Parade watching dos and dont's

[disney1fan]

OK, can anyone tell me what are the do's and dont's when parade watching? I've read elsewhere that to put a kid on your shoulders is a big no-no, but isn't this the only way little ones are able to see if an adult is standing in front of them? I'd hate to obstruct other people's view, but what about my kids' ability to see the parade? I realize that by having a kid on my shoulders I'd be making it all the more difficult for kids (and adults) behing me to see anything, so I'm at a loss here. Only those at the very front row get to watch? The only time I went to WDW with kids before they managed to sleep through every single parade and when I don't have kids with me I'm not really interested in parades, so this is kind of a new issue for me.

 

[safetymom]

I realize kids need to see the parade but it isn't fair to others that have waited to see the parade also. If you want to have your kids see the parade I suggest you start waiting early for a front row seat.

 

[Annette_VA]

Just be sure to get there early enough so your child can sit up front. Or, if you arrive too late, make sure you're all the way in the back & there's no one behind you - then you'll be fine putting the child on your shoulders

 

[lovethattink]

We have a little one in a stroller. I find it easiest to park him at the curb. One of us stands behind the stroller (a perfect view and can keep an eye on child and your "stuff") the others sit on either side of the stroller, so that people behind them can see. Manners and consideration of others would be the best rules for the parade, and perhaps the rude people will follow the example.

 

[KathyFP]

Get there early and get a seat on the curb. Chances are that they may also get to shake hands with a character.

 

[stacy6552]

We always use the preparade time to grab a bit a curb and relax, so if your view is important take a seat early.

Do NOT just show up and do whatever is neccessary to see. A whole group of adults walked up just before the MVMCP parade and stood right in front of our son.

DO NOT hold up your video camera over your sholder (unless its a vintqage one you need your sholder to hold). Many times there are kids behind you trying to see in that space between heads.

DO be considerate of people around you! That's all anyone asks.

 

[all4fun]

I usually will hold my ds on my hip so his head is almost even with mine. I personally don't mind standing in the back as long as I can peer between others and my ds can see. We find this works better for us than showing up early and waiting while ds gets antsy because he doesn't understand what the heck we're sitting around for. What I feel is really inconsiderate is those that have a front-row view who still feel the need to put their kids up on their shoulders. It's very frustrating to have waited for a show to start and think you have an OK view (albeit standing behind others) and then have a couple of people in front of you pop their kids up on their shoulders just as the show or parade starts.

 

[Befferk]

How early is enough to arrive to get a front/good seat?

 

[buzz2400]

We stopped doing the parades because people are so rude but I must give this advice. If you are going to stake out a spot well in advance, make sure you don't sit so close together and put a backpack or something that could take up space. I can't tell you how many times we arrived way in advance to sit and wait and get pushed out of our spot. It finally got us when waiting 2 hours for the spectromagic parade, right before it started a guy came by with his stroller and stood right in front of us. I said something to him and he just looked blankly at me. We now never wait for the parades because people are so rude. Also just a reminder, if you have a balloon attached to your stroller, it is in the way of the people standing beside you.

 

[bicker]

It depends on the time-of-year and day-of-week, ranging from 30 minutes in the middle of the week during September, to 2 or even 3 hours for the Easter Parade.

 

[Befferk]

It depends on the time-of-year and day-of-week, ranging from 30 minutes in the middle of the week during September, to 2 or even 3 hours for the Easter Parade.

Thanks - we are going during the week in the 2nd week of May '06.

 

[my4kids]

A couple of times we arrived late (just lost track of time) and there is no space anywhere near a curb. I politely asked some adults standing in front (that did not seem to have kids of their own) if they minded if my children sat on the curb in front of them. Not only did no one mind, but I found that most people were more than accomadating, going out of their way to make sure my husband and I could see as well. I always just scooted my kids up and stayed in the back, so as not to get in the way of anyone that was waiting a long time. I never expected anyone to give up a seat...their view was not impeded at all .A six foot person does not even notice my 3 footers in front of them. Everyone actually seemed to enjoy watching the kids enjoy it...Of course, if someone had acted inconvienced I would have just stayed behind them and not bothered them. On the occasions that we got there early and waited on the curb, once the parades started, my husband and I did the same for others children. We would stand up and let kids take our seats next to our children on the curb and stand behind our kids or put them on our laps. . Once the parade starts, it is not a long time to stand, but it makes the difference for a child who might be on their only trip to Disney and my not have another chance to watch.

 

[WDWfor5]

my4kids - I just had to say how wonderful that is! I also go out of my way to accomadate others children and appreciate it so much when adults are nice to mine. Looking out for each other is what makes the world a nicer place!

