Bring back the parade!

[Kimberle]

I taped it and watched it in about 30 minutes. It was truly awful. Isn't being in the parks enough? If I wasn't a Disney fan, the last thing I would want to do is plan a trip. Their "show" told me the parks aren't interesting enough, they have to fill it up with off-tune, no-name singers.

 

[mickeymedic]

I wanted to hit the "like" button on every comment !! Very disappointed. I tried leaving a comment on the link to ABC on one of the first few responses. After I filled out all the boxes and left a lengthy comment, hit send and it told me "could not find the page " I can only hope that means they got swamped with negatives, and overwhelmed the server

The same thing happened to me.

 

[MIGrandma]

In the past few years we've only seen bits and pieces of the "parade" and usually it was just singing and dancing which we didn't care for so didn't even turn it on this year.

I'm looking forward to the Rose Parade, on HGTV with no commercials.

 

[PelletierBears]

Dear Disney Execs~
Truly, that was a horrible show. I can give you a pass on showing so many "Frozen" tie-ins given how popular it is this year, and I was prepared for such an onslaught. However, when did the annual Disney Christmas parade become a vehicle for promoting your own shows, your stable of singers (most of whom aren't very good), and even college football games (Tim Tebow and Robin Roberts talking bowl games with the "parade" going on behind them?!)? Nearly half the songs had nothing to do with Christmas; the parade (I use the term loosely) was nearly non-existent; the singers were off key save for a couple; the hosts were clueless but given the focus on commercialism, that's no surprise; and what the heck were you thinking about including Aulani other than an obvious and crass way to attempt to ratchet excitement about the resort?

I've not always enjoyed your hosts in the past (Nick Cannon comes to mind), but at least they appeared to be having fun and involved with their surroundings. This time, Tim Tebow related everything to his sports background. Sarah Hyland was just plain awkward (Actual comment: "You guys have great families, and now he's singing his huge hit [talking about Gavin McGraw]. . ."). I like her in "Modern Family," but she was terrible hosting. I see there was a huge crowd of 37 people watching on the beach at Aulani, too. I have no idea who Rob Marciano is, but apparently he can talk and take a selfie at the same time. He can also be very fake. At least Robin Roberts was a professional, even as she appeared to be uncomfortable looking into the camera (bright lights, anyone?) and sounded as if she was introducing the next segment of Good Morning America rather than a Disney event. Oh, wait, she had to jockey with Tim and talk football. My bad. I give her a pass, too.

You've been on a stretch of reaching for the gold--as in money--the past few years, but this was perhaps the biggest, most bald-faced attempt at manipulating your message that I've seen yet. I am but one voice, but let me state unequivocally that I will not tune into your Christmas special next year. This one was that awful. Stop overproducing the event. Focus on what people wish to see: the parade, the princesses, the gingerbread cookies, the toy soldiers, and for gosh sakes', Santa. Everything else is a money grab. In the immortal words of young Lexi Walker (who will I admit sounded lovely), let it go, already.
Signed,
Duped and Disappointed

Perfectly stated!

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Kinda crummy. Like ads for Disney resorts and parks and nothing else.
Bummer Disney.

That's what I said last year too. It's like one big DVC commercial.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

We had that reaction too. My grandkids were looking forward to watching it, especially the youngest who is obsessed with Frozen and loved the idea of a Frozen Celebration.

But it was awful! 2 second clips of the parade. People we didn't recognize who were terrible singers doing horrible versions of Frozen songs. The kids all got bored and wandered off to play with their toys. We turned it off after a while. So disappointing.

TP

 

[Hollywoodhaha]

Hated it. A commercial or two showing fastpass plus in between the actual parade I could handle. This year I don't even know what went on.

 

[anniemae]

I wanted to like it, my dd was so incredibly excited for this. She watched about a half hour and was done. The renditions of the songs were awful. I really wanted to see the parade. Bad on so many levels. What were they thinking?????

 

[morethananyonex]

See, I wish the thing was a commercial for the parks and resorts.

Instead we get no parade, little bit of parks & resorts (excluding Aulani of course, we all know how much screen time that got), and an overwhelmingly ridiculous amount of performances.

If they were trying to use it as a commercial they failed in my eyes, unless of course they were trying to get me to buy Ariana Grande's latest album and listen to it while vacationing at Aulani. My highlight of the parade was the various Disney parks commercials (the actual ones) sprinkled throughout the broadcast. Sad.

