Proper etiquette for wishes?

[Serrina89]

On my trip to WDW in August of last year. Me and my boyfriend had camped out for an hour for perfect wishes viewing. The crowd around us up to 10 min before------ allow optimum viewing of wishes without standing. Then, a rude two girls(high teens to low twentys) walked through the crowd and stood in front of us and then five minutes later their group (about twenty more) pushed there way into our space and ask us could we could move (rudely). They stood up the entire time and forced everyone sitting around them to stand. Not only that the father put his child upon his shoulders and the child screamed with happiness and will probably enjoy that memory for a lifetime. Unfortunately, me and my boyfriend will remember having to separate during his first wishes so that we could get just a glimpse of wishes. Okay.....sorry long rant. My question for you DISers, is what is the proper protocol for wishes? It is my belief that if everyone sat, everybody could see. What do you guys think? 1) is there " proper protocol" or general manners for viewing wishes? 2) Is sitting or standing proper protocol? and 2) how to handle a father who blocked your view by putting a child on top of their head? and any stories where people who did not follow "proper protocol" ruined your viewing because they did not plan ahead?

 

[KittyKat1978]

I don't think I have ever sat for Wishes. So I would say standing is the Protocol.

As for people pushing ahead of you. The only way I have found that not to happen is when you sit at the taped sections on Main street that are used for pathways through the crowds. That way you can say, you need to be behind the tape. It guess it could happen, but I have never had someone push me back to get behind the tape. They usually move on.

 

[maxiesmom]

I think the protocol depends on where you are. If you are sitting by the Castle, and everyone else is sitting, it is rude to stand. If you are somewhere by a rope, but not up next to it, then you can expect people to get in front of you.

I do think it is rude when people put their children up on their shoulders, blocking the view of everyone who is behind them. But I don't think they do it intentionally, they are just caught in the moment and not thinking. If someone does it directly in front of me I either move if I can, or ask them to lower the child a bit so that everyone else can see.

 

[siskaren]

I don't think I have ever sat for Wishes. So I would say standing is the Protocol.

I don't think I have either. I think you get a better view of the castle if you're standing.

 

[BrianL]

Just being considerate of those around you is the only true rule.

I had a similar thing happen, but it was for MSEP. Everyone had been sitting, as had we, all in the center of the HUB area. When the parade came, waves of people right in front of us all stood up, and ingorred the protests of the crowd behind them to "Sit down! Sit down!" It was pretty rude.

For Wishes, I would say standing is more common than sitting, but if I wade into a group of people sitting, then I will also sit, and not just stand right in front of people already there. That's ridiculous!

 

[POOHsie]

I experienced the same as OP -- we were all sitting in the center area. Just before Wishes started, people flooded in, and stood. Of course, everyone else stood then, because the standing people forced everyone up. I was annoyed but I thought about it and I finally concluded that standing is the only way viewing works for the large crowd gathered in the hub for the MK finale. More people fit in, and some people (the elderly, the disabled) can't sit. 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. Honestly, I've seen Wishes umpteen times. Sometimes I get lucky with a great view, other times my view has been blocked. It's all part of being in a crowd of thousands trying to enjoy something in one place at the same time. It's not an ideal situation, so I let my annoyance go.

 

[alicemouse]

If you're on Main Street or around the Hub, I think standing (except maybe if you're right up by the castle or in the handicapped accessible seating areas where it would be rude to stand) is a necessity. More people can fit in to the same amount of space when they're all standing, so standing allows more people to get to see the show from a primo spot and if you sit down, you might get stepped on!

I've also had a parent put a child up on their shoulders in front of me, and I'm not a fan of this behavior, but it's hard to be mad at them when you see how happy the kids are and remember that there's no way those poor little children can see anything if they're standing on the ground. They could hold the child on their hip instead, but that seems like a really uncomfortable way to hold a child for that length of time.

 

[dabootie]

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.

 

[bumbershoot]

I rarely watch parades and fireworks specifically because I hate all the issues that go along with it.

I am vehemently opposed to kids on shoulders. I never see a reason for it. But if you're going to do it, be in the very BACK of the crowd. I got by just fine by having my DS in a piggyback position. He was just as tall as me (5'3") and blocked no one's view any more than just being a person in front of other people.


As for people stealing space like that...if you are serious about having YOUR space, make sure there is no space to steal. If there was room for their feet in front of you, then there was room. Next time, don't allow even that little bit of room.


Standing vs sitting. Just like at concerts, there are some who want to stand. So that's usually going to be what ends up happening. I know out at DisneyLAND in the hub area you are not allowed to sit once the fireworks/parade starts. They have everyone get up. It's a horrible hazard in case of fire or other emergency. Standing is far better. The only place they let you sit for fireworks is back behind the castle near Small World (again, this is DLR). I think it's a smart idea to have people stand. Even though sitting can be nice.

 

[TooExcitedCantSleep]

Just being considerate of those around you is the only true rule.

I had a similar thing happen, but it was for MSEP. Everyone had been sitting, as had we, all in the center of the HUB area. When the parade came, waves of people right in front of us all stood up, and ingorde the protests of the crowd behind them to "Sit down! Sit down!" It was pretty rude.

