Christmas Parade Taping FAQ : Crowds / Dates / Etc

[Brian_WDW74]

Concerts are being taped on Nov. 30th. Regis and Kelly are taping on Dec. 1st. I don't have a precise schedule to go by but I'd say it will all be done that weekend.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Thanks for the additional info Brian!

Knox

 

[synchrosk8r]

Are AP holders allowed to bring a guest with them? or are the AP holders the only ones allowed to the taping on Nov. 30?

The Disney site had this "Present your printed e-ticket for each member of your family who will be in the Passholder viewing section".

Does anyone know?

 

[puck1701]

I have three-year old and we are Passholders and are eligible to get there early on Nov 30 for the taping of the Christmas parade at Magic Kingdom. I was wondering if anyone had done that before and how long were the taping sessions?

Is it worth it?

 

[Piglets Mommy]

We were there in 2005 and it was MOBBED!!! We didn't know about the taping till we got there...has an ADR at CRT and had chosen that day as a MK day. We got there a little before 9 and you couldn't even move down Main Street. Even with the help of many wonderful CM's we BARELY made it up to the castle for our 12:15 ADR. It was pretty cool to ssee so many floats up close, though! The kids got some great interaction from the characters as well, since most of the time the floats were stopped. The characters would come to the sides of the floats and wave at the kids.

If you strictly want to see the parade taping, then I'd consider it, but if this is part of a regular park day, I'd skip it. We felt like we wasted a MK day, and left and headed to another park after llunch.

 

[goofy4tink]

I did the taping back in '05 and it was crazed. The parade tapes on Sat, the other acts tape on Friday. I was assigned the Friday tapings...early morning. Had to be at the MK by 7 am, we were then sent to stand in front of the Castle. By about 8:20 the acts started. You had to stand there, and when they told you to, start cheering, ranting/raving, that sort of thing. I could take it for about 3 hrs but had to leave at that point.
For the parade taping, they have you get there very early as well, then assign you a spot. You are supposed to stay in that spot until they are done. The parade is very slow...starting, stopping, going back, then going again...very tedious. I'm not sure a 3 y/o could take it.
I know I saw a ton of people with little kids who were unhappy about just standing there, watching a show in the distance.
I said it then, I'll say it again...it's nothing I care to do again. And I have done a ton of theater, so I get the 'lots of time standing around' thing. It's just very tedious.

 

[yulilin3]

Just got off the AP holders site and reserved for the celebrity taping on Nov. 30th, we have to be there by 8am. It say's 8-12. It was hard to get into the site, I guess alot of people are trying. I'll have to keep an eye on the weather to see how we'll be dressed, but at least something christmasee and with some disney characters on. We live here in Orlando, so Disney is our neighbor.

 

[dsnymomof4]

We also were at the parade taping in 2005 and looking back, I guess it was a pretty neat experience, although I probably wouldn't do it again. And I don't know if a 3yo would want to sit still why they do takes over and over again. If you want to get in on part of it, though, show up on Main Street when they do the actual run-through of the parade. That was the best part.

 

[deej696]

I signed up today too for the taping on the 30th. Does anyone know who is scheduled to perform???

 

[yulilin3]

Just checked back with the AP holder site and it's all booked up. It said that you can still go to MK and see the parade on the other areas. Is anybody else going on the 30th? In some other sites there's a list of celebrities but I wouldn't trust it 100%. I'll go to MK maybe this weekend and ask at Guest Servicies.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I'm merging this with the main thread

Knox

 

[wvgoofyfan]

I also scored early this morning with an "event registration" for Friday, Nov 30th. The paperwork says Regis and Kelly will not be taping on this day, but on Saturday, Dec 1st.

But not sure whether I have secured a place for the parade taping or the Castle taping. Either way, I will be there at 8AM with bells on, providing Disney Bus transportation does not let me down!


