Parade/Fireworks Etiquette

[r&kmommy]

If someone tries to squeeze between us, we squeeze together tighter, pull the stroller in, move our backpack over or whatever we have to do to keep our space "ours". . . I'm sorry, but it's not my fault that someone else didn't plan for time to find a good spot for a parade/fireworks. We did, and we paid just as much as they did for park entry. If there's extra space (dh sometimes will sit w/ us til the show starts then stand up to get pictures or video) then I usually let it go to someone who's trying to find a spot. ETA - I'm not a total b i a t c h . . . if someone asks if their kid can sit with us, and there's enough room, then by all means we'll share. . . but be rude first, without asking, then sorry no dice.

I do NOT tolerate rude pushing forward into our spot. I don't care who's doing it. . . If we were late for a parade/fireworks I would NEVER expect anyone to give up a spot for my kids and I sure as heck wouldn't shove them up and squeeze them into a spot!

 

[Hoopfamily]

I would ask you to remember that disney is at heart for kids...And if you can help someone experience the disney magic by simply sitting down, it would be wonderful. And you do know thatdisney magic works like karma...you make it...then it somehow finds you in return.

Also...the folks who line up the strollers along the parade route then don;t remove them once their party arrives annoy the crap out of me. I find it to be rude and most definately passive aggresive. There are lots of people trying to view...and it does help when everyone is on the same page...And that page is "The Kids are to ones we do all of this for...Not the adults"

Then the kids should get there early.

 

[diberry]

How do you handle this situation when people come up thinking they should be able to get the best possible view at the last minute without giving up any of their attraction time?

I think you handled it perfectly. It IS incredibly annoying to plan ahead of time and wait patiently only for someone to turn up at the last minute and expect to get the best view. It's just plain selfishness and bad manners. I pity the kids who are brought up to think this is acceptable behaviour.
On an amusing note, my grown-up daughter and I were at Disneyland Paris and stood waiting patiently for a l-o-n-g time as we particularly wanted a front row view of a show as that gives you the chance to get a pic with the characters after the show. A woman came up just before it started and pushed her daughter in front of us. When my daughter said we'd been waiting a long time to get these places the woman said:"But you're too old". My daughter was 27 at the time and was not best pleased!
Although my children are grown up now I can't imagine ever allowing them to push in front of others - it's all part of teaching them to respect other people.

If someone tries to squeeze between us, we squeeze together tighter, move our backpack over or whatever we have to do to keep our space "ours". I do NOT tolerate rude pushing forward into our spot.

I love this - we do the same if someone tries to push in. Asking politely is quite a different matter!

 

[Praying Colonel]

Disney is for kids...kids of all ages.

These kinds of situations are why our family doesn't stake out spots for parades or firewords. Too much stress. Plus, we don't wait 90 minutes for, say, Soarin or TSM. we're not going to wait 90 minutes for a parade. If we're going to watch it, we'll just see it wherever we are and get a C+ view of it than wait 90 minutes and then go through the hassle of jockeying for position to get a B+ or A view.

 

[bouncy54]

We've only been to WDW one time and I have mostly wonderful memories of that vacation..except one.

My family staked out a perfect spot in Liberty Square to watch Spectromagic. We were there an hour and a half before the parade started. About 5 minutes before showtime, an entire family, with teenaged boys, ran up and stood right in front of us.

I'm short, so I couldn't see over any of their heads so I asked if they would please sit down since they had taken over our spot. I couldn't believe it when they completely ignored me. I have never met such a rude family in my entire life. I told my own family, who are all much taller than me, to go ahead and watch the parade and I would meet them at the exit to the park. I made a remark about some people not knowing what manners were anymore and walked away. (My family ended up going with me)

The same thing happened to us a couple of years later at DL while waiting for the Christmas Parade. We had been there for nearly 2 hours and this family squeezed in front of us at the very last minute. Now.. my husband is not an aggressive person at all, but you really don't want to push the man. There's a limit to what he'll put up with. When the father of the other family finally turned around & simply grinned at us, my husband pointed to our family and said in a very quiet voice, "We've been standing here for 2 hours saving this spot." He paused for a second then looked directly into this man's eyes and said in a very low, calm voice.. "This ain't gonna happen."

