Saving spots for PTN/Disneyland Forever etiquette

[Metalliman98]

So a few weeks ago my wife, son and I were at DL and, for the first time (in forever...., sorry couldn't resist) we actually staked out a spot hours before hand to get a good seat.

My question is this: next month we will be going again, and my in laws will be coming for short while; they will basically have two nights at the resort, one MHP night and one normal night, so really one chance to see PTN and Disneyland Forever, as we don't want to waste MHP time camping out for the parade. I have decided to be the one who stakes out our spot hours in advance this time to make sure they get a good spot. I was planning to go for a bench near the end of Main Street/beginning of the hub, or possibly a curb spot in Main Street itself. What is the etiquette for one person staking out a spot for 5 adults and one child? Bring a blanket and spread it and myself/stroller out along a bench/stretch of curb? Or is that frowned upon/disallowed? I know it will be a challenge to maintain, as people are very aggressive when it comes to trying to hone in on saved spots, because we experienced this a few weeks ago, but is it considered poor etiquette or bad form?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

If you bring a blanket to save spots, you will have to stay on/with it while you wait. CMs have said that if they see a blanket that is empty for more than a few minutes (up to 20 minutes is what I've read), they will take the blanket to lost and found. Obviously, if you need to make a run to the restroom, let your neighbors know so they can watch your spots until you return. I would think that one blanket would be fine. More than that would be questionable.

 

[grnflash]

I'm not saying the OP shouldn't bring a blanket because I know it is common practice and thus acceptable based on what Disney allows. I just always wonder why blanket saving spots is any more acceptable than saving spots in line. The same people (not in this thread) will call out line jumpers as cutters but themselves save spots for a looooong time. I'm not talking about bathroom breaks, a run to the churro cart here. I'm talking about spot saving for a long time (let's go with more than the 20 min. referenced above.) Who wouldn't rather jump into a parade spot someone else has held for hours - seems just like jumping into a line to me.

 

[Geemo]

A blanket with one person holding the space for the rest of the family, in my opinion is rude.

Wasn't there something a few weeks ago about a blanket ban on saving space?
CM's were going around telling people to put their blankets away. That everyone in the party needed to be in place NO space saving now.

There is so much to do in the parks. If you want to ride the rides, get in the line.
If you want to see PTN grab something to eat and everyone in the party take a break. Eat while you are waiting for the parade to start.

The crowds as start time approaches will make it extremely hard to hold space for 6people.
If this is what you do, good luck.

Geemo

 

[SMD]

I think you're going to get some push back from CMs trying to save 6 spots. Earlier this summer people were reporting the CMs were allowing groups to save 3 spots. For 6-7 people you should have half your party wait, with each saving an extra spot. You can rotate the people, but you're going to have a hard time fitting that many people on a bench, holding more than one bench, or securing that much curb space with a blanket.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

First off all, I applaud you for asking instead of just doing it!

Personally, I don't mind the blanket if the MAJORITY of the party is there (like if somebody went off to grab dinner for the group or a bathroom run). I do find it a bit rude for one person to save a spot for 6 others. I'll also say you'll have a hard time doing it in the area you want as people will start encroaching on your space despite the blanket.

The last time we were there was June, so it may have changed by then, but be aware that CMs were picking up unattended blankets as well those who didn't have their entire party on it an hour before the start.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

In an ideal world, the OP and his family could wait together for parade spots and still have a good view. He mentioned that this visit the grandparents will be joining the group. It is possible that the older folks won't be able to sit for a long period on a curb (if the OP can't get a bench)or even on a hard bench. The suggestion about rotating several family members to hold spots is a good one. I know my parents wouldn't be able to sit for hours on a bench or on the ground without taking time to walk around (slowly), so rotating wait turns would work for them. At least the OP is asking ahead of time and trying to be considerate.

 

[Metalliman98]

Thanks for the opinions everyone. To clarify, I was not in anyway planning to throw a blanket down and leave it there by itself; I would be there in the spot the entire time, not even trips for food or to the bathroom. I just know that all the good spots get taken 3 or 4 hours before the parade starts (though this may not necessarily be true for an early weeknight in October), which puts us right the middle of dinner time. The in laws want to do wine country that night, so right now we have reservations for five there and I was planning to miss out to stake out our spots. The in laws don't want me to miss out, but they don't fully realize what time you have stake out a spot to get a good one.

How I wish Disney had some sort of fastpass (meal related or otherwise) for the parade and fireworks; I'd gladly pay for it. I know you can get VIP seating for the shows if you do a private tour but that unfortunately is not possible.

FWIW, the in laws are pretty spry and while it would not be comfortable for them to sit for long periods (heck I'm 35 and it's not really comfortable for me!) they'd be more than capable; they just want to do a TS dinner at dinner time.

 

[SMD]

Thanks for the opinions everyone. To clarify, I was not in anyway planning to throw a blanket down and leave it there by itself; I would be there in the spot the entire time, not even trips for food or to the bathroom. I just know that all the good spots get taken 3 or 4 hours before the parade starts (though this may not necessarily be true for an early weeknight in October), which puts us right the middle of dinner time. The in laws want to do wine country that night, so right now we have reservations for five there and I was planning to miss out to stake out our spots. The in laws don't want me to miss out, but they don't fully realize what time you have stake out a spot to get a good one.

How I wish Disney had some sort of fastpass (meal related or otherwise) for the parade and fireworks; I'd gladly pay for it. I know you can get VIP seating for the shows if you do a private tour but that unfortunately is not possible.

FWIW, the in laws are pretty spry and while it would not be comfortable for them to sit for long periods (heck I'm 35 and it's not really comfortable for me!) they'd be more than capable; they just want to do a TS dinner at dinner time.

