Parade viewing question

[Biscuitsmom31]

I've read the thread about the handicapped viewing areas and now I'm clueless about what to do for my family. DH and I have 4 kids and we've never seen any of the parades. DH is a full-time wheelchair user but the last thing I want is for him to be separated from the rest of us. The only reason he wants to watch the parades is to enjoy the kids' excitement. I understand needing those areas for people in wheelchairs and not allowing them to bring more than 1 or 2 people with them. However, I'm looking for an alternative solution so that my kids can enjoy the parade with mommy AND daddy. Any ideas for places we can stake out where people won't but in front and block DH's view - he gets sick of looking at people's butts!

 

[dclfun]

I've often just parked my chair up to the curb in a regular spot. This way your family can sit on the curb beside your husband and all be together. The only trouble for the person in the chair though is seeing around those who are standing next to you but if you flank him with your children he should have a good view. ---Kathy

 

[SueM in MN]

Depending on how busy it is when you go, you may have no problem at all with using the handicapped/wheelchair viewing spots and having your whole family in there. When it gets to be a problem is when there are lots of people wanting to use the area.

For Illuminations, just find a good spot along the water, park the wheelchair next to the railing and you are good to go. There are some barges in the water that are used for shooting off fireworks; check out where they are during the day and look for some viewing spots. If you have a clear view of them from where you are, you will see the whole show.

For parades, we have also just parked DD's wheelchair near the curb. If you are right up to the curb, no one will be pushing in front of you. There are also some places that make really good viewing spots that are not on the curb - the porch on the building next to Tony's (to your right as you enter MK). The porch is a great spot, but you need to be quite early - even up to 2 hours before.

 

[Talking Hands]

For parades, we have also just parked DD's wheelchair near the curb. If you are right up to the curb, no one will be pushing in front of you. There are also some places that make really good viewing spots that are not on the curb - the porch on the building next to Tony's (to your right as you enter MK). The porch is a great spot, but you need to be quite early - even up to 2 hours before.

Sue, people will try to push in front of a wheelchair that is right up to the curb. They will shove you right back and stand in front of you if they can. Had it happen to my Mom and to myself. You have to sometimes be agressive to keep your place. I feel safer in the handicapped areas because they are policewd bu castmembers and people are not allowed to be in front of you.

 

[SueM in MN]

We have done it and not had that problem. That doesn't say that anyone else will not have a problem. One thing I didn't add was that when we do it, we have looked for places that are not as busy (like Main Street is probably too busy, Frontierland is usually not as wild as Main Street).
One of the differences may be that we had one person in a wheelchair plus 4 others who were not in wheelchairs.

 

[zumbergc]

One other tip. If you know the parade is coming from a certain direction. Flank the kids in that direction. Plus, you might want to angle the chair in that direction also. This way, your not pointed stright forward. If you have any neck issues, holding your neck turned to the side as the parade approaches can be painful.

I agree, you have to be aggressive when holding your spot in a wheelchair. Heck a regular person has to be on their toes. Their always seems to be someone who wants to put a tall child in front of a wheel chair, or wiggle another person in right in the front.

You might want to place yourself up to the curb, then place your kids on the side the parade approaches. Of course watch the other side, as someone may move in and block your view, might want to place your spouse on that side.

If you show up early to the special viewing areas, you are more likely able to put your whole family in the space, than if you show up 20-30 minutes before the show when only limited space exits. As always, all depends about the amounts of people in the park, which attendant you get, and crowd levels.
Good Luck,
Connie

 

[aubriee]

Sue, people will try to push in front of a wheelchair that is right up to the curb. They will shove you right back and stand in front of you if they can. Had it happen to my Mom and to myself. You have to sometimes be agressive to keep your place. I feel safer in the handicapped areas because they are policewd bu castmembers and people are not allowed to be in front of you.

This is true. I know it's not a parade, but last Dec I had my mom in a scooter and we got early to the place in Morocco where you sit to watch the band MoRockin. I sat on the very end of the bench next to the stage and had my mom parked just beside the bench, but right at the front next to the bush where I thought no one could possible get in front of her. Just as the show started I saw a couple of little kids behind us, so got up and offered them my seat and stood off to the side just behind my mom. Well their dad decided he wanted to move up too and squeezed right in front of my mom with his butt no more than a few inches from her face. That's all she could see. I politely tapped him on the shoulder and said 'I know you didn't mean to stand in front of a 73 y/o woman in a scooter'. He then indicated his daughters whom I had gotten up for. I told him if it was a problem I could take my seat back since we had gotten there early and waited 20 minutes for the show to start anyway. After everyone started snickering he finally moved back to the back where he started from.

 

[kaytieeldr]

One other tip. If you know the parade is coming from a certain direction. Flank the kids in that direction. Plus, you might want to angle the chair in that direction also. This way, your not pointed stright forward. If you have any neck issues, holding your neck turned to the side as the parade approaches can be painful

Magic Kingdom daytime parades start in FrontierLand; nighttime parades start near City Hall (this could vary if there are two of the same parade in one day); Stars and Motor Cars at MGM starts over by, well, if you're standing in front of Sound Dangerous with your back to that attraction (wheelchair viewing area in some shade), the parade enters from not too far to your right. Animal Kingdom I can't help you - I use parade time to take advantage of shorter lines