World of Color .... Dining Package...Worth it?? - Page 2 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
Welcome! We're happy you've found the PassPorter Community -- the friendliest place to plan your vacation to Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland, and the world in general! You are now viewing the PassPorter Message Board Community as a guest, which gives you limited access. As our guest, feel free to browse our messages by selecting the forum you want to visit from the list below.
To post messages and ask questions, join our FREE community today and you'll get access to tools and resources not available to guests, such as our vacation countown timers, "living" avatars, private messaging system, database searches, downloads, and a special PassPorter discount code. Registration is fast, simple, and completely free. Just click the Join Our Community link.
If you think you've already joined, log in below now. If you don't remember your member name or password, please visit our Member Name and Password Recovery page. You are also welcome to contact us.
I would do it so as to avoid the fastpass hassle. There is no disabled seating and viewing can be hard for guests who are short. Last time I laid down next to a pair of service dogs as I was tired and that was the only place to sit. down with the dogs, lol,
Viewing is a gamble as you might get great spots or bad spots. There are the people who stand there with one arm in the air to tape the show and the parents with kids on their shoulders. They used to make the front row stand, packed, for 3 hours at least.
I love Ariel's dining as they usually can accomodate my special dietary needs. The Tratatoria has an excellent spaghetti Bolognose for lunch that we both love, her with wheat and mine without. Dinner was so rushed because of Mom so I did not get much time to take notes. I like Ariel's better as I can get tri-tip, fish and a wide variety of meals except that spaghetti, it is calling me right now. I love the desserts at Ariel's as there is a variety to chose from. I nibbled on white chocolate but Mom tried several items and liked most of them We have a dessert menu at home because dessert is so special so we know good desserts, Ariel's has great desserts.
The picnic is not something I can eat due to diet. If one cannot get fastpass tickets then it is a cheap option. That is what trash cans are made for.
__________________
Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
Registered Message Board Members save 30% off PassPorter guidebooks! When you register you'll have access to a discount coupon good for 30% off the list price of PassPorter books in our online store.
I'm really debating whether to do Ariel's Grotto for the WOC dinner pkg now...it sounds like it's a hit or miss with people just getting FP's and no meal as to where they will end up. My niece's family didnt do meals at all, she said they had a pretty decent spot, but it might depend on how early you get there, time of year, crowds, etc. not sure.
I'm short too, and I would hate to spend all that time standing and not have a good view. The dinner sounds delicious and the desserts look great too!!
A group of us did the pinic lunch. Which was nice to be able to sit and relax eat, and then go to the show. We got a WOrkd of Colour reusable bag. And the drink we each got we just took with to the show. One lady in our group had a scooter so we got great seats up front. This was in September...middle of the month and there was tons of people. Leaving was a zoo, cause we had to stay on one side to leave the park, cause the people for the late show were standing in line waiting already.
thanks nikkilovesmickey...I wonder if it was great because you got to sit up front though, and if you hadn't, would the experience would have been as good? I wonder where you would have been with the regular picnic meals normally? I'm so torn...my kids would probably like the picnic meals better, my husband and I would like the sit down meal. Maybe we'll split up since they are teenagers, I'll have to ask them...I'd like us to all be together though!
thanks nikkilovesmickey...I wonder if it was great because you got to sit up front though, and if you hadn't, would the experience would have been as good? I wonder where you would have been with the regular picnic meals normally? I'm so torn...my kids would probably like the picnic meals better, my husband and I would like the sit down meal. Maybe we'll split up since they are teenagers, I'll have to ask them...I'd like us to all be together though!
I think with even not having the view up close it would of been good. We would of been a few sections back,but they have it set up where the view is great no matter where you stand. Everything is up in the air, so you miss nothing being back. Well you miss getting hit with the mist, but thats about all.
I don't know about the meals. But the one ariels meal you are off to the side to see the show, and I don't know if that is a good spot or not. Hopefully someone who had seen the show from there can help you out.
I think with even not having the view up close it would of been good. We would of been a few sections back,but they have it set up where the view is great no matter where you stand. Everything is up in the air, so you miss nothing being back. Well you miss getting hit with the mist, but thats about all.
I don't know about the meals. But the one ariels meal you are off to the side to see the show, and I don't know if that is a good spot or not. Hopefully someone who had seen the show from there can help you out.
When you do the dinner at Ariel's you don't watch the show from the restaurant. You recieve access to the reserved (I think it might have another name) section. We met up at the wine bar area at a specified time, relaxed for a bit, some folks enjoyed a glass of wine, and then we were led over by CMs to an elevated section. It was a great view and an easy way to see the show, if you don't mind the cost of the meal. We've also done fastpasses (we were staying at the Grand at the time and we had early accesss), and had just as good a view, but from a different location. We also had to do quite a bit of crowd jockeying. It was not too bad considering it was Christmas night. We lined up about an hour before the show.
