Just not worth it!

[*Fantasia*]

People, people, aren't we here for the kids?

If the sad eyes of an 8 year old, blocked behind a redneck, Teletubbie or yuppie doesn't motivate them to step aside a little, then, what have we become?

Is it really this bad, even in a Magic Kingdom?

Say it isn't so...

It is so unfortunately. It doesn't matter where you are, some people are just rude, inconsiderate, selfish and straight out nasty and it even happens at the most happiest place on earth.

 

[AwfullyBigAdventures]

I'm completely flabbergasted reading this thread. I had no ideas parades were that bad. I've only been to WDW once and went to the parade at MK, AK and DS- great spots for all three. I had no idea that was a rare thing, but from the sound of it, it was!

For the parade at Magic Kingdom, we sat right across from the castle about 40 minutes before the parade started. By the 5-10 minute mark, more people were filling in and no one sat in front of us, but they were pressing in a bit on both sides so I was feeling a little I should be on first name basis with some of these people...
Right before it stated I looked around and saw there was a boy about 4 sitting right behind me and since I'm tall, I knew he wouldn't be able to see. I asked his mom if he and I could trade spots and he got a great front row spot by my kids and I watched the parade with his parents.
Since we were on the front, we stayed sitting through the whole thing so we didn't block anyone else.

For the parade in DS, we were near the hat and noticed people were sitting down on the ground- I had no idea what for, but my daughter was tired so we sat down too in case it was a parade. Again front row spots for us, however, that one filled in so much I felt cramped. No one tried to move in front of us though.

Finally, for the AK parade, we were very late getting a spot and it was pretty full so we almost gave up and then a saw a small cafe that had some open tables. I was about to grab a table and buy some food so we could sit there when I noticed that NO ONE was sitting in the area next to the cafe. So we plopped down and had more than enough room.

So from my experience, the parades were great! My kids got lots of high fives from the performers, and they loved that.

BUT if I went through what some of you had, I'd give up on parades too. That's just crazy!

 

[Peachkins]

Sorry but having a hard time with so many posters saying they give up watching because they are being bullied by other adults and baby strollers. Why are you just taking it ?

Heh. Who says we're taking it? Although I had plenty of people try, no one managed to shove us out of our spots. I have a great evil eye.

 

[Poohcandi]

On a positive note.... Our 1st visit to Disneyland, we were clueless. We were trying to find somewhere for our family of 7 to sit about 30 min before fantasmic was to start
Anyway, a nice couple noted our obvious cluelessness... And offered to share their waterfront blanket seating! We had an excellent view and a place to sit. I will never forget that Disney experience.

 

[Art 1]

We will no longer sit on the curb for an hour for the parades and fight hoards of last minute arrivers who push and step on our heads and squeeze on top of us. We will just watch from a distance. Just not worth it.

I've been saying that for a long time. We never wait ahead to watch parades and always see them just fine, many times better than those who wait for an hour or so. I feel bad for those who stake out a viewing area long in advance.

 

[tndisneyfan]

I never thought the parades were worth it. I just can't deal with sitting on a curb for an hour or more to watch a a 10-15 minute parade. When we do the MNSSHP we always watch that parade but it's not quite as hard to get a curb for that one.

 

[Dano1182]

Adults who INTENTIONALY prevent SMALL children from watching a parade need to reconcider their priorities.

Many children really believe they are seeing Cinderella or what ever CARTOON is their favorite.

I am not condoning steppping over,walking or otherwise interfering with people who have waited for a spot.

I am merely saying that these parades are for children.And for a adult to intentionaly block a kid is not the right thing to do.

 

[mom2rtk]

Adults who INTENTIONALY prevent SMALL children from watching a parade need to reconcider their priorities.

Many children really believe they are seeing Cinderella or what ever CARTOON is their favorite.

I am not condoning steppping over,walking or otherwise interfering with people who have waited for a spot.

I am merely saying that these parades are for children.And for a adult to intentionaly block a kid is not the right thing to do.

Let me rephrase that for you:

Parents who intentionally prevent their small children from seeing a parade by not showing up until the last minute should reconsider their priorities.

 

[redrosesix]

In my experience, you're right... most situations can be handled politely & easily. I find that most people are simply confused first-timers who aren't trying to be rude, but don't understand that others have sacrificed large amounts of time sitting on a curb to guarantee their spot.

We've seen 2 really ugly incidents in our last 2 trips though.

Last Oct, this guy, his wife & DD stopped right in front of others who had been waiting for Wishes in front of the castle in the Hub area & just squeezed themselves in front. CM's were trying to keep people moving through the hub & then the dad who was already about 7 ft tall, put his DD on his shoulders. To see fireworks. In the sky. People starting loudly asking him to be more considerate & he got immediately irate, foul-mouthed, aggressive & was obviously used to just bullying others to get his way. The CM came over, told him that they were not even IN an area to view fireworks because they were standing in the walkway & to please be considerate to those who had been waiting but the dad just continued his rant louder. There were SO many people trying to get through & the CM's just didn't have the manpower to deal with this one idiot and keep the crowd moving so he got his way. Plus the CM was an elderly gentleman who I am sure didn't feel comfortable getting into it with this aggressive guy & it was only minutes from the fireworks start.

