[Question] Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

[DreamsofColor]

This is a follow up to a thread I posted a few weeks ago regarding the new dinner package viewing areas. Last night we dinned at Carthay Circle and got the WOC package. To my surprise, the new viewing area for Carthay restaurant is further back. The Wine Country viewing area is much closer up (towards the big open circle area where the play fountains are). While it was still a great view of the show, I was a bit struck back on why the more expensive restaurant doesn't have a closer view.

Any thoughts on this?

[swampymarsh]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

Close is not always better. Up close you are right against it. Far back you can see the wide angle and take in the whole show. There are pros and cons to each. I don't think the distance to the show is making CCT worse and WCT better.

The problem with the WCT dining is it can be very wet near the water. On the second tier of the WCT area below the fountain circle it is very deep so it provides a poor view to a lot of people. It is up front which is commonly percieved as being better.

The problem with CCR dining is it's no longer in the center looking directly at the show, it's off to the side a little bit. While in the back being in wide tiers it offers lots of rail viewing.

All in all I would adjust the viewing area and bring back the red zone. Simply to make smaller queues for the viewing zones and give the dining a better view than the free FPs.

[Jerryp49]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

Could someone post a map of the current viewing areas? Last time we were there, there was still a yellow to go along with the red and blue, with preferred down the middle.

[theswillmerchant]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

Yeah, I mentioned this in the earlier thread. Some people prefer to be further back but I don't. I prefer the Wine Country section. When we went I told the cast member that I liked the other section better and they allowed us to go there (don't know if we just got lucky).

I will say that as far as price goes you can technically get the WOC preferred viewing cheaper at Carthay Circle. Since you only have to order an entre and a starter (or dessert) and they count the salads as entres you could get by with only spending about $20 a person (half the price of the Wine Country dinner package). I don't know if that actually plays into why they put the Carthay section back further, though. I would imagine that most people are spending more than that to eat there.

[theswillmerchant]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

Here is a picture I found doing a google search. The Carthay section would be the top yellow section (including the unshaded area to the right of it on the stairs). I believe, there is now only Yellow, Blue, and the two preferred dining sections (the yellow section also covering all of the old red section).

[Jerryp49]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

Thank you. Looks like the blue section on the top tier to the right of center up to the trellis would be just as good without the high cost of a dinner . Also, I guess it depends on the wind on how wet you get up front close by the water.

[pushforth]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

We have reservations at WCT and we're getting the WOC dining package. Where on the posted photo above is the WCT viewing area? The green?

[disneyhound]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

Nice photo theswillmerchant!

Another question, does the FP specify either blue or yellow section?

[swampymarsh]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

Nice photo theswillmerchant!

Another question, does the FP specify either blue or yellow section?

Yes. Starting in the morning Blue is disrtibuted first and when gone then Yellow. If thier are mulitple shows then after the Yellows are done for the first show the cycle repeats and Blue for the 2nd show then 2nd show Yellow.

---------- Post added 08-27-2012 at 09:45 PM ----------

Here is a picture I found doing a google search. The Carthay section would be the top yellow section (including the unshaded area to the right of it on the stairs). I believe, there is now only Yellow, Blue, and the two preferred dining sections (the yellow section also covering all of the old red section).

Thanks for the photo. It's not current so I'll use it to describre the current situation which started this Summer after CCR opened and Ariel's Grotto stopped doing WoC meals.

CCR dining is the top two sections of the Yellow. Yellow is in the lowest section and everything to the left, west, of this photo. WCT Dinner Dining is in the far right of the picture where the colors interface below and between the two sets of stairs and also on the green above the full pink arc. WCT extend on those two teirs to the right, east, as demanded by how many packages sold. Blue fills the circle with the fountain in it, the two arch in the top right below that red tower, and about 2/3 of the bridge to Ariel's Grotto which is off the right edge of the picture.

With WCT WoC Lunch packages you get blue zone FPs. With WoC Picnic packages you get Yellow Tickets.

You can see the CM at the top of the stairs moving a bench. The benches are placed at the top for HCA viewing which does require WoC FPs. The benches to the right of those central stairs at the top are for VIP viewings, DLR management, certain Club 33 members, guests of either and those using VIP services/tours.

If you want a good view any spot along the railings where nobody is standing in front of you and you are elevated above guests in front are marked in yellow on this photo. Also the center of the park which you should get closest to, is on a line roughly from the middle smaller pair of mix sized boxes that do not have a light poll mounted in them, and the middle of the VIP section. If on this line, you look directly at the middle of the central screen during the show. Off this line you look at it from a slant. So if in Yellow or CCR viewing try to get to your right. If in Blue to your left. If in the WCT area to the right, but it's really a good area in this respect.

