Christmas Parade Taping FAQ : Crowds / Dates / Etc

[streudel423]

bump

 

[michelewdw]

We have been there twice for the tapings once in 2004 and again last year 2006. These days were both when they were taping the show in front of the castle. I actually enjoy going on these days. We have seen some great shows and the later it gets in the day you can actually walk right in front of the castle and watch. In 2004 it was about 4:00pm and we just happened to be right by the castle and walked right in front and saw Mariah Carey perform and the best part is that on Christmas morning you could see our family in the audience. Last year it was crowded in front of the castle but the rest of the park was little to no wait for any ride. I believe that the main street and castle are congested but I wouldn't worry about the rest of the park. I cannot comment on the parade day maybe that is day that is more congested. Have a good trip that is my favorite time of year to go.

Michele

 

[Simba's Mom]

We are there Dec. 2 - Dec. 9! That week must be the invasion of the Texans! LOL And I am just a few miles further down I-35!
I thought I read that the taping was the 1st weekend. We are avoiding MK on Sunday and Monday!
Angela

I've finally seen someone on these boards from Laredo-Hi there. DS lives in Laredo, works for the Economic Development Commission (I think that's the name).
I'll also be at WDW for the "Invasion of the Texans!" 11/29-12/6.

 

[shehouse]

You have all given me excellent information!!! I actually think we are going to try to brave it, since we want to take advantage of the 1:00 am closing time and my brother doesn't have park hopper tickets. I as well am looking forward to seeing which stars will appear!!

 

[missesdisney]

You have all given me excellent information!!! I actually think we are going to try to brave it, since we want to take advantage of the 1:00 am closing time and my brother doesn't have park hopper tickets. I as well am looking forward to seeing which stars will appear!!

The good news if you are there that day (Sat) is they have in the past run the very merry christmas parade at some odd time at night - 5 or something to thank everyone for putting up with the craziness. We've been there 3 years out of the past 5 on taping day and they did it each time. No celebs on the floats but if you aren't going to one of the MVMCPs then you can still see the parade!

 

[luvyawdw]

Does anyone know for sure what day the taping is? We really want to avoid this crowd.
Please reply

 

[Robo]

Does anyone know for sure what day the taping is?

Fri
Nov. 30

Sat
Dec. 1

Sun
Dec. 2

 

[goofy4tink]

Which are the celebrity tapings on Friday? We've only been when they are doing the floats on Saturday which was NUTS. The celebrity part definitely interests me though.

I agree that I think when the park hits capacity everyone gets turned away - maybe if you have and ADR you get in but last July 4 it was closed due to capacity and they weren't letting anyone go in at all from what I'd heard.

They tape various acts at different intervals. I was part of the group of DVC/AP holders that got chosen for the Friday tapings in '05. We had to arrive at the park by 7:00 in order to get our 'placements'. We were taken to the castle and put where they wanted us.

Well, when I was there in 2005 they were taping the celebrities in front of the Castle. I caught John Hurley and Vanessa Williams. I was able to get right up front for a photo of Vanessa and that was after arriving to that area of the park at 12:00p.

The taping days can vary and it's usually done over 3 - 5 consecutive days. I remember reading last year that Beyonce was there for her taping on the Wednesday before the first Saturday in December. It's really taped a few days around the first Saturday in December.

As it gets closer (I believe it will be about mid-November), they will release the stars who will be in the parade. It's just too early.

Last year, DVC members and AP holders were invited to be in the audience (they must commit to standing there so many hours and dress festive and then they get a free ticket to enter MK) the beginning of November. Regular folks can also stand in front of the castle (as I did) but these folks are committed to standing there a certain amount of time.

Regarding park closing due to capacity, they close the parks in phases and they start with closing the parking lot and they go from there. I believe they also won't let you in even if you have an ADR if the park is closed so if you have an ADR, you have to get in the park early and stay!

Hope this helps!

Ahh, you must have gotten there about half an hour after I left! I have to tell ya...my old bones just couldn't stand another minute of standing in the exact same place, being shoved by parents who wanted their kids to be up front. After three hours of standing there, then yelling and cheering at infrequent periods, I just gave up. My back/knees were screaming at me. I know that about 11:00, it started to get pretty sparse in front of the castle, so would imagine that they had no problem at all with people walking up. I watched Brian Setzer and his group. It was fun, but amazingly boring for the most part.

