Is It Okay To Fill An Open Space?

[Madi100]

I hear people talking about how they are waiting for hours to get the best spot for the parade just to have some family walk up at the last minute and stand right in front of them.

I always try to be polite. I give up my seat. I hold doors open. I'll stop and pick something up if people drop it. I wait my turn in line. I make sure that my girls wait in line to see characters. I notice when people have sticky hands and offer them a wipe.

However, if we show up for a parade, regardless of the time, if I see a spot that isn't taken, I don't think twice about taking it. If someone is standing five feet back and there is room for us, we sit. Now if there is a child, we don't sit in front of them. But, if it is an adult standing back aways, then I think nothing of it. Not because they are adults and don't care, but because an adult can still see and if they wanted a front row seat, they would be standing up front. Are we being rude? We don't make it so people can't see. But do people think that if you get there first that you can claim as much space as you want?

 

[Magickndm]

If I see an open space, I'll ask the person closest to it if they are expecting more people. If they say no, I try to stand or sit in such a way as not to block their view.
I don't mind asking, it only takes a second and can thwart a lot of bad feelings in the long run.

 

[Madi100]

If I see an open space, I'll ask the person closest to it if they are expecting more people. If they say no, I try to stand or sit in such a way as not to block their view.
I don't mind asking, it only takes a second and can thwart a lot of bad feelings in the long run.

I always ask, too, if someone is right there, but not the people behind us if they are back aways.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

However, if we show up for a parade, regardless of the time, if I see a spot that isn't taken, I don't think twice about taking it. If someone is standing five feet back and there is room for us, we sit. Now if there is a child, we don't sit in front of them. But, if it is an adult standing back aways, then I think nothing of it. Not because they are adults and don't care, but because an adult can still see and if they wanted a front row seat, they would be standing up front. Are we being rude? We don't make it so people can't see. But do people think that if you get there first that you can claim as much space as you want?

Nope, you're definitely not being rude. I'm like you...and if someone's standing a few feet away, I don't ask either. If they were holding a spot for someone, they could easily say "Excuse me, I'm holding this space for my family" and I would happily move. I think that at times, people can get a little hyper-concerned about hurting other people's feelings, and this is definitely one of them. If there is a large space that noone is standing in, I don't assume that there must be someone waiting to stand there.

ETA: Of course, on the scale of rudeness, it kinda goes without saying that standing in front of someone who's already sitting is up there pretty high.

 

[sistertrip]

I don't think there's anything wrong with they way you go about it. If there's room for you and you're not completely blocking somebody's view, then go for it. I have noticed when people stand in front of somebody that's sitting, though, and I don't think that's the politest way to go about it.

 

[Sonno]

Me, I look for the green garbage cans along Main Street. I simply walk up to one, slide it back about 6-12", and sit down on the curb. If folks give me dirty looks, oh well. I can't see them anyway because they're behind me.

 

[antree]

Remember what the cast members are always saying when we are waiting for a show to start or standing in line "keeping move forward, fill up all empty space". I don't know how some people feel about it but we have been in lines before especially at Haunted Mansion, were there is a long line but so much empty space up front, we wait nobody moves forward so we just go ahead and move. As we are walking to the empty space, we say "don't forget to fill all empty space". So far no one has gotten upset, they just followed the rest of us.

 

[Madi100]

Then if people agree, where is the complaining from? How do people squeeze in in front of them?

To the poster who said standing in front of standing people, I agree. However, you can't sit five feet back and leave a huge amount of space and expect people to leave it for you. If you want to sit and have the front row, you have to sit in the front row. It's like going to the movie. You can't sit in the 5th row and expect because you got there 30 minutes early that no one will sit in front of you.

I just don't undestand that complaint. Do people really go in front of people where there really is no space?

 

[MDDisneyFan]

I don't see a problem with what the OP stated. However, I have to admit that it irates me to no end when I've been standing on the curb waiting a long time for a parade and minutes before the parade starts someone brings their child and basically puts the child on my feet. This forces me to step back into whoever is behind me.

I understand parents want their children to see the parade, but they should have to wait like everyone else.

 

[tink1978]

I think asking is best....there may not be anyone there, but it is polite to ask.

 

[tink1978]

I don't see a problem with what the OP stated. However, I have to admit that it irates me to no end when I've been standing on the curb waiting a long time for a parade and minutes before the parade starts someone brings their child and basically puts the child on my feet. This forces me to step back into whoever is behind me.

I understand parents want their children to see the parade, but they should have to wait like everyone else.

I agree...but I have been known to allow someone else's child to come and sit with me and my family so they can see the parade. We just make sure that the parents are within seeing distance, or we try to make room (my son sitting on my lap and giving the space to another parent).

 

[Emilee's mom]

I guess my response is this..... I gave up doing something else and allowed plenty of time to get a "front row" either at a parade or show and it does annoy me when someone walks up 2 mintues before the scheduled event is to take place and expect someone to make a "little room" for them and their family. Not the end of the world, but still annoying. If they wanted to get a good seat then they should have planned ahead and given up something to get the great seats. I'm sure I have done stuff that others have thought rude, but I try to be respectful and thoughtful even if on vacation.

