Christmas Parade Taping?

[mom2rtk]

Does anyone know when they are taping this year's Christmas parade?

 

[Darkbeer1]

I think the better question is IF they will do taping. Last year's special was very light on the parade, and IMHO looked to be video for prior years. More than likely will be performers singing, which is done with the performers schedule in mind, so you might have one taping in front of the castle, then another over at DCA, and then one a couple of days later in front of "it's a small world". And Disney only "leaks" the info just before the event, so they can get some guests willing to stick around for a couple of hours to see one performer lip-sync the song multiple times.

 

[mom2rtk]

I think the better question is IF they will do taping. Last year's special was very light on the parade, and IMHO looked to be video for prior years. More than likely will be performers singing, which is done with the performers schedule in mind, so you might have one taping in front of the castle, then another over at DCA, and then one a couple of days later in front of "it's a small world". And Disney only "leaks" the info just before the event, so they can get some guests willing to stick around for a couple of hours to see one performer lip-sync the song multiple times.

Interesting thought. I think I did read they taped the parade at WDW last year but didn't use much footage from it.

Any idea if they typically do announce a date ahead of time when they have taped at DL in the past?

I would be happy to find out they aren't taping when we're there, but I also like to watch the parade on Christmas morning. And last year's "show" just wasn't very good.

 

[disneychrista]

From what I have read on another board the dance troupes are scheduled to perform/tape this past weekend. Most likely any parade sections will be from previous years, the parade doesn't change so they really don't need to waste time/money taping them over again.

I miss the years where the Christmas Parade was actually a Parade not a segment of this and segment of that, very little parade and more a 2 hour "Disney Parks" commercial.

 

[Darkbeer1]

How many name changes has the Christmas Day show gone through, started off as the WDW parade, with some selected segments from Disneyland, and now we have the "Disney Parks and Resorts Promotion show" to cover the entire Disney family, not just resorts, but Movies, TV, etc. I understand synergy, but the show has morphed into one big 2 hour ad on Christmas Day. And as others have said, it is a shame.

 

[mom2rtk]

How many name changes has the Christmas Day show gone through, started off as the WDW parade, with some selected segments from Disneyland, and now we have the "Disney Parks and Resorts Promotion show" to cover the entire Disney family, not just resorts, but Movies, TV, etc. I understand synergy, but the show has morphed into one big 2 hour ad on Christmas Day. And as others have said, it is a shame.

And wasn't one of the recent years pretty much the "Frozen" show?

 

[GatorChris]

On the most recent Fresh Baked Disney video, they had people showing up for concert type of events. They also had ropes up for what seemed like a parade, but nothing else was revealed. The episode was recorded on Saturday the 5th.

 

[lcp9]

They were taping a bunch of dance numbers for it this last weekend (5th), we didn't see a parade but we also were back in tomorrowland the whole time it was going on. Lots of cameras, tents, I know they were taping something for a commercial? It started early but was done by 1 or so.

 

[mom2rtk]

Someone at the parks this weekend just reported in the Christmas thread that the times guide shows that they are taping the parade on Wednesday this week.

Has anyone here been to parade taping before? I'm really disappointed as this was one of the 2 days on this trip that I had hopes of lower crowds.

 

[GatorChris]

Someone at the parks this weekend just reported in the Christmas thread that the times guide shows that they are taping the parade on Wednesday this week.

Has anyone here been to parade taping before? I'm really disappointed as this was one of the 2 days on this trip that I had hopes of lower crowds.

CRUD!!!! I was hoping that was the easy day on crowds. Not it's gonna be stupid nuts with all the locals. Not happy....unless I find a way to be on TV!! Then I'll just be mildly disturbed.

 

[goooof1]

Someone at the parks this weekend just reported in the Christmas thread that the times guide shows that they are taping the parade on Wednesday this week.

Has anyone here been to parade taping before? I'm really disappointed as this was one of the 2 days on this trip that I had hopes of lower crowds.

In previous years (though I don't know about the last 2) there have been people lining Main Street and around the hub. They were sitting on the curb mostly as I recall and some standing behind them....not super crowded, though. It gets pretty boring and I can't imagine standing around there for hours and hours, but I guess some folks really want to be seen on TV...! lol !!! And away from there, it really did not affect the rest of the park.

 

[mom2rtk]

In previous years (though I don't know about the last 2) there have been people lining Main Street and around the hub. They were sitting on the curb mostly as I recall and some standing behind them....not super crowded, though. It gets pretty boring and I can't imagine standing around there for hours and hours, but I guess some folks really want to be seen on TV...! lol !!! And away from there, it really did not affect the rest of the park.

OK, taking a deep breath. Maybe it won't be too bad.

But geez. We picked our days so we could hope for at least a couple low crowd days. We have 4 days. Wednesday is parade taping. @ImTooExcitedToSleep just reported in another thread that there's a media event Thursday night to light Small World. Friday and Saturday are the first 2 days Paint the Night is back. Crowds, crowds, crowds.

