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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:
BlondieLady · 22/11/2022 20:30

Thanks for this, I'm booked for February!!!

Annexlife · 22/11/2022 20:38

Thank you, will do seats, it's going to be awesome!

CointreauVersial · 21/12/2022 22:33

Ooh, just stumbled across this thread.....I'm going tomorrow, with DH and the DDs (19 and 21). Great tips about Snoozebox.

Have dug out my sequinned trousers, so hoping I won't be alone dressing like a 70s throwback. My biggest concern is comfy footwear for all that dancing....also, how hot/cold will it be in the arena?

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AlphaAlpha · 22/12/2022 01:30

FYI - a friend went last week and snoozebox was closed!!

Houseplantmad · 22/12/2022 18:05

We’re going tomorrow - very excited! Does anyone know if you can take your own refillable water bottle please?

CointreauVersial · 22/12/2022 22:36

Just on our way home - that was brilliant! Still boggling at all the tech and lighting. Very glad we had Dancefloor tickets - those boring bastards in the seats only stirred for Dancing Queen, and even then only half of them stood up. How can you not dance to ABBA?!

Snoozebox was a very useful stop for a drink and loo before the performance. Cloakroom was fast and efficient. All in all, a fab day out.

@Houseplantmad I'm pretty sure you can take in a water bottle but I confess I didn't see anywhere to fill up. Or you can buy a refillable ABBA bottle. You'll have fun, anyway!

chocolateisavegetable · 22/12/2022 22:48

@Houseplantmad yes you can and there is a water fountain

Houseplantmad · 22/12/2022 22:52

@CointreauVersial thanks you and glad you had such a fab time
@chocolateisavegetable thanks v much. Can’t wait to go!

chocolateisavegetable · 22/12/2022 23:28

@Houseplantmad you are going to love it!

Blackonion · 04/01/2023 18:51

I’m going in March - and this has been very useful. Still unsure about where to stay and was thinking Canary Wharf, because it was cheaper, and we could just get on the DLR afterwards. The Holiday Inn Express is full already, and I don’t fancy snooze box because I’m very tall!

also ….so is the dance floor really rammed - I mean like a mosh pit at a rock concert? I’m not good with extremely crowded.

VanCleefArpels · 04/01/2023 19:13

I wouldn’t have enjoyed the floor tbh - and it was about a billion degrees hot on the day we went which didn’t help!

Cod · 04/01/2023 20:04

Transport links are good so stay where you want.

marmiteloversunite · 05/01/2023 08:19

Dance floor was really busy when I went. I was happy to have a seat.

CointreauVersial · 07/01/2023 00:24

Blackonion · 04/01/2023 18:51

I’m going in March - and this has been very useful. Still unsure about where to stay and was thinking Canary Wharf, because it was cheaper, and we could just get on the DLR afterwards. The Holiday Inn Express is full already, and I don’t fancy snooze box because I’m very tall!

also ….so is the dance floor really rammed - I mean like a mosh pit at a rock concert? I’m not good with extremely crowded.

Dance floor wasn't remotely rammed when we went (22nd December). Plenty of space to dance, or move to a different area. A lot of people sat on the floor, festival style, until the music started.

sovielverloren · 03/02/2023 21:33

Hello! Hoping for advice. Going in a couple of weeks, big birthday, husband taking me. What do I wear? He absolutely won't dress up so I want something fairly simple but I want to do something! Am fat and middle aged!

crikeybiller · 04/02/2023 04:11

Ooh I'm thinking of getting tickets for DPs birthday but not sure whether to get dance floor or seated.
He's going to be 53 but loves a boogie and can happily spend a day at a festival.
How crowded is the dance floor? Would seats be better ? We will absolutely want to dance so do people get up in the seats ?

chocolateisavegetable · 04/02/2023 07:53

@sovielverloren you could always just take feather boas and coloured sunglasses - he might put them on once he gets there and gets in the mood!

sovielverloren · 04/02/2023 08:45

Feather boa is a good shout actually, thank you! I have a couple tucked away somewhere. I am getting excited!

MinnesotaMuffin · 04/02/2023 09:22

crikeybiller · 04/02/2023 04:11

Ooh I'm thinking of getting tickets for DPs birthday but not sure whether to get dance floor or seated.
He's going to be 53 but loves a boogie and can happily spend a day at a festival.
How crowded is the dance floor? Would seats be better ? We will absolutely want to dance so do people get up in the seats ?

Yes, the dance floor is crowded. You will have room to sway and shuffle but you won’t have space to throw any really big shapes.

crikeybiller · 04/02/2023 10:08

So would seats work better?
Do people stand up and dance in their seats?

chocolateisavegetable · 04/02/2023 10:10

We had seats and we did get up and dance! Not sure the people next to us were very impressed - they sat through the whole thing - even when Dancing Queen came on! The main dance floor definitely looked crowded. If I was going again I would go for the small dance floors further back.

Cod · 05/02/2023 08:10

I went very early on in the run, and maybe things were empty them, but I couldn’t see the point of the dance booths because they were so far back from the stage.

OxfordDog · 11/02/2023 11:33

This is a really helpful thread, thank you! I am thinking of buying tickets for my mum and I. She's early 70s so I'll definitely opt for seated. I am a bit worried about people in the seats standing to dance and blocking our view. Is that likely to happen and, if so, is it better to try for front row seats? Also, someone mentioned that it's air conditioned but others have said it can get hot. Is there air con? Thank you!

chocolateisavegetable · 11/02/2023 11:36

Yes people will get up to dance from their seats - unlikely to be for every song, but when they start Dancing Queen …

We unfortunately went during the extreme heat last Summer and the aircon couldn’t cope. It wasn’t awful, but not great. I definitely want to go again, but I’d go in the Spring / Autumn

ApolloandDaphne · 11/02/2023 11:45

We are going in May. DH bought me the tickets for my 60th. He correctly surmised that I would want to be on the dance floor as I love a good dance along to Abba. I can't wait.