In Dec we tried to take that little path behind Liberty Square that runs down to the boardwalk taking you from there to Thunder/Splash to get through the area while the parade was still going.... it was shoulder-to-shoulder with people & strollers & I mean bad enough that once we got so far in, we could not get out the other side, yet people were still trying to push through. It reminded me of a mosh-pit, no joke. One dad was furious & kept insisting that another lady move her stroller NOW so they could get through & she was like... Um.... WHERE? She was blocked on all sides & tried to politely explain but he LOST it & started screaming at her, again dropping F-bombs everywhere. Eventually he & the mom LIFTED the double stroller, with 2 kids inside, over the heads of everyone there & made their way to the queue area for the Riverboat (it was closed already) & exited through their entrance instead.

I don't think a lot of people understand how large the fireworks/parade crowds can be & it's overwhleming to be caught up in the middle of it if you aren't prepared. And if you're claustrophobic, forget it!

lol f-bombs -- such a great way to put it

I think you're right about the inexperienced travelers and the large crowds -- most people are rarely in a crowd like that in a theme park.

Too many people are so wrapped up in themselves that they forget that they might be ruining the experience for others, and that's a shame, especially when there's kids involved.

Totally agree with this.

We won't do the parades anymore -- they're not worth the effort -- except for AK...if we happen to be there when it is happening, but we won't adjust our schedule to be there when it is happening. The night parades in MK are decent and because they are lit you can see them from a good distance away, so much less jostling with the crowds.

Same with the fireworks -- just not worth the trouble -- our limit is one Wishes, one Spectromagic (or whatever they call it this year) and maybe one other fireworks show. Maybe. We're actually more interested in strategically getting around the crowds to where we want to be.

But we do happen to always be there when the parks are crowded. This makes a huge difference in how much you'll enjoy any of these events.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

Let me rephrase that for you:

Parents who intentionally prevent their small children from seeing a parade by not showing up until the last minute should reconsider their priorities.

Thing is you can usually tell who is inexperienced or running late compared to the people who EXPECT their front spot to be there! I can always find a little space for a little one of the first kind !

 

[Jacquie668]

What I remember of the MK parade last time I was there:

1. There were a lot of people, we were shoulder to shoulder.
2. People were pushing each other to see the parade and pushing kids out of the way (Which I did see with my own eyes).
3. You could not easily get out of the crowd so you were stuck where you were.
4. We could not get to the curb, we stood back while people fought for curb space and yeah, there were some tempers flying near the curb area.
5. Our group stood our ground and grouped up with a father from the UK who was separated from his wife and kid because of people who rushed forward when the parade started.
6. It was loud, had lights, and yeah it was fun, but as I chatted with our new UK friends we decided it wasn't worth the fuss.
7. We even helped the father find his wife and kid after things calmed down.

Epcot we saw the show from a bit of a distance and personally, I was fine with that. I also am not a fan of fireworks, so seeing them from a distance is fine. It isn't worth it to me, been there done that.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thing is you can usually tell who is inexperienced or running late compared to the people who EXPECT their front spot to be there! I can always find a little space for a little one of the first kind !

Agreed. I gave my curbside spot to a mom and her 2 little kids at MSEP one night when I wanted to step back and take my photos standing. It was awesome to see the looks on their faces sitting there in their curbside seats. She didn't expect or ask for it, and was it gratifying to just give it to her. I wish I had asked to take their photo as they watched.

 

[aaarcher86]

What I remember of the MK parade last time I was there:

1. There were a lot of people, we were shoulder to shoulder.
2. People were pushing each other to see the parade and pushing kids out of the way (Which I did see with my own eyes).
3. You could not easily get out of the crowd so you were stuck where you were.
4. We could not get to the curb, we stood back while people fought for curb space and yeah, there were some tempers flying near the curb area.
5. Our group stood our ground and grouped up with a father from the UK who was separated from his wife and kid because of people who rushed forward when the parade started.
6. It was loud, had lights, and yeah it was fun, but as I chatted with our new UK friends we decided it wasn't worth the fuss.
7. We even helped the father find his wife and kid after things calmed down.

Epcot we saw the show from a bit of a distance and personally, I was fine with that. I also am not a fan of fireworks, so seeing them from a distance is fine. It isn't worth it to me, been there done that.

I haven't experienced anything like this thus far... but omg, if someone puts their hand on my child with a pinch of force then we'll be boxing.

I've heard I always look really angry if I'm not smiling and chipper. Maybe that wards people off

 

[SanFranciscan]

Thing is you can usually tell who is inexperienced or running late compared to the people who EXPECT their front spot to be there! I can always find a little space for a little one of the first kind !

I agree. While there are adults who just hate pretty much all children and will tell you so, the real squabbles at parades etc. aren't between adults and children. It is between adults, who may themselves have children, and the parents who use their children to get what they want and who often show less maturity than their children. I have watched little ones act very embarassed by their parents' conduct because they probably were.