Taping of Christmas Parade now November 10-13???

[cleverdisneyname]

Yes, I knew about the maintenance. We are staying at Shades, so we were planning on using the monorail from the Poly one or two days. The poster who mentioned the monorails made it sound like they wouldn't be running to MK. So that's why I am curious now!

 

[fla4fun]

We were stuck one day in MK during filming. We had no idea it was going to be that day or even week. So much for our planning! It was our first December trip. We went into MK and it was a nightmare. There was no back way to bypass the parade filming. After struggling for 90 minutes fighting our way through the crowds with my mom on an ECV we turned around and left. Took another hour to get out.
It was wall to wall people with CMs yelling to keep the side walks open. What a joke! No one listened and it was just chaos.

This year we made sure that we would not be in MK on the Monday it might be filming in December. I'm soooo happy to hear it's now going to be in November. Never again! Lol

So sorry you had to go through this. It doesn't make sense not to have the bypass open. They have been using it for so many years (even when you just looked at an ugly parking lot). In fact, one year, the parade taping was delayed by weather and ended up being on my MK day. They not only took us backstage between Tony's and the Chapeau, but instead of bringing us out by the Plaza Restaurant, we came out in Tomorrowland where Buzz usually greets by the CoP. They had two lines of CM's directing us through the parking lot. Using the bypass really does make such a difference, and especially for parties like yours with an ECV.

I miss the days when the parade was done live on Christmas Day. I was in the park for one of those broadcasts as well. It was a lot more fun to watch and you knew when it was taking place, .

 

[Daisy62]

I wonder if there was even a bypass then? It was probably 7 years ago we did that December trip. I feel like I'm so in the dark with this bypass. We do to Disney probably 3 weeks a year for the last 15 years and I've never heard or seen the bypasss. lol. We are always crammed in with everyone moving at a snails pace with the mobs every time we leave the parks. We do to the MNSSHP every year and have never seen this bypass.
It would have been perfect for your filming of the parade. We would have went right to the back if we had that option. Instead my poor mom was almost crying for being stuck in a mob so bad we could barely move, much less drive an ECV through it. We ended up going back to the Poly and relaxing for the day.

 

[tinkerbella16]

First, they don't run the TAPING DAY parade from near Splash Mtn.
They may bring out certain units from there, but it is not a continuous line of
parade units like during the "real" parade performances.

That said, in general...

1- You can get to Adventureland via certain dropped rope areas in-between the parade units.
These are staffed by CMs.

2- Same answer at #1.

There is also a wooden walkway next to the "River" that allows guests to pass behind the parade crowds in Frontierland that leads over to near the Riverboat and Haunted Mansion that guests can use to get to Fantasyland, and by extension, Tomorrowland in that direction.

On Nov 12th we have a 9:35am CRT adr and I am guessing I should just get there early but do you think we will have issues getting to CRT? I was planning on leaving around noon to rest and head back to MK, as we have a 4:30 dinner adr for BOG before our mvmcp. I would think they'd have a way to let guests get to their ADR's in time, right?

 

[bc7ate9]

Wow glad you can be so blase I am guessing this doesnt effect you.
You are pretty locked into all vacations less than 2 weeks before you leave

No, it doesn't. If we were worried about a vacation, we would just go elsewhere. FL has TONS of things to do. If I was worried about a parade ruining my trip, I would go to the beach instead. I wouldn't have that kind of worry in the first place, though.

 

[bc7ate9]

I wonder if there was even a bypass then? It was probably 7 years ago we did that December trip. I feel like I'm so in the dark with this bypass. We do to Disney probably 3 weeks a year for the last 15 years and I've never heard or seen the bypasss. lol. We are always crammed in with everyone moving at a snails pace with the mobs every time we leave the parks. We do to the MNSSHP every year and have never seen this bypass.
It would have been perfect for your filming of the parade. We would have went right to the back if we had that option. Instead my poor mom was almost crying for being stuck in a mob so bad we could barely move, much less drive an ECV through it. We ended up going back to the Poly and relaxing for the day.

We go every September and we saw the bypass for the first time on our last trip - 3 weeks ago. I think it's new - as an Official Thing, at least.

 

[DebbieB]

I was there about 5 years ago during the taping and the bypass as open.

 

[nym4588]

How soon does the MK tree go up after the taping? We're attending MVMCP on the 15th Nov, and I'm hoping that it's installed.

 

[missnic]

This may have been answered already.. but do we know when, exactly they're filming? All 4 mornings, 2 with 2 weather dates, etc? And do they release the entertainment schedule beforehand? We are seriously considering driving down (only 2 hours away) for at least one of the days, but if we go, I really want to be able to see some part of the whole thing. I know it will probably be a giant PITA, but I've never done it.