 

[goooof1]

OK, taking a deep breath. Maybe it won't be too bad.

But geez. We picked our days so we could hope for at least a couple low crowd days. We have 4 days. Wednesday is parade taping. @ImTooExcitedToSleep just reported in another thread that there's a media event Thursday night to light Small World. Friday and Saturday are the first 2 days Paint the Night is back. Crowds, crowds, crowds.

Yep, I feel ya'..... People are really, truely right when they say there are no more "empty" days! And on days that seem that there would be low crowds, they go and schedule events! YIKES!! Where did all these people come from??? ahhhh, "the good old days..." Hahahahaha......

 

[mom2rtk]

Yep, I feel ya'..... People are really, truely right when they say there are no more "empty" days! And on days that seem that there would be low crowds, they go and schedule events! YIKES!! Where did all these people come from??? ahhhh, "the good old days..." Hahahahaha......

I don't expect empty days. But it would be nice if they would announce stuff like this more than a few days out so we can plan accordingly. I can't tell you how many times I've torn up our schedule and started over. It's been nothing like previous trips.

 

[disneychrista]

I don't expect empty days. But it would be nice if they would announce stuff like this more than a few days out so we can plan accordingly. I can't tell you how many times I've torn up our schedule and started over. It's been nothing like previous trips.

Could you imagine how much MORE crowded it would be of they officially announced the dates? I shudder to thnk.

 

[mom2rtk]

Could you imagine how much MORE crowded it would be of they officially announced the dates? I shudder to thnk.

Maybe they could have just sent them to me in an envelope marked "top secret".

Although my concern is that there are enough locals close by to do a number on crowds, even with short notice.

 

[AnneUCSB]

We arrive for three days in the park on Wednesday. This week (the Wednesday-Friday before Thanksgiving) has become "our week" as we've been coming the last 6 years during this time period and usually enjoy light crowds before holidays really take off. I was already nervous about crowds on Friday since they announced the return of Paint the Night. Now the parade taping Fingers crossed it's not shoulder to shoulder crowded.

 

[disneychrista]

Although my concern is that there are enough locals close by to do a number on crowds, even with short notice.

Honestly, they WANT a crowd there for the parade filming. How would it play on TV if the parade wasn't being shown with 3 people deep on Main Street.
Though on the other hand if they are filming mid-week and not Saturday, they must be trying to NOT have it be huge crowds of local/APs.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Well, it is not on the official list due to the fact that TV Tapings are pretty much "Hurry Up and Wait", also there are issues with scheduling "Talent", aka the celebrities that appear as part of the filming. And then weather can be an issue, as they don't want to film if the weather isn't the best. (They are trying to "sell" the parks).

Yes, Disney wants the crowds, and does intentionally "leak" the info when it is firmed up about the time and date of the taping. But that decision is very short term, as the long term plans have ranges of dates and options.

At least they get to pick and choose. I was working an event for KTLA and Knott's on July 8th, where there was going to be 4 hours of the morning news dedicated to the 25th Anniversary of the Morning News, and the opening of Ghost Town Alive! at Knott's Berry Farm. Talent (former News Anchors) and extra's (KTLA viewers who won tickets to the event with the condition they had to be at the park by 6 AM). Alas, that was the day the Dallas Police Shootings happened, and suddenly a major scramble to keep some anchors in studio,instead of at Knott's as planned, and the original schedule was devoted to about half the time at Knott's and showing clips from the 25 years. Well, that got cut down until very little exposure, with just one segment near the end of the news with the former news anchors, two of which traveled from out of town specifically to appear on the show, and couldn't be rescheduled. KTLA did return a few weeks later tofocus on the new Ghost Town Alive! and other park attractions as a "make up".

Another "live" story, was at Six Flags Magic Mountain, and our extras showed up at 2 AM, since we were scheduled for East Coast live feeds to multiple stations, well, the weather and other issues had us push back filming for 4 hours. So what to do, well, there was a Denny's nearby, so we took them over there to wait.. Well, the staff at the time, one server and one cook. So I ended up becoming a "busser" to make sure they all got fed and get back to the park when we needed them.

The goal is to deliver a good product that people want to see, but the actual making of these things can be a logistical nightmare.

So I know folks like to plan ahead, but from the TV side, we plan ahead and make multiple schedules and options to deal with last minute issues. Yes, there are times you want the Pepto, but the best thing to do, go with the flow and work with what you have got and that works.

 

[disneychrista]

they don't want to film if the weather isn't the best. (They are trying to "sell" the parks).

I was at WDW when they were filming the Parade and it was an overcast, rainy day (second wettest December according to news reports) and when they aired the parade they had photoshoped (or whatever) the sky to be bright blue. We had a good laugh about that.