Parade/Fireworks Etiquette

[LilyWDW]

Just curious what are you supposed to do with your strollers? Our little ones always sit in their stroller at the rope(we get there ahead of time) to watch the parade...I didn't realize that was a no no.

My guess is that they mean people who use strollers to "save" a spot and then leave them there, with no kid in them, even when their whole party shows. Thus the stroller is taking up a spot that a person could be using.

As long as your kids are in it, I don't see it an issue.

 

[kcormier]

It isn't a 'no-no'. I have no problem with a family that has strollers with kids in them, at the curb. But, maybe he/she is talking about a situation where there were empty strollers, holding basically double spots (due to the stroller size) and then when the family came, no one was put in the strollers?

Exactly - it is so frustrating to see empty strollers left out as place holders for things. I don't have kids, so what can I use as a place holder?? Nothing - so people with the strollers should be able to either.

 

[KellyNY]

Disney is for kids OF ALL AGES, that includes 60 yo men and 6 yo girls. With this being said, lets not forget about what Disney means for us. For me it is a wonderful place that takes me back to my childhood, for a little kid, it is all real. I rarely get a front spot as we do not wait for parades but if we got one, I totally aware of the fact that I am and so my family are tall adults and we surely blocking view of any kid right behind. Nobody ever tried to get infront of us but if I turn around and see a little kid behind, I do not care why they did not come earlier, I will offer parents to get kid infront of us and parent as well, he totally need to see the face of the kid, JMO. I always remember that for us, including my DD(17), parade is just a beautiful music and colorful lights, for little kid, Cinderalla is real, Mickey is real and so all other characters. So while parade means little to me, it means a world to a kid. Call me stupid but yes I give my spot to a kid family and move to the second row, why, because I feel it is right, for me at least and because I never expected to be the only person in WDW, I expect to see people around, wait in lines and have an obstructed views. Part of the fun Disney are people having as much fun as we do. JMHO.

 

[katytrott]

Disney is for kids OF ALL AGES, that includes 60 yo men and 6 yo girls. With this being said, lets not forget about what Disney means for us. For me it is a wonderful place that takes me back to my childhood, for a little kid, it is all real. I rarely get a front spot as we do not wait for parades but if we got one, I totally aware of the fact that I am and so my family are tall adults and we surely blocking view of any kid right behind. Nobody ever tried to get infront of us but if I turn around and see a little kid behind, I do not care why they did not come earlier, I will offer parents to get kid infront of us and parent as well, he totally need to see the face of the kid, JMO. I always remember that for us, including my DD(17), parade is just a beautiful music and colorful lights, for little kid, Cinderalla is real, Mickey is real and so all other characters. So while parade means little to me, it means a world to a kid. Call me stupid but yes I give my spot to a kid family and move to the second row, why, because I feel it is right, for me at least and because I never expected to be the only person in WDW, I expect to see people around, wait in lines and have an obstructed views. Part of the fun Disney are people having as much fun as we do. JMHO.

This is exactly as I see it and exactly what I would do. When I see any childs face light up, it takes me back to when I went was a child and the emotions I had. As I see it, those same emotions are being created for that child. Obviously, I wouldn't expect my children to miss out on that same experience to please some other random kid, but I am prepared to not get the best view for myself. I would do this even if I had camped out for hours and the child came from a late/non prepared family.

I know everyone has jumped on an early post that said "Disney is for kids", and I can understand why, but even when childless, I still would allow a child to see/get something before me, and then enjoy watching their reactions. In a sense, MK particularly is reawakening for adults some nostalgic memory we had as kids whether we went there or not, but remember for a child there, it is real.

 

[seelyt2]

When you let one little one in front of you, especially without their parents asking, a couple minutes later *mysteriously* an older sibling makes it way in. Later it's the cousin and so on and so forth, and your stake at the front of your reserved spot, that you've been guarding for an hour and a half, is gone. Been there - done that. I'm only 5' tall and some of these kids are taller than I am - - so I get mighty ticked if a family makes their way in and I can't see.

However we met a great family a couple years ago at Spectro and Wishes who stood with us for 45 mins. We were more than happy to let their little ones in front of my husband and I to sit with our kids. I'm good with that. But don't expect that you can push your kids to the front of the line and that others will be ok. It's just plain rude.

