Those kids on Mom or Dad's shoulders

[CanadianGuy]

This is in part why I LONG ago gave up on premium parade locations.

I find a spot where I can see the darned thing and that's good enough.

If I can't find a spot, I move along to an attraction with a short line.

Most times I can find a spot where I can see and not block people's view. I'm only 5'8 so this isn't hard.

You can drive yourself nuts over finding just the right spot for parades/fireworks - gosh knows I have. But in the end, I'm on vacation and I just want to relax more than anything. The stress of parade fighting (new sport-- SPIKE TV you listening?) is too much for me.

Knox

 

[BamaFan121s]

Obviously not. (to the bolded part) But what happened to common courtesy?

I think that if I have held a spot and have sat there waiting for the show/parade/fireworks to start and someone near me decides to put their kids on their shoulders once the show has started that is rude. Why should their kid's view and needs be greater than mine? If people are so worried about their children seeing the event they should plan better and get there early to get a front row seat. I make sure we get to our spot early so my kid can have a good view if it is important enough for us to see something. Why is that so much to ask? Again it goes back to the "it's all about me" attitude and that more than anything makes me very sad.

Hey, you won't get any arguments from me...I DO get there waaaayy in advance so that we don't have to do the shoulder thing. (And again, DH is 6 1/2 ft tall so chances of anyone being behind himn are slim to none.) Again, if we do, it's because we walked up late to a show or street performance and we ARE in the back. I just know that telling the people behind you of your plans seems to be the going suggestion for those who sit until the parade starts and then stand later on...I just thought it made sense here too. If someone is going to put their kid up regardless of how you feel about it, wouldn't you be more appreciative if they turned to you and let you know while you still had the chance to move, or would you rather just be surprised when it's too late?

As far as "common courtesy," you may as well just chalk this up as 'one of those things you can't control.' There are lots of things people do (within their right) that I personally feel are less that 'courteous.' You just have to deal with it sometimes cause you sure as heck can't stop it.

 

[Sea-Donkey]

The average height of a US adult male is 5'10". The average adult female is 5'6" (I think...close to that anyway).

Does this help in any way?

 

[texasteacher35]

What a bunch of complainers! That's what makes Disney less fun...whining and complaining...People should be courteous...that's what EVERYONE in Disney should be working on!

 

[mking624]

What a bunch of complainers! That's what makes Disney less fun...whining and complaining...People should be courteous...that's what EVERYONE in Disney should be working on!

Just an FYI, you're telling everyone that people should be courteous and that's exactly what this discussion is about.

 

[brenda1966]

Like someone above mentioned about the parade and being told by CM's to sit and move the stroller, I wish there was more consistency in the CM's controlling the crowd and making it fair for everyone. I know at DL they do a really good job of controlling the Fantasmic crowd -- they have to. In certain areas it is sitting only. Strollers have to be folded and everyone has to be sitting on the ground. Kids are not allowed to stand but may sit in laps. In other areas it is standing only and I don't think they allow kids on shoulders. In other eating areas it is sitting in a chair only. Kids are not allowed to stand on the ground or chairs. They have to sit in a lap, chair or stroller. If the people standing were allowed to put kids on shoulders, then the people in chairs wouldn't be able to see. It all flows backwards (ie. the sitting people have to sit so the standing people can see and the standing people can only stand so the chair people can see) and DL has it under control.

Since WDW ropes off the fireworks sections I think it would be fairly easy to say "this is a standing area only -- no kids on shoulders in this area." or "this is a sitting only area".

Dare to dream.

 

[EnnEss]

The fireworks are generally fairly high over head and even with someone at 7'0 (kid on shoulders) in front of you, you can see it. The place is for kids, granted you wouldn't know it from me, the amount of times I go and I don't have kids. I know there are lots of people there, like me, with no kids so its not just for kids, but kids have less control over their situation and their experience is controlled a lot more by those around them than the average adults is.

If a view is blocked by a kid in front of me, so be it. I hope he or she has the same memories I have.

 

[seashoreCM]

If your kids can't see the parade, maybe you should go take them on a ride or something.

About the only thing that would keep people seated would be an array of many bars that heads but not shoulders would fit between. These bars would be closer to the ground at the front of the seating area.

 

[Andy Lou & Meg]

My husband is 6ft 6in tall (very handy when it comes to cleaning windows and raching things on the top shelf).

He is obviously aware that he is very tall so when it comes to parades etc if he is not sitting down he will let people in from of them so that they can see. If DD wants to sit on his shoulders it no problem as he will move to an area so that people can see. It makes DD about 9ft tall and she has the best view of anybody.

As long as people are considerate to those behind there should not be a problem but you will always get people who are selfish and block out the view of children (they should be made to walk on hot coals).

Moral - If you are tall be considerate, if you are an adult who does not give a dam about anybody other than your own view etc then surely you should not be going to the happiest place on earth in the first place.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

The fireworks are generally fairly high over head and even with someone at 7'0 (kid on shoulders) in front of you, you can see it. The place is for kids, granted you wouldn't know it from me, the amount of times I go and I don't have kids.

Other posters have pointed out that there are other elements to the show besides the fireworks. But I take exception to your second sentence. Walt never intended his parks to be for kids. WDW is for everyone who enters its gates, not just children. Granted, parents should give their children all due consideration, but they should also be considerate of the other guests.