I guess the other man got the message, because he promptly gathered his family and moved along. I've only seen my husband get "protective" over us like that a couple of times during our marriage. Like I said, he is not aggressive at all, but people listen to him when he speaks softly like he did to that other father. Perhaps it has something to do with the whole "male territory" thing.

 

[bouncy54]

For the same reasons, I really don't like when parents hoist their kids up on their shoulders during the fireworks, or up close to the stage for a show. It's usually a tall dad that does this, and that makes the kid a good couple of feet taller than ANYONE else, completely obstructing the view. Hold your kid (heck, I want them to see too!) but PLEASE don't put them on your shoulders!

Another pet peeve of mine.

We were squished in on Main Street to watch the Remember fireworks at DL in 2007. At the time, my grandson was 7 and when the show began, my son lifted Kyle into his arms so he could see. 2 men in front of him lifted their sons onto their shoulders so now my grandson couldn't see. There were people all around us, so my son, who had been taught manners when he was a little boy, just told Kyle he was sorry, but he couldn't do that to the people behind him so poor Kyle didn't get to see much of the fireworks.

I agree with the other posters here who have said the parades and fireworks just aren't worth the stress. We have no plans to watch either during our upcoming trip in November.

 

[mom2rtk]

Another pet peeve of mine.

We were squished in on Main Street to watch the Remember fireworks at DL in 2007. At the time, my grandson was 7 and when the show began, my son lifted Kyle into his arms so he could see. 2 men in front of him lifted their sons onto their shoulders so now my grandson couldn't see. There were people all around us, so my son, who had been taught manners when he was a little boy, just told Kyle he was sorry, but he couldn't do that to the people behind him so poor Kyle didn't get to see much of the fireworks.

I agree with the other posters here who have said the parades and fireworks just aren't worth the stress. We have no plans to watch either during our upcoming trip in November.

I think this is why some people stake out their spots now 90 minutes or more before the event begins. Being in front is about the only way to guarantee a good view. We don't do this often, but sometimes we plan this in as part of our "rest" time in the park..... instead of returning to our resort mid-day.

 

[tlh0726]

Our first trip we staked out spots so that our kids could get a good view only to have people try to squeeze in front.
Believe me, I had no problem then squeezing myself back in front of them with a very loud excuse me and then backing up against them to let my kids back in front of me.
Decided it is not worth the stress or lost time in the park.
When the parade or show time gets close, we just scope out a less crowded area. If the kids can see fine, if not we stay in the back and hoist them up on our shoulders. Not a good view for DH or I but the kids get to see and since we are in the back not blocking others.

 

[dmoore718]

I don't mind when kids stand with us or with my kids and in front of my husband or I. As long as the kids can all see, I'm happy to share space with them. What I can't stand, is when adults come in at the last minute and stand in front of the kids!! That happened to us at the MK parade. My kids were sitting in their strollers and we were not even in a crowded spot on the route and this guy kept stepping in front of the stroller to take pics. He could have just stayed in his spot!! I asked him to move back like 10 times! That was the worst in my opinion.

 

[tlh0726]

I don't mind when kids stand with us or with my kids and in front of my husband or I. As long as the kids can all see, I'm happy to share space with them. What I can't stand, is when adults come in at the last minute and stand in front of the kids!! That happened to us at the MK parade. My kids were sitting in their strollers and we were not even in a crowded spot on the route and this guy kept stepping in front of the stroller to take pics. He could have just stayed in his spot!! I asked him to move back like 10 times! That was the worst in my opinion.

Normally we will park our stroller out to the way and stand at the parades or show so we do not take up as much space. When we do let the kids in the stroller (double width) DH will stand at one side and I at the other just slightly behind the kids heads so that they can get a little more view than directly in front of them. If someone comes up and tries to invade the space DH and I will move forward and invade there space until they shift away.

