Is it just me? Too many parades/day!

[spidey_99]

Just got back from 2 days at DL! Blast as always, we had a ton of fun! But as expected the parks were mobbed as the holidays kick in. Not a big deal for me and my girls, tho. We go all the time and are used to it. What with fast passes and knowing how to navigate the place, crowded parks don't bug me at all...altho I prefer those amazing days when you hit it just right and can just walk on all the rides! Those days are like little gifts from above!

Anyway- the one thing that DID bug the crud out of me was all the parades! How many parades does a park need in a single day? The crowds would not be near as problematic if every 45-90 minutes there were not ropes going up forcing everyone to take the same route and congesting key areas of the park with people stopped to watch a parade.

Not to be disrespectful of folks who dig parades, but is that really even in the top 5 reasons people go to DL? I thought the Christmas Fantasy parade was great- lotta fun. But did it need to happen 4-6 times in a day? How about once in the afternoon, once at nite and that's it?

Is this just me?!?

[Disney Dreams]

Glad you had a good trip!

Originally Posted by spidey_99

I thought the Christmas Fantasy parade was great- lotta fun. But did it need to happen 4-6 times in a day? How about once in the afternoon, once at nite and that's it?

Is this just me?!?

LOL, well, it's not you, but it is your perception. The parade only happens 2x a day. Once in the afternoon and once in the evening, exactly as you suggested.

And, imho, if you did a survey, I bet parades probably ARE in the Top 5 reasons people visit Disneyland.

- Dreams

[spidey_99]

Originally Posted by Disney Dreams

Glad you had a good trip!



LOL, well, it's not you, but it is your perception. The parade only happens 2x a day. Once in the afternoon and once in the evening, exactly as you suggested.

And, imho, if you did a survey, I bet parades probably ARE in the Top 5 reasons people visit Disneyland.

- Dreams

Well I would be stunned but very curious and surprised if parades were that big of a deal. But to each his own, for sure!

HOWEVER- really? On 2 times/day?!? Maybe they were doing something else this weekend then that crated the need to constantly be roping the park off. Perhaps that is how they handle max crowds? And if that is the case, perhaps the attendance limit cap is set too high? Like from a fire department kind of standard or something because navigating when the ropes were up- and they were up often- was very, very challenging. Toss in 2 small kids- which I had with me- and I was worried a handful of times about their safety.

[bumbershoot]

What parts of the park were being roped off each time?

[Disney Dreams]

Originally Posted by spidey_99

...HOWEVER- really? On 2 times/day?!? Maybe they were doing something else this weekend then that crated the need to constantly be roping the park off. Perhaps that is how they handle max crowds? And if that is the case, perhaps the attendance limit cap is set too high? Like from a fire department kind of standard or something because navigating when the ropes were up- and they were up often- was very, very challenging. Toss in 2 small kids- which I had with me- and I was worried a handful of times about their safety.

hehe, yep, only 2x a day. 3:30pm and 6:30pm Then there are fireworks at 9:25pm. I was not there this weekend so I don't know if there was something special going on, but that's the entertainment schedule for Main Street. Oh, and then there's the 2 Fantasmic! shows over by the riverfront.

Maybe someone who was there this weekend can comment if something additional was taking place.

As for the capacity, my understanding is that the fire department actually has the final word on attendance at DLR for exactly what you were concerne about - keeping it safe.

[DangerMouse]

I've read they've been doing some taping. Probably for next year's marketing push or some additional taping for the Christmas Day parade.

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I've never noticed it being an issue at DL. But at DCA it seems like that darn HSM parade is going on everytime we turn around. I think that one does happen 4x per day.

[Yakety76]

Funny that you mentioned it. When we were there in the middle of November, I felt like the Tiana Jubilee was constantly going on. Whenever we were in NOS during the day Princess Tiana was out singing. It was a fun parade, but I was a little over it by the last day of our trip.

[LifeIsTinkIsLife]

I noticed this too, it seems like the Celebrate parade was going on 4X a day but it was only going on twice, but I think it seems like more since they start taping it up early and depending on where you are in the park you may see it more than once while it's still going on, making it seem like even more.

[LavenderPeach]

Originally Posted by Yakety76

Funny that you mentioned it. When we were there in the middle of November, I felt like the Tiana Jubilee was constantly going on. Whenever we were in NOS during the day Princess Tiana was out singing. It was a fun parade, but I was a little over it by the last day of our trip.

I have the same problem with the HSM parade at DCA! I swear they wait until they see me coming and then they start it up. I'm not sure if they're still doing it since the walkways are narrowed down by the construction walls but for awhile I don't think i could ever walk through the front area of the park without seeing that thing.

And, to the OP, I feel the same way as you about the parades. They're nice but I find that they are too much of a hassle for me to really enjoy. I don't enjoy having to wait so long to see one and I don't enjoy having to navigate through all the ropes and people when I don't want to see one. I remember when we had our APs about 6 years ago and would go for a few hours at a time. We would have to plan our escape to go home around the parade times because a couple of times we didn't plan and got trapped in the park! Although admittedly, being trapped at DL isn't such a bad thing.

[rmom]

Originally Posted by spidey_99

Not to be disrespectful of folks who dig parades, but is that really even in the top 5 reasons people go to DL? I thought the Christmas Fantasy parade was great- lotta fun. But did it need to happen 4-6 times in a day? How about once in the afternoon, once at nite and that's it?
Is this just me?!?

For my daughter, it is not one of her top 5s - it is her #2 only to be outdone by the Tea Cups. If they had a 30 minute parade every 45 minutes (need to leave time for the teacups and characters), she would be in 7th heaven!

[Stacerita]

We just spent the last couple of days in DL, and the Christmas parade was only twice a day. Tiana's thing was like 4 or 5 though. But really, it wasn't that bad.

[mystic_path]

Originally Posted by LavenderPeach

I have the same problem with the HSM parade at DCA! I swear they wait until they see me coming and then they start it up. I'm not sure if they're still doing it since the walkways are narrowed down by the construction walls but for awhile I don't think i could ever walk through the front area of the park without seeing that thing.

THANK YOU! This is exactly my thoughts too. Every hour and a half they roll that HSM float out. Its a little much specially when its near the front entrance and its hard to get around all those people watching it.

As for the other park though, its kind of like Fantasmic. There are so many people that the streets would be way too congested if every single person in the park flooded to watch the only parade or Fantasmic of the day. A lot of people wouldnt be able to see over other who stand in front of them.

But I totally get what is mentioned as its like as soon as congestion of the streets of the 1st parade dwindle, the ropes go back up shortly there after. Depending on the time of year you go to DL though, it may not be as bad to get around all the ropes.

[bumbershoot]

I *think* the thing with HSM is that they send around the one float to advertise the next actual HSM thing.

[PrinceAli]

I like Having all the parades during the day. It gives me flexability. I enjoy seeing the parades so i pick the time that works out for me. While the parade is going on that Ihave already seen it will free up the lines a little bit. If you plan and know how to maneuver through the parks i dont find it to be a problem