 

[WDWAliens]

No, it doesn't. If we were worried about a vacation, we would just go elsewhere. FL has TONS of things to do. If I was worried about a parade ruining my trip, I would go to the beach instead. I wouldn't have that kind of worry in the first place, though.

Amen to that!!

 

[mummabear]

No, it doesn't. If we were worried about a vacation, we would just go elsewhere. FL has TONS of things to do. If I was worried about a parade ruining my trip, I would go to the beach instead. I wouldn't have that kind of worry in the first place, though.

And if we were outside of our 45 day mark we may decide to do just that, however I am not flying 18 hours (plus airport times) to go to a beach, I can fly only 3 hours for significantly better beaches.
This is my issue that Disney has been sneaky in waiting to announce this until people are locked in.

So frankly your opinion doesnt matter to me, if it doesnt effect you it is pretty easy to be flippant about things.

 

[jimandami]

On Nov 12th we have a 9:35am CRT adr and I am guessing I should just get there early but do you think we will have issues getting to CRT? I was planning on leaving around noon to rest and head back to MK, as we have a 4:30 dinner adr for BOG before our mvmcp. I would think they'd have a way to let guests get to their ADR's in time, right?

We had an 8:00 BBB appointment on taping day and they had a special way for us to approach the castle but it wasn't difficult at all. I think you will be fine.

 

[Robo]

How soon does the MK tree go up after the taping? We're attending MVMCP on the 15th Nov, and I'm hoping that it's installed.

No way to know.
It often takes 2 days following the weekend parade taping dates.
THIS year, the taping is not on the weekend, so anything is a guess.

 

[Robo]

We go every September and we saw the bypass for the first time on our last trip - 3 weeks ago. I think it's new - as an Official Thing, at least.

It has been used for well over a decade.
They just open it whenever they think they need it.
There is also one on the opposite side of Main Street, (Firehouse/Crystal Palace)
but it has not been redesigned and is much less frequently used.

 

[jerseygal]

We were at MK later in the day this past Dec, taping day, since we just arrived that day, Sat.Dec.6th. In my opinion, it was a zoo; TOO CROWDED! Disappointed with the massive crowds that day; wasn't enjoyable at all! REST of trip, crowd levels were GREAT!

 

[chelynnah]

And if we were outside of our 45 day mark we may decide to do just that, however I am not flying 18 hours (plus airport times) to go to a beach, I can fly only 3 hours for significantly better beaches.
This is my issue that Disney has been sneaky in waiting to announce this until people are locked in.

So frankly your opinion doesnt matter to me, if it doesnt effect you it is pretty easy to be flippant about things.

I've just looked up where you're coming in from, and I can understand it's a lot of money, time, and planning coming from that distance. I'll be there the same time from the UK. I think sometimes those who are more local forget the extra planning, time and expense for those of us much further away.

Having said that, while I've not been during filming, and I understand your concerns, mostly what I hear people saying is that Main Street and the hub are super crowded, but everywhere else is practically empty. This could actually work in your favour. It also might help ease your mind a bit if you can find out what days the filming took place the last couple of years and then check those against the historical crowd calendars for those days on Touring Plans. I suspect those days may originally have been classed as busier even without the filming.

For us we'll be there on the Wed all day. I can't change that as we need all day for our friend who's never done Disney before. She's only with us for a couple of days and the other choices are party nights so MK closes early. But as of last night with the new park hours we've actually gained an extra hour at the park that night, so that is a bonus, and should make a difference.

Another bonus I'm hoping for is that I've read (even before this thread) that the Christmas tree never goes up before the filming so isn't up until December. I was bummed to be missing the tree, but now I'm hopeful that we'll get to see that as well.

So hopefully there are some silver linings to this blip you weren't expecting

 

[nym4588]

No way to know.
It often takes 2 days following the weekend parade taping dates.
THIS year, the taping is not on the weekend, so anything is a guess.

Thanks!

 

[bc7ate9]

.

It has been used for well over a decade.
They just open it whenever they think they need it.
There is also one on the opposite side of Main Street, (Firehouse/Crystal Palace)
but it has not been redesigned and is much less frequently used.

Ah, cool. I'm very glad it was open for us this year - especially with things feeling so much more crowded this September!

 

[cottontail]

We are scheduled to to into magic kingdom Nov 12. Is the mainstreet parade taped on all of these days Nov 10 to 13. Also I am with my daughter who is on the autism spectrom and will definitely have a meltdown if she is cornered in an area and cannot leave. I am concerned if we need to leave magic kingdom after lunch as she gets daily severe migraine headaches and we will not be able to get out. Should I need to worry on Nov 12 at magic kingdom as one would on the first day of taping.

Deb.

 

[msk]

Lori 74 and ars0525 I agree with both of you. I'll be there and plan on having the time of my life with my DH, my sister and sister-in-law. We will be the ones running around like a bunch of very old kids having the time of our lives. Hope to see you there!