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
I think with even not having the view up close it would of been good. We would of been a few sections back,but they have it set up where the view is great no matter where you stand. Everything is up in the air, so you miss nothing being back. Well you miss getting hit with the mist, but thats about all.
I don't know about the meals. But the one ariels meal you are off to the side to see the show, and I don't know if that is a good spot or not. Hopefully someone who had seen the show from there can help you out.
I've just read about short people not being able to see, and that's what I'm worried about...that would be me! I don't mind being farther back, as long as I can see! Thanks!
I've just read about short people not being able to see, and that's what I'm worried about...that would be me! I don't mind being farther back, as long as I can see! Thanks!
I found, with the dining package (Ariel's Grotto), that I was able to get close enough to see. I am am all of 5'4", that is a concern for me.
We have done the fastpasses, and got the Red section, which at the time was over by the Golden Zephyer, not the best view, and there were a ton of people in front of us, so I could really only see the top half of the show.
From a short person prospective, the dining is worth it.
Plus, all the fresh sourdough rolls you can eat!! That in itself made my night.
ShellingConnie, I think it will be worth it! I made reservations for my family for 6:30p, I hope that's a good time (anyone?) we've never been to WOC before, this is our first time, so I wanted to have an excellent vantage point!
I'm going to make WoC Picnic Dining ADR, because when I'll be seeing WoC, it will be on Labor Day. The crowds will be absolutely crazy. By the time we arrive in the parks, all the FPs will be gone.
wow! im so glad i found this thread! i have been back and forth about our meals for our upcoming 2 day trip in DLR! I am thinking the WOC package and Ariels Grotto sound perfect for me and my hubby! I didnt realize that it was so similar to the Fantasmic Dining Package in WDW (which I also think is DEF worth it)! Thanks all!
I enjoyed my Ariel's Grotto meal well enough. The appetizer was fun to eat, and I had a good beef dish. But got what I felt was the best view of WOC through the regular fastpass kiosk, orange section.
I got the preferred view "seating" with the Ariel's meal, and a blue section seating with a picnic meal (got the salmon meal and enjoyed it. I'm not a real fish person, but actually liked this. And I liked getting the souvenir bag.)
I'm short, so I'm willing to wait longer to get a spot where I won't get blocked. With the preferred section, I picked a spot by the stairs so I had a chance to be a bit above people. This worked out ok, and also stood near a handrail so I wouldn't get pushed out of my spot. This was close to the water, so I felt maybe too close to the show, didn't see everything that was going on.
From the Blue section, I also chose a spot near the fencing so no one would be in front of me. It was off to the side, so didn't see everything at the best angle.
For the orange section, I found a spot on the bridge, up against the fence. I felt this gave me the best view of the whole show, I saw things I missed when I was closer to the water. Of course getting the orange section was totally random. and I think it's not considered one of the best views. But I liked it the best for the overall experience, plus it was less claustrophobic. I got the Annual Pass rate for both types of meals, so it was an added bonus.
I think I'm going to try to finally see World of Color with my daughter next week. I'm leaning toward doing the dinner at Ariel's with the late show.
Please help me understand if I've got it all right. If I choose to do the Ariel/WoC option, I don't have to get a fast pass. I can arrive at the park in time for dinner, and then at a set time before the 10:15 show, meet where I'm told and then get directed to our "reserved" spot? And, since my daughter is about 5' tall, I should probably try to stand on the steps with her so she can get a better view?
__________________
Huge Disney Fan...Always Have Been...Always Will Be!
Disneyland 60th Anniversary Celebration TR here!
2013 WDW trip here!
2011 trip to Hawaii here!
Please help me understand if I've got it all right. If I choose to do the Ariel/WoC option, I don't have to get a fast pass. I can arrive at the park in time for dinner, and then at a set time before the 10:15 show, meet where I'm told and then get directed to our "reserved" spot? And, since my daughter is about 5' tall, I should probably try to stand on the steps with her so she can get a better view?
that is correct, but do get there a little early for dinner so you can have a little extra time afterward for other things like bathroom and getting snacks.
__________________
Mom calls to check on me and reminded me to pay the gardener. I love her so much.
Disneyland was fun with flag retreat and pickles. I have a home here, thank you. GAC is NOT a "front of the line pass".
She is gone but keeping signature. Laundry is getting done. My purpose in life is to help poor people in FL. Farewell, will miss you.
Registered Message Board Members Get Our Free Newsletter! When you register you'll have the option to sign up for our weekly PassPorter Newsletter. It's chock-full of feature articles; news; tips; contests; photos; and special offers in our online store.
About This Page: 
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
I don't mind being farther back, as long as I can see! Thanks!
TOT hiding in Morocco
Linear Mode
