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The everything you need to know about going to ABBA voyage thread

248 replies

Cod · 05/06/2022 08:44

Getting there
it is really well located for public transport.

Pudding Mill station is directly outside, but we walked from Stratford which is better connected for us from Waterloo.

It’s only a 20 minute walk along pathways links to the Olympic site I’ll be absolutely fine unless it’s pouring down with rain

Drinking and Eating before
if you want a proper meal pasta go to one of the mini chain restaurants at Westfield and then walk from there.

There is very little outside although there is some street food inside, but I didn’t see that.

Outside there is a pop-up box park type thing with called snoozebox which has got loads of atmosphere and some really tasty Indian street food. Drinks in there also a lot cheaper than inside the little mini foyer outside the Area where wine us £25 and beers £6. They will also give you tap water. The arena sells refillable Abba merch water bottles pictured.

the arena
outside in the foyer everybody is very up for it! You’ll be overcome by the joy of the whole experience. The arena is pop-up and the foyer shows, in the winter it might get quite windy but in the summer it was lovely. Hang around there to soak up the atmosphere. The staff are lovely and the cloakroom is free, but watch out for long queues afterwards to get that so take as little as you can. If you have got dancefloor seat you need to travel pretty light. Security is fast.

seating
unless you have an infirmity GET DANCEFLOOR TICKETS. There’s loads of room and great aircon. The chair people only stood up for the odd song. When we arrived in there about 20 minutes before the show lots of people are sitting on the floor in the dance floor seating finishing drinks and stuff but they soon got up as the vibe increased.

the show
They are rightly strict about phone use, and I saw very little of it. The show will freak you out because it’s so brilliant and even after which are not quite sure what you saw

It’s flawless technically and there is a live band . The lighting is alone is worth a ticket price.
it lasts 90 minutes. There are two sequences where is animations rather than abbatars and in theory you can get drinks then it will be hard to get back if you’re on the Dancefloor seating

afterwards
long queues for the Loos outside but go around the corner to the loos away from the cloakroom. Cloakroom queues were long but moved fast. Merch is ££ but available. then if you’re in a party mood you must go to the Snoozebox. This made our day. Really like being at the best wedding party ever. The staff there said it’s like it EVERY day. Dancing. Singing and laughs.

i think that’s it.

The everything you need to know about going to ABBA voyage thread
The everything you need to know about going to ABBA voyage thread
OP posts:
Cod · 11/07/2022 19:46

I used the term infirmity because some now disabled. Just not the types to stand and dance.

AlphaAlpha · 26/07/2022 14:42

I went last night - it was truly incredible!

We missed out on booking the snoozebox to stay in but had drinks there before and after, what a party! If you like to go to bed after the show then best not to stay here...

We stayed at the Holiday inn express Stratford and it was a very easy 10 minute walk to the Abba arena.

We are looking at going again nearer to Christmas and taking our 9 year old who is partial to an abba tune or 3.

BlueGlasses · 26/07/2022 15:04

We had a dance booth for 6 of us. There are two tiers - standing area and a seated area. We took the raised seated area as the standing area was already occupied. There is waiter service but no direct access to toilets. We were high but had a great view. It was a very expensive choice.
I have booked to go again but this time seated, as I am taking my uncle as a treat, and to sit or be able to sit suits his needs better.
My sister was on the dance floor when she went and said the worse thing was trying to see over or around people in front of her.
Regardless t is a very intimate arena (3000 max I think) so every area does get a great view anyway, the atmosphere is electric and the abbatars and lighting is amazing.
Wherever you sit or stand or dance you will have a fantastic time

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Cod · 26/07/2022 16:04

I don’t get the ‘see over people’ thing, it’s just like a disco you can move if you don’t like where you’re standing.

VanCleefArpels · 27/07/2022 06:54

@Cod when we went the standing area was so rammed I doubt anyone could move anywhere once they were in there

Nat6999 · 27/07/2022 07:12

Ds & his dad are going next month, I will show him this thread.

Lipp · 28/07/2022 22:58

Thanks for your comments! How much was you taxi to Stratford? Thanks x

Tryingtokeepgoing · 06/08/2022 14:09

Lipp · 28/07/2022 22:58

Thanks for your comments! How much was you taxi to Stratford? Thanks x

A taxi to the arena from Stratford is about £8

Badfootkk · 06/08/2022 20:03

Sorry if I missed this. Can you bring any drinks in?

KindergartenKop · 06/08/2022 20:07

Would it be ok for a 10yo?

Tryingtokeepgoing · 06/08/2022 20:56

Badfootkk · 06/08/2022 20:03

Sorry if I missed this. Can you bring any drinks in?

