shows, saving seats etc

[luvsTink]

Hi all,
I had an interesting experience last week at MVMCP during one of the shows. So, I wanted your opinions.
1. is it appropriate to save seats at a very crowded show?
2. is it appropriate to keep large bags,etc on seats taking up space?
3. how much "personal bubble" space shoule one expect in a crowded show?
4. If you like sitting on the end, should you have to scoot in to make more room?

Thanks for any and all opinions!

Anne

 

[Robo]

1. is it appropriate to save seats at a very crowded show?
2. is it appropriate to keep large bags,etc on seats taking up space?
3. how much "personal bubble" space shoule one expect in a crowded show?
4. If you like sitting on the end, should you have to scoot in to make more room?

1. A couple. But, the others should arrive within a reasonable time before the show begins.
2. If you mean to warn others that the seats are "saved," that's a good way to do it.
Otherwise, nope.
3. Zero
4. You can offer to stand and let new arrivals fit into the spots created by the other "scooters."

 

[HdnMickeyGrl]

Hi all,
I had an interesting experience last week at MVMCP during one of the shows. So, I wanted your opinions.
1. is it appropriate to save seats at a very crowded show?
2. is it appropriate to keep large bags,etc on seats taking up space?
3. how much "personal bubble" space shoule one expect in a crowded show?
4. If you like sitting on the end, should you have to scoot in to make more room?

Thanks for any and all opinions!

Anne

1. I think it's fair to save one or two seats.
2. I think it's fair to place a seat marker using bags, etc... for the one or two seats referenced in no. 1 above.
3. None. Absolutely none. I have been to Fantasmic when it is standing room only and I know that there are those with space bubbles taking up seats. Don't be a space bubble hoarder. Give up your personal space and squish in so everyone can see. If you are watching a show, you aren't going anywhere anyway. You don't need any more room than it would take to lift your arms to get a drink or snap a photo.
4. I say no, just be prepared to look like one of those moles in the whack a mole game as you stand up and sit down over and over again to let people get past you. Even then, if you are on a bench seat, like Fantasmic, the end might not be the end. You are often asked to scoot all the way to one side and you might find that you need to scoot yourself away from the end.

You have to share your interesting experience with us!

 

[andymattmom]

Saving seats at a crowded show- my opinion no! What is so important that the entire party can't arrive at the same time. Everyone should go potty before the show starts. It is not fair when one person is saving even a couple of seats and a party of 2 comes and find great seats only to be told I'm saving those. Imagine if everyone did this...

Saving seats with bags...sorry if someone is not in the seat and doesn't appear in a couple of minutes then I would ask CM to have person move bags since they are saving seats. Once again imagine if everyone did this.

If I arrive at Fantasmic early and get a seat and the entire row is filled...we are all not on top of each other but still close together. A family arrives at the last minute and wants people to squeeze together so they can sit together...sorry I am not budging...if you are at Disney at a crowded time please arrive to a show early. Buy some popcorn or snacks and enjoy the time people watching or just relaxing.

If you are on the end should you have to move ....no. Let the other party by you.

Just my opinion...

In September we arrived at Fantasmic 45 minutes early during the minimal crowd season. We just sat and talked. My 13 year old spoke minimal spanish and played with a 4 year old spanish girl...a fun experience for them!

We arrived at Indiana Jones early...

If people choose to arrive early those who want to wait until the last minute shouldn't expect preferential treatment. I said something to a rude person who tried to stand in front of me at MNSSHP ...we were sitting with lots of others on Main Street and the large man, his large wife and large daughter totally blocked my view of the fireworks. I tapped his leg and polietly told him I couldn't see. He moved back an another person told him to move...he mad some rude comment and left. This was after the fireworks started.

Saving seats is rude...that is my opinion. There is really no excuse for the entire party not to be there and sit. There is really no resason that anyone in the family can't be entertained while waiting.