If they want to do other things, then tell them that the trade off is a less than ideal spot for the parade. The answer is not to stake out a large section of curb for 3-4 hours for 6 people who aren't even in the park. I also want to eat TS, hop to DCA, go on rides, but if I want to see the parade more, I wait.

 

[Geemo]

How I wish Disney had some sort of fastpass (meal related or otherwise) for the parade and fireworks; I'd gladly pay for it. I know you can get VIP seating for the shows if you do a private tour but that unfortunately is not possible.

I'm sure it's only a matter of time until Disney goes to a FP system for parades too.

Fantasmic! is an example of Disney changing to a FP system. I haven't been with the new FP system for F!. But I never had a problem with the old way.

Mid week early October shouldn't be too bad. I feel watching PTN during a MHP might be easier then you think.
Have you reviewed Disney's schedule for the time you're there? When I looked at our dates, the first full week of Oct., PTN is showing two times a night on non-MHP nights. The second showing on a week night is when we plan to see it.

If you fluff your blanket out for the second show (10:45pm) you might not have as much of a challenge saving 6 spots. You might not even need to use a blanket to save space.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Another option would be to do WCT another night and get meals to go at Plaza Inn (or somewhere else). Everyone could eat their fried chicken on the bench at dinnertime while waiting for the parade.

 

[ashley0139]

I think it will be difficult (not to mention rude) for one person to hold spots for 6. If 4 people were there the whole time, sure. The thing is, when you stake out spots for that long, you get to know the people around you. It's not cool when right before the parade people you haven't been waiting with for the last few hours walk up and get front row spots.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I also think it will be hard for one person to hold spots for so many people. I asked a cast member what the rule was, and was told one space per person, or maybe two spaces per person, so if there are six of you, 2-3 people should be saving spots. As time draws nearer for the parade you're going to be dealing with people continuously trying to encroach on your space.

 

[Tyggress]

When I have a group that big, we will ALL go and stake a spot for the first little while; essentially marking it as ours. Then, as time goes on, a couple people will go ride SM, for example...and when they come back, someone will go grab ice cream; then when they get back, a couple others might go ride something else. But we pretty much stay as a mostly complete group the whole time; and when it gets to be about an hour before it starts, we make sure we are all back and don't leave.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Wow I am surprised at this thread and how many are telling the op its rude. She came here for help. I haven't heard its rude to save spot for the parades and stuff before of course I am a 3 person family and last year I waited for the parade on my bench (yes I grabbed a bench) and it was a 4 or longer hour wait. My hubby took my son one time to get Caps autograph after the ppl next to us said the line was 5 mins long, this was our last day and we had missed him in the AM. So i said gooo and shooed them away.

Never seen it be said it was rude to have a blanket down and save a curb spot. I do think two or three ppl should wait with you.
Could your parents maybe her an ECV? That way they have seats while waiting.?

 

[grnflash]

Wow I am surprised at this thread and how many are telling the op its rude. She came here for help. I haven't heard its rude to save spot for the parades and stuff before of course I am a 3 person family and last year I waited for the parade on my bench (yes I grabbed a bench) and it was a 4 or longer hour wait. My hubby took my son one time to get Caps autograph after the ppl next to us said the line was 5 mins long, this was our last day and we had missed him in the AM. So i said gooo and shooed them away.

Never seen it be said it was rude to have a blanket down and save a curb spot. I do think two or three ppl should wait with you.
Could your parents maybe her an ECV? That way they have seats while waiting.?

I think you are misinterpreting the replies. It's not about the blanket. It's about one person holding a spot for hours for 5 people. The OP asked a question for opinions, people gave them.

 

[SMD]

Wow I am surprised at this thread and how many are telling the op its rude. She came here for help. I haven't heard its rude to save spot for the parades and stuff before of course I am a 3 person family and last year I waited for the parade on my bench (yes I grabbed a bench) and it was a 4 or longer hour wait. My hubby took my son one time to get Caps autograph after the ppl next to us said the line was 5 mins long, this was our last day and we had missed him in the AM. So i said gooo and shooed them away.

Never seen it be said it was rude to have a blanket down and save a curb spot. I do think two or three ppl should wait with you.
Could your parents maybe her an ECV? That way they have seats while waiting.?

You haven't experienced the crowds waiting for the new parade. The CMs are being strict about saving spots and the crowds are very compact. It is not the same situation as saving spots for last year's parade.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Keep in mind so matter how long you have saved a spot, when the parade starts, people are going to push in at the last minute and squeeze you out of your spot. I avoid parades; just tired of rude, pushy people.

 

[Metalliman98]

I am thankful for all of the honest replies. I am not "mad" or "upset" that the idea I have put forth is being called rude; that's exactly the question I wanted to have answered! I do not wish to be rude, even if it is unintentional, so I wanted to run this idea by the community to get people's takes, in part because I have never really staked out a spot for a parade before and wanted to see what was considered acceptable. I am very glad for all your thoughts and insights.

I think part of my thinking at the time was that the schedule was showing there would only be one showing of the parade on the non-MHP night; to the poster who suggested that I check if there are two showings, thank you! The website now shows two showings, so I will inquire with my in laws as to their desire to stay up for the later showing; though that wouldn't help us with fireworks viewing.

In any case, if we do stake out a spot, it will be at least half of us, if not more. Thank you all again for the input!

....and FWIW, I'm a he, not a she. Guess I need to add a photo for my avatar, or make my user name less ambiguous.....though I thought it was fairly unambiguous to begin with.......but no big.

 

[Mommy26]

....and FWIW, I'm a he, not a she. .......but no big.

You sound very manly. I think its just how the internet goes.

I never thought the spots in the middle or even the back were that bad. Your in laws can always watch the same parade but from the back.

I've gone to the movies with a group of friends and sat in different places and we still saw it "together" and talked about it when it was over.