Really, how nice are people (advice needed)

[Efastpitch]

My biggest complaint is when you have taken the time to wait up to an hour or more for the parade to start, and someone just walks up with their children and makes a big deal out of why you should give your spot up for their child. If you want a good se on the curb, get their early like everyone else. Everyone wants to see the parade. Maybe the person(s) who got their early has never seen the parade before, maybe they have seen it 20 times. But, if they take the time to get their early, don't expect them to move for you and your family. Show a little respect!

 

[cindy21494]

After reading some of the posts, I feel in need to explain a little more in detail.

I have no problem letting a child sit on the curb in front of us if we are not sitting there ourselves. Since they are obviously shorter, they would have a harder time seeing. I am not a pushover about letting the adults push in front though.

I guess that is why I have a hard time understanding why they could not let our daughter sit in front of them (They had no problem letting their back pack sit there taking up extra space).

As for why we got there late, it was actually our fault. While I took DD's for a potty break, DH decided to leave the stroller parked in our space and asked the people sitting next to us to watch it so he could go grab the DD's a drink. He never thought someone would move it and take our space. When he got back the person he asked to watch it just shrugged their shoulders.

We always get a space about a hour before, even though DH thinks it is ridiculous.

I think it is sad the way people react to spots for the parade, and how mean they can get in front of children. I would never ask someone to actually move for us or our child, but what about letting a child sit where there is room??? It is after all more for the children isn't it?

I guess I am in the minority on this, but if you ever need a spot to let your child sit, I would still do it in a heartbeat.

 

[Efastpitch]

I read the post differently, I see that most adults would like to make the offer to your child. I understand what you posted, and having a child is tough. We have all been there. But, I think that if you have been to more than one or two parades at WDW, you have experienced what we are talking about. I always will offer my view to a child or a person trying to film the parade once it has started. But, I don't like it when someone expects or demands that I give up my spot.

 

[becka]

Well I hope you got your answer and that hopefully you will not need to make that potty break. We hope to be there that night and if DS last that long into the day I will be happy to save your seat for you if you are next to us.

I am also hoping it is not too crowded but you never know.

 

[jann1033]

really this thread shows how meanand self centered some people have gotten ( not posters, just people in general) I would never shove my child in front of someone else but certainly would also never mind having a child stand in front of me either( I can *manage* to stand for the 15 mins or so it takes a parade to pass, if I were in a wheelchair or something , naturally it would not be nice to have someone block my view). i remember many times in years past kind people moving so we could get a better view or letting our kids stand in front of them and also doing the same for others...to bad so much of that kind of attitude has been replaced with the "Me first" attitude we put up with everywhere else but that used to be a little less obvious at Disney

 

[MinnieGi]

jcemom - Spectro is a really cool parade and you are going at a great time to get good seats. Early February has low attendance rates and although Saturday night will still be crowded by usual attendance standards during the weekdays it is much less crowded than at other times. We were there last year in early February and literally had a choice of spaces to sit even just 15 minutes before the parade. This was also on a Saturaday night. We usually sit right around the train station. You might want to take advantage of the low attendance to check Spectro out!

 

[jcemom]

Thanks for the reply MinnieGi. I think I will try to rearrange things to fit it in. I have only read about Saturday night Spectro crowds being a nightmare, but maybe those people were there in the middle of holidays, I don't know. I don't mind finding a spot an hour ahead of time really, I think I am just picturing shoulder to shoulder people as far as the eye can see...LOL

 

[mikemelita]

It is WAY easier to find nice people than not nice. I have yet to meet someone i sat next to during a parade or show i regretted meeting. There are no better folks to ask help from than other families.
The kids are always willing to help!

 

[Lebjwb]

Last year My wife, 6 year old daughter and I found a great spot to watch the Spectro Magic Parade and we got there only 15 minutes before the show! There's a small bridge that the parade crosses over that leads into Liberty Square. Just on the near side of the bridge there is a drinking fountain. There is a space between the fountain and the rail that is perfect for viewing the parade as it goes over the bridge. Because the fountain is behind you, nobody tries to "creep" in front of you and your child can have a cool drink to boot! Plus it's right near "Sleepy Hollow: for a quick snack!

 

[catherines_mama]

Thanks everyone!

All of your posts have really made me realize that there are people out there who care. I will definetly be sure to stake out our spot near another family. Maybe I could watch their spot when their little ones need to potty. I was not reassured when we did our Christmas parade here, and DD had to potty during it. Granted.. she and I had a long chat that night about the parades when we went to see Mickey. LOL... I am definetly the kind of .. get our spot early kind of mom. I don't think it's right to pop up the last minute and take a good experience away from someone.