27 Days and Counting!!!!!!!!

 

[eeyoresnr]

I did the taping back in '05 and it was crazed. The parade tapes on Sat, the other acts tape on Friday. I was assigned the Friday tapings...early morning. Had to be at the MK by 7 am, we were then sent to stand in front of the Castle. By about 8:20 the acts started. You had to stand there, and when they told you to, start cheering, ranting/raving, that sort of thing. I could take it for about 3 hrs but had to leave at that point.
For the parade taping, they have you get there very early as well, then assign you a spot. You are supposed to stay in that spot until they are done. The parade is very slow...starting, stopping, going back, then going again...very tedious. I'm not sure a 3 y/o could take it.
I know I saw a ton of people with little kids who were unhappy about just standing there, watching a show in the distance.
I said it then, I'll say it again...it's nothing I care to do again. And I have done a ton of theater, so I get the 'lots of time standing around' thing. It's just very tedious.

we were there the same day and time... I don't think we made it 3 hours though... I can still hear the Brian Setzer singing "Jingle Bells" jingle jingle jingle over and over and over never again

 

[beattyfamily]

From the Orlando Sentinel: LINK

The AP parade watching tickets are GONE (in 6 hours)!

 

[sskem96]

I am so bummed I just found out about this and it's already too late! We started planning our vacation over a year ago just so we could be there for the taping! I haven't gotten my new Mickey Monitor yet, and I just happened to check to see if there was any info yet today, only to discover all the tickets are gone! It would be nice if they would e-mail passholders or something so at least everyone would have the opportunity to find out about this before they start giving out the tickets. My kids are going to be so bummed. I guess we could still go to MK on the 30th, but I don't know if we'd be able to get close enough to see anything or not. We had planned on doing Epcot that day because we're doing the Candlelight Processional dinner package that night. I blocked the whole day of the 1st to go to the parade taping, so I don't know what to do now.

 

[beattyfamily]

I am so bummed I just found out about this and it's already too late! We started planning our vacation over a year ago just so we could be there for the taping! I haven't gotten my new Mickey Monitor yet, and I just happened to check to see if there was any info yet today, only to discover all the tickets are gone! It would be nice if they would e-mail passholders or something so at least everyone would have the opportunity to find out about this before they start giving out the tickets. My kids are going to be so bummed. I guess we could still go to MK on the 30th, but I don't know if we'd be able to get close enough to see anything or not. We had planned on doing Epcot that day because we're doing the Candlelight Processional dinner package that night. I blocked the whole day of the 1st to go to the parade taping, so I don't know what to do now.

If it helps, I went to MK on a Friday when they were taping a few celebrities in front of the castle (John Hurley and Vanessa Williams while we were there) and we didn't have the AP tickets yet I was able to get up very close (around 12:00p) to get a very good shot of Vanessa Williams. We also watched John for awhile as well.

The AP tickets are really for Disney to have a guarateed audience for a few hours that are dressed festive. Regular guests can still walk up and watch and take photos.

Here's my photo of Vanessa Williams:

 

[cmash95]

they will be taping all day but it's easier to get a crowd together later in the day. last year they had three acts booked throughout the day and by the time they got done they were begging everyone to join in. they usually finish before the afternoon parade. saturday they usually tape the whole parade and final act before noon.

 

[yulilin3]

Does anyone know if they have chairs in front of the castle stage or do people just sit on the floor while waiting. Anyone that has done this please give us all the info. Just came back from MK and went to Guest Services and they said that there's no definite list on who's coming. They told me to check back a week before to make sure.

 

[lovegrumpy]

Okey the dh and I had a miss understanding and i didn't go on and get the e-tickets for the parade showing that day. We are wondering if we go anyway awell the parade be the normal one the christmas one they show on christmas day? We are hoping its the christmas one so we can still drive down and see it that day.

 

[KSBelle]

Nov. 30th is the day they are taping the Castle Forecourt acts. The tickets were for AP holders and I understand they went fast.
The parade is being taped on Dec. 1. It is the Christmas parade that will air Christmas Day. I'm assuming that if you are in the park on the 1st you will see some of it but it is my understanding that they start and stop it frequently to get the shots they want --so you won't be able to watch it as you would a regular parade.