 

[striker3636]

I agree - arrive early and stake out a spot with a little extra room. We have also shared our spot with younger kids so they can see - a little politeness goes a long way and we can all enjoy the parade. I dont' have to sit at the curb with my kids and can stand behind them! We usually plan for a snack and drink and break out small activities or glow sticks to pass the time.

Don't let your kids stand in the gardens! When we watched Spectromagic I was shocked at how many parents let their kids run around in the raised, once immaculate, gardens along the street. Maybe the kids are too excited to care, but the parents - they didn't care about the damage!!! My kids wanted to sit on the outside edge of the planters to see, and I let them as I was standing immediately beside them in case of a fall. I did loudly say that they could not wreck Mickey's flowers by going inside the small fence to walk all over the plants (not that anyone picked up on the hint). Oh well!

 

[hsmamato2]

we don't watch too many anymore,just ride the rides with no lines....
but when we want to- there are a lot of better places than Main street- ask a cm where the parade starts or ends- and go find an underused spot along the route, I've never understood why people are fighting on a crowded street,when at the back of the park, hardly anyones there....

 

[onlyoneforme]

OK, can anyone tell me what are the do's and dont's when parade watching? I've read elsewhere that to put a kid on your shoulders is a big no-no, but isn't this the only way little ones are able to see if an adult is standing in front of them? I'd hate to obstruct other people's view, but what about my kids' ability to see the parade? I realize that by having a kid on my shoulders I'd be making it all the more difficult for kids (and adults) behing me to see anything, so I'm at a loss here. Only those at the very front row get to watch? The only time I went to WDW with kids before they managed to sleep through every single parade and when I don't have kids with me I'm not really interested in parades, so this is kind of a new issue for me.

I can see by your countdown that you are going to Disney on a "slower" time of the year. This is good time to go about 1 hour before to stake out your spot. I have found that Main Street is where it gets the most crowded the earliest, so if you can't stake out a spot that early, or just plain don't want to, try another area along the parade route. Liberty Square is a pretty safe bet for a good seat when you are short on time. Spectromagic Parade on the other hand, because it is only shown 2 to 3 times a week in the off season is a bit harder to find a seat. Definately stake your claim at least 1 hour before hand, where ever you choose to watch it!

 

[timandlesley]

DO- take your child to the bathroom BEFORE it starts. I was so bummed last year. Had my sons stroller parked in front of me for Spectro, PERFECT seats on Mainstreet, it starts, it is MAGICAL, he says he has to pee, I held him off until he was literally screaming, he's 4 and doesn't fake that stuff, so I had to LEAVE in the middle and try to find a restroom in the midst of chaos, COULDN'T BELIEVE IT! I will never find seats for a parade again w/out taking my children to the potty FIRST.

Lesley

 

[goodferry]

I second the suggestion to avoid Main Street at all costs. The parades usually either start of end in Frontierland. Check the map to find out where the parade will be starting and then decide where to sit. Frontierland and Liberty Square are always good alternatives. I would still arrive 20-30 minutes early.

 

[timandlesley]

we don't watch too many anymore,just ride the rides with no lines....
but when we want to- there are a lot of better places than Main street- ask a cm where the parade starts or ends- and go find an underused spot along the route, I've never understood why people are fighting on a crowded street,when at the back of the park, hardly anyones there....

So for someone who has only watched from Mainstreet can anyone offer some SPECIFIC spots in other locations of the park that we can have a great seat at the parade? How do we know where the "front is", I think it's easy to see on Mainstreet where you can have an unobstructed view, I think it would be harder to gage that in other parts of the park. Any help would be MUCH appreciated.

 

[ch261]

If you are going to stake out a spot well in advance, make sure you don't sit so close together and put a backpack or something that could take up space. I can't tell you how many times we arrived way in advance to sit and wait and get pushed out of our spot.

I had most unmagical moment of our last vacation at the MGM parade thanks to not one, but three rude moms. We got great spots about a half hour early, sat on the curb, and put the double stroller behind us. Anyone could have stood behind it and seen perfectly, but that wasn't good enough. One mom acted like she was going to cross the street, so we leaned over to let her through. You know, the one butt cheek lean? Well, she plops herself down and puts her kid on her lap. So now we're totally squished and sitting on one cheek. RUDE! Another mom wedges herself and her kids between us and our stroller, which means I end up with someone's knees gouging my back. And yet a third mom crowds in on one side with her "Birthday girl" daughter. Every single character waved at the girl and said "Happy Birthday." Do you know how many characters look at the kids NEXT to the birthday girl? None. Not to mention the mom's frantically waving arm is in all of my pictures because she was trying to get the characters to acknowledge the birthday girl.

No, I'm not bitter at all. I'm really just still kicking myself for not saying something at the time. We may take up skipping parades too. Blech.