Disney’s World of Color water show is one of the best additions to Disney California Adventure. The show uses more than 1,000 water jets, projections on water screens, fire effects and other surprises to make a very memorable show. As with any Disney production, location is everything and you want to get the best seats in the house to fully experience the magic of this show.
You have two basic options for landing the prime viewing areas: plan ahead or spend extra. Planning ahead means that you will either camp out in a spot well in advance of the show or you’ll grab a Fastpass. Paying more means you’ll buy one of the dining package options which include reserved seating for the show.
Planning Ahead
The “Paradise Park viewing area” is the prime location to view the show. This is the stretch of land which runs along the parade route near the front of Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. The area was recently redesigned into large, open terraces that can give you a nice panoramic view of the show. Although Disney will not allow you to bring folding chairs into the park, you can bring a blanket and stake out your spot ahead of the show.
Fastpass is another option for those who plan ahead. The Fastpass machines near Grizzly River Run issue tickets to the show on a first come, first served basis. This means that if you want a ticket into the shows, you should be there when the park opens and run straight over to the Grizzly River Run Fastpass machines before grabbing your morning coffee. If you stay at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, you’ll have an advantage because the hotel’s exclusive park entrance is right next to the Grizzly River Run entrance.
With the Fastpass option, you won’t have the ability to select a specific show time. You will need to bring all of your group’s tickets with you to get the Fastpass tickets (each park admission ticket will give you one Fastpass for Disney’s World of Color.” I mention this because if you have one person in your group run into the park to get the Fastpass tickets while the rest sleep in, make sure you bring all your tickets with you so you can get Fastpass tickets for everyone.
Pay More – Dining Packages
Dining packages are a nice way to have a special meal with the family, avoid having to fight for a spot, and enjoy reserved seating for the show. You pay a premium for the dining packages, but since you have to eat anyway, it is a nice option for those who want a little something special for their vacation.
There are a few dining package options: Carthay Circle Restaurant, Wine Country Trattoria, or the picnic meal. Carthay Circle diners who purchase an appetizer and an entrée or an entrée and a dessert for either lunch or dinner will receive a ticket to access the center stage viewing area for World of Color.
The Wine Country Trattoria option gives you reserved seating right up against the water in the Paradise Park viewing area. The picnic meals give you reserved seats in Paradise Park, though they are not as close to the water as the Carthay Circle or Wine Country Trattoria options. Any of these three options will give you prime seating, but it is worth noting they offer distinctly different viewing locations.
The Wine Country Trattoria gives you lunch or dinner dining package options. Lunch includes a few Italian food options and is $30 for adults and $19 for children ages 3-9. Dinner is a three-course option that includes an appetizer, entrée and desert. Dinner prices are $40 for adults and $21 for children.
The Picnic Meal option ($16) is a chilled meal that includes an entree, dessert, and choice of beverage (bottled Coke product or bottled water). If you purchase four of these meals, Disney will also give you one reusable World of Color commemorative tote bag.
How to Order
You can order the picnic lunches ahead of time online. A limited number of meals are available for purchase on the day of the show by visiting the Sonoma Terrace located at the Golden Vine Winery.
For the the Carthay Circle Restaurant or Wine Country Trattoria, you can place a reservation by calling (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., or email reservation requests to dine@disneyland.com.
