Holiday specials taping dates.

[chefpapi34]

Any speculation out there on when they will be filming the holiday specials in the parks this year? I would really like to avoid them. Last year there were cranes and recording equipment in front of the castle the entire time we were there, not too mention the crowd levels and basically closing down Main Street.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Then only thing that is certain is it won't be on November 30th and also rules out that week/weekend.

If Disney/ABC plans on running the Holiday specials during Thanksgiving weekend, then the shows will tape in early, or mid, November.

My CM friend has been involved with the taping over the last few years and in '15 and '16, taping occurred during Veteran's day week/weekend.

 

[AngiTN]

Pretty sure they did most of the recording at DL last year. Unless I'm mixing up the years, none of the parade was recorded at WDW
Not sure anyone knows yet what they'll do this year

I've been at MK when they were recording the parade there and it didn't impact our day. Most of the work was done in the morning so it was cleared out early

 

[chefpapi34]

Pretty sure they did most of the recording at DL last year. Unless I'm mixing up the years, none of the parade was recorded at WDW
Not sure anyone knows yet what they'll do this year

I've been at MK when they were recording the parade there and it didn't impact our day. Most of the work was done in the morning so it was cleared out early

I'm not just talking parade stuff. They had Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Flo Rida, the Descendents all in magic kingdom, which caused for all of the equipment to be up in front of the castle. They did some filming in Epcot as well. Overall it wasn't horrible but made for a less than ideal trip

 

[BridgetR3]

Pretty sure they did most of the recording at DL last year. Unless I'm mixing up the years, none of the parade was recorded at WDW
Not sure anyone knows yet what they'll do this year

I've been at MK when they were recording the parade there and it didn't impact our day. Most of the work was done in the morning so it was cleared out early

Recording this year definitely impacted the days and the nights as it was all over the 4 parks and covered up the castle for hours at a time. . In fact, different shows and fireworks were cancelled (or delayed on some days) due to filming. We decided as a family last year that we will NEVER visit DW again during filming. It was a mess!!

OP, I would think it is going to be early/mid November like it was this year so I would count out the weeks from Nov. 6 -17 if I were you (at least that's what we are banking on).

 

[AngiTN]

Recording this year definitely impacted the days and the nights as it was all over the 4 parks and covered up the castle for hours at a time. . In fact, different shows and fireworks were cancelled (or delayed on some days) due to filming. We decided as a family last year that we will NEVER visit DW again during filming. It was a mess!!

OP, I would think it is going to be early/mid November like it was this year so I would count out the weeks from Nov. 6 -17 if I were you (at least that's what we are banking on).

Sounds like they drastically changed what they did last year then. It was not like that in the past. Wonder if they'll return to the older method or the new one for this year?

 

[ErinsMommy]

I have to say that watching the taping of the parade in person really takes the magic out of what you see on tv - it was almost comical watching the director yelling STOP or CUT a minute into whatever the performers were doing, then watch them restart. I know its a huge production they have going on and want it to be 'just right', but when we saw it on tv later that year, i was half tempted to hit pause and rewind to relive the 'magic'.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Sounds like they drastically changed what they did last year then. It was not like that in the past. Wonder if they'll return to the older method or the new one for this year?

They taped all 3 2016 Holiday specials during that short timeframe.

It will just depend on how Disney/ABC/Disney Channel sets it up and if the Houghs are again involved - Julianne was the Producer of the shows last year. Weird that old (2013), actual WDW Christmas Parade footage was spliced into the Christmas Day special.

I was texting with my CM friend while the Christmas Day show was on and it was: "a family is going to MVMCP... wow, there you are! The float segment is from 2013!"

 

[AngiTN]

I hope they do not repeat last years stuff. Not so much from an in park standpoint but I thought the shows were awful. Very disappointing

 

[czmom]

Recording this year definitely impacted the days and the nights as it was all over the 4 parks and covered up the castle for hours at a time. . In fact, different shows and fireworks were cancelled (or delayed on some days) due to filming. We decided as a family last year that we will NEVER visit DW again during filming. It was a mess!!

OP, I would think it is going to be early/mid November like it was this year so I would count out the weeks from Nov. 6 -17 if I were you (at least that's what we are banking on).

Well that stinks! We plan to be there 11/11-18. Sounds like prime recording time. From what I understood, the filming took place after the parks closed....but I guess they left the equipment out all day?

 

[ErinsMommy]

Well that stinks! We plan to be there 11/11-18. Sounds like prime recording time. From what I understood, the filming took place after the parks closed....but I guess they left the equipment out all day?

Filming on Main Street was going on for 2 of the days we were there - wasn't a whole day kind of thing, but they were def there in the morning.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Well that stinks! We plan to be there 11/11-18. Sounds like prime recording time. From what I understood, the filming took place after the parks closed....but I guess they left the equipment out all day?

It could very well be the 7th-11th. Disney won't want to impact the weekend leading to Thanksgiving.

 

[Amw1064]

I guess we were in the minority but went over to the parks just for the holiday show tapings. My daughter met so many Disney stars as well as Julianne & Derek Hough. Something she will not forget for quite a long time. I know they did filming at MK on Nov 11 and also at Epcot that evening. We also saw the castle show with Derek & Julianne on the 13th and lots of Disney stars at Hollywood Studios on Nov 14th.(they were filming shows there all day)

We have been at MK in the past when they have been doing the parade taping and it was always in early December.

 

[Accident]

The last 2 years it was in mid november and happened all over the place but I agree, the way they loaded up the hub was annoying.. really messed with my MVMCP.

prior to that it was always the week after thanksgiving..

with avatar opening this year, who knows what they are planning as far as shows and whose parade.. with paris just getting a huge upgrade maybe we'll be seeing more there and less domestic..

 

[BridgetR3]

Well that stinks! We plan to be there 11/11-18. Sounds like prime recording time. From what I understood, the filming took place after the parks closed....but I guess they left the equipment out all day?

Filming actually took place at different times all during the day and evening. However, 2016 was different in that they filmed for three different holiday specials during that time.

 

[MimiDee905]

I have a coworker who visited WDW during Veteran's Day weekend last year (2016) and saw multiple performances that were being recorded in MK and DHS for the holiday specials. She wasn't planning on happening upon them, and said they didn't interfere too much with her touring plans. She enjoyed them!