Several of our readers have asked about the reserved seating for World of Color, so we wanted to give some updated advice on which dining package was best. Some of the seating areas have changed since the Carthay Circle Restaurant opened, so the value can vary depending on which option you choose.
World of Color Fastpass
The first thing to consider is that you might not need to do a dining package at all. You can get Fastpass tickets for World of Color’s reserved seating areas. These tickets are issued from the Grizzly River Run Fastpass machines and typically are available late into the day. We have heard that many people are now making dining package reservations under the assumption that tickets are scarce, but then canceling the reservations when they find tickets are plentiful. Our updated advice is to make a dining reservation as a backup, but know that the World of Color Fastpass will likely be available for you.
Picnic Meals
During a recent visit, we gave the $16 picnic meals a try and would discourage anyone from going with this dining package option. For $16, it seems like a bargain. But this is the one dining package where you are not getting much value for the dollar. First, the reserved seating is in the “blue” section, which is just the standard viewing area you would get with the free Fastpass tickets. Second, the food is really lousy. We learned that the meals are prepared the night before and then refrigerated, which kind of explains the stale flavor we experienced with our meals. The portion size is small and I have yet to hear anyone who was happy with this option. If you can’t get the standard Fastpass tickets, it is worth spending the extra money to try one of the other two dining options.
Golden Vine Winery
The Golden Vine Winery remains the best value for the dollar when it comes to World of Color dining packages. Lunch runs you about $30 and dinner can get closer to $40. In exchange, you get a great meal and wonderful seats. You actually sit so close that you might consider bringing a poncho. The World of Color water screens kick up a lot of mist and can leave you soaked if the wind is blowing in your direction that night.
Carthay Circle Restaurant
We had a great experience using the Carthay Circle dining package option. The reserved area gave us a clear view of the show and Mickey’s Fun Wheel, so we had an ideal spot to watch the show. The area wasn’t very crowded and the meal was great, so there isn’t anything to complain about with this option other than the price tag.
Disney’s Photopass
A new option that we stumbled on was the ability to get reserved seating as a perk when you buy Photopass+ (Disney’s photography service). When you see the photographers around the theme parks, ask them about the service. Buying the CD of photos will cost about $80, which is a good value when you factor in the number of attraction photos and other perks included. You essentially will pay the same out of pocket as with the dining packages, but you will get some professional photos of your trip instead.
So grab a Fastpass, skip the cold chicken, get a few family photos, or enjoy some fine dining. There are plenty of great ways to score reserved seats for World of Color.
Where did you get the burger in that photo? It looks fantastic!
You’re right about the packaged dinners. They’re not all that they’re cracked up to be. We had good luck grabbing fastpasses for the show the second night of our trip. If I could do it all over again, I would have just stuck with the fastpasses and never bothered with the cheap dining package.