Viewing World of Color Without Purchasing the Meal?

[grunter]

Last summer, on our trip to the Disneyland Resort, we paid the boxed lunch "tax" in order to "reserve" a tiny strip of pavement to which we clung for 3 straight hours, while the sun went down and the Paradise Pier section of the park closed down, to see the then-brand-spankin' new World of Color show.

Don't get me wrong, we very much enjoyed the actual show. The so-called "seating" and reservation system however left all of us in our party a bit peeved.

Not wanting to purchase a boxed lunch; and not wanting to stand in a crowd for 3 hours on those incredibly uncomfortable concrete risers - Can anyone recommend anywhere in the general vicinity where one might stop to catch a view of the World of Color show?

What can you see from the Ariel restaurant? Can you stand on the pier bridge while the show is happening? What can you see? Is it worth it to try? Or is the boxed lunch "tax" the only feasible way of seeing this show?

 

[Monty]

When I went, they had fastpasses that got you a reserved area. The people with FPs do have to get there early, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't three hours early....

No requirement to buy a box lunch. :shrug:

 

[Nicole220]

Any guest can pick up a fastpass for the show during the day at Grizzly River Run. The picnic lunches and Perferred Dining meal packages are just some other ways to get a fastpass.

There is viewing on the bridge but it's reserved for the blue section only. Everyone else has to keep moving along the walkway. There is viewing for those without a fastpass in front of Ariel's Grotto, but that fills up very fast. Anywhere along the backside of the pier is open for viewing, though the view isn't spectacular. The best place there would be next to the hot dog cart that's between Mania and Mickey's Fun Wheel.

Since WoC is still very popular, to get a good viewing spot you will be waiting a little over an hour minimum before the show.

 

[PeterPanFan5]

Another suggestion: Wait for the second show of the night. It's generally less crowded and you might have a shot at seeing it better. We did the meal at Ariel's to get us a prime location, and it was great. Meal was terrific, too, with an eye-popping collection of desserts after a very tasty dinner. and the restaurant has great theming. (Not cheap, though). Our dinner FP required us to gather anytime between 9:30 and 10 for the 10:15 show; that's when the regular FP groups were gathering as well. It looked like FPs were available throughout the morning by GRR; in fact, they were still open when we rode the attraction about 2 p.m. As for walkup viewers, as someone else said, cast members don't allow folks to stop on the bridge to watch. Another tip: We watched the early show from BEHIND it, back by Toy Story Mania and the Ferris wheel. It was interesting to see the projections from behind (not perfect, but you got the idea), and it gave us context for seeing the later show. WofC was easily the highlight of our six days in the two parks, though; you should find a way to see it again; the new Pirates segment is simply spectacular.