DOes anyone else think that the nightime parades and shows are overrated?

[sammons70]

Sure their cute, but I don't feel like giving up 2 hours of ride time just to see a Parade, and forget about Fantasmic. Fighting to see over or around someone is not my idea of Disney Magic.

The evening parades, fireworks and Fantasmic jam Tomorrowland and Adventureland with visitiors because they close Fantasyland, and really congest Frontierland. Your only way out of Tomorrowland during a parade is the railroad.

I really wish that Disneyland staff would figure out how to not have these parades and shows inconvenience guests that are not interested in watching them so much.

 

[jernysgirl]

I totally do NOT agree! I love the nighttime entertainment. And Fantasmic! has to be one of my absolute favorite things to see at DL. I think that it is all just a matter of opinion on what certain people like and what don't like. If you don't want to watch, then by all means ride rides and take advantage of the time to get some other things done.

 

[Mugglemama]

our family doesn't usually watch the shows or parades either. we once bought tickets 10 years ago specifically for the christmas parade, and last summer we took time to watch the new pixar parade at DCA. we've been to DLR more than 100 times, and we've NEVER seen Fantasmic, lol. caught bits and pieces of it as we made our way through to something else, but were never interested enough to stop. my kids NEVER ask to watch parades or shows (we took time to go watch the Turtle Talk with Crush show, or whatever it's called, and although my kids thought it was entertaining, i personally haaaaaaaated it).

but some folks really, really love the parades and shows, so i'm glad they exist. it's obvious from the things people write that they the show/parade lovers get just as much enjoyment out of those activities as we ride lovers get from the rides.

that being said, i would NEVER give up 2 hours of ride time for a show or parade either.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

The wait is long but I really do enjoy the break to watch parades, though I must say the only parades we wait for are the Electrical Parade and the Holiday parade.

December 2007 and 2008 - we were doing bell-to-bell DL on the weekend and by evening it was wonderful to sit and relax for an hour or two. We camped out by IASW and watched the light show, had a drink, snacked and vegged out. Then we got to see the parade and fireworks afterward (if the winter winds allowed them..razzzzzz).

But it's different on shorter days - then we tend to ride all day and skip the long sit-ins for events.

I've never watched a show at the park. Not my cuppa joe.

 

[spacemermaid]

It's all in how one looks at it. If you get to visit the Park frequently (I'm including myself in this), the "traffic jams" the shows and parades create can be annoying. The last time I sat & waited for Fantasmic was around when it first came out, many years ago. I'll still sit and watch it on occasion, if I can find a place to stand a couple of minutes before the show starts, because I still enjoy the show, but usually I'll use the time to go on rides that are less busy when people are staking out spots to watch the show. However, there are lots of people in the Park on any given day who may get to see the shows/parades once every several years...or even once in a lifetime. To them the wait is worth it, and I certainly wouldn't begrudge them being able to see the show. Sure, I've seen the shows too many times to count & would (usually) rather go on rides. And there are some people who also get to visit the Park frequently, who like to watch the shows rather than use the time to go on rides.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

Oh I'm totally not with it!! Of course I've seen a show - Fantasmic several times! oooooooops! I'm thinking of those daytime character shows.

I hate the traffic jams that parades and Fantasmic brings - especially when they have one-way paths and you have to walk 'the long way' to get where you need to be. After a day of tromping in the park, my feet don't wanna go the long way.

Last December, DH and I staked out a front-row space right on the water by the metal fence, about 1-1.5 hours in advance, basically right after the first show ended. DH and I were only wearing sweatshirts and after a while we got really chilly but we were excited to see the show. Next to two lovely older ladies who were freezing their fannies off as well, but also still in high spirits. Then it got HILARIOUS! The mist started to SOAK US! The four of us were a huddling, shivering wet mess and we were laughing so hard over the odds that the "best seats" were the most absurdly WORST seats in the house!! We were laughing till tears were running down our cheeks! Every time the mists came on for the animation we were like "oooohhhnonononoooooo"!! And the fire! We were calling "come back, come back!" when they extinguished. All that because we waited forever for the *cough cough* best seats!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Oh I'm totally not with it!! Of course I've seen a show - Fantasmic several times! oooooooops! I'm thinking of those daytime character shows.

I hate the traffic jams that parades and Fantasmic brings - especially when they have one-way paths and you have to walk 'the long way' to get where you need to be. After a day of tromping in the park, my feet don't wanna go the long way.

