Parade/Fireworks Etiquette

[BellePrincessBelle]

We sat in front of the Chapeau last time and saw wonderfully. Almost everyone crowded right on Main St.

 

[webprinter]

Well said. If someone is going to save a spot for 1.5 hours what give others the right to push in front of them, kids or not. Lately, all I hear in the parks is parents saying their kids cannot wait sit or stay in one spot for that long. Now I know there may be special exceptions but come on people! When I was a kid I remember sitting down well before parade time to save a spot. If us kids could not wait, we did not see the parade, simple as that. Our parents did not cater to us. All you are teaching kids is to be self entitled.
Disney is for everyone!
I agree with the original poster, you and your kids were waiting and no one else should have the right to push in front of you.

Well said. I taught my children (when they were little), that they would have to behave or suffer the consequences (ie, missing the parade, etc). I could usually, (not always), depend on them to behave as a result.

 

[webprinter]

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 agree 100%.

 

[maxiesmom]

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!

But they do for Wishes! They even serve you dessert!

 

[castleofmist]

Did she at LEAST bring you back a Mickey ice cream bar????

Seriously, I would have contacted a CM after about 15 minutes. I was at the post office one day and a lady left her small child (maybe 4???) and a BABY in the car with the engine running. After about 15 minutes, I called the police. What are people THINKING???

Did she at LEAST bring you back a Mickey ice cream bar????

Seriously, I would have contacted a CM after about 15 minutes. I was at the post office one day and a lady left her small child (maybe 4???) and a BABY in the car with the engine running. After about 15 minutes, I called the police. What are people THINKING???

OT, but I had a very similar experience to this. About three years ago, I was visiting my sister and nephew (1 yo at the time) where they lived in a suburb of D.C. One day, we ate at a restaurant in one of those lifestyle shopping centers where you can parallel park along the curbs outside the shops. We finished eating and got back in her car, and just as we were about to leave, we noticed that there was a luxury SUV parked just behind us. The engine was running and there were two very small children (between 2 and 4 yo) in carseats in the back. We were horrified that someone had not only left their children alone in a car, but also left the keys in the ignition for any would-be thief to drive off with them and the car. My sister and I stayed and kept watch on the car, debating about calling the police, when the children's mother finally returned, walking out of a pizzeria across the street. She noticed us looking at the car and asked us what was our problem. I told her that she should not have left her children alone in the car and we were just about to call the police, and she retorted that she had been gone for just a few minutes. When I also mentioned that she had left the car running, she looked at me as if I was an idiot and said that they needed air conditioning (duh). We just left at that point. I know we all learn new things every day, but I couldn't believe she thought it was o.k. to do that.


My mother's friend lost one of her two children when their babysitter left them alone in a running car while she went in to a store to get some ice cream. I will just say it was a terrible accident, and I have remembered that story for more than 20 years.

 

[ppony]

We've given up on parades too. When it comes to fireworks, we'll watch them wherever we are at the time and be happy with it. I can't stand the stress. I used to be a camp out early person, but inevitably, someone would feel entitled to sit on my feet or shove me or my child out of the way becuase they wanted to walk up last minute. No thanks. No parade is worth that for us. I believe in treating others as you'd want to be treated and that means respecting them if they came early to have a spot. It is not respectful to expect someone to move for you or your child.

 

[mom2rtk]

OT, but I had a very similar experience to this. About three years ago, I was visiting my sister and nephew (1 yo at the time) where they lived in a suburb of D.C. One day, we ate at a restaurant in one of those lifestyle shopping centers where you can parallel park along the curbs outside the shops. We finished eating and got back in her car, and just as we were about to leave, we noticed that there was a luxury SUV parked just behind us. The engine was running and there were two very small children (between 2 and 4 yo) in carseats in the back. We were horrified that someone had not only left their children alone in a car, but also left the keys in the ignition for any would-be thief to drive off with them and the car. My sister and I stayed and kept watch on the car, debating about calling the police, when the children's mother finally returned, walking out of a pizzeria across the street. She noticed us looking at the car and asked us what was our problem. I told her that she should not have left her children alone in the car and we were just about to call the police, and she retorted that she had been gone for just a few minutes. When I also mentioned that she had left the car running, she looked at me as if I was an idiot and said that they needed air conditioning (duh). We just left at that point. I know we all learn new things every day, but I couldn't believe she thought it was o.k. to do that.


My mother's friend lost one of her two children when their babysitter left them alone in a running car while she went in to a store to get some ice cream. I will just say it was a terrible accident, and I have remembered that story for more than 20 years.

There was an incident in our town almost 10 years ago that I have never gotten over. The mom had gone into a sub shop and left her kindergarten age son in the car. Someone hopped and drove off. The boy almost got out, but was tangled in his seatbelt and was dragged to his death on the interstate. Even a minute is TOO long...........So now you know why I felt the need to call the police on the lady at the post office.

 

[castleofmist]

There was an incident in our town almost 10 years ago that I have never gotten over. The mom had gone into a sub shop and left her kindergarten age son in the car. Someone hopped and drove off. The boy almost got out, but was tangled in his seatbelt and was dragged to his death on the interstate. Even a minute is TOO long...........So now you know why I felt the need to call the police on the lady at the post office.

Oh my gosh, that is so terrible.

 

[ppony]

So here's my thing. I am early for EVERYTHING. I wake up every day way earlier than I need to, I leave for work way earlier than I need to, I get to the movie theater way earlier than I need to. ...

OH! It's my long lost brother! We were seperated at birth dear brother. You didn't know it but it has to be!

Loved your whole post! You made me laugh! My brother would have to have sarcasm too.