You can definitely take drinks bought there into the performance, but I’m not sure if they’d let you bring your own drinks in - there are bag checks on the way in. Though, they don’t sell bottled water, they just give you plastic cups that you fill at a water fountain so perhaps you’d be fine. Sorry I can’t be more help

WhisperGold · 06/08/2022 21:01

It's superb.
But check out setlist and listen to the less well known songs to get familiar.
And you'll probably catch Covid.
But go anyway.

Oneearringlost · 06/08/2022 21:07

jubileetrain · 05/06/2022 11:50

I'm not going but I appreciate the effort you have put in to this thread - thank you

Yes, thank you so much. We are thinking of going in October.
I will save this thread.

Badfootkk · 07/08/2022 20:45

Just got back. It's great! Fyi you can bring drink and food in, they seemed very relaxed about it. Not glow sticks however ( we were told to take them off, incase we distracted from the show!🤣)

maranella · 20/08/2022 20:30

I went on Thurs with a friend. We had dance floor tickets and the show was absolutely amazing! We both loved it and had such a good time. Great sound quality, really incredible, immersive, audio-visual experience. However, if you are short, like me, you may well end up behind tall people and they do block your view quite a bit. You can move, but the dance floor is quite crowded by the time the show starts, so if I go again (and I'm pretty sure I will), I'll go in a bit earlier and get a better spot to stand or maybe get a seat in one of the lower tiers.

The main problems for me were:

  1. there was a rail strike the day I went, so I drove, but the car park at Westfield is a nightmare to get out of, particularly on a day when ...
  2. West Ham were playing at home and the match finished at the same time as ABBA and so thousands of people from both events were all heading back to Stratford at the same time, meaning huge queues to pay and get out of the car park.

So, my advice to anyone who is going would be to check that West Ham aren't playing at home when you go. And if you have to drive, just accept that it takes a while to get out of the car park. It took me 45 mins! So while the show ended at 9.30pm, I didn't get home until 12.10am 😧

Stropalotopus83 · 22/08/2022 15:28

Hi,

myself and a group of friends are going on Saturday, we were planning on dressing up - for those of you that have been are there many people dressed in 70's type outfits or is that not a thing? Some of us getting cold feet about dressing up - although I dont know where else I am going to wear the psychedelic flares I have bought!

Cod · 22/08/2022 15:38

I think I posted below I wished I had dressed up to be honest. Some people went the whole way in and some people just had those white and blue poncho things you can buy on eBay.

Everybody is so fun and nice there are you really wouldn’t feel stupid. Just don’t forget to go to the snooze box afterwards!

Rainbowshit · 22/08/2022 20:20

Stropalotopus83 · 22/08/2022 15:28

Hi,

myself and a group of friends are going on Saturday, we were planning on dressing up - for those of you that have been are there many people dressed in 70's type outfits or is that not a thing? Some of us getting cold feet about dressing up - although I dont know where else I am going to wear the psychedelic flares I have bought!

There were lots of people dressed up when I went.

travailtotravel · 23/08/2022 18:20

Went last night. Oh my, was brilliant. Hoping to go again!

Wouldloveanother · 23/08/2022 19:01

Watching

Paintlayer · 23/08/2022 20:22

We are going Saturday. Please can someone give more info about the snoozebox? We have afternoon tickets - will snoozebox be open before? What is it? A bar? Is there an entry fee and are drinks expensive?
thanks!

Cod · 23/08/2022 21:36

It’s a pop up bar. Open air. With street food. Tables and an Abba disco.
we did the afternoon show and it was humming before and after

Quveas · 23/08/2022 22:17

Cod · 23/08/2022 21:36

It’s a pop up bar. Open air. With street food. Tables and an Abba disco.
we did the afternoon show and it was humming before and after

To be clear, the Indian Street Food is not Indian, it is not Indian Street Food, and it's questionable whether it is food. Unless you count a few sliced mushrooms, diced onion and sliced carrot cooked in a curry powder flavoured gravy, then poured over some rice or chips, for the price of £10. Having vast experience of Indian Street Food, they should be done under the Trade Descriptions Act. Make sure that you take your own food, or eat elsewhere.

Quveas · 23/08/2022 22:20

Tryingtokeepgoing · 06/08/2022 20:56

You can definitely take drinks bought there into the performance, but I’m not sure if they’d let you bring your own drinks in - there are bag checks on the way in. Though, they don’t sell bottled water, they just give you plastic cups that you fill at a water fountain so perhaps you’d be fine. Sorry I can’t be more help

There is bottled water to buy - it comes in wonderful recycled aluminium bottles that can be refilled over and over. They make great gifts too. Black bottles are still water, white are sparkling.

Cod · 24/08/2022 07:42

Street food was fine afterwards for us. Half cut. 🍷
This was in June. Def don’t depend on it for a meal !