MSEP to end Oct. 9 - Parade moves to Disneyland for a "limited time"

[mom2rtk]

See my post above yours. I sent a heartfelt email and was hoping for more than a canned response by a poor young woman who was nervously reading off the script and stumbling over her words. When she said "there are many exciting new things at the Magic Kingdom. let me take you through them" and told me about princess elena she lost me. Would it be appropriate to write a complaint about their complaint response?

Maybe just this once.

 

[Iowamomof4]

I just wanted to check in again because I wrote an email to wdw guest services expressing my disappointment. Someone called today. She sounded like she was on her first day of the job, stumbling over her words and I wasn't about to hassle someone like that. First she read to me from the script that @yulilin3 posted, assuring me how much the parade would be enjoyed by those in Disneyland. Then she said she wanted to take me through all of the exciting new things at the Magic Kingdom. Apparently my 8 year old son should be mollified about the loss of the MSEP by the fact that Princess Elena is arriving at the MK. So there you have it, for everyone wondering about what WDW is going to get in it's place. Princess Elena. I'm not even sure who the heck that is and I'm certain that my son, who won't set foot in CRT castle for all of the gold in the kingdom would know either (believe me, I tried. "please, mom, no princesses!" But I'm glad that Disney took the time to tell me about it!

Wow. Of course she was stumbling over her words, I'm sure it's hard to keep a straight face when you completely agree with the consumer but still have to say what corporate is directing you to say.

 

[GaryDis]

For what it's worth, a quick trip to Reddit's Disneyland forum turned up quite a few DLR fans who are thrilled about the change.

 

[GaryDis]

According to the My Disney Experience update on the MSEP page, it seems the parade is going away for good:

"Don’t miss this cherished Disney experience as it bids adieu to Walt Disney World Resort on October 9, 2016! This fall, the Main Street Electrical Parade will wave goodbye to Magic Kingdom park before making its way to the Disneyland Resort in Southern California. Be part of the magic—and the nostalgia too—as this long-running Disney Parks staple gives a closing bow on select nights throughout the season."

I don't read anything in that implying it's for good. There may be no plans for its return, but that's not the same thing.

 

[mom2rtk]

For what it's worth, a quick trip to Reddit's Disneyland forum turned up quite a few DLR fans who are thrilled about the change.

That doesn't surprise me. A lot of DL guests have APs and visit the parks quite often. They might have seen PTN a lot already over the past year and are ready to change to something else. We have only seen it once so have our fingers crossed that we'll get another chance in November.

We have seen MSEP many times, in both DCA and MK, so don't feel as strongly about it.

 

[Nanajo1]

i was looking forward to the ELP during my Feb vacation. What is the prevailing thought on a replacement? I still miss the EPCOT parade Tapestry of Dreams. They never replaced it.

 

[DisneyGuy]

I'm fine with it being taken away - but NOT fine with the possibility of NO electrical parade in the Magic Kingdom at all - ever? what kind of (Disney) World do we live in where the Magic Kingdom wouldn't have an electrical parade? It's the only place I know of that ever had one and I always looked forward to it - whether it was Spectromagic or MSEP.

Hopefully we get a new parade - or at leasts CA's Paint the Night!

 

[whiporee]

We always sat at the same spot on our newly purchased emporium beach towels to watch the parade.

I'm not criticizing you in any way, but you do understand that's part of the problem, right? By definition, in the times before this parade, it's dark. There are limited walkways in the hub and the parade route. And they have people sitting down on curbs and claiming spots hours before the parade begins. It's dangerous and it's a crowd mitigation nightmare, especially when you factor in long days, scooters and strollers and language barriers. And you have to factor in phones and tablets and everyone recording everything and the fights that come from that when thousands of people find themselves crammed into limited spaces.

I'm not trying to defend them for the decision, but I can understand it if they decide to get rid of the dark parades. I was there last week and it was a nightmare just trying to walk 100 yards immediately before, during and after the parade. And that time of year, when there's not a lot of gap between the parade and Wishes, I can see people claiming spots and not moving, clogging it up even further.

 

[Number Six]

I'm not criticizing you in any way, but you do understand that's part of the problem, right? By definition, in the times before this parade, it's dark. There are limited walkways in the hub and the parade route. And they have people sitting down on curbs and claiming spots hours before the parade begins. It's dangerous and it's a crowd mitigation nightmare, especially when you factor in long days, scooters and strollers and language barriers. And you have to factor in phones and tablets and everyone recording everything and the fights that come from that when thousands of people find themselves crammed into limited spaces.

I'm not trying to defend them for the decision, but I can understand it if they decide to get rid of the dark parades. I was there last week and it was a nightmare just trying to walk 100 yards immediately before, during and after the parade. And that time of year, when there's not a lot of gap between the parade and Wishes, I can see people claiming spots and not moving, clogging it up even further.

All the other Disney resorts have night parades and people staking spots hours in advance. Why is this a problem in Orlando?