 

[12kizuna]

This whole topic scares me.

Ideally, I don't want any confrontations of any kind during my and DBF's upcoming trip to the world... but I know this is far from an ideal world. I am always trying my hardest not to bother those around me and just deal with the fact that many people are not like that

Everyone has different ideas of what is right or wrong, and what is rude or isn't. For the *most* part it seems we all agree on this board, but it's just not going to change the fact that it seems to me that parade-viewing is akin to a mosh pit.

DBF and I are hoping to see all the parades and fireworks we can, but after reading this thread I know very well not to get my hopes up about viewing spots. We'll probably show up early enough to get a decent viewing position (whether in front or not) and hope for the best. From reading these posts it seems that arrival 1.5 hours ahead of time is going to be worth it. For Fantasmic we'll certainly show up that early, but not for a parade where my spot is far from guaranteed.

The only parade I ever recall semi-viewing is in Tokyo Disneyland. We brought a blanket and staked out a front-row seat at least an hour early. Everyone else was doing the same-- everyone in front was sitting on blankets. Later on, the rows behind us had some blankets and the ones in the back were standing. No one was pushing or shoving, but from living in two countries I've learned that when it comes to manners Japan is sure a different place. If I recall, we offered for a few children to come up so they could see, but we had a great spot.
It was Spectromagic... and that parade never did happen (another lovely lesson about the relationship between Japan and rain.) but it was a good experience nonetheless. It was how it should be in my opinion.

Keeping my fingers crossed for peace among people later this month

 

[yankin]

I suppose this is aimed at those folks who stake out parade/show spots for over an hour or more.

Do you not consider holding a spot for two hours a waste of valuble and expensive park time?

I am not bashing or critisizing-just curious?

 

[Beauty & the Best]

I've waited on the curb for many parades but only when I'm sitting on the curb, so really there's no way someone can get in front of me b/c they'd be in the path of the parade.

But even if you're right up front you have to be prepared for the squishing that tends to happen, so I always take a little more space in the beginning b/c I know that I'll end up w/ 1/2 that space once the parade actually starts.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I suppose this is aimed at those folks who stake out parade/show spots for over an hour or more.

Do you not consider holding a spot for two hours a waste of valuble and expensive park time?

I am not bashing or critisizing-just curious?

Not really... for Spectro, we sometimes grab counter service food and sit on the curb. By the time we're done eating, the parade is only 20 or 30 minutes away, and it's impossible to get a good view.

 

[f15robyn]

Not really... for Spectro, we sometimes grab counter service food and sit on the curb. By the time we're done eating, the parade is only 20 or 30 minutes away, and it's impossible to get a good view.

Agreed. Or, by 9 pm I'm exhausted from walking around anyway. My husband and I don't often go back to the room for a mid-day nap, so this our our "nap" or "down" time. Just chillin'. People watchin'. Or eatin'.

But we typically only do this for Spectro, Wishes and sometimes Illuminations. Also, we carry these with us, so we always have a seat.

 

[tallen429]

I've been reading this thread all along and remembering similar incidents on our last trip. I'm just not a confrontational person though. I guess that while it makes me mad when rude people shove in front, telling them off most likely won't have much effect and then I'll just have my blood boiling...

Last trip DH and I found a nice spot before the afternoon parade at AK outside one of the shops (can't remember which) and it had a bench. We were approaching at the same time as three senior age folks and there was no way I was going to shove them out out of the way for that spot so we didn't. We had a nice curb right next to the bench in front of the store. We were happy. we had to wait about 20-30 minutes, but it was fine. We took turns walking the kids into the shop to browse and cool off, and we got them a little snack. We chatted a bit with the folks on the bench. It was all very pleasant. Of course then RIGHT before the parade started, not one but TWO families shoved in front of us, totally blocking the view. DH ended up holding DD (not on his shoulders, just up higher) and the kind folks on the bench let DS(7) stand on the bench between them. The even held his legs the whole time when they saw I was a bit nervous he might fall.

So, while there were rude people in front of us, we were able to enjoy it thanks in part to the nice people we didn't race to the bench.

