That’s me–glass of wine and no baby!  I was free as could be only 8 weeks after Baby C’s arrival. I needed a little vino to ease my guilt about leaving my little guy.

Last night I attended the World of Color media preview and dress rehearsal.  It was a great night and in addition to watching the show, learning about what it takes to put on such a production, we were treated to samples of the foods and beverages available to guests attending California Adventure this summer.  As always, there were a limited number of online media invited, and I am proud to have been one of three blogs invited.  My partners in Disney crime, Marcy Massura from The Glamorous Life Association and Suzanne Broughton from Alive in Wonderland were lots of fun and as always armed with a far better camera than mine.  Thanks to Marcy and Suz for allowing me to steal your pix!

Over the next couple of weeks I will be bringing you lots of information on World of Color and this is the second installment in that series.  If you missed it, click here to see some of the pictures I took at the show and posted earlier today.  For now, I’m excited to bring you details on viewing options for the show.  There are four ways to see the show.

The Disneyland management team are taking the lead from the folks at Walt Disney World and are offering two dining packages that include reserved viewing for the show.  The first is a picnic meal available through online reservations or walk-up purchase.  The meals are $14.99 per person and may be reserved online up to 60 days in advance.  Simply look for the link on Disneyland’s homepage.  The meals may be picked up at the Sonoma Terrace starting at 2p.m. the day of your visit.  Guests who reserve online will be assigned viewing to the first show (9p.m.) and those who select the walk-up option will be assigned to the second show (10:15p.m.).  There are four meal options for adults: The All-American (cold fried chicken), The Taste of Asian (cold miso-glazed salmon and spring rolls), The European Antipasto (cured meats and amazing cheeses), and The Mediterranean Vegetarian (grilled vegetables and a whole wheat wrap with hummus).  All of the meals come with a small dessert and bottled drink of your choice.  The drinks can all be upgraded to alcoholic beverages for an additional cost.

I tried two of the meals (the Asian meal and European meal) and they far exceeded my expectations of what could be mass produced for a theme park.  In short, they are fantastic.  They are full of flavor and remind me of something one might get at a better restaurant out in the real (nonDisney) world.  I loved them both equally, but think the Asian option might be a little more filling.  I must warn that as you can see, they are not huge meals–more appropriate for a light lunch or dinner.  We are not big eaters and I think my husband and I would really enjoy these meals.

And of course, there are meals for the kids as well.  The children’s meals are the same price, but are smaller portions and come with a glow bracelet.  I think we would probably just get them an adult meal (the fried chicken, perhaps) and snack on their leftovers.  The kids meals feature chicken, PB&J, or apple wedges and string cheese.   Each meal is served in a reusable bag,

The second dining packages are prix fixe World of Color dinner packages available by making reservations ahead of time via the resort’s dining line (714) 781-DINE.  These sit-down, table service meals include “preferred reserved viewing” but do not allow you to dine while watching the show.  The three-course meal at Ariel’s Grotto starts at $29.99 for adults and $15.99 for children.  The meal at Wine Country Trattoria is $39.99 for adults and $18.99 for children.  Seatings are at specific times and space is limited.

The third way to view World of Color is via FAST PASS.  Now, I’m a big fan of the FASTPASS system and according to the folks at Disneyland, using the FASTPASS for shows has been in place in Walt Disney World, so I am saving my skeptisism for how this is going to turn out at a show for when it opens and has had a bit of time to work the kinks out.  At any rate, FASTPASSES will be available every morning at the Grizzly River Run FASTPASS terminals.  A limited number of FASTPASSES will be available for each performance and I’m sure there will be a mad dash for Grizzly River Run each morning.  That being said, the FASTPASSES are supposed to alleviate the need to camp out and stake your spot for the show, as most folks do for Fantasmic!.  Again, I’m curious how early guests with those FASTPASSES will line up so that they get the front part of their section.  The nice thing about these FASTPASSES is that unlike regular FASTPASSES you are still able to get other passes throughout the day.

The fourth and final way to view the show may still watch the show from the boardwalk or side of Paradise Bay.