 

[liesel]

I think it is all right for a couple of seats to be saved for a brief errand, such as the bathroom. I have a 3 year old and a 7 year old and we have all waited together for 45 minutes for a parade or fireworks. Often, with just a few minutes left to go, one of them will need a trip to the bathroom. It happens, even if they both went before we began waiting. We try to accomplish this with a minimum of disruption. I have found that parents can be very understanding in this type of situation, we've all been there.

 

[mdoc]

1. is it appropriate to save seats at a very crowded show? I have no problem with this, within reason. I think everyone's experience is enhanced if children who aren't good at waiting aren't forced to sit doing nothing for long periods of time, so if an adult can save seats while another adult keeps them otherwise occupied, that's fine with me. Similarly, if a few people in a party want to save spots for a couple more, that's OK. One person reserving an entire row while 17 other members of the group do something else? I'm not OK with that.

2. is it appropriate to keep large bags,etc on seats taking up space? During the show, absolutely not. As space savers while saving a seat for someone - see #1.

3. how much "personal bubble" space shoule one expect in a crowded show? I don't think people should be crammed in like sardines. If it's bench seating, I would think the amount of space that you'd get in a regular theatre seat is appropriate.

4. If you like sitting on the end, should you have to scoot in to make more room? Yes - it's not fair to make people climb over you, even if you came early in the hopes of getting an end seat.

 

[WUVmyDISNEY]

I do think it is appropriate to save a few seats. I saved one seat for my husband while he roamed a little. I did this by placing his his jacket next to me. I don't think we can expect any "bubble" room at a crowded event. Also, what I typically do about end seating....I can not take sitting in the middle and feel too closed in....for example, at Mickey's Philaharmagic, although I was one of the first in, I let just about everyone get seated before me and then chose an end seat that was left for myself.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We went to Spectro one night during our vacation. Thanks to numerous MVMCPs this was the only Spectro of the week, so we knew it would be crowded.

People started to sit on the curb TWO hours before the parade! We finally gave in and took a spot behind the "curb sitters" nearly a hour before the castle lighting.

My kids grew very restless. My husband would bring a couple at a time for potty breaks or to get a drink. I held down the fort by using our jackets or bags.

It was a madhouse, but I thought it was unreasonable to make anyone sit for that amount of time. We became so overrun that we gave up our place after the parade and started to progress down Mainstreet for Wishes.

I don't see anything wrong with people leaving their space for a few minutes, as long as the majority stay put.

Also, I think it is rude for people not to move all the way forward on rows. If you don't want the end, don't rush to get in.

 

[PuckHeadBill]

Everyone should wait in line together. Once you're in the theater, for theaters with bathrooms inside (LMA, Fantasmic), then it's ok for one person to take the kids to the bathroom while the other saves their seats, but if not everyone is in the theater, then no saving seats.

I'm not a CM, but I have friends that are, and most of them have worked in theater-style attractions ... all of them have stories similar to this: 'we cut the line when the theater was full, and NOBODY else gets in. {I} can't count the number of times someone would come up to me at the rope and demand to be let in because their family was saving them seats. My response was always the same ... "Sir/Maam, this theater seats X people. We currently have X bodies inside. If your party is saving seats, that means that we've got people standing up, and yelling at the cast members inside because there's nowhere for them to sit. I suggest you call your family and tell them you'll be meeting them after the show"'

 

[notsogoofy]

if every person saved just one seat, the place would be half full. (but then thered be room for US!)

 

[TDC Nala]

Hi all,
I had an interesting experience last week at MVMCP during one of the shows. So, I wanted your opinions.
1. is it appropriate to save seats at a very crowded show?
2. is it appropriate to keep large bags,etc on seats taking up space?
3. how much "personal bubble" space shoule one expect in a crowded show?
4. If you like sitting on the end, should you have to scoot in to make more room?

Thanks for any and all opinions!

