Kids on shoulders for shows? ARGH! What's the answer though?

[OregonMickeyLover]

Now I certainly don't want to start something, but after learning about standing for WOC, and reading about kids on shoulders, I don't know why people would do this. I understand wanting your child to see, but why not hold them in your arms so that their head is at the same height as yours, and not blocking others? Of course, if you have a child who is 4yo and older, you can't hold them comfortably, so what is the answer? Is there a reason they are not having people sit for WOC like they do for Fantasmic? I have a tall
9yo DD, but if she gets behind a tall person, she won't be able to see either. There are even adults who are on the shorter side, and would have trouble seeing. Again, I really am not trying to upset anyone. We are going to do the WOC and dinner, with the hope of getting in a good section, but there still is the potential to be blocked I guess. So I will ask again, why don't they have people sit for WOC? I haven't been so I don't know the actual layout other than by seeing pictures, but there must be a reason.

Is it okay to ask someone in front of you who has a child on their shoulders, to either hold them or scoot a few inches? What are your thoughts? I don't know how comfortable I would be doing this, but I guess if it meant my DD could see better than I might try. Please give me some insight!

 

[charmama4]

I have respectfully asked people (adults) in front of me if my 7 and 10 yo's could stand in front of them and they were very accomodating. We were about 4 people away from the railing. I figured they (the people I asked) and my kids were ALL able to see. I would do the same for another parent of smaller children, if they respectfully asked me.

To address your last question: I would NOT have a problem to ask a parent (in front of my children) if they could hold them on their hip or move. I think it's disrespectful for the people behind them.

 

[mrswh]

Well, the answer to this (second best to the whole world being courteous which will never happen) is to get there early and camp out at a spot along the railing. If someone does stand right in front of you or has a kid on their shoulders, I don't think it's at all rude to ask if they can scooch over, or if you can stand in front of them. My DH is 6'4" and there is no need for him to stand right at the railing, so he'll let shorter people in front of him and hold DS on his shoulders behind the others . . . but I guess not everyone understands common courtesy! Perhaps you just need to kindly remind them.

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Thanks ladies for your replies! I think you both mentioned people in general just needing to be courteous, and I would certainly expect my 6'4 DH to accommodate a kiddo who couldn't see, and I can only hope that someone would do the same for my DD. Sometimes I'm amazed with how someone can be so unaware of how their actions are affecting others, such as the kid on shoulders. We would never do that unless we were in the very back with nobody behind us. And if you have kiddos who you are worried about being able to see, then plan like the rest of us to get in line early enough to get a good seat.

So why is WOC a standing only show, unlike Fantasmic?

Thanks,

Traci

 

[lapdwife]

I think we've all had it happen and it's so annoying! It is actually against Disney policy for anyone to be on shoulders for obvious reasons of safety. I do usually say rather loudly to my little guy that it's ok, squeeze through you're shorter than anyone else and usually someone gets the hint.

 

[dsny1mom]

Thanks ladies for your replies! I think you both mentioned people in general just needing to be courteous, and I would certainly expect my 6'4 DH to accommodate a kiddo who couldn't see, and I can only hope that someone would do the same for my DD. Sometimes I'm amazed with how someone can be so unaware of how their actions are affecting others, such as the kid on shoulders. We would never do that unless we were in the very back with nobody behind us. And if you have kiddos who you are worried about being able to see, then plan like the rest of us to get in line early enough to get a good seat.

So why is WOC a standing only show, unlike Fantasmic?

Thanks,

Traci

I totally agree with you about children on shoulders should only be allowed at the back of the area, but sadly this is not a rule for WoC. My understanding is that shoulder sitting is allowed at WoC and if your view is blocked you need to move, not the adult with the child on the shoulders.

I believe the reason it is standing only is they can fit more people in the viewing area standing vs sitting.

dsny1mom

 

[sonnyjane]

So why is WOC a standing only show, unlike Fantasmic?

Thanks,

Traci

Fantasmic! at Disneyland is not exactly a seated show either. The only seating available in chairs is through the dessert package ($59 pp). People that stake out a spot about three hours in advance can sit on the ground on the steps in the front area nearest to the water. Behind them, the rest of the guests viewing Fantasmic! must also stand.

 

[donaldstemper]

I don't want to be flamed, but by way of explanation, it is way easier to keep my girls on my shoulders for a length of time than to hold them on my hip or in my arms - I have pretty decent arm muscles for a mama, but even mine only go so far, putting a kid on your shoulders means that the weight is distributed more over your body than just on your arms.

