Stops along MK parade route

[JABEAR]

During parts of the current MK parade, the parade stops and the characters go and get some kids to dance with them in the street.

Where are some good locations to be positioned along the route to increase the chances of getting to participate in the parade?

 

[KatieBelle]

The parade no longer stops. Sorry!

 

[JABEAR]

Really? When did this happen and did Disney give any reasons for it? My son really enjoyed the experience and the video of him "in the parade" is priceless.

 

[Chuck S]

There was an accident back stage in July, a CM was killed by a float that apparently started up after a stop in the parade. The floats have not stopped during the parade since the accident for safety reasons.

 

[PKK/MJK]

Actually the accident/fatality happened last February (the 11th, I believe) and it occurred backstage as the large Princess snowglobe float was starting up and preparing to enter the parade route. As I understand , the parade 'stops' really had nothing to do with it..... but because of this tragedy, safety rules, which were always strict, have been tightened up a LOT!! The parade 'stops' were great fun for the children, but there were many safety concerns. The 'little ones' tended to run all over trying to dance with Snow White or trying to walk with Cindy's bridesmaids. Parents got involved too--wanting to get in the parade route to take pictures. The decision to eliminate the 'stops' was sad, but it was definitely the right thing to do.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by PKK/MJK
As I understand , the parade 'stops' really had nothing to do with it..... but because of this tragedy, safety rules, which were always strict, have been tightened up a LOT!! .

Just to elaborate a little bit more on that... The Princess Float (the one that was a part of the accident) was dismantled and removed from the parade entirely. They are only using the first snowglobe of the 3 part float (for Cinderella, Prince Charming and the Fairy Godmother) which was only just readdmitted to the parade a few months ago. The rest of the Princess' are on the float that was the lead float in the old "Remember The Magic Parade" (not a snowglobe). There is not a dance routine/show stop activity that is associated with this float so it would be out of place, as the Princess' would not be coming off of it, and the kids would want to run up on it to see the Princess'. Also the music for the show stops is on the floats themselves which that float does not have. So it was a safety and a show aspect that caused the decision to illiminate the show stops.