Pictures from Macy's Christmas parade debut Dec. 6

[safetymom]

www.disunplugged.com

Pictures from last night.

 

[Metro West]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[pixeegrl]

OK, I browsed your u-tube videos and I must say at first I was unsure about the Breakfast with the Grinch. After watching your video, we definitely have to go! My 13 year old son was sitting next to me watching and he thought it was hilarious!

 

[palm715]

Safetymom, thanks so much for the photos and pixeegrl, thanks for the head-up on the You Tube video link next to the photos. What a great character b-fast. Is it OK that I'm getting more excited about this trip than the kids?

 

[pixeegrl]

Is it OK that I'm getting more excited about this trip than the kids?

No, because while my youngest are super excited the 13 year old keeps asking me to stop telling him how many days left. He says he will be excited when we get there.

 

[livndisney]

Safetymom- you must have been right across the street from us for the parade. We have the same pics-just from the opposite side LOL.

 

[safetymom]

If I had know I would have waved.

 

[macraven]

Thank you so much for sharing!

Your pictures were great.

 

[degrapevine]

Hi, all!

My DD8 is marching in Saturday's parade with her baton twirling group. I was wondering - Where does the parade start? We have to have her at the staging area at 3:30 PM. We want to make sure we leave enough time to go back to Royal Pacific after a morning in the parks to get her ready and then back to Universal for the parade. She is very excited! Thanks in advance.

Rose

 

[macraven]

degrapevine, hopefully some of the TM's will have an answer for you and post here to let you know.

if no one replies, maybe you could call guest service and inquire who would be able to tell you.

 

[Debbie1967]

Safetymom,

Your photos are beautiful. My photos did not turn out as well.

http://community.webshots.com/user/debbiefl1967

I totally agree with you about the large crowds and the part about trying to exit the park. They should of known that they couldn’t manage to get everyone out through the turnstiles. I don’t understand why they waited so long before they opened the gates. I thought that I was going to witness a bad situation especially when it started to rain. Hopefully no one got hurt.

Thank you for sharing your photos and review.

Debbie

 

[phamton]

H
Where does the parade start?

The parade starts by Beetlejuice. I'm not sure where the staging area is as it is backstage and different bands, etc. meet different places back stage.

 

[KNUTE]

What time does the parade start?

 

[donaldduck352]

The websiste will tell you.

But normally 5PM! Thats if the park is closing at 6PM..

Here is the website :
[http://www.universalorlando.com/index.html?__source=yssp/I]

 

[kenban]

Just saw the parade about two hours ago. One thing I was wondering though is that I noticed most of the people holding the balloons had Universal name tags. It seemed like a good 90% of them were employees. Anyone have a clue were they really all employees or was it something else?

 

[nodoubtrock]

yes, the vast majority are employees.

 

[MIB999999]

we were there the first night and there was a breeze and a couple of the ballons almost met face to face with the Monster Cafe rotating thing above the drink area. If the ballon handlers are park employess mostly i would be surprised. I would not expect them to have let the ballons get as close as they did

 

[GuestServicesMonkey]

The vast majority of balloon handlers are employees. Anyone with a nametag is actually an employee. Anyone without a nametag is a guest (or on very rare occasion, an employee who forgot their badge or lost it that day).

The balloon handlers themselves don't actually watch where the balloon is. Their responsibility is to hold the bones (what the ropes attach to) and follow their pilot.

The pilot (in the white jumpsuits) is responsible for safe flight of the balloon. With the height of some balloons and the close proximity of hazards, it is not always possible to avoid objects when there are wind gusts.

Chloe the clown had her arm popped this year just a few days ago but continued through the parade.

You can watch Uncle Sam having a 'catastrophic failure' at youtube.
link is here youtube.com/watch?v=wsjFkztiafk

 

[macraven]

thanks GSM

i learn something all the time by reading the threads.


follow the white jumpsuit person.............ok, i can remember that rule.
how do park guests get to be a balloon handler?

 

[GuestServicesMonkey]

To be a balloon handler, just stop by the registration desk right next to the Jimmy Neutron queue between 2-345 any day through january 1, 2009.

We are usually desperate for guest handlers especially on weekdays. All of the employee balloon handlers are in the park about 245-3 each day to 'recruit' guests until about 330-345, so if you see a jumpsuit person, you can always just ask them too... but they will send you or escort you to the registration table.

The total time will be from about 345 - 545 for most guests (about 2 hours)

Requirements:
-weigh at least 125lbs
-be able to lift 50lbs
-be at least 18 years old
-be wearing close-toed shoes (preferably sneakers)
-speak english fluently
-sign that pesky legal waiver stating if a balloon falls on you, you won't sue