Last December, DH and I staked out a front-row space right on the water by the metal fence, about 1-1.5 hours in advance, basically right after the first show ended. DH and I were only wearing sweatshirts and after a while we got really chilly but we were excited to see the show. Next to two lovely older ladies who were freezing their fannies off as well, but also still in high spirits. Then it got HILARIOUS! The mist started to SOAK US! The four of us were a huddling, shivering wet mess and we were laughing so hard over the odds that the "best seats" were the most absurdly WORST seats in the house!! We were laughing till tears were running down our cheeks! Every time the mists came on for the animation we were like "oooohhhnonononoooooo"!! And the fire! We were calling "come back, come back!" when they extinguished. All that because we waited forever for the *cough cough* best seats!

I know what you're talking about.

 

[DisDancerina]

Oh I'm totally not with it!! Of course I've seen a show - Fantasmic several times! oooooooops! I'm thinking of those daytime character shows.

I hate the traffic jams that parades and Fantasmic brings - especially when they have one-way paths and you have to walk 'the long way' to get where you need to be. After a day of tromping in the park, my feet don't wanna go the long way.

Last December, DH and I staked out a front-row space right on the water by the metal fence, about 1-1.5 hours in advance, basically right after the first show ended. DH and I were only wearing sweatshirts and after a while we got really chilly but we were excited to see the show. Next to two lovely older ladies who were freezing their fannies off as well, but also still in high spirits. Then it got HILARIOUS! The mist started to SOAK US! The four of us were a huddling, shivering wet mess and we were laughing so hard over the odds that the "best seats" were the most absurdly WORST seats in the house!! We were laughing till tears were running down our cheeks! Every time the mists came on for the animation we were like "oooohhhnonononoooooo"!! And the fire! We were calling "come back, come back!" when they extinguished. All that because we waited forever for the *cough cough* best seats!

Hahaha, ditto! By the end of Fantasmic! you basically make some new friends and get pretty close I bought a new blanket because of Fantasmic! I was literally freezing my but off, but what a good show!

 

[disney-super-mom]

We have never gone out of our way to watch a parade or stake out a spot to watch a parade.....ever. If we happen to be walking by when a parade is in progress, and it looks good, then we'll stop and watch. If the parade doesn't grab our attention, then we'll head on to the next attraction.

We do enjoy the nighttime shows, like Fantasmic and the fireworks, but we only watch those once per trip. The rest of the time, we just make sure to stay away from those crowded areas during show times....mainly we hang in Tomorrowland and Adventureland during the nighttime shows.

 

[KCmike]

Must See's in my opinion:

Fantasmic! - absolutely love it

Remember Dreams Come True - ditto

Electrical Parade is nice it was the first night time parade we ever saw and that was at WDW back in the 90's.

DL's daytime parade is worth it for one day but then I skip it after that.
WDW's daytime parades are horrible.

 

[bzkds]

I love the Electrical Parade and will sit to wait for that. A good spot (unless it's all changed around because of construction) is close to the Orange Stinger. My daughter rode the ride over and over while waiting for the parade to begin.

I don't ever wait around for any of the other parades or Fantasmic. Another good spot is right at Pirates, you can go on the ride several times and see bits of Fantasmic when you're going in/out of the ride.

Last Feb, we walked around the back of the castle during the fireworks. It was very crowded until we got to Big Thunder Mountain Rail Road. The fireworks were exploding almost over top of our heads!

Thankfully we've been often enough (yearly, at least) and our kids are getting older, so we don't feel pulled to sit and wait for anything. We did watch them when our kids were younger.

Beth

 

[disneyobsessed808]

I definitely disagree with OP. I used to never sit down to wait for the fireworks or fantasmic, thinking it was a waste of time. However, one day I was just too tired of walking around after having been to Disneyland three days in a row non-stop. I decided that I might as well sit and wait for the fireworks. And I am glad I did - Remember Dreams Come True is so much better than any show I've seen anywhere. Watching it gives me goosebumps. On the next trip, I did the Fantasmic Premium viewing from the Disney Gallery (when it wasn't the Dream Suite). Put down a bit of money, but it was well worth it. I can't wait to see the fireworks when I go back in August.

 

[Kriddlet]

My family and I are making our first trip to DL next weekend, and although we will only be there a day and a half (we won the trip, so I have no control over the itinerary ), I am SO looking forward to the Electrical Parade!

 

[DizMe]

Yeah, I'm not a fan. I think the entertainment is wonderful, but I HATE the traffic jams that come with it and I just won't sit around waiting for it! My kids have no interest in the stuff and, in fact, we can't watch fireworks or Fantasmic due to dd's sensory issues. I secretly liked it when we went in Jan. and there weren't any fireworks, Fantasmic or parades on some days. I'm really short and I hate to be herded down a skinny little path with walls of tall people on either side--it's kind of a claustrophobic feeling and we usually get stuck somewhere we don't want to be.

