I got back, it was probably 30-45 minutes to show time, which wasn't all that bad, we cycled everyone to the bathroom, and then settled down to wait for the show.

Long story short, the wait is what you make of it. It can be an ordeal, or it can be OK, your call.

(The corn dogs and ice cream probably ran $60 for a family of five, and we used regular WOC first show blue fast passes that we got in the morning, so we weren't paying for premium dining, and had some of the best spots available, thanks to Hydroguy and the various updated photos of the area.)