Anne

1) One or two seats for a short period, fine with me. Save a whole bench for the extended family who are down at Rosie's eating pizza? I wouldn't.
2) If you're saving a couple of seats for a short period, ok. If you just want to put the bags on the seat, not cool
3) None.
4) If it's just you, and you can stand or swing your legs out to let people pass, OK then. If it's your whole family and people have to climb over all of you to get inside, you should scoot.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I'll reply to the first question, since the other questions are more straight forward.....

I was at MVMCP last Tuesday, and for the 7:00 Twas the Night, the theater was WAY PACKED.....all seats were gone by 6:30.....there were quite a few people saving (QUITE A FEW) seats around me.....nearer to the show, around 6:40, somebody would come ask if they were saved about every 30 seconds.....it was getting to a point that I started looking around to find those people's families cuz there were probably 100 people standing when their families walked in......(I even saw a guy get angry at a lady for saving a half a row for 45 min.....both were a little unreasonable, but moving on)

I agree that you should be able to save seats for a few people if they need to take care of something, popping out for some food to bring back or the restroom.....and maybe somebody running maybe 5 or so min late......but saving for 6+, for 45 min, that's just kinda mean......

oh, and the end question......depends on which end.....at Galaxy Palace, we sat on the end (inside end) of the side section, assuming that "fill in all available space" means from the outside in.......that makes sense.....but if you're at FOTLK (where it's hard to climb over people and they try to fill in rows in order), and sitting on the end with a whole empty row, I think you should at least stand up waiting for the row to fill up, or find a more filled row.....

 

[aladams2]

With small kids I would say definatley it's ok to save seats. There is no way my DD7 and DD5 would be able to sit for an hour or more for a spot to see. I would save a seat for them and DH while he took them on a ride or a snack. You have to be there early to get a decent seat. I used my backpack and a sweatshirt to save the spots. No big deal in my opinion.

 

[andymattmom]

I have to chime in again. I can see a 2-3 year old not being able to sit, but 5 and 7 sorry that is old enough to learn to sit for awhile . Kids need to learn to sit and wait and especially by that age. My kids were that age the first time we went and they sat and waited for parades and shows...

I still think it is wrong to save spots at parades and shows. I can see if a small child needs to go potty--that is something that can't be stopped. But older kids and adults know that if they need to wait for a show to start they should go before. For one adult to roam around while another saves seats...sorry that is wrong.

Guess we all view things differently. Next time I guess my 13 and 12 year old will ride in the double stroller we borrowed from someone while they were on the ride, cut in line a few times, I will save 10 seats on the curb for a parade while they go on rides, go potty, get a snack and then come sit by me right before the show since they aren't old enough to learn to sit... just kidding!!!

 

[wishing4PA]

I can see if a small child needs to go potty--that is something that can't be stopped. But older kids and adults know that if they need to wait for a show to start they should go before. For one adult to roam around while another saves seats...sorry that is wrong.

I respectfully disagree. Some adults may "know" they need to go, and go before finding a seat, but still need to go again before the show. If there's time, I don't see anything wrong with the adult taking a break.
My DD4, on the other hand, could probably go once then sit through 3 shows.
So it all depends on the person.
In my case, at least I could bring DD along and everyone would just assume she's the one who had to go, at least until she's in the bathroom yelling, "but I don't need to go potty!"

 

[Lynn5700]

I think it is ok. I mean what if you want to go grab a snack or something or if somebody gets behind and can't make it there at that time. I don't have a problem when people do that.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There is a difference between holding seats for people who have not arrived, which is wrong, and saving seats for people who were seated who have to leave for a short period of time (bathroom break) which is OK.

For example, at Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular we have gone to Standing Room Only with every space filled. One of the Host assignments is "Packer", whose official job is to get people to move in as close to each other as possible. When I am assigned as a packer I will not allow people to hold spaces for people not yet arrived, telling them we have seating for about 2,000 (and I have seen the counters go over 2,200) and if they are not there yet they will have to stand in the back.

And as far as people sitting as close together as possible, I will generally announce that the people you will be sitting next to think you smell as bad as you think they do, so it does not really matter.

