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Original poster

ABBA Voyage

20 replies

Geminijust · 26/11/2022 15:26

Fancy seeing this next year so messaged a few friends who I thought might be interested (they don't all know each other). Looks like there will be 9 of us and we agreed on a date. From what I've been told and from the reviews, it appears the dancefloor is the place to be as people don't tend to dance in the seated area and it's basically much fun. Therefore, I sent out a message asking If they'd all be happy to go ahead and book dancefloor tickets with the price.

One friend has replied asking what the dancefloor entails as she won't be able to stand for hours (I am aware she has arthritis). I replied that the performance was 90 minutes so not hours and that someone I knew who has been previously said you can sit on the floor at the back of the dancefloor if you get fed up with standing. This friend came to one of the Hyde Park concerts with me last year which was all day, so longer than 90 minutes, and, although we did sit on the grass at times, am pretty sure she stood and danced with the rest of us for the duration of the main act, which was at least 90 minutes. She didn't complain once, although she is not a moaner by nature.

She's not replied so suspect she's not happy and may back out which I will feel bad about. So, do I.....

Suggest we book seated tickets to accommodate this friend although it is not what the majority want and several of them don't even know her (I know they will want to dance and so do I!)

Suggest she doesn't come if she's worried, which seems mean.

Try to persuade her to come but then worry she won't enjoy herself if she's uncomfortable.

So, what would you do? Would be grateful for perspective from people who have actually been to this event. Is the seating area so bad??

Thanks!

OP posts:

SheWoreYellow · 26/11/2022 15:28

Suggest you split and have two groups?

I’m with you, but also can see if you struggle to stand then it could be miserable.

EssexGurl · 26/11/2022 16:50

I went in the summer. Also have arthritis so standing is hard - and I find sitting on the floor even harder. We had seats. Everyone was up dancing and singing around us. Impossible to watch without getting it. There are a couple of videos so it was nice to sit down and watch those and recover before more dancing. Being further back was excellent I thought as the lighting effects were so impressive and you could see all across the arena. I didn’t feel being seated impacted on our enjoyment.

EssexGurl · 26/11/2022 16:50

Getting up - not getting it!

DontGoBreakingMyHeart · 26/11/2022 16:52

No idea why anyone wants to pay such exorbitant amounts of money to essentially watch a video. What a colossal waste of money.

And their new album is shit.

PearlsaSwinger · 26/11/2022 17:51

Just a thought but what about Mama Mia the party at the 02? It's seated for the show and then a disco at the end. Audience participation is very much encouraged!

PollyIndia · 26/11/2022 18:15

DontGoBreakingMyHeart · 26/11/2022 16:52

No idea why anyone wants to pay such exorbitant amounts of money to essentially watch a video. What a colossal waste of money.

And their new album is shit.

I go to loads of gigs and festivals and abba voyage was one of the best things I've been to. it was just so much fun. It's a small arena, and the lighting extends all the way around it. The whole thing feels like you are in an immersive Tron with some of the best pop music every made. We danced and danced and had the best time. The cgi abba figures were incidental really, it was the whole experience that made it,.

Original poster

Geminijust · 26/11/2022 18:16

@EssexGurl whereabouts did you sit? Family went last week and said the seated areas looked "boring" and a few reviews have said similar, hence being keen for the dancefloor. Friend has come back to say she can't stand so won't come. I've replied to say I'm looking into seating to which she said not to bother. Of course I still will. Awkward.

OP posts:

Original poster

Geminijust · 26/11/2022 18:19

*DontGoBreakingMyHeart · Today 16:52

No idea why anyone wants to pay such exorbitant amounts of money to essentially watch a video. What a colossal waste of money.

And their new album is shit.

I thought the same initially but then kept hearing lots of great reports like the above and now feel the need!!

OP posts:

rookiemere · 26/11/2022 18:23

I would go back and suggest seats. I'm sure you would all still have a great time anyway.
I really want to go but getting to London is so expensive these days with the unreliable train services, that I'm not sure if I will make it.

LizziesTwin · 26/11/2022 18:27

A group of us went last weekend, we had dance floor tickets and each bought our own (there’s no group discount). One of us thought about having seats but we decided we’d rather dance & not annoy those sitting behind us if we ‘had’ to get up.

