I will post a full trip report later, but here is my WOC experience from tonight.
We had a 430 PS at Ariels, we were seated on the patio, where I have never sat before. Food was delicious, probably the best AG meal I have ever had.
We were given our FP's by our server, and we headed down the walkway. Twinwife and the girls headed over to bugs land, directed to return at 7 with the stroller / tank / battering ram. I milled about near the X-mas tree area at the end of the walkway, right in front of the palace of fine arts and walkway to GRR. I would suggest standing right in front of the cotton candy cart, play on your phone, read a book, just people watch until the line starts to form around seven.
I asked several CM's about the procedure, and to my surprise they all gave the same answer. About 715 barricades will go up in the middle of the walkway, facing toward Wine Country trattoria. We were advised many times NOT to line up before then, and our FP's gave a 745 return time.
************ If you read nothing else, read this. If you get there at or after 745, you have wasted your time and money. All sections were pretty crowded by then, if you want an unobstructed view. If you are over six feet tall, as is everyone in your group, fine, get there at 814. If you have any kids in your group, and you want them to see, get in line by 7.
At five minutes to seven, a fleet of scooter drivers began the line up, and I hoped in line as did many others. Within a few minutes, the line stretched pretty far. The CM kept telling all of us to not line up (no one listened), but if we stayed, move to the left towards the cotton candy cart. At 710 twinwife arrived right as the barricades went up, and the line turned into a mob the stuffed up to the barricades. A few minutes later, we were let in. It was a mad dash to the viewing area, a lady jumped right in front of me, and I did something I am not proud of (read the trip report to hear about that!). We ended up on the second level (waterside being the first level), right at the railing, with the steps down right next to us. I was a little surprised that premium folks are not given access to way down below.
This spot worked out GREAT, as the twins stood up in the stroller and had a perfect view. A little mist but I would not say we got wet, per se.
The premium viewing area stayed pretty clear until about 8, but my god the blue and yellow sections were packed in like sardines. If you are not in the premium viewing area, and you have a kid/short person in your group, get to the line up area by 7PM (for a 815 show) at the VERY latest.
DO NOT follow the times on your FP, unless you want to stare at the back of someones head. Get there at 8PM with any FP and you pretty much have a useless pieces of paper, unless you are tall.
The show was AWESOME, more on that later. Just wanted to let everyone know how it went tonight, a one show weeknight.
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