My only issue is.. I will have to stash my stroller in a store somewhere or next to a ride. DD will prob sit in my lap on the curb. Being only 2 1/2 I want to be with her the whole time.. ya know.

Thanks again for all your help.
-Deedee B.

 

[beatnik]

My husband and I travel to the World during the slowest possible times of the year and would never wait an hour for a parade. If we can find a reasonable spot 15-30 minutes before the parade starts, fine. If we can't, then we skip it. We have found very good "last minute" spots on the porch of Tony's Town Square and on the train platfrom by the entrance to the MK. The Tony's spot was really great, as it was a small table. My husband trotted off to get a drink and I had a nice seat to wait for him. Maybe one or two folks asked if his vacated seat was taken, but everyone was cool when I said, "yes." This spot is a bit back from the action, but it has a great view because the porch is raised. The train platform was also a really good place to watch the parade, although folks had lined up chairs well in advance and were sitting about 3 deep along the rail. Might be hard for your daughter to see.

The only really rude person that we have yet encountered at Disney was a lady in the MK during the Halloween Party-- she was smacking and screaming at her son, my husband turned to look at the commotion, and she threatened to hit him! It was crazy rude, but now we find it funny. She was a somewhat big woman, but my husband was pretty sure he could have taken her. She was like one of those crazy pugnacious people who always get themselves beat up in bars!

Anyway, that aside, you are going during a relatively slow time of the year and I think in general the park attendees will therefore be less stressed out. I bet you will have good luck with someone helping you out if necessary. If not, see what you can find at the last minute (perhaps others can suggest late-comers viewing spots, just in case they are needed).

Enjoy the parade, but also remember that the floats are very tall. You can still see alot if you are not in the very front of the crowd. As I am sure you know, life with a toddler requires a great flexibility of spirit!

Have fun,
Beatnik

 

[CheshireVal]

It is after all more for the children isn't it?

I'm sorry, but I have to take exception to this comment. WDW is for EVERYONE. I've been going to WDW since I was 9 months old, and even though my family is all grown up now, I don't think I'm less entitled to see the parade because I'm 29 and not 9 anymore.

I always get a spot at least an hour (sometimes more) in advance, and I'm tired of people asking me to let their kids in front of me or to cram into a 5" spot beside me. I'm not a babysitter, and I don't really like being made to feel inferior somehow because I don't have children yet.

If there is REALLY and TRULY enough space, sure, I'll let the kid sit there, but as someone said before, it's kind of a slippery slope. You let the child in, and then the mother comes, then the brother and sister, and suddenly your evening that you've been waiting on for hours is much less enjoyable.

(And I'm not anti-child-- I'm a teacher in fact-- but teachers need vacations, too! )

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My 4yo son and I will also be there in Feb (2/6-13). It will just be the two of us this trip and I am a little nervous about some of the details. We'll be there enough days that I am going to try and go at his pace, which will hopefully keep the stress level down.

T&B

 

[Disneefun]

Just to add to the people are nuts idea.. last year we went in Nov., a relatively uncrowded, unstressful time of year. We staked out spots 1/2 hour ahead becasue I love spectro and never want to miss a second and this was the only night all week it was showing. Anyway, a few people up from us a disturbance erupted. Apparently, one family had accidentally stepped on the hand of a child from another family as they were trying to cross the road. I gathered that the child was leaning out into the crosswalk and inadvertently got stomped. The family apologized profusely and went on their way.

Well, the child's family started yelling at them, all these non-disney words, right in front of other families and kids. The other family tried to ignore them and kept walking, but the insults kept coming. Finally the father had enough. He went back and more words were exchanged and a punch was thrown (the father of the child hit the other guy). About this time, security showed up and threw both of them out of the park, but both families remained to see the parade (you know, it really is more important to see a parade than bail your hubby out of jail). Anyway, the other family had now scored a place directly opposite the child's family and during the entire parade hurled insults and nasty language at each other across the parade route, over the floats.

People who had waited an hour or more were leaving their spots because (understandably) they didn't want to be around that. I stuck it out, having seen spectro many times and wanting to see how this ended. It finally ended when a small army of security guys threw all of them out of the park, about halfway through the parade, but by then a lot of people's nights (and maybe only chance to see spectro) had been ruined. Geez. It was all so unnecessary.

 

[DizBelle]

Originally posted by cindy21494
It is after all more for the children isn't it?

It's for anyone who enjoys it. Young, old, whatever......