How would you fix parade seating issues?

[dwaters]

In the most recent thread about dealing with rude guests, I observed that story after story shared on this board dealing with rude guests revolved around parade seating and people stealing others' spots, putting their kid in front of others, blocking others views, showing up five minutes before and just cutting in front, strollers used as battering rams, etc etc.
With all the Disney parks doing daily parades, it seems like something should be done to make the whole process of sitting down to watch a parade with your family a bit less ...um.... traumatic. Short of installing magical bleachers that retract into the sidewalks of Main Street, I'm just not sure what else they could do.
Any ideas we could pass on to the powers that be in the parks? (Unless they are reading this themselves....)

 

[wilde_oscar]

instead of trying to find a seat, stand... get there early, hold your ground, call for reinforcements in necessary. And make sure you bathroom break before you steak your claim.

 

[wilde_oscar]

and yeah, I steak my claim... not stake my claim... I prefer a good steak.

 

[soccerchick]

Education would really be the only thing I can see working. Some examples:
~A blurb in the maps about the need to arrive early
~ no cutting
~seating is first come, first serve
~ Some signs might help
~ Some CMs to "direct" parade seating.

 

[TDC Nala]

Nothing will work absent CM enforcement. Which at WDW would be problematic in itself.

 

[t_catt11]

...good ideas, but none of the above really address the rude people issue.

The fact is, it takes perhaps ONE parade for anyone with any common sense to understand what's going on. Perhaps less, if you bother to ask why people are lining up early.

Does anyone actually NEED to be told that it is rude to elbow in front of people who are there first? Or that you shouldn't stand in front of a child's field of view?

Signs and/or cast members would help, I suppose, in removing any excuse of not knowing... but I fear jerks will still be jerks.

 

[fhtpdw20]

I would love to see WDW sell DVDs of the parades (focus on parade, not people watching the parade). You would get great shots, no blocked views, and would serve as a "fix" til the next trip to WDW. You would have a choice to deal with rude crowds for free or "pay for seeing the parade". Another possible bonus for WDW more people riding during parade time which generally dumps out into a giftshop, which leads to impulse buying...

 

[seashoreCM]

I vote for: Nothing will work absent CM enforcement.

 

[jennilynn510]

and yeah, I steak my claim... not stake my claim... I prefer a good steak.

LMAO

 

[livndisney]

In the most recent thread about dealing with rude guests, I observed that story after story shared on this board dealing with rude guests revolved around parade seating and people stealing others' spots, putting their kid in front of others, blocking others views, showing up five minutes before and just cutting in front, strollers used as battering rams, etc etc.
With all the Disney parks doing daily parades, it seems like something should be done to make the whole process of sitting down to watch a parade with your family a bit less ...um.... traumatic. Short of installing magical bleachers that retract into the sidewalks of Main Street, I'm just not sure what else they could do.
Any ideas we could pass on to the powers that be in the parks? (Unless they are reading this themselves....)

Several large armed guards surrounding you as you sit in your spot with your family? No worries, they would sit once the parade started so as not to block the views of other behind. The would however spread out and form a blockade to protect you from those that try to push their way to the front.

Seriously, it is a big problem. Because of it we rarely watch parades-too stressful. I don't know the answer, but I do really wish there was a better/safer way to watch a parade at WDW.

There is a saying you can't fix "stupid", I think it should be you can't fix "rude". And sadly when it comes to WDW parades the "rude" comes out in people.

 

[minmate]

We've watched parades at WDW and not had a huge issue but they don't really appeal to me. My two faves are Stars and Motorcars (which is leaving)and Electrical Parade now at DCA... And last year we waited to watch the Electrical Parade in DL (at DCA) my very favorite parade!!! We sat about 40 minutes early eating our dinner, relaxing -- but wouldn't have had to as the rest of the route didn't start to get filled in until about 15 minutes before - this was during spring break! I don't know why -- but it wasn't even crowded after that... no pushing, no several people deep or anything. Sounds like we got lucky!

 

[cmwade77]

I have never had any problems with seating for parades at WDW or DCA (At DL though there are always problems with finding space during the busy times). The trick is go to the end of the Parade route, not the beginning, I get there as the parade is passing by that area and I never have any problems, there is usually always empty space, especially at WDW. Illuminations is another story, there really needs to be some better options. I personally like Tokyo's policy that no one can line up for a parade or show more than 30 minutes before it starts.