 

[teatime]

The first time we ever went to disneyland we did not know anything about where to sit, and how to see the shows. We lucked out per say as we sat down to have cheese cake at a resturant right across from fantasmic and it was wonderful ! But needless to say there was a family of 6 in front of us, all had these giant sorcerer mickey hats on and all were lined up in front of us and would not remove the hatsd. my kids were small so could not see over them. I asked nicely , they balked, I asked again the older woman flipped me off. all seemed to think they were exclusive and refused to remove those huge stupid hats!! So much for being nice, asking polity and trying my best to adult like.
When they started laughing and making fun of me and my trying to get them to remove there hats I decided just to ignore.
we did get to see the show in between there hats, but I believe in karma, I hope they to had some ignorant folks who treated them the way they treated me. What goes around comes around.
I also got to see a parade on a bench which was awesome, and fire works from a bench, again sheer luck.
But since then I have not watched any, but plan to when I go this next time when the new fire works and fantasmic play. my grandson will make his first ever trip and I want him to see it all. the parade in disneyland will not be watched, I do not care to hear and see dancing and high energy parades

 

[disheadz]

I never watch the shows but appreciate them. If you know where the traffic jams are going to be, then just be somewhere else. The shows divert massive amounts of people away from the rides- so just plan ahead and enjoy short(er) lines.

 

[Grim_Grinning_Girl]

Fantasmic is worth the wait. Well actually my mother has MS and rides in a scooter, so if we arrive early enough we get to go into the reserved handicap area which is great for Fantasmic! Otherwise it is difficult to find a good spot, but definitely worth checking out.

The Aladdin Musical Spectacular is also worth waiting in line for, at least to get a decent seat on the lower level.

Sorry, but I think the new Celebrate Parade is terrible and not worth waiting for! If you haven't seen it, watch it on YouTube first, and decide if you want to see it or not. It's good for little kids.

Didn't really like the new Magical Fireworks show, and I unfortunately did wait 2 hours to catch a preview show. The Remember Dreams Do Come True Fireworks show I would absolutely camp out for - IT'S A BILLION AND ONE MILLION TIMES BETTER .

 

[LuLusApple]

I love the traditional type DL shows and parades. Those to me are worth something, that is usually $ to get a good seat. The ones that use a lot of classic Disney. They usually bring a tear at some point. because they invoke some DL memory or soft spot. Not "celebrate a street party" that show is too young and trying to be hip LOL not for me but my DGD1 loves it.
I too as PP has said secretly enjoyed the time spans when there was No F! Or fireworks. I didn't feel pressured to Have to see them although I love them.
It's the crowds and shoving and all those rude people that ruin it for me. If I can pay for a good seat or have vouchers (like aladdin) then that is how we see the shows. It stinks I think there isn't a better solution.

Now when World of Color starts at DCA, that will be interesting; because of the seating they are building/dedicating for it. That might work, butlook out for those giant mickey sorcerer hats!

 

[sammons70]

Yeah, I'm not a fan. I think the entertainment is wonderful, but I HATE the traffic jams that come with it and I just won't sit around waiting for it!.

This is the point I was making. Disneyland staff has to figure out how to make these events not so inconvenient for people who are not interested in them.

A few years ago, I watched Fantasmic at MGM studios in Florida, and loved it. Why, because it was in it's own stadium with stadium seating. You weren't crowded or having to jockey for your viewing spot, and it didn't impact the rest of the park. We gave up only 20 minutes of ride time before the show. I know that Dinseyland is size challenged compared to Disney World, but what are they doing with that old "videoopolis" area? Last time I saw, nothing!
I can remember back in 1985 as a fifteen year old being able to run across Main Street into Tomorrowland inbetween floats of the electrical parade. The parades didn't always shut down the majority of the park for everyone. Now I realize nearly 25 years later, the population explosion has created many more people everywhere, especially Disneyland, so I can agree with them not alowing people to cross mainstreet. I do disagree with them making each side of mainstreet one direction only. I also disagree with being rerouted when walking in front of New Orleans Square. I feel that the staff makes things worse by directing traffic. It forces people to be somewhere and crowd an area or path where they would not have been otherwise instead of letting the flow of traffic move naturally. It also forces you to have to stop in confusion, and rethink your route or plans.
This doesn't happen in Florida. I think the anaheim staff could learn from the Orlando staff. I know they have more space in Florida, but there has to be someway the Anaheim staff can operate these events more efficiently.

 

[stampinshauna]

I don't like to wait around for hours to get a seat for the entertainment. I do enjoy watching some of it though. That being said, I am satisfied with a mediocre seat (or place to stand) so that I can watch it at the last minute.