Should I take picnic blanket to the parks?

[DisneyDreamMom]

Sorry if this is a silly question - I just have no idea whether it is a good thing to do or not.
I we for example want to stake a spot for a parade of fireworks show and have to sit in one place for hours - do people usually bring a blanket for this purpose?

Also, how far in advance would you recommend beginning to camp out for a fireworks or parade? Does it depend on the particular event, or are they all about the same in terms of how much time one should allow to get a spot?

We'll be there beginning of April, so probably have to plan for crowds!

 

[klmorg]

I personally would not bring a picnic blanket. The only ones who can really sit for the parade are the ones who get a curbside seat. Everyone else stands, or if you're small you get held. Besides the only surfaces to spread a blanket on would be hard! As for the fireworks my recollections are that most everyone stands for them.

If we are trying to catch a parade or fireworks show we get to the general area about 45 minutes before the event and then just get a spot when we see others begin to do the same.

 

[MHSweb79]

Ask yourself if this is something you want to cart around with you all day. If you're bringing in a stroller, it might be easy to tuck it in the basket underneath and forget about it. Otherwise, it would be a hassle.
Crowds and lineup times for parades and fireworks vary widely, even during a single trip. Nobody can tell you how early you'll need to line up but it's safe to say at least 30 minutes before, if not more, if you expect to get a front row seat.

 

[DisneyDreamMom]

don't people sit on the ground while they wait though? It would be hard to hold my squirmy toddler standing for 45 minutes I imagine!

 

[dyna]

Even when sittin you are on concrete usually an disney has the cleanest concrete ever, yeah it's hard but I myself would not bring anything to sit on wouldn't want to have to haul it around.

 

[jcemom]

We usually bring a couple of hand towels or a thin fleece blanket. We only bring the blanket if weather is cool enough for DD to need it in the morning and evening to cover up with. Otherwise it's the towels. If I have a blanket I throw it in the basket of DD's stroller. When we no longer have a stroller we won't take the blanket any more because I wouldn't want to carry it around. The towels go in my baggalini pack.

I've never used them for fireworks, I don't think. We usually sit on a planter or bench somewhere. I have used them for parades though, on the curb.

 

[redrosesix]

We were just there, and there were a few times I was wishing I had brought a couple of those Dollar store fleece blankets with me. Both for sitting on and for keeping warm on the TTA.

 

[ancestry]

don't people sit on the ground while they wait though?

As some of the previous posters mentioned most people do not sit on the ground either before the parade or during it. I don't recall seeing anyone sit during the fireworks at all. A few may sit during the parade but they are in the minimum. The atmosphere is different than other community parades where people frequently sit. Chances are if you sit someone will end up pushing in front of you or being pushed in front of you if it is crowded and you won't be able to see.

I know I wouldn't want to carry around a blanket all day. We always try to minimize any belongings when in the park as no one in our group ever wants to carry them.

If you google something like "Disney Parade Photographs" you will be able to see all types of photos of the Disney parades, most of which have the crowd on the side of the photos. You will see that the vast majority of the crowd stands in all of the photos.

Good Luck!

 

[Schmeck]

Also, if you plan to put your blanket down too early for a parade, realize that there are still going to be people walking up and down the walkways and streets around you, and you and your blanket will most likely get stepped on, quite a bit. A stroller can help block some of the traffic from getting on your blanket, but not all of it, unless you have two strollers to use as bookends.

 

[PrincessMama605]

If you're going to have a stroller anyway I think a small blanket is a good idea. Usually when they start getting ready for the parade, we stake out our spot and sit on the curb to wait. You'll know the parades will be starting soon because the CM's start putting posts in the ground and then they string rope between to keep the crowds back. Then once the parade starts we stand up so we can see. To keep my dd (3) busy while we are waiting I get her something to snack on or give her something to play with. Those glow wands and necklaces from the dollar store are great and then she doesn't ask for the expensive blinkie toys that they sell.

 

[bweagle]

We use our ponchos, rather than a blanket, because it's something we have to bring along anyways. Like a previous poster mentioned, it's never been a matter of the area being dirty....we usually travel in the summer and that concrete is hot, hot, hot by the time we staking out seats for the afternoon parade. In the evening, we just sit on the bare concrete curb while we wait.

 

[ksmommyof4]

The only time I saw people sitting were if they in the front row everyone else was standing.We were lucky enough to sit on a bench.Like someone else said if you wanna cart it around all day then its up to you.