So what's with all the curbside blankets saving parade spots?

[Indiana Scott]

I'm really in the minority here but I just don't care about parades. Nah, I don't "hate" them but they just don't do anything for me.
I think this gives me an unusual view point of both sides of the issue though.
I really understand that people don't want to waste hours of their time sitting on the curb and holding a spot. I also understand that people take this "savesies" thing way too far sometimes.
The only negative thing I see is that all those rugs, towels or what ever get kicked around and could easily end up being a trip issue.
I wonder if Disney will ban the spot saving tactics someday just for safety reasons.

 

[PatMcDuck]

I'm really in the minority here but I just don't care about parades. Nah, I don't "hate" them but they just don't do anything for me. The only negative thing I see is that all those rugs, towels or what ever get kicked around and could easily end up being a trip issue.
I wonder if Disney will ban the spot saving tactics someday just for safety reasons.

Not for nothing, but it also looks awful, all those blankets and coats on the ground. Takes away from the Disney Magic, of looking at Main St, and the shops, etc.

I do like to see new (to me) parades, or the night parades like the ELP at MK. The Halloween parade at MK is really something to see, too. But I never watch the same usual parades over and over. I will try and see the DL holiday parade on my trip after New Years.

 

[Suvadoo]

I think the CM's should pick up any unoccupied blankets. If someone wants to claim a spot for a parade, at least one person from your party should be there.

This is the same stuff people pull at resort pools. They put their towels on lounge chairs early in the day and come back later. I read an article about this happening at Aulani, but the management posted signs saying after a specified time, unattended towels would be removed.

 

[tinkermomma]

Last week we went for the first time in 2 years to see Christmas for the first time (for me and my daughter). Even though I have lived in So Cal my entire life and I am a huge Disneyland freak, this was the one season I just really haven't done.

I was shocked. The parade was a bust. 45 minutes till the show started and the parade route was packed to the rafters. It was mind blowing. We ended up at the far end right by IASW.

Now, mind you my newly 4 year old daughter is not an impatient person. She did great in lines (without a mobile device even ) but that was because we were moving. Once it got to the business of standing (or actually sitting on Daddy's shoulders) 15 minutes of that in place cramped like sardines and we were done. People we just so rude and it was not a fun environment to be in.

Our DD4 was disappointed about not getting to see the parade so we went and got a place for the fireworks. A very sweet mother and daughter were staked out near coke corner and there was room next to them, we asked if it was alright to occupy yhte space and if we were crowding them and they said no come on in, they were angels. We were at the corner of the walkway though and a CM said people might push and shove!! And to call out her name if they get too pushy... So there is one CM for you that knew what to expect and had a plan. :thumbsup:

Best part was when our phones went dead the mom sent took and sent us a picture of my husband and daughter watching it, now THAT was magic.

Moral of the story: If you don't stake out WAY ahead of time during busy seasons, you might not get the opportunity to see (or have a very uncomfortable time doing so) unless you are a nice person and hang around other nice people and then it might all work out.

 

[Laz]

This whole thread reminds me of the chair hogs on cruise ships. They get up real early in the morning just to save chairs by the pool. The same type of arguments happen with those "saved spots" as well. I love to grab a cup of coffee, stand on the upper deck, and watch all the drama. Is there some good observation spot at MK to watch the drama unfold?

 

[abwdreaming]

It appears the crowds at Disneyland have become too large. Perhaps it is time Disneyland divides the parade route into colored sections and then give out Fast Passes for both daytime and night parades. Only people with FP can enter roped areas. Others can enjoy the rides with shorter lines. Just a thought...

 

[CassieF]

It appears the crowds at Disneyland have become too large. Perhaps it is time Disneyland divides the parade route into colored sections and then give out Fast Passes for both daytime and night parades. Only people with FP can enter roped areas. Others can enjoy the rides with shorter lines. Just a thought...

Are you being serious? There's absolutely no way they could do is for the entire parade route, and doing it for only part of the route would not solve any problems (but if they can sell dining packages I wouldn't be surprised if reserved areas did pop up) of people staking out spots. The manpower alone would be ridiculous....both in distributing fp and regulating the return process...and with it being so expansive the number of CMs required to keep out non fp holders would be astronomical. Like fantasmic fp but worse, which I can't believe I'm actually saying...

 

[KiwiMouseGirl]

I proudly save spots for my family at parades and night time events. I usually will park the stroller on a curb, put my backpack to the side, and then sit on the other side. This let's my kids go on a ride or grab an ice cream while waiting. I feel like as long as I'm there, it's OK.

As for unattended blankets, it might as well be Far and Away - "This land is mine". It's like the game of Risk - you have to leave at least one army to hold the territory. Now holding a spot for 20? That's just crazy. For me, if you're holding for more than 10, that's just rude. But I am seeing all this from my own point of view.

We have also used backpacks in the past to "save spots" I guess you could say. On our trip in May 2014 I wanted to make sure we got perfect viewing of the fireworks. I want to say the show started around 9.45 and we got there at 7. It was just the two of us, and we managed to score seating right on the curb of the hub in front of the castle. We sat a few inches back from the curb with our legs out (not like straight, but bent) and had our backpacks behind us. We didn't do this to save room for other people in our party as there were none, we just knew that as the show grew closer there would be people that would try and push their way in and we wanted to make sure that when the show finally started we had just enough room instead of being crammed like sardines in a can. It was actually great as both nights we did this we had families come and try to push our backpacks over to make room for themselves to which we held our ground and moved them back. And both nights we were blessed to have a lovely family/couple POLITELY ask us if we might be able to move our bags a little so they could sit behind/beside us, and we were able to make some Disney magic and share our spot with them

 

[LalaCoop]

We were there 12/10 and 12/11, staying at BWPPI, the parade was set for 545 each night. We'd leave each day around 1:30 for nap time, and we're back at DL by 445 on the 10th. What a crowd! We walked the parade route to FL and decided to turn back and go to Adventureland. The next day I packed sleeping 7mo son in the BabyBjorn and quick walked thru downtown Disney to Earl of Sandwich around 3:30. By 4 we were on the monorail into DL while DD3 slept back at hotel with Daddy. I was able to scope out part of the route on the ride in, and it was already filling. We hightailed it to a spot right next to the coffee stand across from the far Tomorrowland entrance/Matterhorn with a decent view of Small World. I spread out a sarong, they're the perfect size for our family of 4. I messaged hubs pics of our location and landmarks to look for. He and DD arrived at 535, she passed out glow sticks to the kids around us, we at our sandwiches, it was great. The time spent cooing with my baby and people watching was wonderful. There were many others saving spots, but nothing unattended in our area. I was surprised at the number of people trying to squeeze in around us, and was SUPER glad that I brought a territory marker.

 

[AustinTink]

Fast forward to this year. There were blankets and jackets all along Main Street saving spots 3 hours before the parade was due to start! I showed up 2 hours early to actually SIT in a spot and barely found room on Main Street.

By chance, were you there on Dec. 31st? I know about 100 parents from our area were there that day waiting to see their band kids march in the parade. They staked out their spots for hours.