Proper etiquette for wishes?

[tinkerbellybutton]

In my experience I've noticed that the CM's actually herd the people forward into the hub area, which is why there is a sudden influx just before Wishes starts....I prefer to be further back and get the full impact.

This! I have seen many times when guests think they have found the perfect spot so that they and their family can see while not blocking guests who were already there. Everyone has room, every one is happy. Then 5 minutes later a CM comes yelling that everyone needs to move back. This forces some guests to squish into the same space that other guests feel is their space. I have seen this happen again and again. And if you don't move the CM's just keep screaming and yelling trying to get guests into certain areas. I don't blame the CM's, they are just doing their job, but this is what happens almost every time we watch Wishes.

And just wanted to add, that in 18 or so trips we have always stood for Wishes. Don't know that I can ever remember seeing any guests sitting during Wishes.

 

[EMode]

You don't even sit at the dessert party where you have your own reserved table and chairs.
Standing is protocol. I couldn't imagine trying to maneuver through a crowd of people just sitting everywhere. Standing allows everyone to move out of the way if they needed too. I would be afraid I'd get trampled if I was sitting on the ground especially anywhere near the Hub.

 

[Serrina89]

Thanks guys for the responses! I never thought about the dangers of sitting during the fireworks within WDW park. I was sitting in the hub area (right at the castle (for more information.)

 

[JimmyV]

I don't know of any parade at Disney that starts with a color guard.

I was referring to parades generally. I haven't watched an afternoon parade at WDW for years. But in the "old days", I remember flags.

 

[kittyab]

I had a little boy get in front of me and I was by the fence by the castle. He kept jumping up and down bumping into me. I would look at the mom and she would just roll her eyes at me.

I put a plastic toy in my hand so whenever he bumped into me he bumped into that. After a few times he moved.

I wish parents would control their kids!

 

[JoWiJo]

As for the kids on the shoulders, I can see why this is annoying to others, but I don't have a solution. Kids get heavy after a certain age and you can't hold them with your arms for very long. At the same time, they're very short when in a crowd of adults and they get upset that they can't see what's going on. This is only during certain years of a child's growth. My answer would be to give the kids this age some slack and let it go.

This.

For me those certain years were extended because I was small my first visit there. I was almost nine, but could have passed for just turned six. When it came time for the electrical parade, my tiny feet were in excruciating pain from all the walking. And my dad was too tired to carry me across the park.

Had my dad not put me onto his shoulders, I would have been forced to stand in agony while watching tall adults watch the parade. Instead, I distinctly remember seeing Elliot the dragon going down Main Steet. It was the highlight of my trip. That specific image is burned into my memory and serves as one of the things I liked best about the trip, if not THE best.

As far as a solution to the inherent problem, that would be planning ahead -- something that's now a lot easier to do than it was in the late 70's. Whether you have a small child, or don't want to be behind a small child on shoulders, plan ahead to minimize your chance of issues.