Christmas Parade at Magic Kingdom

[belle3]

Hello fellow DVCers, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
While sitting at home watching the 2003 Christmas Parade yesterday on TV, I was wondering if anyone knows when they tape the parade for TV broadcast? We are planning on making reservations at SSR for Dec 2004, and are a little flexible on the dates before Christmas, and were hoping to be there during the taping session(s). If anyone knows, the info would be greatly appreciated!!!
PS
I got my framed lithograph of SSR for Christmas!! Very nice, now just have to figure where to hang it!

 

[westjones]

This year it was taped the first Saturday in December. I don't know if they always do it on that date.

DJ

 

[DebbieB]

Most of it was taped Dec 5, 6 & 7. The parade itself was Dec 6. Some of the segments are taped on different dates, Star Jones was on Nov 30th.

 

[LA mouse]

We were there for the taping this year - December 6. I'm not sure if it is the same time every year, but I do know it's always in early December. Good Luck!

 

[mac_tlc]

Enrique Iglesias was taped on Dec. 13th... Some segments and property shots are from years ago. On yesterday's broadcast, note that the shots of the entrance to the Magic kingdom, when the monorail goes by, show none of the 75 Mickey statues in front ... Saw them two weeks ago, and they are hard to miss..


mac_tlc

 

[sweetp267]

It seemed to me, in true Disney fashion, that it was a blatant attempt to hawk their "magical gatherings". Every time I looked up to watch all I heard was gathering this and magical that. It doesn't bother me if it was once in a while during the broadcast, but everytim they changed venues? Come on! I felt like they were shoving it down my throat. That broadcast used to be just about the parade, the characters and the Christmas feel. Now it's just another corporate vehicle to shove advertising in our face.

I'm usually not this bitter, but this one kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I will still keep my DVC membership and will still visit WDW.

Happy Holidays!

 

[korzmom]

i agree it was like a comercial within comercials....but enjoyed it anyway, they dont have to sell me on the concept i'm already hooked. on the dates as i understand this years was taped earlier than usual, they are usually the second week of dec. but i would also like to know what next years dates are...

 

[crazywig]

Originally posted by sweetp267
It seemed to me, in true Disney fashion, that it was a blatant attempt to hawk their "magical gatherings". Every time I looked up to watch all I heard was gathering this and magical that. It doesn't bother me if it was once in a while during the broadcast, but everytim they changed venues? Come on! I felt like they were shoving it down my throat.

oh, they shove it down your throat while you're down there too....we were there last month and couldn't believe how every single thing had a 'magical gatherings' banner hanging from it. (i am not exaggerating at all)

 

[JudithM]

Kelly & Regis were taping parts of their performance on sunday, December 7 when we are at the Magic Kingdom. It seems the weather/winter storm delayed her arrival in FL.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by belle3
I was wondering if anyone knows when they tape the parade for TV broadcast? We are planning on making reservations at SSR for Dec 2004, and are a little flexible on the dates before Christmas, and were hoping to be there during the taping session(s).

It's been the first weekend of December for at least the last two years.

Just be warned that the taping of the parade may not be as fun as it appears to be on TV. Being a true television production, they tape and re-tape and re-re-tape segments multiple times so that they have many "takes" to choose from. They will have a particular float travel a few feet for the cameras, then they back-up the float and performers, reset the cameras and do it all again. Taping the parade often continues until sundown (as long as they have daylight).

Count on the park being jam packed the entire day as they want it to appear as crowded as possible for TV. And, as others have pointed out, many of the individual performances are recorded at other places, dates and times.

Don't get me wrong--it may be one of those one-in-a-lifetime events that we will attend someday. But just be prepared for the reality of the production. We aren't talking about a single event that takes 2 hours start to finish with performers actually positioned throughout the park as the taping occurs.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by sweetp267
It seemed to me, in true Disney fashion, that it was a blatant attempt to hawk their "magical gatherings". Every time I looked up to watch all I heard was gathering this and magical that. It doesn't bother me if it was once in a while during the broadcast, but everytim they changed venues? Come on! I felt like they were shoving it down my throat.

Welcome to the 21st century. I believe they call it "synergy".

The reality is that in today's television world, EVERYTHING has a sponsor. In this case it happens to be WDW sponsoring itself, so to speak.

The commercials and other paid endorsements make the event possible. Even PBS could not survive on the short "brought to you by..." messages that used to preceed Sesame Street.

 

[colleen costello]

All the talk about "Magical Gatherings" gives me a gas pain. I feel like it's always a "magical gathering" when hubby and the kids and I meet my parents at WDW, HOWEVER, we don't really "count" since we are only 6. I'd have to corral some additional relatives to qualify as a "MG" and we'd all have to save EXTRA money to afford any of the stuff they are offering.

When the one woman from Mass. (during the taped show Christmas Day) talked about her whole family doing the fireworks cruise, I thought it looked wonderful but I truly wondered how people afford these events. We like to go to WDW twice a year or so and that means a lot of the stuff Disney "sells" is just beyond my budget. For my family, just hanging out together at WDW is "magical!"

 

[twinmomplus2]

I saw that woman from MA, as well and I had to laugh to myself. It was more money to doa magical gatherings fireworks cruise. A regular fireworks cruise. is only a 125 dollars and worth every cent. And you can have up to 12 people. just an FYI to you!

 

[The VWL Five]

So XMAS day is just another day in MK?

 

[Alcooz]

I was at MK on Sat 6 Dec and it was a pain since they were tapping the parade. The first part of main street was Clay Aiken and they wouldnt let you near it. They already had the rent-a-crowd that they needed. You had to walk around the crowds just like you do when you are trying to leave the park during any parade. Main Street was closed all day for any activities including the Characters usually at the front. The park in general was much more crowded than any other day I was there.
The earlier post was correct.. they do tape segments over and over again and try to get the crowd to cheer as if it was the first time they saw it. They also had floats from other parks come over, and while they were positioning, nothing was going on. So I didnt hang around and waste my time standing there as part of the rent-a-crowd. I did notice a lot of locals there because they know it is usually taped the first weekend after Thanksgiving.

In my opinion, if you only visit once a year.. I wouldnt waste my time trying to watch and participate.

Al