I knew something was up when they showed Santa right at the beginning with little fanfare. The Christmas parade is a tradition in my family, but if this is the new normal we may have to find a new one.

 

[Jennasis]

This is the same complaint there's been for the last several years regarding the parade. I don't think Disney is listening or cares.

 

[morethananyonex]

This is the same complaint there's been for the last several years regarding the parade. I don't think Disney is listening or cares.

There's been a definite change in the parade in the last few years, but nothing like this years. The difference was huge. Actually, they didn't even call it a parade anymore, did they?

 

[Jessica14]

Count me in as one who wondered where the parade part was! Loved the two reunions I saw and that 12 year old has an amazing voice. I also really liked Robin's top which was a highlight Pretty sad when other things are the focus. Sarah Hyland was an odd choice as was Rob Marciano. I get that he did Entertainment Tonight for a few years but, he's a meteorologist, so it really made no sense.

 

[sleepydog25]

There's been a definite change in the parade in the last few years, but nothing like this years. The difference was huge. Actually, they didn't even call it a parade anymore, did they?

They did not call it a parade this year, which I'm sure some suit will say if faced with harsh feedback. Further, there was a definite drop in watchability this year as opposed to the past. True, the quality seems to have been dropping for a few years, but at least the shows were watchable and featured a parade and a focus on the Disney parks. This year's event was pitiful and painful to view.

 

[Oodalally13]

I fell asleep with the tv on the 24 hours of "a Christmas story" when I finally woke up I flipped to abc to catch the parade. I think it was Ariana grande singing in front of the castle. I figured I missed the whole parade and this was some afterward special so I went back to a Christmas story. Glad I didn't leave the channel on!

 

[Beezle2]

I started reading this thread this morning and just had to add my agreement that I was so disappointed in the show also!! This was the first year I sat down to watch the whole thing and was just at there being no "parade' to enjoy.

Hated Ariana Grande and Tom Tebow with a very unChristmas like spirit

 

[alicat8]

Just came on to see who else hated the parade
It's not something I watch every year, so I didn't have much to compare, but that was awful! Plus, it made me feel old, since I barely knew any of the performers and thought they were painfully bad (and I recognize that this is a sign of age...)
At least A Christmas Story was on!

 

[SamRoc]

I'm so glad you posted this. I had no idea who the awful singers were, so i changed the channel. then i went back and there was an advertisement for aulani. i really was just looking forward to the parade, nothing else. hope they do it differently next year.

 

[Carl]

So what was the point of taping the parade in the first time if you aren't planning on using the footage? This was very disappointing.

The purpose is to disrupt movement of the poor people in the park attempting to see anything BUT the parade. I hate being in Magic Kingdom while they are taping the Christmas Special. It ruins the whole day. And why anyone would endure the drudgery of attempting to be in the video, I'll never understand. Stop - Start, Stop - Start. Fake poses, fake reactions, everything FAKE.

I wish they'd just tape the parade as it is and maybe attempt to catch a few REAL reactions from the crowd.

 

[Jessica14]

On a positive note, I was able to send a tweet to the young man who was reunited with his Mom, " Granny Fanny" and tell him how much I loved his family. As an adoptive mom myself, that story meant a lot. It was nice to get a "retweet" from him! Also got a message from Rob Marciano on the same subject. The show was a bust, but reunions always make me happy!

 

[Andtototoo]

Whew, glad to see we were not alone in our disappointment over the show.

We realized part way through that the title didn't include the word "Parade", but we assumed (foolishly) that we'd see the parade even though they were using the word "Frozen" to sell the program. That was, in fact, the entire reason we turned on the program and sat through it -- we kept thinking, "They MUST be going to show the parade, right?"

Wrong.

It was a 2 hour commercial for the Disney--ABC Corporation, along with whatever musical guests have some sort of tie-in. And wow, some of them should use their fee to get voice lessons! Having been at WDW during the Xmas season, we were already unhappy about how Frozen has usurped Mickey, but this show really cemented our dislike of current practices. Frozen, Frozen, Frozen! I'm so sick of it. I wish it would all melt already. And the current crop of hosts who are...well, lacking in enthusiasm and connection. Who wants to see that smug Tim Tebow anyway? Robin Roberts was so... bored. Finally, you expect a lot of the show will be a commercial for Disney products, but geez! Sooooo tired of hearing about Aulani, I swear I'm less likely to go there now! What was the point of taping the parade if they're not showing it?

But if they got good ratings, that's the way of the future. Somehow I doubt watching this show is in my future.