Happily Ever After. Why do people stand???

[AMusicLifeForMe]

On my most recent trip, I don't know how it happened, but I was able to sit and watch Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular at DHS. This was the first time I had ever sat for a firework show.

However, out of the many many many times that I saw Wishes and HEA, I have never sat for a firework show at the MK or any other park at WDW. I also have never sat for a firework show when i lived in CA and would frequent Disneyland every week. CM's actually tell people to stand at a certain point before show time. This allows for more space to fit more people, as well as, safety protocol.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

If everyone sat, where would all the strollers go? No one would want to sit behind a stroller and there wouldn’t be a feasible parking area.

 

[KJeff90]

Being someone from Disneyland, this is the understanding I've gathered from my personal experiences. I know it may or may not apply to Happily Ever After, as I'm sure there are many other variables and differences between the spaces, and logistics of the operation; but I would assume safety has to do with most of it.

Here at Disneyland, for most outdoor spectaculars (Fantasmic, World of Color, fireworks, etc.) guests are asked to stand to allow more guests to fit in. That's more of a courtesy thing to allow the most guests possible to experience things that only happen maybe once or twice a night. But another logistical thing is that it allows that in the unlikely event of an emergency (big or small), people don't get trampled if they need to rapidly leave any particular space. It's easier to move someone out of the way, or sometimes in the way, if they're already standing.

On a side note, there's often the moment of a cast member asking to keep guests moving through a walkway when one of these spectaculars is going on. People often wonder why there's such a large opening for a walkway when it could be utilized to as a viewing area... those walkways need to be kept wide enough so that if need be, in one of those unlikely emergencies, an emergency vehicle or resources can easily come/drive through.

 

[Eccle]

We sat to watch HEA last month. We were in the grass area in front of Casey's Corner, I said to the kids that they would need to stand up when it started, which they did, but then got shouted at by other people to sit down as everyone else had stayed sitting (I just assumed everyone would stand)

 

[MinnieMSue]

Huh. Never sat for fireworks at MK except in the grassy areas where we were lucky enough to watch hallowishes one year and a dessert party. Every other time we were packed in like sardines in a massive crowd. No room to move let alone sit. Wish I could have experienced a show with that kind of room.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I can't sit on the ground so I've never sat for fireworks. Even when I do the dessert party with the Plaza Garden viewing I have to stand. I often wish they had even folding chairs for everyone in that section like they did for the Fantastic Dessert Party the one time I did it in Disneyland.

CM's ask people to stand for fireworks to avoid anyone getting trampled if there was a problem and also at the end of the night when people are leaving.

 

[Jennasis]

Sitting on the ground is very painful for me. I've been going to WDW since 1977 and have never been able to sit for fireworks.

 

[BarbieGal457]

A sitting crowd is extremely dangerous if an emergency breaks out. I've personally witnessed people trampled in a stampede. I will never sit.

 

[FCDub]

I love your chicken, don't get me wrong, but this makes no sense.



Literally (!!) a death trap? Look, I don't expect to ever sit for a Disney show like HEA, but I've been at numerous public outdoor events where people sit. I don't understand how sitting is dangerous.

Do these public events you attend have tens of thousands of people sitting together in a tight space?

 

[rteetz]

On my most recent trip, I don't know how it happened, but I was able to sit and watch Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular at DHS. This was the first time I had ever sat for a firework show.

The CM allowed us to sit this past week for Disney Movie Magic but then told us to stand for SWaGS.

 

[ajwolfe]

We sat one time for the projection show before Wishes started - we were literally just a couple rows back from the front of the castle --- still impressed we scored such an awesome seat. Anyways everyone around us was sitting and it was by far the best time we've had watching the projection show but the it was sort of hard to see the fireworks sitting.

 

[Klayfish]

We sat for MK fireworks...on the beach at the Poly. It was spectacular.

But inside MK, no, we've never sat.

 

[EdmondD]

Do these public events you attend have tens of thousands of people sitting together in a tight space?

One that I can think of, yes, on the National Mall for 4th of July fireworks.

Others don't have tens of thousands (but neither does the Magic Kingdom have even 10,000 people sitting in the hub) but various screen-on-the-green or outdoor concerts and performances and such have many, many people sitting side-by-side.

 

[mamamelody2]

We have only been to WDW 3 times, but have never been able to sit for fireworks. I think if people were sitting, that would seriously reduce the capacity of the area.

Those darn shoulder children, though. They are infuriating. (Obviously I'm upset with the parent, not the child.)

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

While I'm sure there is some safety aspect, I think it's mostly a space issue. They can fit way more people standing than sitting.

 

[TheRealDrDisney]

I always stand, but half the time I still can't see because the 6 foot person in front of me becomes a 9 foot person when they put their child on their shoulders.

 

[ELLH]

Aside from agreeing with the others who have pretty much always stood...

Assuming you're not really close to the Castle, it's hard to sit and actually see the projection on the Castle even if others sat, too. There are various things that can block the view while sitting. However, sitting and viewing the fireworks as they burst 100's of feet in the air is a non-issue.

 

[AngiTN]

I'm actually shocked you have always sat. I've never sat for HEA, or Wishes, unless we did the dessert party where we sat at a table. Nor have I seen those around me sitting.
I'm going to go with those who sit are way more unique/rare those those who stand.
If you want to be a sitter, then sit. Just gonna have to find yourself a spot with others who are sitting and not expect everyone else to do what you are doing. Sitting is way harder, especially when you are talking about sitting in a nasty, dirty ground full of spilled food and drinks. I sure don't want to sit on it.
I may sit on the walls back in New Fantasy Land or maybe the grass areas around Casey's but that's it.

 

[OhhBother]

When we there a couple of months ago, the CMs were being particularly harsh with people who were sitting. They made it clear it was not tolerated -- that everyone had to stand.

 

[mamasha]

We sat to watch HEA last month. We were in the grass area in front of Casey's Corner, I said to the kids that they would need to stand up when it started, which they did, but then got shouted at by other people to sit down as everyone else had stayed sitting (I just assumed everyone would stand)

That’s terrible getting shouted at especially to kids!!! I was at a dessert party half stood other half sat? It wasn’t like people stood when it started it was very weird. The people who chose to stand were on the left and the sitters were on the right.