 

[Minnesota]

I always ask too and if told the spot is taken happily move. I don't think there is any problem as long as every one can see adult and child a like. I don't mind if a parent puts their child infront of me, I am 5'1'' and can see over children, what annoys the heck out of me is when the parent puts their child infront of me then "has to comfort junior when the villans come out" or something and THEY smash in infront of me. Even at 5'1'' I can't see over too many adults. Another thing that has happened is a person or persons come and stand next to me ~ no problem, then they keep crowding over and over until they get infront of me no matter how long I had been waiting at the curb or fence. Just my experience.
Minnesota

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

Nothing wrong with filling an empty space.

Unless someones butt has just been there......... Last time we saw Spectro Magic I sat on the curb for 2 hours before the parade with my dd in her stroller. Dh went to ride a ride while I waited. About 30 minutes before the parade started a mother and her 2 daughters came and sat by me and literally squashed themselves into place. I scooted over a little but was still trying to save room for DH. I literally only had room enough for his bottom saved, no extra room.

My dd needed something so I started to get up to get it for her and just as my bottom left the sidewalk I saw the mother nudge her daughter a say "hurry, scoot down." I just have to laugh at it now because I can't get over such rudeness. When I saw this I immediately sat back down (never got all the way up) and ended up sitting on part of this girls lap. She ended up scooting back a little but she sat closer to me than my husband did. Geesh

Not the rudest thing ever but still. Some people have no manors.

 

[Madi100]

I guess my response is this..... I gave up doing something else and allowed plenty of time to get a "front row" either at a parade or show and it does annoy me when someone walks up 2 mintues before the scheduled event is to take place and expect someone to make a "little room" for them and their family. Not the end of the world, but still annoying. If they wanted to get a good seat then they should have planned ahead and given up something to get the great seats. I'm sure I have done stuff that others have thought rude, but I try to be respectful and thoughtful even if on vacation.

But my question is do these people come up and push their way to a spot that really isn't there OR are they just pushing their way to the front or walking to the front to grab a spot that is open and now you might have to stand next to people. We were one of the first people to sit to wait for the parade at MK. DH decided to go and get ice-cream. So the girls and I sat and waited. People came and filled in spots. We were still holding a spot for DH, but that was all there was room for. He opted to not sit down in front with us. Right before the parade started we had people come and sit right by us. It got a little crowded, and as long as they understood I wasn't moving it was fine. And, it worked. We were a bit tight, but we still had our front row seat.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I too will offer to share room with a child if their parents are nice and polite and don't just shove their child into the smallest space. But the most annoying thing to me is after sitting and waiting for awhile for a parade and someone comes up at the last minute to stand behind you and as the parade goes on they lean into, and sometime even, on you. They also push their child into so they can see the parade better. At first I will lean back to let them know to get out of my space but if that doesn't work then I stand up. If their view is now blocked, that's their problem as they were crowding me and my little one.

Once again, let me say I will share space will children of polite parents. But if you're rude, watch out!

 

[va32h]

On a related note, how much "space" should one person be able to save, before it gets out of hand?

We were at Disneyland Resort last week, and while waiting for the Block Party Bash in California Adventure, we encountered a woman lying on her back, literally spreadeagled, to reaserve space in every direction. At Disneyland, we witnessed a mother who spread out her stroller, jackets, shopping bags, diaper bag and guidebook to save a good 5 or 6 feet of space.

 

[123SA]

Last May, I sat down for spectro 1 hr prior to start in Frontierland. I was 5 months pregnant and needed the rest. I set up the double stroller at the line and spread out a beach towel next it. DH took DD5 & DS2 to POC. They were back 20minutes before the parade started. It never occurred to me that this could be considered rude. In the end DS sat in the stroller, DD sat with me, and DH stood behind the stroller to let the 2 little ones and their mom, who were standing behind us, sit down.

I can't keep up anymore with all the things that will potentially offend others. Basically, if it wouldn't bother me to have someone else do it to me, then I think I am in the clear.

 

[va32h]

I didn't say anyone was being rude. I didn't even give an opinion either way about the examples I provided. I was asking for others' opinions on when space-saving crosses the line.

Is it okay to save spaces for four people, but not eight? Eight, but not twelve? Okay to save spaces for 30 minutes, but not 60? 60 but not 90?

In the case of the woman who was lying on her back ("saving" about 20 sf of parade-watching space), a CM asked her to get up, because people were tripping over her. She still managed to reserve a large space by practically doing the splits, and menacing anyone who dared to come near her (she told a child who could not have been more than 4 to "back off!")

In the end she was saving spots for five other people, all adults and teens, who had been riding rides and buying ice cream, and just didn't feel like waiting for the parade. The teens in fact, complained the entire time about having to spend 15 minutes watching the "stupid parade". They wanted to go back to Paradise Pier. Thanks for spending 1/2 and hour to get us these great spots, mom!

 

[123SA]

Ooops!! I find that writing is so much trickier than conversation. If we were speaking to one another I doubt there would be any need for explanations and apologies. Upon re-reading my post, it does seem a little harsh to you in particular and that was not my intention! The actions of the person you describe, in my opinion, seem not very acceptable. However, honestly, how about my strategy at Spectro? To me it seems reasonable to save space for my immediate family of 4 until closer to parade time. I think though that a lot of people will say no, you all have to wait.
And how does one determine how many you can save space for? My girlfiend is going next spring, she has 6 kids.
In the end, I'll save space with a beach towel if I can do so without causing a scene. My family always arrives well before the parade anyway. ANd for the record, I really don't mind if other people do the same. I'd rather see happy kids on rides, than whiny kids sitting waiting.
(I am not implying here that anyone else does feel this way)