For Wishes, I would say standing is more common than sitting, but if I wade into a group of people sitting, then I will also sit, and not just stand right in front of people already there. That's ridiculous!

I completely agree with this!!!!!! Please- try to be considerate to the other people around you.....no way- should anyone be able to walk right to the front of the parade line... blocking the view of people who have been waiting there long before them......that's bad enough on it's own........then twenty more people join later. No. No. No.

So so sorry....this happened to you OP. I don't tend to tell on people but I believe in this case-----I would have reported them right away to a CM before the huge group arrived later. They knew exactly what they were doing!!!!!! How could you not know?

 

[jensen]

On my trip to WDW in August of last year. Me and my boyfriend had camped out for an hour for perfect wishes viewing. The crowd around us up to 10 min before------ allow optimum viewing of wishes without standing. Then, a rude two girls(high teens to low twentys) walked through the crowd and stood in front of us and then five minutes later their group (about twenty more) pushed there way into our space and ask us could we could move (rudely). They stood up the entire time and forced everyone sitting around them to stand. Not only that the father put his child upon his shoulders and the child screamed with happiness and will probably enjoy that memory for a lifetime. Unfortunately, me and my boyfriend will remember having to separate during his first wishes so that we could get just a glimpse of wishes. Okay.....sorry long rant. My question for you DISers, is what is the proper protocol for wishes? It is my belief that if everyone sat, everybody could see. What do you guys think? 1) is there " proper protocol" or general manners for viewing wishes? 2) Is sitting or standing proper protocol? and 2) how to handle a father who blocked your view by putting a child on top of their head? and any stories where people who did not follow "proper protocol" ruined your viewing because they did not plan ahead?

You were sitting on the ground? Sorry, but I probably would have walked up and stood in front of you. You don't sit during Wishes.

 

[3Gsandme]

I understand wanting to sit after a long day at the MK, but I think expecting to be able to sit when hundreds/thousand of people are crowded into a small area for viewing is a little silly. I'd expect to stand for Wishes, et al.

We put the kids up on our shoulders, because, especially during Celebrate the Magic ,they just can't see. The minute one 5' person steps in front of the kid who's 3'6", we're kind of forced to figure something out so she can see, too. So, up she goes. Which means, of course, the people behind us probably have to do the same thing. I try NOT to stand in front of kids or people in wheelchairs because they can't help that they're shorter than everyone else.

Of course, at 5'2", neither can I.

To be honest, to secure an uncrowded, comfortable seated viewing of Wishes, one should probably spring for the dessert party.

 

[surferdave]

I would only stand for wishes if I could find a place against something like a wall or tree where I didn't block anyone else.

Last time I watched I was seated (like pretty much everyone else) at the front tip of the hub, and two guys who moved into the parade path stood in front of us with their arms crossed and ignored the shouts, jeers and projectiles hurled their way for a few minutes before giving in and sitting down.

 

[monkistan]

Was just in MK a week ago. Where I was, there was no place a human could possibly sit. We were being herded like cattle by the CMs. It was crazy. That said we ended up in a spot outside the ice cream parlor (we'd just gotten ice cream) and there was a girl standing against the wall of the shop. We ended up being in front of her but also asked to make sure she could see.

I'm not sure where you can sit for wishes. I also think that sometimes you have to stand in front of someone. The best you can do is be nice about it and make sure everyone can see.

 

[JimmyV]

I am in an amusement park with 50,000 others. I cannot control their actions and I do not want them trying to control mine. Pushing and shoving and entering other people's personal space is a no-no. But when it comes to sitting or standing, you do what you want. If you prefer to sit, then by all means do so. But do not expect the other 49,999 people to follow your lead, and do not get upset when they don't. So only sit if you can live with the consequences of others not doing likewise.

Someone mentioned sitting for the parade and having others stand up when the parade started. It is common to have a color guard lead off a parade, and it is customary and respectful to stand when Old Glory passes by. So never sit down for a parade and expect that everyone else will remain seated as well. If, after the presentation of the flag, you wish to sit down again, do so. But it is irrational to think that 49,999 other people will be of like mind.

Bottom line, look around you. If you can tell that your presence is obstructing someone who was in that area before you, do what you can within reason to stop that from happening. That is common courtesy.

 

[Disworldluv]

I believe the stand or sit protocol depends where you are at the time the
show begins. Normally, we watch Wishes in a area where you stand. We like the bridge that enters into TomorrowLand.

 

[JanaDee]

I've watched Wishes dozens of times, from places that ranged from the Hub all the way back to the train station.

I never once saw anyone sit.

 

[siskaren]

Someone mentioned sitting for the parade and having others stand up when the parade started. It is common to have a color guard lead off a parade, and it is customary and respectful to stand when Old Glory passes by. So never sit down for a parade and expect that everyone else will remain seated as well. If, after the presentation of the flag, you wish to sit down again, do so. But it is irrational to think that 49,999 other people will be of like mind.

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

 

[ucfknight]

Standing would be the expected behavior when watching Wishes.

 

[DebbieB]

I believe the stand or sit protocol depends where you are at the time the
show begins. Normally, we watch Wishes in a area where you stand. We like the bridge that enters into TomorrowLand.

That's my favorite place. Or the walkway by Casey's. If you stand at the rail, no one can get in front of you.