 

[luvsTink]

OK, I am feeling much better now....here is the story:
We arrived later than I had hoped for the twas the night show (20 minute prior to the show) I knew that my group of seven would not get to sit together, so as we walked the far outside rows we asked people with empty spots if seats were taken. In short order everyone was comfortably seated but me (being the tour leader and all )
So, I found an end seat that had 2 spaces available, then a large (6' 4" I would say...not heavy just big) man typing away on his blackberry, a small boy, a camera backpack and shopping bag taking up two spaces and then a lady. I asked the lady if she was saving the seats with the bags, she said no, when I asked her if she would move them, she said no so I asked the gentleman if he was saving the end two seats, he said he was saving it for his wife. I said "can I have the other seat then" and he said, "well, actually, I enjoy being able to stretch out my legs." I smiled and sat down assuming he was joking. As the overture started a cast member asked me if the seat was taken as people were starting to sit on the concrete. I pointed toward the man who angrily stated that it was for his wife. As the show actually began to start, the cast member asked me to move over so another person could be seated. I told the man that the cast member wanted that seat. He then even more angrily said it was for his wife. The cast member explained that the show was closed and no one else could come in. He (the man, not the cast member) turned to me and SHOUTED...YOU SHOULD NOT COME IN 20 MINUTES BEFORE THAT SHOW AND EXPECT TO SIT UP FRONT. I smiled and said that I didn't think it was necessary for him to take up three seats. He than said (equally meanly) that he had stiches in his leg and needed the extra space ....this was, of course, the first time this was mentioned. Now, please note at this point I was very upset....and I said, "surely you are not telling me that you came to a crowded theme park on a party night with stitches so tender that you can't sit near another human" (I know, not exactly the high road) He then got in my face and said (he was clearly British) "you are quite a smart-A**** woman arn't you!" As my mouth dropped open in shock the castmember again came over and told me that I would have to move closer to this maniac. In tears I got up and went to stand with my three daughters (who had given up their three seats to other people....they are the best kids EVER). Anyway, later the cast member came to me and asked what had happened, after I explained he offered me VIP seating for the next show, but we wanted to enjoy the rest of the party so we declined.
This was BY FAR the most negative experience I had ever had with guests at Disney....I now think that the rude lady that wouldn't move her packages was his wife, since his wife never did materialize.

 

[wdwobsessed!]

This is a little OT but we were at Illuminations last year and we got to a spot where we wanted to stand and watch and we got there about a half hour early. Well behind us there was grandparents with their grandchildren, sitting on a bench. Illuminations starts and my familys attention goes right to the water. Well the Grandfather starts yelling at us because he couldnt see. So we moved a little bit because we didnt want to make a big deal. Well the grandfather gets up and takes my hood of my hoodie and PULLS ME BACK OUTTA HIS WAY and i kind of did a 360 and i ended up facing them and the grandmother pushed my chest and i stumbled back and into my dad. and the grandfather just said what didnt you understand about me saying i cant see? I was just like what? like i was compltely taken back by this ( i was 18 at the time). Well my dad got really mad and he was just telling him to never put his hands on me and pull me outta the way like that and if they cant see then stand up like the rest of us and the grandfather was straight up yelling at my dad and making a scene. but my dad kept his cool and tried to talk. well about 10 minutes later the family was escorted out of the park. I'll never forget the way these grandparents yelled and pushed me in front of their grandkids.

 

[bwilcox]

There is no way my 2-year-old could sit in a chair waiting for a show for an hour. When we go to F!, I will get our seats while my husband walks around with her, and I will not feel the least bit guilty about it. She has a hard time sitting still, and an hour is just way too long. Please don't blame it on my parenting- my 3-year-old could sit quietly in his chair with a coloring book and crayons for the whole hour, so I must be doing something right! But with her age combined with her personality, keeping my DD there would be torture for her, us, and everyone within earshot!
Now, saving more than 2 or so seats for a group of people who just want to go on a few rides instead of wait, that's a different story.