As Roy Disney said at WDW's dedication in 1971: May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place ... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn ... together.

 

[BamaFan121s]

a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn ... together.[/B][/I]

Lol...so long as they are not blocking one another's view.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Well I sit on my dh's shoulders for all the parades and then he hands me the kids one by one until we have a totem pole. I figure we are just tall and not spread out so this way there is more room around us for people to sit.

 

[dreamergirl78]

Hey, you won't get any arguments from me...I DO get there waaaayy in advance so that we don't have to do the shoulder thing. (And again, DH is 6 1/2 ft tall so chances of anyone being behind himn are slim to none.) Again, if we do, it's because we walked up late to a show or street performance and we ARE in the back. I just know that telling the people behind you of your plans seems to be the going suggestion for those who sit until the parade starts and then stand later on...I just thought it made sense here too. If someone is going to put their kid up regardless of how you feel about it, wouldn't you be more appreciative if they turned to you and let you know while you still had the chance to move, or would you rather just be surprised when it's too late?

As far as "common courtesy," you may as well just chalk this up as 'one of those things you can't control.' There are lots of things people do (within their right) that I personally feel are less that 'courteous.' You just have to deal with it sometimes cause you sure as heck can't stop it.

Maybe you are right. I guess it would be nice to have someone tell me they were going to put a kid up on a parent's shoulders. Gives me a heads up, but I still think if those people are in the front of the crowd, it's kind of rude.
And your last paragraph is so true, but really sad don't you think? I know we can't change it, I just wish people would be more aware of the golden rule!
Glad to know there are a lot of us who are on the same page! Makes me feel much better!

Lol...so long as they are not blocking one another's view.

Well I sit on my dh's shoulders for all the parades and then he hands me the kids one by one until we have a totem pole. I figure we are just tall and not spread out so this way there is more room around us for people to sit.

Now there's an image!!!

 

[palmtreegirl]

Doesn't bother me, when it's happened I just take a step to the right or left and then I can see just fine.

 

[pixiemel]

The fireworks are generally fairly high over head and even with someone at 7'0 (kid on shoulders) in front of you, you can see it. The place is for kids, granted you wouldn't know it from me, the amount of times I go and I don't have kids. I know there are lots of people there, like me, with no kids so its not just for kids, but kids have less control over their situation and their experience is controlled a lot more by those around them than the average adults is.

If a view is blocked by a kid in front of me, so be it. I hope he or she has the same memories I have.

Very well said! You are absolutely right! Thank goodness for others like you who truly "get it"!

 

[BamaFan121s]

Doesn't bother me, when it's happened I just take a step to the right or left and then I can see just fine.

What? You mean, just like it wasn't a really big deal and an easy fix? Now there's a concept for you.

 

[Mrs. Nesbit]

I have a very tall family (my dad is 6'10) and we would never step in front of another family or put anyone on our shoulders if we knew there was a possibility of blocking someone's view behind us, but if there isn't anyone behind us and someone half way through the parade or fireworks decides to stand directly behind us, I don't view that as our problem at all. There are tons of places to watch the parade, so anyone who sits behind us in the middle of the parade has no reason to complain. Now, if a family is able to see and chooses to sit behind us and we suddenly pop the kids up on our shoulders, that is definitely rude and I would never do that. I think it all depends on timing and the best way to avoid problems is to be aware of your surroundings.

 

[johde]

I think the thing we need to remember is all of us probably do something that gets on other peoples nerves while we are at Disney. We need to not let these type of things get to us. Most of these stories involve people doing something you weren't expecting them to do.

One time I was sitting on the sidewalk waiting for Spectromagic to start (I don't normally wait for parades but my feet were tired and wanted to rest). I was about 3 rows back. As soon as the parade came around the corner, 1 adult in the front row with a video camera stands up to record the parade. Now, the people behind them can't see unless they stand up as well. You see where it's going. I need to stand up to see the parade (I'm 6' 4"). So at that point there are probably people behind me who need to put children on their shoulders to see around me when I was planning on sitting and watching the parade. Was the person in front being rude? I don't know. I had times at Disney where everyone stood when watching the parade and I've had times when people were sitting 6 people deep.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My children have never been able to see a parade because we refuse to put them on our shoulders. I think it is very rude.
We haven't even tried to see a parade since we've gone with the kids. We've spent our time riding rides instead.

Now that they are 11 and 7, we may try to catch a parade next time we go. But if we run into the same unable to see situation, we'll just go ride some rides.

As far as fireworks, we stay back very far and while we haven't always been able to see all of the color changes on the castle, we've at least been able to see all the fireworks.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . There are reservations/rules/guidlines about air space...common courtesy. I do agree that your kids/grandkids deserve to see...but not at the expense of the others behind you . .

1) Alas, this is a question that can't be answered to everyone's satisfaction.
2) People and kids in other than the first row deserve to see parades easily.
3) But, it can't always happen.
4) I don't think WDW will make people stand according to height.
5) Or, install bleachers/risers for people to stand.

6) So the questions are:
. . . do kids (or short people) 2-4 people back from the front row have a right to see?
. . . if they can sit on dad's/granddad's shoulders to see, why not?