Christmas Parade Taping Moved...WHAT?!?

[We Dream of Disney]

Soo If I am reading this correctly, the Christmas Parade will now be taping on December 8th and 9th. How will this affect crowds? We were planning on being in Magic Kingdom on those days and the 9th being our MVMCP night. I have to say that I'm a little worried...

Just looking to hear from someone's experience being there on a taping day. I appreciate any and all help.

Either way, we are going to Disney!

 

[hallie]

So no Christmas tree till December 10? That's weird, rather lazy on Disney's part, charge all that money for the parties and don't bother to set the tree up till December 10th. I know it gets in the way at its traditional location, but years ago they set it up by the castle then moved it.

 

[shh]

Soo If I am reading this correctly, the Christmas Parade will now be taping on December 8th and 9th. How will this affect crowds? We were planning on being in Magic Kingdom on those days and the 9th being our MVMCP night. I have to say that I'm a little worried...

Just looking to hear from someone's experience being there on a taping day. I appreciate any and all help.

Either way, we are going to Disney!

Feelin' your concern: our only night in MK is 12/8 (with FP+ already booked). Our choices: deal w/unseasonably large crowds that nite or pay $140 extra for MVMCP tics we didn't budget for or want to go nite before or after. Too late to change vacation days, as DH can only get time off months in advance. Just when I thought I had everything finalized...

 

[abyrd86]

I am in the same boat. I am trying my best not to worry since we have MVMCP on the 9th, but I am still concerned about crowds.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

been twice during taping... you are going to miss Main Street strolling, but otherwise not much of an issue...bit crowded getting into the park as they will funnel you through shops or "backstage" but after that there should be normal lines for that day on most rides.

To me it makes more sense than to film on a Saturday when the park gets crowded anyway.

 

[mom2rtk]

To me it makes more sense than to film on a Saturday when the park gets crowded anyway.

Agreed. Except that it should have been planned that way from the get go if that's what they wanted to do.

 

[Airship Ariadne]

Agreed. Except that it should have been planned that way from the get go if that's what they wanted to do.

Sure...or maybe someone in the corporate office said...duh! this makes sense! and they finally acted on it...give that intern a raise!

I wouldn't worry about the crowds, especially if there is a party that night...in the past, the lines picked up after the taping...closing early that shouldn't be a problem...they taped until 5 or 6 last time.

 

[mom2rtk]

Sure...or maybe someone in the corporate office said...duh! this makes sense! and they finally acted on it...give that intern a raise!

I wouldn't worry about the crowds, especially if there is a party that night...in the past, the lines picked up after the taping...closing early that shouldn't be a problem...they taped until 5 or 6 last time.

Sure, crowds probably won't be bad except on Main Street. But for us, walking around Main Street is one of the things we enjoy about the MK.

And keep in mind lots of people feel "locked in" to their park days already because of ADRs and FPs and won't swap around at this point.

Regardless, they should have saved that change in approach for future years. Although I am wondering if scheduling some of their headline entertainment maybe is having an impact here.

 

[We Dream of Disney]

Thank you everyone! I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one worried. Hopefully since we aren't wanting to be apart of the taping, we can bypass most of the crowd.

I just do not understand the logic for Disney either to change the days...: Maybe they can forecast the weather already? Who knows!

 

[bjuncuva]

Sigh. This is so frustrating. Our first two days in the MK are the 8th and 9th (with a pre-park breakfast at CRT on the 9th). I assume that we won't be able to walk down Main Street at all, even before park opening on the 9th? (I realize it won't be possible later in the day, just wondering about pre-park opening).

 

[We Dream of Disney]

My emotions went as follows when I found out:

All of my ADR, my fast passes.. There is no way that I can just switch my days around Disney! The last time we went with our daughter, I planned nothing. No character meals, BBB etc. I really thought out our vacation this time...

I'm just going to hope for the best.

 

[JanaDee]

Thank you everyone! I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one worried. Hopefully since we aren't wanting to be apart of the taping, we can bypass most of the crowd.

I just do not understand the logic for Disney either to change the days...: Maybe they can forecast the weather already? Who knows!

Speculation is since Broadway is dark on Mondays, Idina Menzel will be making an appearance.

Purely rumor and speculation at this point, though.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

I've been on taping days & getting on rides was a breeze (pre FP)because everyone was trying to get in on the tv shots or running to the places where the singers were performing. The hardest part was getting down Main Street & we just went in & out of the shops til we could turn at Casey's & head towards Adventureland. Taping then was always on a Friday & Saturday & sometimes tickets were given for the Main Street taping but I haven't seen that in the last couple of years.

 

[kwaziismom]

This is our MK day too. Does anyone know if they will still do the opening show? I really hope so.

 

[Priory]

My concern is that this will disburse crowds to other parks and now my carefully chosen days elsewhere may be impacted. Oh well.

 

[maxiesmom]

So no Christmas tree till December 10? That's weird, rather lazy on Disney's part, charge all that money for the parties and don't bother to set the tree up till December 10th. I know it gets in the way at its traditional location, but years ago they set it up by the castle then moved it.

They have done it this way for at least 5 years. No tree until after the party, it messes up the camera angles for the parade taping. I can see how setting up and moving the tree would be very hard to do.

 

[MyKidzMick]

My concern is that this will disburse crowds to other parks and now my carefully chosen days elsewhere may be impacted. Oh well.

It could have the opposite effect depending on the Host and the celebrities who will be taping on those two days.

Last year, DHS was empty when we arrived close to 3:00 on the second taping day. DD had been involved with the 1st day's taping so we had a free day. From the entry gates to ToT, the streets were wide open with very few guests. We had less than a 5 minute wait for ToT. DD texted friends who were in MK and they confirmed the crowds were there due to Neil Patrick Harris' presence and not many were leaving. The taping was running long and they were trying to finish up so the day parade could run at 5:00.

With this year's Theme being "Frozen" and with Disneyland's taping completed without any Frozen stars in their segments, there has to be Frozen elements and/or stars at MK. If that turns out to be true, I don't think your park days will be impacted.

 

[saturn5]

You really shouldn't have a problem with crowds. Went to the taping last year and still the lines were at a decent wait time. Like others have said before, Main Street and parts of Frontierland were difficult to manage due to the parade taping, but it is for sure do-able.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Speculation is since Broadway is dark on Mondays, Idina Menzel will be making an appearance.

Purely rumor and speculation at this point, though.

That's really not a bad speculation considering the entire thing has been renamed the FROZEN Christmas celebration.

I was going to say they didn't announce sooner most likely because it has something to do with the schedules of the celebrites that will be appearing.

I can see tha some of those expecting to see the tree in MK by the 7th or 8th would be disappointed that it won't be there until at least the 10th. Not a dealbreaker as far as I am concerned but I see the tree every year pretty much. ALSO: has anybody noted the dates during which Jonathan Groff is scheduled to present the Candlelight Processional? It's December 3-4. Maybe he will be sticking around a bit to wait for Idina...if they just recently changed the taping dates.