Did not mention in the previous posting, Have no problems stepping back and letting kids in front of either DH or I. If the kid(s) are pushing thier way through I ask them Are you lost and looking for your parents? We'll help you find them! Normally it stops them in thier tracks or send them running back to thier parents.

 

[psac]

Agree with those who say it's just not worth it. On my first trip in 2003, we staked out a perfect spot on main street over an hour in advance for Spectromagic. Right as the parade was about to start, a whole family pushed in front, apparently not speaking any English to ignore our protests. (Whether they did or not is another story.) We just decided there it wasn't worth it to see the parade, so now we try to do character meals to see some characters, and alternate fireworks means (California Grill balcony, out on the property at the Grand Floridian) to see those instead of at the parks.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I'm pretty short (5'4") and would have no problem telling a parent that they couldn't have the spot I had staked out. Life is not all about your kids, sorry.

 

[BLTLDZ]

I would ask you to remember that disney is at heart for kids...And if you can help someone experience the disney magic by simply sitting down, it would be wonderful. And you do know thatdisney magic works like karma...you make it...then it somehow finds you in return.

Also...the folks who line up the strollers along the parade route then don;t remove them once their party arrives annoy the crap out of me. I find it to be rude and most definately passive aggresive. There are lots of people trying to view...and it does help when everyone is on the same page...And that page is "The Kids are to ones we do all of this for...Not the adults"

Hmmm...interesting....We go to disney WITHOUT children, and quite frankly, I get more excited then a lot of children would over parades/fireworks.

Having said that, I am a very respectful & kind person, but I get extremely annoyed when this gets done to me, especially as the OP stated, getting there an hour or so before to stake out a good spot. (Happened to me last year while viewing Illuminations, and I was livid )
Now, don't get me wrong, if there was a child behind me that could not see, and was visibly upset about it, I would surely move over for them. But people don't need to be rude about it, as they often are.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

While this has not happened to me at WDW (yet), we had the eact same thing happen to us last weekend at the Toronto Zoo.

My three kids and I are zoo regulars, so we know exactly where to stand at the polar bear's underwater viewing area to get the best view of their lunch feeding. We stood there for about 10 minutes before the feeding, and wouldn't you know it, as soon as the first fish hit the water, tons of people zoom downstairs and try their best to push in front of us.

One family was particularly keen on being up front, and sent their 4 year old straight through my kids where he promptly stood right in front of them at the window. I politely said "Excuse me, we were here first". The father replied "He's only four, he's not hurting anyone." I politely replied, "He may be only four, but he's old enough to be taught proper manners. We were here first, and we should have the unobstructed view. Come downstairs earlier next time."

He grabbed his child in a tiff and they left. I'm sorry, but viewing is first come, first serve. I should be made to look like the bad guy because of another family's rudeness and inability to plan ahead.

 

[BLTLDZ]

With all due respect, my husband and I are a childless couple and therefore the kids are not the ones we do all this for. We go to Disney regularly because we are kids at heart who found each other a little later in life and found our Disney passion at about the same time. We pay the same amount to get into the park as everyone else and therefore are welcome to enjoy all of the entertainment, including parades and fireworks. We do stake out space early for certain parades and fireworks shows because we love them and want a good view (giving up attraction or ride time to do so). Anyone else could make the same commitment if they want that same view.

Now, out of common sense, if I'm standing and a parent nicely asks if their child who is shorter than me can stand or sit in front of me, I always agree. If someone demands it, citing the oft quoted "Disney is for the kids", I'm less likely to oblige. And if I'm already sitting at the front edge of the rope/banister/etc, then it's likely their child can stand behind me and still see.

To toss out a different quote, "Poor planning on your part does not constitute and emergency on mine." Editted from how I usually say it for these family friendly boards. It's a life lesson kids might as well learn as early as possible (and many adults could stand the reminder).

I love you for posting this, and could not agree more!!