---------- Post added 08-27-2012 at 09:50 PM ----------

Thank you. Looks like the blue section on the top tier to the right of center up to the trellis would be just as good without the high cost of a dinner . Also, I guess it depends on the wind on how wet you get up front close by the water.

It really depends on wind and position. When it's calm right up front you can get a little bit wet or be dry if the wind is going south southwest. When it's windy and blowing north northwest, the front gets soaked and the very top gets a few drops.

Some of these windy days are coming up shortly, with the Santa Ana's. Those days are also often hot so it's not always a bad thing.

We have reservations at WCT and we're getting the WOC dining package. Where on the posted photo above is the WCT viewing area? The green?

Please see my explanation above.

[Toadswildride]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

Did they recently make the change for the Carthay Circle section? Online it still says under the Carthay Circle section "purchase one of the lunch or dinner combinations below to be eligible to receive a spot that grants you access to a Center Stage Viewing Area"

[Micoofy Duck]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

during my august trip the Carthay Circle restaurant viewing area was the last section in the back of the color yellow. Less people, able to walk around and be spread out with no one behind you. I did enjoy that rather than the 2nd viewing of it on another day without the woc viewing pass.

The 2nd viewing I could either be up close and get wet, which I should have gone with, but I ended up in the 2nd to the back yellow viewing section and had to "fight" for a good viewing spot and so many people behind me complaining they couldn't see. The "fastpass" viewing sections without reservations are just not fun unless you're tall or up front and center against the rails. And dont' get me started on how awkward it is to record while everyone is around you trying to take pictures and inching in front of you and complaining behind you they can't see. There's still some serious flaws to the viewing area they have created for the show.

[Jerryp49]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

Thank you, Swampymarsh. Very nice reply

[4Apples4Disney]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

I'm still amazed at how great Disney does things. Then I see and experience this. The overall viewing is so bad! Most people can't really see, especially if you have kids. If your not right up against a rail...good luck.

[gatheringrosebuds]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

Thanks for the photo. It's not current so I'll use it to describre the current situation which started this Summer after CCR opened and Ariel's Grotto stopped doing WoC meals.

I think we need a new picture... I'm still having trouble visualizing this!

CCR dining is the top two sections of the Yellow.

I think that this is easily enough to visualize.

WCT Dinner Dining is in the far right of the picture where the colors interface below

But this is still unclear to me. I can't tell where this is based on the picture.

and between the two sets of stairs and also on the green above the full pink arc.

However, I can easily see this section in the picture. It seems like an ideal place to watch the show.

If on this line, you look directly at the middle of the central screen during the show.

It looks like a portion WCT is right on this middle line. Not only does is CCR further away from the show, but it doesn't seem to be as close to the center line at WCT.

Which leads me to wonder along with Toadswildride if the section for CCR has changed.

Did they recently make the change for the Carthay Circle section? Online it still says under the Carthay Circle section "purchase one of the lunch or dinner combinations below to be eligible to receive a spot that grants you access to a Center Stage Viewing Area"

Unless I've misunderstanding where the center line for the show is, it doesn't seem like the top two yellow areas of the picture, that are (or were) the section for CCR is a "center viewing area".

Phew. This is complicated. )

[swampymarsh]

Re: Carthay and Wine Country WOC viewing

Did they recently make the change for the Carthay Circle section? Online it still says under the Carthay Circle section "purchase one of the lunch or dinner combinations below to be eligible to receive a spot that grants you access to a Center Stage Viewing Area"

Technically that is correct. That area marked Yellow above that is CCR viewing is in the center of Paradise Park.

As I explain the center is where you a looking directly at the middle of the screens. The fountains you can see in the photo above and the edge of the stage/platform in the water appear to run almost parallel to Paradise Park in that photo. The back of the stage which is not in the photo is at a 20 degree angle to the front of the stage. The back is where the mist screens are. While The CCR viewing is across from the middle. The direct line of sight is going up and to the right as I described above. If you wonder why this matters, try looking at your tv or another screen from strait on and to the sides. You get a clearer image looking strait at or perpendicular to the screen.

But this is still unclear to me. I can't tell where this is based on the picture.


However, I can easily see this section in the picture. It seems like an ideal place to watch the show.

If you can see the upper WCT section the lower section is directly below. By where the colors interface I mean where blue touches yellow in the bottom right of the photo.

---------- Post added 08-28-2012 at 08:30 PM ----------

Phew. This is complicated. )

When you are at DCA, it's not that complicated. Just know what fast pass you have and thank about the single area you are going to.