Taping of Christmas Parade vs. Spectromagic

[inky dinky doo]

I'm looking for comments, especially from those who were in the Magic Kingdom last year on the day they taped the Christmas Parade.

We get to WDW on Dec. 6, and I had hoped to see the Spectromagic Parade that night. I know it's a Saturday, but Chef Mickey's, the monorail circuit, and the MK parade are sort of a first-night tradition for our group.

IF the Christmas Parade is taped that day, does it have any effect on the running of Spectromagic? Thanks for your help!

Pat

14 days and counting . . . again!

 

[4 Princess Morganne]

We are arriving on the 6th also. It is our tradition to go to MK via the monorail from EPCOT and have dinnner in MK, then stay for Spectromagic and take the bus back to YC. Based on the earlier thread talking about the horrible crowds on the parade filming day, I don't know if we will do that this year. I really hope to find out how what time the crowds thin out, if they affect anything other than Main Street and - like inky dinky do asked - will Spectromagic go off as scheduled for 8 and 10 pm.

Please - those who have been to the parade taping before - share your experiences!

Thanks!

Morganne's Mommy

 

[DebbieB]

Last year we went to see Spectro & fireworks the night of the Christmas Parade taping. We arrived planning to see the fireworks and the second run of Spectro. We got there about 7:30 and they hadn't run the first Spectro yet, everything was pushed back an hour due to delays in the taping! I think they were originally planned for 7:00 & 9:00, fireworks 8:00. This year I guess they already took that into consideration and made the times 8:00 & 10:00, fireworks 9:00.

 

[4 Princess Morganne]

Debbie B - how were the crowds when you got there at 7:30? Could you walk up and down Main Street or was it shoulder to shoulder people?

I am seriously considering changing our plans for the evening, however it is the best night for us to see Wishes - and I really wanted to see if Wishes was as good as everyone says.

Thanks for your input.

Morganne's Mommy

 

[twotoohappy]

on Dec. 6th the wdw website now says that Spectro is now at 9 and 11 and fireworks at 10..... I think I'll be seeing spectro on Mon or Wed. instead.....
and the share a dream parade is bumped to 5pm..... totally messing up my ps for
dinner

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for posting about the time change. I may rethink that night also. My Mom isn't well and we really want to see Wishes, I don't know if she will be able to stay out that late. We are flying in that day and will be up early for a 9:20am flight. I may move it to Monday or Wednesday.

Debbie B - how were the crowds when you got there at 7:30? Could you walk up and down Main Street or was it shoulder to shoulder people?

We were shocked when we walked into Town Square at 7:30 and the curbs were full. We anticipated that the first Spectro (7:00) would just be over, we first thought everyone was already seated for the second Spectro. We walked over to the Emporium, looked around and then heard the "15 minute" announcement from Jimminy Cricket and asked a cm what was going on. She told us the first Spectro wasn't until 8:00, everything was pushed back an hour. We came out of the Emporium in Town Square and just stood behind some people sitting on the curb and watched Spectro from there. I think we hung around there also for Fantasy in the Sky. We didn't go up Main Street.

 

[inky dinky doo]

It sounds like it might be a good idea to keep an eye on the official site, huh?

I had an e-mail from my daughter, and she heard that other things are being taped, also, to be shown with the parade on TV. For example, she read that Lance Bass, from NSYNC, is taping a part from Mission Space and Clay Aiken is taping something else.

Has anyone heard anything about other tapings or is that all just a rumor?

Pat

13 days and counting . . . again!

 

[Familymoon]

The call for extras said that the filming of the parade was on the 7th of December.

 

[DebbieB]

They are filming celebrity segments on Nov 30th and Dec 7th. When you watch the parade on Christmas morning, it appears that everyone was there at the same time ("let's go over to Animal Kingdom with xxxx...."). In reality, the non-parade parts can be taped on different days. The call on TV Extra is for Nov 30 with Star Jones at Animal Kingdom and Dec 7 with Raven Simone and Ericka Dunlap (Miss America) at Magic Kingdom. The actual parade is being taped on Dec 6.

 

[twotoohappy]

Inky dinky doo.... you caught my attention with..... "Clay Aiken is taping something else".


Let me know if you here about him.... I'd love to see him!!!!!

 

[Obsessed w/Disney in OH]

I would be the best Mom in the world(play on words!) if we would come within a mile of Clay Aikens!!! Do tell--rumor or not!?!?

I have daughters who would be sooooo excited!

 

[inky dinky doo]

If I hear anything more, I absolutely will post it here. You do the same. OK? So far, though, I've heard nothing more.

I did notice, though, on the official WDW site, that the afternoon parade at MGM and Fantasmic are both moved up one hour early on Friday, Dec. 12, and I wondered what that might mean. Hmmmm . . .

Pat

12 days and counting . . . again!

 

[DebbieB]

It's possible they are having an after hours party for the Pop Warner group. I think they are there until the 13th? We ran into that 2 or 3 years ago where MGM closed early for their party. One thing that happened that night - many of them arrived before park closing so it got very crowded at the end of the day.

 

[anewvance]

Wow, this is the first i've heard of this. My sister and I are arriving Dec 6th for a sis only trip. What time do you have to get there to watch the taped christmas parade???? Do famous people ride on the floats or is it just the holiday parade??

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by anewvance
Wow, this is the first i've heard of this. My sister and I are arriving Dec 6th for a sis only trip. What time do you have to get there to watch the taped christmas parade???? Do famous people ride on the floats or is it just the holiday parade??

No famous people and it gets VERY crowded and it takes several hours to tape. They keep redoing the same segment over and over so they have a few to choose from and then they splice it together with the famous people that they tape on other days and other parks together and then you see the final product on TV.

I've heard that it's quite boring and that the park should be avoided!