 

[goofy4tink]

Disney is for kids OF ALL AGES, that includes 60 yo men and 6 yo girls. With this being said, lets not forget about what Disney means for us. For me it is a wonderful place that takes me back to my childhood, for a little kid, it is all real. I rarely get a front spot as we do not wait for parades but if we got one, I totally aware of the fact that I am and so my family are tall adults and we surely blocking view of any kid right behind. Nobody ever tried to get infront of us but if I turn around and see a little kid behind, I do not care why they did not come earlier, I will offer parents to get kid infront of us and parent as well, he totally need to see the face of the kid, JMO. I always remember that for us, including my DD(17), parade is just a beautiful music and colorful lights, for little kid, Cinderalla is real, Mickey is real and so all other characters. So while parade means little to me, it means a world to a kid. Call me stupid but yes I give my spot to a kid family and move to the second row, why, because I feel it is right, for me at least and because I never expected to be the only person in WDW, I expect to see people around, wait in lines and have an obstructed views. Part of the fun Disney are people having as much fun as we do. JMHO.

I completely agree. And I have done that myself, as well as had others do it for my 5 y/o dd. BUT....I have done that only to have others shove in as well...you know.."Oh, it's just one more, and she so wants to be with her little brother." and then..'Oh, you don't mind if my kids just stand there..you'll be able to see over them.', then they also stand there, completely blocking my view. I've tried being nice..and sometimes it is greatly appreciated. But, more often than not, my kindness has been taken advantage of.

I suppose this is aimed at those folks who stake out parade/show spots for over an hour or more.

Do you not consider holding a spot for two hours a waste of valuble and expensive park time?

I am not bashing or critisizing-just curious?

It's all about priorities. I won't sit around waiting for a parade anymore. Been there, done that. But others may feel differently. They may be pooped and sitting down, on the curb, and waiting for a parade that is 90 mins away, is probably relaxing for them.

 

[valandemmy]

my philosophy on all this is....don't sweat the small stuff! if someone does take your spot or put their kids on their shoulders, and you sit and fume about it for the rest of the day or your whole trip then you are losing out on precious time you could be enjoying yourself and making those wonderful disney memories we all cherish. lets face facts, there are rude people everywhere.....line cutters in grocery stores, people that take your parking space after waiting patiently for someone to back out, etc. you just have to brush it off and move on i have seriously seen people yell and cuss at each other over a spot to see a parade with children sitting around them listening and watching. the parade floats are made so everyone can see them no matter where you are. yes, it sucks when someone pushes in front of you, but its life. and for the people that say they won't move for a kid to see a parade because "they were there first". that is insane. this is disneyworld folks....the happiest place on earth! try not to be so grumpy and scoot over a little to let the kids watch

 

[mom2rtk]

my philosophy on all this is....don't sweat the small stuff! if someone does take your spot or put their kids on their shoulders, and you sit and fume about it for the rest of the day or your whole trip then you are losing out on precious time you could be enjoying yourself and making those wonderful disney memories we all cherish. lets face facts, there are rude people everywhere.....line cutters in grocery stores, people that take your parking space after waiting patiently for someone to back out, etc. you just have to brush it off and move on i have seriously seen people yell and cuss at each other over a spot to see a parade with children sitting around them listening and watching. the parade floats are made so everyone can see them no matter where you are. yes, it sucks when someone pushes in front of you, but its life. and for the people that say they won't move for a kid to see a parade because "they were there first". that is insane. this is disneyworld folks....the happiest place on earth! try not to be so grumpy and scoot over a little to let the kids watch

Sorry....... but letting those folks continue to do this is what encourages them to do it again over and over. You can politely stand your ground with a smile. No yelling or cussing needed.

 

[leebee]

I just wish people in the front few rows of a parade viewing spot would sit DOWN to watch the parade! As soon as someone in the front stands, the people "down-parade" of him also have to stand, as the stander is otherwise blocking the view. Stander also blocks the view of all the kids and folks sitting behind him. If the first few front rows sit, kiddies in strollers in the slightly-further-back rows are sitting high enough to see, and their parents can crouch next to them. I wish folks would think "we're all in the same boat" when viewing a parade instead of "me me me."

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

After several times of being moved by the last minute people, DH and I have found a way around it. If we are unable to get to the HC viewing area (preferrable), he parks his ECV sideways against the rope area. As it gets closer to the event he stands in front of the front tire and I stand by the back tire. DD stands between us. This way she can see the parade without being blocked.