 

[LilGMom]

I don't think WDW can do anything about the rudeness, selfishnes and 'me, me, me attitude' of some guests. Short of having people kicked out of the park for rude behavior I don't know that they can or should do anything. People just need to realize that there are others that want to see the parade too and if you want to see it than you need to plan accordingly.

I don't even think that it would take one time of seeing a parade to realize that you need to stake a spot out early. You'll see people sitting along the sidewalk waaaaaayyyy before parade time so unless you are loopy and a little you've got to realize that something is going to be happening that will have a massive amount of people.

 

[littlelaura]

I don't even think that it would take one time of seeing a parade to realize that you need to stake a spot out early. You'll see people sitting along the sidewalk waaaaaayyyy before parade time so unless you are loopy and a little you've got to realize that something is going to be happening that will have a massive amount of people.

unfortunatley they either don't realise or don't care. on our last trip, i was surprised to see the curbs of main st full (almost) with over an hr b4 sprctro. we took their lead, and planted our butts firmly down in one of the last spaces. as the parade started someone practically threw their 8/9yr old to the front and in front of us. during the parade he stood up a couple of times (ruined that photo - thanks), and worst of all i got ticked off by a CM for not controlling him - you have to sit if your in front (as i'm sure most of you know, unless its chandged). ok, i know the cm didn't know he was not with us, and was just doing her job, i haven't got a problem with that. but if you not prepared to sit and wait for a good spot then you shouldn't expect to get one.
maybe next time i'll start singing "we shall not,we shall not be moved; please do not, please do not be rude"... altogether now

 

[msukar]

I don't understand. If I sit on the curb with my kids, are people going to go sit in the street in front of us? Don't they enforce that everyone has to be out of the street? I just don't understand how if you're on the curb people get in front of you. Enlighten me so I can avoid this!

Karen

 

[DSNY4ever]

There are many spots that there is not a curb, just sort of a line in the cement or something like that that shows where you should stay behind. (Yes I was one of the disers venting about this one on the other thread).

But on our last trip I actually had a lady come up when the parade was half way through, push through the crowd and push her kid in front of my husband and I and then she proceeded to put her knee into my back as she tried to balance herself while she was filming her son standing in front of us and waving to the parade...a character then ran up and blew the kid a kiss and shook his hand and then I got an elbow in my head so that she could get it on tape. I said something, but she didn't speak english (and she didn't care) and by the end I had to stand up and move to the back in order not to argue with her and ruin the parade for everyone around us. It was terrible.

Unfortunately I don't think there is a way to stop this...please Disney work your magic and come up with a great solution like fast pass was for long lines!

 

[maxiesmom]

Maybe we need to design a t-shirt with a saying on it. Something like "I don't share my parade spot with rude people." It would have to be both in Spanish and in English, of course.

BTW: See my tag? It refers to how I manage to keep my spot at parades.

 

[LilGMom]

Maybe we need to design a t-shirt with a saying on it. Something like "I don't share my parade spot with rude people." It would have to be both in Spanish and in English, of course.

BTW: See my tag? It refers to how I manage to keep my spot at parades.

I'd wear one of those shirts!

 

[littlelaura]

I don't understand. If I sit on the curb with my kids, are people going to go sit in the street in front of us? Don't they enforce that everyone has to be out of the street? I just don't understand how if you're on the curb people get in front of you. Enlighten me so I can avoid this!

Karen

they're not allowed to sit in the street. we were as far forward as you could get. a cm told him to sit down on the curb but there was no room. he looked over the crowd of people and either couldn't see his mum, or she was signalling him to stay put. anyway he kinda forced himself in the half-inch gap between me and my ds. whether he kept getting up because he was excited or too sqaushed i don't know. i'm not blaming this kid either - its his mum that frustrates me. with the sea of people behind us, he'd have had trouble getting back out anyway. maybe i should try to make myself look big next time.

 

[littlelaura]

I personally like Tokyo's policy that no one can line up for a parade or show more than 30 minutes before it starts.

this sounds fine, but at WDW i feel it would be nothing short of a STAMPEDE at precisely 30 min b4 it starts.
now what you really need is a cattle prod......... oooh i can smell the revenge (and frazzled hair) already. just kidding. i'm not a vengeful person really. what goes aroung comes around - eventually.