Lining up blankets?

[PRINCESS VIJA]

On a few other threads, people have made mention of saving places for Fantasmic with blankets.

1. How does that work?
2. What time do people start putting them down?
3. Where is the best place to put one if you are there first? (Please be specific, We've never been so I can't even visualize where exactly people go for this).
4. Is this a sitting area only, or do you stand?
5. Are there "rules" about putting them down?
6. Do the CM's move them?
7. What time should you return to your blanket?
8. How big are the blankets?
9. Would a CM show you where to put them, or is this an "unwritten" thing people do
10. Do other guests move them?
11. How often do you check that your spot is still "reserved"

 

[Disney Dreams]

1. People put them down on the ground and leave.
2. Varies. Truly.
3. Down by the riverfront, dead center of the island.
4. Sitting only.
5. No rules. It's not really something suggested, it's more something guests give a shot.
6. If it is realized it is there for reserving, CMs won't take them to lost and found. Other guests, however... that's a different topic.
7. LOL whenever???
8. Varies
9. It's just something some people do. It is rare, but happens.
10. Yes.
11. I would not leave a blanket. In my opinion, it's not cool. People do it. Other people move them. Some people take them. You can imagine where it goes from there.

 

[got2travel]

It's a pet peeve of mine. Leaving blankets and coming back expecting no one to touch them. Same thing with strollers. I feel that if you want a spot that bad, then you need to stay with your stuff.

I've seen blankets set out as early as 6pm for a 9pm show. I actually set out blankets that early and SAT WITH THEM for 3 hours. But that was when I was arranging a huge DIS meet with hundreds of cruisers before the 2008 DCL Panama Canal cruise. Even with several of us sitting there on the blankets, people would walk on them, push them aside, or even sit on them.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Yeah, I wouldn't leave a blanket and walk off either. There is a funny cartoon in the UOG to DL that shows two moms with strollers and blankets and razor wire staking out their spot for Fantasmic.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Sorry, I agree that I think it is in bad form that people think that by leaving their blankets & walking away "reserves" their spot to watch a show/parade, etc.

I wouldn't encourage anyone honoring an abandoned blanket.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Ok, thanks for the replies. I just saw that on a few different threads and wanted to know the details.

 

[dismsn]

It cracks me up that people save their Fastasmic seating with blankets. I don't think I'd take a chance on it although I bet most of the blankets survive.

I live in Olympia, Washington and we have a yearly parade in July. People put their chairs out on WEDNESDAY for the Saturday parade (if you want to put your chairs anywhere other than the Capitol grounds you can put your chairs out earlier). I work on the Capitol Campus and last year I was walking to lunch and some tourists asked me if there was going to be a parade that night (it was Wednesday). I told them the chairs were reserving spots for a SATURDAY parade and they were dumbfounded. They couldn't believe no one took the chairs or moved them. I don't think there are usually problems and found it humorous that Disney visitors are starting to do the same thing--stake a claim early (although not by four days ).

 

[karylrocks]

If I want to save a spot I will put down a blanket (actually I use a disposable tablecloth) the size of the area for my party and I wait with it while my family does other things. I ask them to be back at least 15 minutes before the show starts, otherwise it gets hard to keep other people from moving in on the space. I would never leave it unattended and expect that it would not be moved.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I would never leave it unattended and expect that it would not be moved.

Imo, it's one thing if you're using a blanket or bag to help save some room next to you (if you're waiting for 3+ hours as a group, eventually someone will need to go to the bathroom before the show starts and it's silly to expect that person to give up their spot permanently), but it's another to do a drop and run. This isn't your small town where everyone's going to get a decent spot for the parade and everyone knows what chairs belong to whom (in my town, the chairs and blankets for the 4th of July parade and picnic go down a day or two before). It's a show that hundreds of people want to come and see, people that you have never seen before and will probably never see again. We all have different ideas of manners and what's appropriate and what's not, so to be naive enough to think that everyone's going to be okay with your blanket lying there unattended is asking for it to be taken. You wouldn't leave your backpack lying unattended anywhere in Disneyland and expect for it to be right where you left it 3+ hours earlier, would you?

 

[Albort]

Sorry, I agree that I think it is in bad form that people think that by leaving their blankets & walking away "reserves" their spot to watch a show/parade, etc.

I wouldn't encourage anyone honoring an abandoned blanket.

Not only that, Custodial will come and take it and trash it as it can be a safety issue to the guest. *hint hint*

 

[PlutoFanRJ]

We were in the park last Friday for the big opening of the new Fantasmic and people were out with their blankets at 2:00 for the 9:00 show. At 5:00 CM had the ropes up, to direct traffic. However anyone that went to DCA to see the light parade missed the fireworks and Fantasmic because the parade ran late. The parade was a great way to end our week though.

 

[PinkBudgie]

We were in the park last Friday for the big opening of the new Fantasmic and people were out with their blankets at 2:00 for the 9:00 show. At 5:00 CM had the ropes up, to direct traffic. However anyone that went to DCA to see the light parade missed the fireworks and Fantasmic because the parade ran late. The parade was a great way to end our week though.

I got the feeling from Al Lutz's column that they ran the parade a little late on purpose- to keep the DL shows from getting even more crowded. If they would just keep DCA open later than 9 this summer, that might help. I'd love to have the options to go over there!

 

[blackjackdelta]

It's a pet peeve of mine. Leaving blankets and coming back expecting no one to touch them. Same thing with strollers. I feel that if you want a spot that bad, then you need to stay with your stuff.

I've seen blankets set out as early as 6pm for a 9pm show. I actually set out blankets that early and SAT WITH THEM for 3 hours. But that was when I was arranging a huge DIS meet with hundreds of cruisers before the 2008 DCL Panama Canal cruise. Even with several of us sitting there on the blankets, people would walk on them, push them aside, or even sit on them.

I agree with the above. I would think it would be safety hazzard and the CM's would do something since it does block and congest traffic.

Jack

 

[DisneyIsMagical]

Not only that, Custodial will come and take it and trash it as it can be a safety issue to the guest. *hint hint*