 

[kcormier]

My husband and I do not have kids, but we enjoy Disney World for all it is worth, and that includes parades and fireworks. We go through great lengths to find places to watch parades and fireworks hours ahead of time and it is so frustrating when families come at the last minute and try to squeeze themselves and their kids right up front. We have paid the same park admission as them, we have spent probably more time on our feet all day as them - so just because we are adults, I do not feel that we have to move for anyone else - child or adult. It is the classic - first come first serve. I do my part by "sitting down in the front" so that they can see in the back - so why don't they just appreciate that they are seeing the parade or fireworks at all since they are arriving so much later? Just because they are in Disney World doesn't mean that late arriving children take priority. They should instead teach their children that if you want something - you have to plan ahead, sacrifice some other things, and wait for what you want...not to push and shove to the front of the line.

 

[Commando2319]

I always try to bring a small blanket into the parks. Usually, it is my kids blanket to snuggle in their stroller and take naps.

This way, I get to the parade/fireworks early and lay out the blanket to "save" my spot. I find people often get a little rude and encroach on your obvious space, but see that blanket as a barrier and rarely cross it. It is a great way to ensure your comfort and easily allow members to run to the restroom before the show without worrying about losing your hard earned spot.

 

[Disney Dad Canada]

Too bad tasers aren't allowed in the park.

 

[mom2rtk]

I always try to bring a small blanket into the parks. Usually, it is my kids blanket to snuggle in their stroller and take naps.

This way, I get to the parade/fireworks early and lay out the blanket to "save" my spot. I find people often get a little rude and encroach on your obvious space, but see that blanket as a barrier and rarely cross it. It is a great way to ensure your comfort and easily allow members to run to the restroom before the show without worrying about losing your hard earned spot.

Or better yet.... buy a towel when you get off Splash Mountain dripping wet earlier in the day!

I see no problem at all with letting children in front. Not because their enjoyment is more important than an adults.... but simply because they will not obstruct the view of the people behind them.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I didn't read all the responses after the first page...it kinda got me riled up!! I think if the kids are small, let 'em up there to look,,, I have done it, and had others do it for my kids. Part of the Disney magic,right? But, if I have sat there for an hour or more, I would be TICKED if I had to listen to someone mouth off the whole time!! How rude and tacky! I have dealt with that before at places like the movies...it is true that in America people are getting more and more selfish and teaching it to their kids!! It's the attitude that rankles!!! People feel for some reason the world owes them and their children whatever they want--regardless of you or your feelings....it shouldn't be tolerated. And I think most of us put up with more crap like this than we should just so we can avoid a scene...or not looking like 'them' in front of our own kids! I have seen this a time or two at Disney, but not often...and usually it is not people with smaller kids...I think most families are just happy to be there....Surprisingly for me, the most rude encounters I have faced have been people who are grandparents, or that age. I had one lady jump ALL OVER ME at the security line! She didn't get that if you don't have bags you can go on thru---dh and 2 kids had went on and I just popped open my bag and was flagged thru,, she was still trying to zip bags and move a stroller (she was with her daughter and gkid in a stroller) so I moved past her...she shoved past me and started screaming that I 'was NOT' gonna line cut and did I not know how to stand in a line or what? Like we are all suppose to wait for her family to readjust her stroller and multiple bags! It was really weird...I thought I was gonna blow up! And wouldn't you know I ran into her later(Epcot) in that big ole place and she made a smarty face at me!!! Can you believe it? After that I decided Disney or not, I am not gonna let people who are ignorant of rules/lines whatever, ruin my day. I got a tremendous headache and had to deal with it all day from her.
As far as the comments that Disney is just for kids, or whatever...yes, to an extent it is special for kids. I totally agree and am soooo thankful when a nice person does something unexpected or kind for me and my family...we do it when we can too...but to act like an adult is not as important, or it may not mean as much as if they were a child is wrong! If I had not gotten to go to Disney until later in life, I would want to enjoy it as much as a kid on their first trip....Kindess is not limited to age groups!