We're going for the first time, so I don't know how long WOC is, but if it's more than 20 minutes, my arms would be screaming from holding my super petite 4 yr old.

ETA: I don't know about others, but she is so little, I'd be afraid to let her squeeze in front of someone else and be out of my sight. Maybe there is no good answer.

 

[the donut]

I just did WOC and held my daughter on my back, piggy back style. That put her head just around my head height for the show, and for me, is easier than holding her in my arms. It helped that we were in the blue wet zone and even though we showed up about 10 minutes before the show started, we were only a few rows of people back.

 

[donaldstemper]

Piggy back might work. Is there enough room to shift a kid parent to parent to share the burden?

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

I absolutely agree that trying to hold a child for 25 min. on your hip is really hard, and so shoulders would be easier. I guess what I am thinking is, if you know you are going to have your kid on your shoulders, then it would be courteous to stand in the back, rather than block others.

I also understand not wanting a young child standing in front of someone you don't know, and being out of your sight. Also, you want to experience it with your child, and that is hard to do when they are not with you. I enjoy seeing my DD face light up when she sees something magical, and I don't want to miss those moments.

It seems that by having people stand rather than sit, they are able to fit more people in, so that is why it is standing. Again, not sure what the answer is. Just be respectful and courteous, and hopefully you are given it in return. I can say that the more I think about it, if someone in front of us has a child on their shoulders, I would feel comfortable kindly asking them to either scooch over or hold them differently.

I am glad we will be doing the Preferred Seating/Dinner, but it almost makes me more invested in our view because we will be spending extra to get it. Thanks for the input from everyone!

Traci

 

[the donut]

Piggy back might work. Is there enough room to shift a kid parent to parent to share the burden?

There was room that night since we showed up so late. We were essentially in the last row of people. In general, it didn't seem all that packed that night so there was a good amount of space.

 

[DahliaRW]

When we went we were right behind people who were at the railing. They were nice enough to let our boys stand in front of them since it would in no way obstruct their view.

 

[minnieandmickey]

as large as WOC is I don't understand why people can't just remain sitting or better yet came up with a seating arena like WDW fantasmic

 

[dsny1mom]

as large as WOC is I don't understand why people can't just remain sitting or better yet came up with a seating arena like WDW fantasmic

Bottom line is they only had so much space they were willing to devote to the viewing area and they wanted a *park like* look to it during non WoC times. A big old stadium or even stadium seating would not have blended well with the park. They can pack many more people in standing than sitting. Not to mention some people tend to spread out when seated and take up way more room than they actually need. It happens at F! all the time.

dsmy1mom

 

[DizNee Luver]

We've done the dining package a few times & even during the busy summer months, the area never was filled up. One option is to just stay at the back of the viewing area......almost everyone will move forward once the show starts to see.....but the view from the back is pretty good & you won't have tons of tall people blocking.......just a suggestion!!! (besides there are stairs that lead down into the viewing areas, so you could always stand on them)

 

[Mama Who]

I am glad we will be doing the Preferred Seating/Dinner, but it almost makes me more invested in our view because we will be spending extra to get it. Thanks for the input from everyone!

Traci

You do know that doesn't include seating of any sort, right? Preferred VIEWING does not involve seating, just a better viewing area. There's a great WOC superthread that you may want to check out.

 

[charmama4]

You do know that doesn't include seating of any sort, right? Preferred VIEWING does not involve seating, just a better viewing area. There's a great WOC superthread that you may want to check out.

My (very) pregnant friend asked if she could sit in a chair and the CM said sure. This was during Spring Break and I am assuming that she was near the Preferred viewing area. I was very surprised because I thought those seats (that I saw back in Feb. 2011) was ONLY for those with ressies. More power to her

 

[sonnyjane]

My (very) pregnant friend asked if she could sit in a chair and the CM said sure. This was during Spring Break and I am assuming that she was near the Preferred viewing area. I was very surprised because I thought those seats (that I saw back in Feb. 2011) was ONLY for those with ressies. More power to her

There are still definitely not seats for those that made preferred dining reservations. Your friend may have been able to use seating that is available for those with GAC cards due to medical limitations keeping them from standing for the show. There are a few seats/benches for those people that need them for those reasons in each section, so that may be where the CM directed her.

 

[OregonMickeyLover]

Mama, yes I know we are not being given seats with the dinner package, and it's a good thing since everyone stands. I'm just saying that if I am paying for a priority viewing area, I would like to be able to see the show. This is a non-issue if people are just respectful and either hold their child on their hip or piggy back, rather than on their shoulders. This makes an average height adult another two feet taller.

Traci