Wow, maybe everyone thought it would be too crowded and stayed away.

I may be in the minority, but as far as I'm concerned it is NOT worth it. None of it. Sure if your metric is a garden sprinkler it's an awesome show, but otherwise, no.

First: if you go to the wine country restaurant, do not order the steak unless you like it well done. The Rat ordered it medium rare and it came with NO pink. Apparently that was pretty standard. The woman at the table across from us sent hers back - and they sent the chef out to explain how that's the way it was supposed to be. Uh, no.

Second: even with the "priority seating" you have to stand forever. It says to come back at 7:30, but they let people in around 7, and they were lined up well before that. So, you're not really saving any time.

Third: if you're short, you can't see anything. Seriously. Everything is at ground level. The water screens are low, a lot of the fountain work is low, every thing is low low low.

Fourth: NO PLOT. It's just a bunch of movie clips strung together. It's like the water screen parts of Fantasmic without anything else. Would you wait all evening to see that? I sure wouldn't....

Fifth: Remember how they redid the San Francisco bathrooms to accommodate the WoC crowds? Well, that whole area is blocked off all evening, so that was pointless. The closest restrooms you're allowed to use are at Pacific Wharf, where there are like 8 stalls in the ladies room.

Were there elements that were nifty? Sure. Maybe there were more that I couldn't see. But I'm basically NEVER going to get to see them, because I'm not likely to get any taller. And what nifty-ness there was most certainly was NOT worth the hassle it takes to see it.

It basically looks like the Bellaggio fountains and the Fantasmic water screens had a love child. A slight amusement, but nothing I would insist that out-of-town company see. I'd take them to Fantasmic instead.

Wow. That was brutal, but I get it. Sure would make me think twice about going with my 5'1 wife, and kids that are 5'3, 5'0, and 4'4. Seems like they would be frustrated beyond belief.

Seriously - if you like devoting the whole evening to STANDING to get the very front row in your section, it may work out for you. Otherwise, the short family member are going to be like me, bobbing and weaving for 26 minutes to try and snatch glimpses of the action. It's not like fireworks where you get to sit while you're waiting for it. They keep coming through to make you stand. That was over 2 hours of standing we did last night, all crammed together, and that was WITH the dining package.

(Although for all I could see, we could have come almost an hour later and I would have had the same view of people's shoulders.)

And another thing - the show was at its best when it was the fountains and lights doing abstract things evocative of whatever movie was being celebrated at the moment. In my not-at-all humble opinion they should have made that the crux of the show, not the water screens. Without any plot, the clips on the screen (which were not very crisp anyhow) just seemed like a gratuitous greatest hits reel.

So, in other words, I could see it fine. Except, I really don't do well standing for 2 hours.

This is why Ken and I are waiting a few weeks so we can let the madness die down a bit, and let Disney sort out some of the kinks.

I saw

Even when I scoped out Paradise Park a few weeks ago, I instantly realized that unless someone of my stature got there hours and hours before to be up against the bayside railing, I would miss the entire show. I suppose since I would get to lean on that railing, the four hours of standing might be tolerable.

Um, not.

I think I'll content myself with whatever we can see from the Scrooge/Wenchybeth balcony or bathroom window or whatever offers a view toward DCA, even if that means the east deck of the Grand Cal Lobby - where you get a slight glimpse.

K says it's "EPIC," but I'm more inclined to believe Prudence's Greatest Hits Love Child of Fantasmic Blurry Water Screens and Bellagio Fountains Now With Color. And I've seen for myself that a guy my size better get front row - or simply not bother. Or maybe I could bring a periscope. ;)

Now there's a merchandise idea! "World Of Color Glowtasic Periscope"!:snap:

These probably aren't big enough, but they'd fit the theme.

"Up Periscope!"!!!:snap: