Originally Posted By officerminnie I will be at DL/DCA from 12/5-12/9, during which time WOC has one show per night. I have never seen WOC - although it was being constructed the last time I was at DL and I could watch them testing the lights from my hotel room at PPH, which was entertaining in itself . So my question is, do we nee to purchase the dinner deal or the snack in order to have the best viewing options? Or since it's "off season", will we be able to get a decent viewing spot with our regular passes by hitting GRR at opening? It will just be my best friend and I, no kiddos along this time. I appreciate any input!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros You should be able to get a pretty good spot with the regular FPs. You don't need to be there 'right at opening', since they hand out several thousand of each color group, but if you can make it early in the day, it will help. I believe Blue is the section in the center of the viewing area, which provides the best views. However, you can get pretty good views from any section. It really helps to show up a while before the show. They'll tell you what time to return to claim your spot, but it might help to get there a few minutes before that. I'm not sure how this would work out with the weekday off-season crowds. Within each section, there are several levels of the terraced viewing area; if you aren't there right away, or don't want to get wet, grab a spot along the front of any of the various levels. The show is a very different experience from the back of the viewing area, rather than the front (you see the individual fountains better in the front, but the large-scale effects better from the back), but both are very good. If you can, try to 'center' your view on the Mickey head on the ferris wheel, so your position is directly across the bay from it. If you're in one of the side sections (Yellow or Red), make your way toward the general middle of the viewing area as much as possible. Another option is to steak out a spot in front of The Little Mermaid building. I've done this a few times, and the view is very good. My experiences were only for the later shows (which required no waiting at all before the show), so I can't say how that might work for a day with only one show.
Originally Posted By DlandDug Ferret is spot on. If for some reason you do not get the FP, there is always the Picnic option. They are sold on the Golden Vine Terrace to the left. They are usually available right up to show times these days. The meal option is nice if you want to splurge. It is also worth it for prime viewing with a minimum wait. As mentioned above, try to center to Mickey's face on the Fun Wheel. The "center line" of the show runs at a strong angle to the viewing area. Even the bridge to Paradise Pier is better viewing than the true "center" of Paradise Park.
Originally Posted By MomluvsDisney Do they allow you to loiter on the bridge to watch the show at all?
Originally Posted By WDWdreamin Sorry, I don't know that one. DH and I went with only moderate crowds. We were glad to get the package because there were so few of us with the package that we had tons of room and could stand wherever we wanted to get a great view. I do think you can get good enough viewing if you are there before you are supposed to line up for your FP section and you walk right to the rail in the middle (without a post in front of you).
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 "Do they allow you to loiter on the bridge to watch the show at all?" When I was there last year there were ropes along the rails of the bridge, creating a small viewing section, but I do not know if they were for people with certain colored fast passes or not. The CMs were not letting people stop and watch on the bridge if they were not in the viewing area set up.
Originally Posted By danyoung I want to put in a good word for the sitdown dinner package. I've done this twice at the Wine Country Trattoria. The meal was really excellent (at a pretty good price!). After the meal we were told to report to a seating area on the side of the Trattoria restaurant, where we lounged around till it was time to move into the show area. It was really nice not having to stand in line for an hour or so, and the viewing position we got was absolutely perfect! My only gripe was that they should have at least sold wine or other beverages in the holding area - they could have made some decent money in that one area!
Originally Posted By Princessjenn5795 I like the sit down dinner options too. Last year we did Ariels Grotto and this year we are doing Wine Country. I love the convenience of it. It was so nee to be able to walk right past the huge lines of people waiting to get a spot and just go right to the preferred viewing area.
Originally Posted By officerminnie Thanks for the great tips! I'm kind of leaning toward splurging on the Wine Country meal. I agree, they should sell wine while we wait - they'd make some big $$ off of us!
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>Do they allow you to loiter on the bridge to watch the show at all?<< No. Not at all. It is reserved, and if you do not have the correct color FP, you will be asked to move along.
Originally Posted By GMLSKIS The bridge is part of the blue section and one of the best views of the show. Out of my 14 times watching the show 5 have been from the bridge.
Originally Posted By ksargen I'll put in a good word for the meal at Ariel's. Good food, huge amounts of it, and they'll happily pack up your desserts for you to eat later. Well worth the money. The wait staff there was fantastic the last time we went, and we had a very pleasant time.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 I'll vouch for the trattoria meal/package, which we did earlier this week. Good food and good value as theme park meals go, quite apart from the great viewing area you then get.