We have tickets for MVMCP on Fri, Nov 30. How late do they tape and keep Main street blocked off? It always seems when you see the parade on TV that it seems to be taped early in the morning from the way the sun hits the buildings. Do they start earlier than Park opening? Do they ever give any kind of schedule?

Main St. shouldn't be roped off at all on Friday night. They do the taping in front of the castle earlier in the day. Then, on Friday/Sat afternoons, they tape various acts throughout the park. I was in MK on Sat, in the afternoon, after they had finished for the parade taping. It wasn't bad at all. The crowds were no worse than any other Sat night in MK. I would imagine that Friday it would be a non-issue as long as the castle tapings were done. And even at that, the forecourt of the castle was the only place impacted.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Merged these threads about the Christmas Parade Taping.

Thanks,

Knox

 

[MsPlutoNJ]

Thank you so much for all the information.

 

[streudel423]

thanks for all the info...keep it coming!

 

[Jenroc]

I had no idea when I booked my next WDW vacation that I would be there for the taping of the Parade !!!!! I am more excited than the kids !!!! I have redone all our schedules and dinning so that we can be in the Magic Kingdom for the taping of the parade. I CAN HARDLY WAIT !!!!! 38 days and counting !!!

 

[SheenaXena21]

You have all given me excellent information!!! I actually think we are going to try to brave it, since we want to take advantage of the 1:00 am closing time and my brother doesn't have park hopper tickets. I as well am looking forward to seeing which stars will appear!!

I'm pretty sure they moved the time back to 12am instead of 1am. I was bummed, because our whole party consists of "night owls". But what is one hour anyways!
We're going to brave it that Saturday. But we're going to Epcot that afternoon, we have ADR's there. Then, after dinner, we're going to go back around 10ish, and hope that people will be scarce since it will be so late. I pray that my plan will work. I have no intentions of celebrity or parade watching. I just want to ride!!!

 

[carcam51]

Fri
Nov. 30

Sat
Dec. 1

Sun
Dec. 2

Where did you find the dates? I've been searching and have come up empty. I even check ABC's website and no mention of the taping. Has Disney confirmed these dates or are they based on when last year's taping was?

 

[CanadianGuy]

No official dates have been announced yet that I've seen but a number of posters have reported being told those dates 'on the down-low'.

It's unlikely they would wait till the following weekend to do this. VERY unlikely.

Knox

 

[carcam51]

Thanks...just trying to prepare accordingly, but won't continue my planning until I hear it's official.

 

[diddldonna]

When do they annouce the dates? Will they let everyone know in anvance whos going to be there?

Also for those who was at the taping of the parade, what time should we arrive to get a good spot on the parde part of Main street usa?

Donna

 

[beattyfamily]

When do they annouce the dates? Will they let everyone know in anvance whos going to be there?

Also for those who was at the taping of the parade, what time should we arrive to get a good spot on the parde part of Main street usa?

Donna

As I said on page 2:

As it gets closer (I believe it will be about mid-November), they will release the stars who will be in the parade. It's just too early.

Last year, DVC members and AP holders were invited to be in the audience (they must commit to standing there so many hours and dress festive and then they get a free ticket to enter MK) the beginning of November. Regular folks can also stand in front of the castle (as I did) but these folks are committed to standing there a certain amount of time.

 

[streudel423]

I just read on a past post where someone said last time they were at WDW, the parade was taped December 6....what?! I always thought it was early, like the first weekend in December

 

[beattyfamily]

I just read on a past post where someone said last time they were at WDW, the parade was taped December 6....what?! I always thought it was early, like the first weekend in December

Well, what year? That matters because some years the first Saturday in December can be December 6.

The parade is taped on and around the first Saturday in December so it's very possible some portions can be taped the days leading to that Saturday or after.

They usually do the celebrities before and after that first Saturday in December and the floats are done on that Saturday, weather permitting (one year it was bumped to Sunday due to a blizzard in NYC).