It isn’t like a normal concert but it is very enjoyable.

QueenOfWeeds · 26/11/2022 18:27

I have mobility issues and we had seats - the dance floor did not look like my idea of fun to be honest. Everyone around us was bopping about in their seats, and then a sort of mass, unspoken agreement to get up and stand for some of the big ones.

Across the aisle from us was a couple who danced almost all the way through - the people behind flagged a steward down and asked them to get the couple to sit down and the steward refused, so you definitely can still dance (although judge the people around you maybe?).

Would one of the dance pods be an option?

Bonjovispyjamas · 26/11/2022 18:57

I went on Monday, so much fun and very clever. We were in the seats and looking down on the dance floor, we were so glad we weren't down there, looked so packed,with everyone squashed together, not my idea of fun and there wasn't any room for anyone to sit down at the back of the dance floor if they wanted to. The seats have a great view, I might have been happy with the dance floor in my 20s, but not now I'm in my 50s.

EssexGurl · 26/11/2022 19:59

we sat in the middle of the arena towards the back. But a small arena so I think all seats are good

Purplepurse · 26/11/2022 20:08

We went a few weeks ago and thought it was brilliant. The dance floor was packed and I didn't see anyone sitting down . I dont think there was any room. People did get up and dance in the seating area but not a huge amount as it would impede the view of people behind. Everybody joined in with clapping ,singing and stamping feet though. There are dance pods maybe that would be more suitable. It's good fun even without the dancing. If I had limited mobilIty I definitely would not have wanted to be on that dance floor.

gillybean2 · 26/11/2022 20:51

We were sat in the front row with the dance floor directly in front of us (there’s a barrier/shelf) between the areas.
Dance floor was packed like sardines. No way anyone could sit on the floor. You’d be stepped on or cause someone to trip over you for one thing and she’d be unlikely to get up again. This was a midweek show and the arena looked filled to capacity.

i don’t know how early you’d need to get there to be anywhere near the front or even middle of the dance floor so you’d probably be standing longer than the 90 mins if that’s where you hope to be. If you are happy to stand at the back of the dance floor could she get a front row seat (pricey) and effectively be with you but just across the barrier (basically a foot wide shelf we put our water bottles on).

A group of 6 did try and find their way off the dance floor at one point and it took them a while to weave their way through the crowd. Not sure why but if your friend couldn’t cope with the whole time she would have to find her way off the floor and there wasn’t anywhere to grab an empty seat as every seat was filled (maybe the steps but I don’t know if they’d let anyone sit there).

I’d say those that are happy with the dance floor should get those tickets and anyone who wants a seat should either get a seat and be prepared to either sit apart or with one or two others if anyone else also wants a seat. Or go a different time with others who want to sit.

I have mobility issues and only managed to stand for a couple of tracks. There were people behind us who stood and danced but those around us mostly sat and bopped or waved arms around. I paid for front row as I didn’t want my view impeded as expected people in the seats to stand.

It’s a great show and if anyone was up for it I’ll be going again. I wouldn’t bother with the VIP lounge next time though ( not that you mentioned it).

dudsville · 26/11/2022 20:57

The dance floor gets really crowded and sitting there at the back would be very awkward and uncomfortable. What about booking one of the private booth areas? There seemed to be a handful of them. We sat next to a stag do in a booth and it looked fab with places to sit and dance.

MajesticWhine · 26/11/2022 21:05

We were seated because I went with my ancient DM. People around us stayed seated for all but one or two songs. If you want to dance properly you need the dance floor or one of the dance booths.

Original poster

Geminijust · 27/11/2022 08:43

Thanks all. Coincidentally, someone on my Facebook went last night so I asked her opinion. They had seated, danced and had a great time. I'm now looking into seated although friend has told me not to worry, to go ahead with dancefloor, have a great time but she won't be coming. I now feel I've offended her and she won't come regardless as will feel she's cramping our style. Feel so bad.

OP posts:

dudsville · 27/11/2022 09:32

Try to let this go. If I had been invited and accepted and then discovered it was for the dance floor I would also back out. It wouldn't mean i was angry at you.

Original poster

Geminijust · 27/11/2022 09:43

@Dudsville. If they then changed to seated would you go then or feel they were only doing it to accommodate you and feel embarrassed?

OP posts:

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