Christmas Day Parade Taping...

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

I can't get the search button to work, I know that there was talk of this in the past week. Does anyone have a link to the discussion?

If not can anyone tell me about the taping, how it works, how busy park is, who is there in terms of celebrities, etc. etc. ?

 

[eeyoreiscool]

It is usually the first weekend of December. Crowds are different that day with alot of people on Main Street but the rest of the park is a little quieter, in our opinion. I'm not sure how they pick you to be on the sideline though.

 

[goofy4tink]

Last year, the AP site had a link to sign-up as one of those crowd extras (so to speak!). The actual parade taping slots went very fast, but they had lots of other slots for the Castle Forecourt show and things like that. So, I was given an early Friday morning slot. We had to be there by 7:45, were split into groups. Then, walked up to the Castle, where we stood, in a sea of humanity, for an hour or so, before anything started happening. Then, Brian Setzer and his group came out...went over his number about 15 times. There was an arial camera on both sides of the crowd, but it didn't pass over us very often. I was in the third row from the front, and when I watched the actual show at home, I had to stop and start the show to actually see where I was, but did get a peek. I stood there for more than 3 hours, my back was starting to spasm, so I just left before any of the other acts came on...wish I had stayed for John O'Hurley though.
It gets jammed along Main St. but you can get through by going through the shops. The areas on the sidewalks are pretty much roped off, and those who were given the 'slots' are the people standing there, at least in the early hours of parade taping.

It really isn't hugely crowded in the attractions part of the park. I returned to MK later that afternoon and there were crowds around the special acts that were performing but that was it.
Would I do the taping again? Nope. I've done a huge amount of community theater work, as well as done a bit of 'extra' stuff in some films that have been shot in the area...so I do realize the amount of 'hurry up and wait' that goes on. But, there were a ton of kids that parents were shoving to the front of the groups, there was some 'interesting' behaviour during the long periods of nothing to do...I can't imagine doing it again with kids, or with my poor old aching back.

As far as being there when they tape the actual parade...it takes forever!! They'll run a float, or act, by, then send it back and do it again, and again, and again. There have been people that have thought being there for the parade taping was going to be a ball..just like they see on TV. But, they came back and had nothing but complaints about how slow it was. Guess they should have checked it out first!!!
Hope that answers some of your questions.

 

[queenof hearts]

The Taping will be December 2, Saturday and Sunday if necessary. Since they allow the "crowd" in the Park for free, if they need a break the crowd is allowed in the park. And after the crowd is allowed in which may be why it is open until 11:00 on Saturday. Some plans say it is OK to attend on those days. One of the posts says it can be crowded then. I am skipping the weekend and going that Friday. Hope this helps.

 

[Skylarr29]

I suggest entering the park and hopping straight on the train to bypass the HUGE crowds on Mainstreet instead of cramming through the shops.

 

[goofy4tink]

The Taping will be December 2, Saturday and Sunday if necessary. Since they allow the "crowd" in the Park for free, if they need a break the crowd is allowed in the park. And after the crowd is allowed in which may be why it is open until 11:00 on Saturday. Some plans say it is OK to attend on those days. One of the posts says it can be crowded then. I am skipping the weekend and going that Friday. Hope this helps.

Just be aware...they taped on Friday for the better part of the day, as well as Sat and Sun!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

great info everyone, thanks so much! we arrive on the 2nd. and are thinking of going to MK for fireworks after dinner at 1900 park fare. this is good info to have.t hanks!

 

[DaisyD]

We were there last year and the entire park was mobbed. We were told that only Main Street was going to be bad. It took us over an hour to get through Main Street. We ended up in Tomorrowland from Hell! It was so bad that we turned around and went right back to the Poly and the pool. NEVER AGAIN

 

[mousermerf]

I was also in the Brian Setzer mob!

Seriously, having done some other film work and such, this parade thing was miserable. My group, all friends from everywhere in my life I convinced to go because it was free (12 people total), eventually gave up and just enjoyed the day in the park.

No one from Disney cared if you came or went, so let your concious be your guide if you just want free admission for the day.

I've done other shows at WDW with taping, and they have a comedian out ro something to keep the crowd happy. And they, intelligently, tape the big hoopla reactions and such first.

 

[hearts8701]

Received my fall issue of the Mickey Monitor and it says that the Christmas Day Parade with Regis and Kelly Rippa will be taped at the MK on Dec. 1, Dec. 2, and Dec. 3.