Watching Christmas parade taping

[momtotwoteens]

Can anyone be in the "audience" during the taping of the Christmas parade? I thought it might be exciting to watch. Who has done it? (I THINK we will be there during that time. The first weekend in Dec.?)

 

[chartle]

I think yes but be prepared for a very long boring, crowded 5 or 6 or more hours it takes to tape.

There is a lot of backing up and reshooting the major acts, so you have to be as enthusiastic the fifth time as the first.

 

[raven69david]

We did this in 2009 and it was a great experience. However we were at the Chris Allen, Jonas Bros and Celine Dion tapings - not the parade itself. Please be sure to get your tickets for the tapings by requesting them as soon as the listings come out. They are free tickets that get you into the park to participate. You can then visit the park once you're done taping.

This was a great experience. We recorded it on our DVR and then transferred the recording to a DVD. Now we have a permanent momento showing us participating in a Disney Christmas Day parade. It's something that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

 

[momtotwoteens]

Thanks. How do you request the tickets? Will it be on Disney's website?

 

[chartle]

Thanks. How do you request the tickets? Will it be on Disney's website?

I'm not sure if the parade requires tickets anymore, but maybe still the shows.

I now a few years back you had to be invited to be part of the parade taping.

 

[momtotwoteens]

I'll look that up and see. Thanks!

 

[DZNEE4US]

We have been there twice while taping was going on, and I don't think you needed tickets, because we didn't have any. Now, we were not a part of the "crowd against the curb", just bystanders at the back of the large crowd.
When we went last year, it was insanely crowded. They were escorting people backstage to aid the congestion on Main Street. If you have small children, it may be very hard for them to stand in the same spot for hours at a time. If you have any kind of touring plans or ideas, it will greatly impact them. I would suggest avoiding the whole mess! We won't be back in early December any time soon.

 

[Ash8716]

I was hoping someone could provide more information on this! I really want to attend the taping but keep reading mixed things on needing tickets and not needing them. Also does anyone know if they have a schedule out yet for who is performing?

 

[DOOM1001]

We were at the taping like 2-3 years ago on a Sunday the back up day if it rains Friday and Saturday.We go to the park around 10am,we didn't have the special tickets as those people are required to be there super early to go over the choreographed dancing and cheering.When we came in they were telling everyone who came in to go in the area for the taping as they literally had huge open spaces without people that doesn't look good on camera,probably many of the people who were there for the taping with the tickets couldn't stick around for Sunday after the rainy Friday and Saturday,or they just decided not to come.If you plan to go remember it is a LONG process,we spent like two hours seeing the Jonas Bros do continuous takes of their crazy summertime song.Then for the parade the same thing it's just hours upon hours of production.I would suggest trying to get a space by the front of Main Street as that's where the actual taping takes place.At first we were standing on Main Street close to the hub and what you see there is basically cheerleaders standing around and talking waiting for their turn to march down main street.We spent like almost 4 hours watching the taping and then we left to go ride some rides,we left the park at about 4-5 pm and the taping was still going on so as you can see it is a LONG process.In the end it's cool to do it as you get to see it all again on Christmas morning.I also got to see myself for a second in a long shot standing by the production tent as the Jonas bros played,that's another thing,since we didn't know the choreographed routines you can watch but try to stand somewhere off to the side as not doing the routines wouldn't look good on camera.

 

[Bete]

I was hoping someone could provide more information on this! I really want to attend the taping but keep reading mixed things on needing tickets and not needing them. Also does anyone know if they have a schedule out yet for who is performing?

This does change year to year; so, I would find out from the horses mouth. You probably should call more than once to Disney and make sure you get the same answer from the CMs.

You may find the CMs not familiar with the process, either. You may have to ask for a supervisor to get a better answer.

Doing a search may help, as well. Good luck.

When we did it we were sorry; I don't find this exciting at all. Maybe, if you really like a certain entertainer it's more worth it, but we won't do it again.