We have tried having her sit on her father's lap during the parade, stand in front of the ECV, whatever. There is always that person that asks nicely if their child can squeeze up next to your kid. As a sucker, I always used to say "yes". Next I thing we got grandma who just "wants to see her face", then dad that needs to take a picture of her face, then grandpa (which I lost it then) you get the picture. The mother never tried to sneak in. She must read the disboards or have better manners.

Anyway, that's our new strategy and it seems to work. We can usually squeeze another child in there if the parents are being nice. One time I got a co-workers 3 kids squeezed in with my DD. And yes, DH needs to stand with his cane and takes a lot of pressure on his body so that DD can see the parade. But now that I'm typing this, I don't think we've done a parade in 3 years due to this issue. And we always watch Wishes from the beach at the Fort. Much nicer!!!

 

[momtobrynncess]

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!

You must have gone to the same Disney Parade Space Saving Class we did!!! That's exactly what we do!!

 

[lllGurulll]

You know, now that I think about it, the night we are doing the parade and fireworks is an EMH night. I wonder how much work it would be to watch the fireworks from the Poly beach and then get back into the park for the parade at 11pm.

 

[momtobrynncess]

Too bad tasers aren't allowed in the park.

The defense I'm hearing is that you want to show up whenever you want and not have me block you. Poo Poo I say. Do you also think that in kids sports instead of having a winner, everyone should get a participation award. It seems to me that when people have that argument, they are usually the ones who can't be bothered to make it on time or early enough. That is not my problem. I have the same attitude, I like things to go my way. But instead of looking outside my front door every morning for a pot of gold, I go to work. I make things happen for me and my family. If you are happy standing in the back and griping about your view that's cool it's on you. But seriously I should bow down to lazy? I don't think so.

Well Said!!!

If you think the above scenarios are bad consider our family. Two parents pushing two young adults in wheelchairs. You could think the handicapped seating area would be ideal for us, right? WRONG! One year we went to see Spectromagic and arrived at the wheelchair seating area over an hour before the parade started. With about 15 minutes to go before the parade started, a man and his family tried to get into the seating area with no Guest Assitance card claiming his mother-in-law had a heart condition and needed to be in the area (where there are o seats). Also, the mother-in-law was not with the family. The CM told the family they could not stand there. A yelling match insued. For some reason the man picks on our family, yelling at us that we had "no right" to be taking up "his" spot? In the end, right after the parade starts, the man and his family sits right in front of my kids wheelchairs on the curb and complains about the foot rests jabbing his back. Another CM comes over and tells him to move. Swearing and more yelling and the man finally leaves. However, for the next 2 days, we run into this man and his family throughtout the parks and he continually makes snyde comments to us, until I finally let him have it on the ferry boat out of MK to the parking lot. The family could not move because of the crowd of people. Fast forward to the next day and we see the family again at HS and they run the other way!

The moral of the story is that there are jerks and rude people everywhere whose parents never taught them manners.

Ahhhh......gotta love this world we live in, where the sense of entitlement has somehow overshadowed common sense and respect. NOT!!! Good for you that you said something!!!

I suppose this is aimed at those folks who stake out parade/show spots for over an hour or more.

Do you not consider holding a spot for two hours a waste of valuble and expensive park time?

I am not bashing or critisizing-just curious?

We frequently stake out a spot at least an hour ahead of time. Reasons? We LOVE the shows/parades. We consider them a large part of the Disney experience. And we enjoy having a good view. So for us, not a big sacrifice. It's a nice time to just sit and relax.

Sorry....... but letting those folks continue to do this is what encourages them to do it again over and over. You can politely stand your ground with a smile. No yelling or cussing needed.

Yeah, cuz we need more rude people in this world, so whatever we do, don't address the rudeness!!!

In conclusion, is it the kids fault that they don't get a good view? No, of course not. However, at some point, it might be nice for someone to show them that their parents are rude and teach them the proper way to ask politely for something, since their parents are obviously not teaching them this.

 

[Cruella 66]

It's too bad WDW doesn't recognize this hot topic issue and come up with some type of viewing area...organized! Gee, I'd even pay $$$ to sit in it and not have all of the stuff happen to me that has happened. We also haven't done a parade in several visits because it's too stressful. Wishes we watch from our balcony at CR or BLT. Haven't done Fantasmic or Illuminations in YEARS!