 

[Jennasis]

I'm not criticizing you in any way, but you do understand that's part of the problem, right? By definition, in the times before this parade, it's dark. There are limited walkways in the hub and the parade route. And they have people sitting down on curbs and claiming spots hours before the parade begins. It's dangerous and it's a crowd mitigation nightmare, especially when you factor in long days, scooters and strollers and language barriers. And you have to factor in phones and tablets and everyone recording everything and the fights that come from that when thousands of people find themselves crammed into limited spaces.

I'm not trying to defend them for the decision, but I can understand it if they decide to get rid of the dark parades. I was there last week and it was a nightmare just trying to walk 100 yards immediately before, during and after the parade. And that time of year, when there's not a lot of gap between the parade and Wishes, I can see people claiming spots and not moving, clogging it up even further.

There is absolutely NO WAY any of that factored in to this decision. I've got a tasty looking hat right here that I will happily eat if Disney ever cops to that as a reason.

 

[DisneyGuy]

I just wanted to check in again because I wrote an email to wdw guest services expressing my disappointment. Someone called today. She sounded like she was on her first day of the job, stumbling over her words and I wasn't about to hassle someone like that. First she read to me from the script that @yulilin3 posted, assuring me how much the parade would be enjoyed by those in Disneyland. Then she said she wanted to take me through all of the exciting new things at the Magic Kingdom. Apparently my 8 year old son should be mollified about the loss of the MSEP by the fact that Princess Elena is arriving at the MK. So there you have it, for everyone wondering about what WDW is going to get in it's place. Princess Elena. I'm not even sure who the heck that is and I'm certain that my son, who won't set foot in CRT castle for all of the gold in the kingdom would know either (believe me, I tried. "please, mom, no princesses!" But I'm glad that Disney took the time to tell me about it!

Wait, you were assured how much the parade would be enjoyed in Disneyland? Seriously? Sorry, but who cares if it's enjoyed in another park?? - you are paying to go to WDW, DL nor it's visitors were your concern. Am I the only one who finds that statement crazy? Not that I'm not happy that people will enjoy it elsewhere, but the bottom line and the purpose of the complaint was that it was being taken away with nothing in it's place - right? and Princess Elena - who? exciting, to say the least.

 

[ArwenMarie]

How is the parade more dangerous than people waiting around for Wishes?
I think the staff handles the crowds well

 

[mom2rtk]

Wait, you were assured how much the parade would be enjoyed in Disneyland? Seriously? Sorry, but who cares if it's enjoyed in another park?? - you are paying to go to WDW, DL nor it's visitors were your concern. Am I the only one who finds that statement crazy? Not that I'm not happy that people will enjoy it elsewhere, but the bottom line and the purpose of the complaint was that it was being taken away with nothing in it's place - right? and Princess Elena - who? exciting, to say the least.

I agree that's totally nuts. And it would really hack me off to have that put out there to "make me feel better".

 

[adelaster]

Does anyone know why it isn't showing on Tuesday, August 30th? We were really hoping to get to see it for the first time.

The website says it is not showing on the following Halloween party dates, but does not explain why there aren't times on the other dates:


September 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25, 29, 30, 2016
October 2, 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 30 and 31, 2016

 

[RachaelA]

Wait they are really having CMs say that the people at DL will enjoy it a lot?

Why do we care? I'm not going to DL. That has to be the most ridiculous response I've heard so far about this.

 

[whiporee]

How is the parade more dangerous than people waiting around for Wishes?
I think the staff handles the crowds well

Wishes has the whole street to work with, and the fireworks are visible from more areas of the park. I haven't been to the other parks, but I'm pretty sure they see fewer people on a daily basis. The newer ones were built later -- my guess is they have more room and more egresses. As for DLR, I don't know. But I've also read that spot-saving is a different mentality there than at WDW. But I could be wrong.

There is absolutely NO WAY any of that factored in to this decision. I've got a tasty looking hat right here that I will happily eat if Disney ever cops to that as a reason.

As adamant as you are, that's how sure I am it's not a cost issue. That parade costs nearly nothing to run, not when compared to the park's overall operating budget. I could be wrong about the safety/congestion issue, but I'm as sure as you are that cost had little to nothing to do with this decision.

 

[Davey Jones II]

I still think it was an operational test for whatever is coming next. When the next parade starts it will hit high demand from day 1, so they won't be able to test it then.

There is no "next parade". Why are people talking as if Disney has a wonderful, exciting surprise in store for us? People, they surprised us already, by yanking MSEP out of WDW. PTN is the only next gen parade, and it's staying on the West Coast. WDW guests got the shaft, end of story.

 

[brb1006]

I hope they change the drum float back into "Main Street Electrical Parade" when it returns to Disneyland.

 

[Nancyg56]

See my post above yours. I sent a heartfelt email and was hoping for more than a canned response by a poor young woman who was nervously reading off the script and stumbling over her words. When she said "there are many exciting new things at the Magic Kingdom. let me take you through them" and told me about princess elena she lost me. Would it be appropriate to write a complaint about their complaint response?

LOL! Just when you think they can't foul something up more.....

 

[goofyintoronto]

wow....I am bummed because I am missing it by 15 days, 3 days would have REALLY kill me!

Yup. It really sucks.