 

[DebbieB]

We were at the taping like 2-3 years ago on a Sunday the back up day if it rains Friday and Saturday.We go to the park around 10am,we didn't have the special tickets as those people are required to be there super early to go over the choreographed dancing and cheering.When we came in they were telling everyone who came in to go in the area for the taping as they literally had huge open spaces without people that doesn't look good on camera,probably many of the people who were there for the taping with the tickets couldn't stick around for Sunday after the rainy Friday and Saturday,or they just decided not to come.If you plan to go remember it is a LONG process,we spent like two hours seeing the Jonas Bros do continuous takes of their crazy summertime song.Then for the parade the same thing it's just hours upon hours of production.I would suggest trying to get a space by the front of Main Street as that's where the actual taping takes place.At first we were standing on Main Street close to the hub and what you see there is basically cheerleaders standing around and talking waiting for their turn to march down main street.We spent like almost 4 hours watching the taping and then we left to go ride some rides,we left the park at about 4-5 pm and the taping was still going on so as you can see it is a LONG process.In the end it's cool to do it as you get to see it all again on Christmas morning.I also got to see myself for a second in a long shot standing by the production tent as the Jonas bros played,that's another thing,since we didn't know the choreographed routines you can watch but try to stand somewhere off to the side as not doing the routines wouldn't look good on camera.

I was there that Sunday. A friend and I were walking through Tomorrowland when cast members asked us if we would like to join the Jonas Brothers taping in front of the castle. We figured why not. But it took so long to get the taping started, they were waiting for the sun to be just right. We didn't know the routine either but we were in the back by the Fantasyland walkway. We ended leaving after their first song, it seemed like a waste of park time. We later had lunch at Tony's and got a seat on the porch to see some of Kelly Ripa taping the finale.

 

[galligan4]

We were there a couple of years ago and the crowds were crazy. We were planning on being a part of the crowd and watch the taping. But after a few hours of being crammed together and watching the same thing over and over the kids got a little crazy. I took forever to get the takes right. It really was a very boring process. It wasn't anywhere near as fun as it seemed on tv.

 

[fatdaddy68]

We went in 2008 the annual pasholder website had an offer to go. Let me tell you it was probably the longest day of my life, we got there at I think like 5am the line was backed up to the bus stops. When the line finally moved we still were stuck at the gates, we got a sopt right in front of the candy store packed in like sardines. They were doing mary Poppins they must have taped about 10 shots of the same scene and wanted you to act like it was fresh each time smiling and cheering. Each major scene was shot over and over, the park opened for regular hours so people were comming in pushing to see the parade so now it was sooo crowded you couldn't even move. You literally stand in the same spot for hours and hours. We were so excited to do this and would never do it again. But it is still something alot of people never get to do so thats a plus for us, plus we saw ourselves on TV LOL

 

[DOOM1001]

I was there that Sunday. A friend and I were walking through Tomorrowland when cast members asked us if we would like to join the Jonas Brothers taping in front of the castle. We figured why not. But it took so long to get the taping started, they were waiting for the sun to be just right. We didn't know the routine either but we were in the back by the Fantasyland walkway. We ended leaving after their first song, it seemed like a waste of park time. We later had lunch at Tony's and got a seat on the porch to see some of Kelly Ripa taping the finale.

We go to the parks pretty frequently but had never been for the parade taping so we stuck around a little longer.We also saw Ripa at the front of Main Street which is why I suggested that being the place to watch the actual parade taping.

 

[goofy4tink]

I've never felt the need to be there for the actual parade taping. The front of the Castle acts taping is more than enough for me. I've done that twice.
In the past, Disney put up announcements on the AP holders site...they gave AP holders the first chance at securing passes for those curbside slots. Same for the Castle forecourt tapings.
Not sure how it's done nowadays. But I will tell you that it's not what I would call exciting. More like watching paint dry....especially the parade. Here's a for instance for you...
get there by 7am, be sent to a specific spot along the parade route. Stand there for an hour or so. Then, along comes the first float...you stand, cheer wildly. They do it again, you do it again..this may go on for 20 mins for one float or one act. Then, that float or act passes by. Now, you get to do it all over again for the next float, band or act. There's a reason they tell you that you have to committ to being there all morning. The parade taping can take 4 or 5 hours!!!
I've done the Castle tapings twice now...not once have I been able to make it more than 3.5 hrs. It's hard standing in one place that long. Won't be doing that again any time soon.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I know once we were there for the taping and didnt even know it. Our ds got to go down by the castle crowd. Actually the cm's were asking for more people to come in to fill the empty places.

Its something they will never forget. I know one of them got a nice picture of Beyonce. We had to miss our LTT lunch for them to do this, oh well. They were so happy.

I know another time we saw Katherine McPhee and my dh asked, who is that etc?

At one time I think it was done through Lightship Entertainment (taping tickets), but I think its done by Disney now. We will be there during this years taping and dh has an ap, but we are heading to the AK that day in the morning to avoid all the craziness.

 

[SrisonS]

I've been to the tapings during the past few years. You definitely don't need to get the special tickets either. Sure, they help to get in key viewing spots. But after a while, even those spaces start to get thin; and then anyone can just fill the space. I remember being WAY in the back when the Jonas Brothers taping first started, but eventually got REAL close. I would've touched them (appropriately though) if I was a manic 13 y/o girl.

But like others have said, it's not the best experience ever. Yeah, it was cool to me, because I'm local; and it was just something totally different to experience at the parks. But if you don't go to Disney often, I wouldn't plan on making a day of it.

And as far as the parade, you'll at least get to see some characters and floats that are quite rare (the only time I've seen Giselle from Enchanted). But even watching that is time consuming.

An idea of how far back I started (this actually looks closer than I was). The whole hub was packed all the way up to the Castle

Get Your Drool Napkins Ready!!! by Scott Smith (SRisonS), on Flickr

A lot of people eventually left, and they were trying hard to get people to fill in the space up near the Castle.

This accurately shows how close I was to them. And this is from behind that little stage in the 1st picture.


FANdemonium by Scott Smith (SRisonS), on Flickr


Come And Get Your Jonas Fix!!! by Scott Smith (SRisonS), on Flickr

 

[DOOM1001]

I've been to the tapings during the past few years. You definitely don't need to get the special tickets either. Sure, they help to get in key viewing spots. But after a while, even those spaces start to get thin; and then anyone can just fill the space. I remember being WAY in the back when the Jonas Brothers taping first started, but eventually got REAL close. I would've touched them (appropriately though) if I was a manic 13 y/o girl.

But like others have said, it's not the best experience ever. Yeah, it was cool to me, because I'm local; and it was just something totally different to experience at the parks. But if you don't go to Disney often, I wouldn't plan on making a day of it.

And as far as the parade, you'll at least get to see some characters and floats that are quite rare (the only time I've seen Giselle from Enchanted). But even watching that is time consuming.

An idea of how far back I started (this actually looks closer than I was). The whole hub was packed all the way up to the Castle

Get Your Drool Napkins Ready!!! by Scott Smith (SRisonS), on Flickr

A lot of people eventually left, and they were trying hard to get people to fill in the space up near the Castle.

This accurately shows how close I was to them. And this is from behind that little stage in the 1st picture.


FANdemonium by Scott Smith (SRisonS), on Flickr


Come And Get Your Jonas Fix!!! by Scott Smith (SRisonS), on Flickr

You were there the same day I was and had the exact same experience,got there and were asked if you wanted to see the taping and as the time passed moved all the way up close to the stage.We also moved up but stood to the side by the production tent.I think on that particular day the crowds for the taping were light since it was a Sunday back up day and many of the people who were there for the taping probably gave up as Friday and Saturday were near washouts.Probably on a beautiful Friday they would be topped off with people,without the need for regular park guests to fill in empty spots.