What do you think of this?

[ter-moo]

When I was at DL a couple of weeks ago, I grabbed a spot for the evening parade while my two friends went into the bakery to grab us some hot chocolate. It was about 45 minutes before the parade was to start.

When I found the place, there were three other families there who let me in saying there was plenty of room for us. On the ground was a beach towel, and I asked if that was anyone's place. A family who had been sitting there for an hour or so said it had been there for a while, but didn't belong to any of them.

About 20 minutes before the parade started, a lady came sauntering over and yelled at the family for "taking her spot." She had put the beach towel down a few hours prior and then she and her family had gone off to enjoy the park. We all told her that you can't just put a towel down and not leave a person with it--it wasn't fair. Her claim was that "that's how you do it at Disneyland; Everyone does that." The guy whose family was sitting there wouldn't budge, so the lady went and got a CM, who said, "well, she DID have her towel there." The guy said, "Well I would have liked to have just set down something and gone off and enjoyed some more rides with MY family, but we've been SITTING here for the last hour instead."

All along, I was telling the lady there was plenty of room for all of us. She was simply glaring and sarcastically saying, "Well, MERRY Christmas to YOU" to everything we said.

She finally left with the CM. Not sure where they ended up.

Has anyone ever heard that this IS standard Disney practice as the lady was claiming? I can't imagine it is!

 

[evilprncess96]

That just sounds outragous. If that was the case the parade route would be covered in towels all day. So sorry that you experienced this.

 

[DangerMouse]

I think it sounds like pretty typical Disneyland behavior, unfortunately.
Ain't sayin' it's right . . .

 

[LucyDingo]

I've never heard of people just leaving a towel and going off to enjoy the park. That is ridiculous. That woman was clearly a fruitcake. A very RUDE fruitcake...haha.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

I agree with Lucy! I do feel sorry for the CMs at DL. Dangermouse is right that they do have to make some concessions at DL, because of the nature of some of the "local" park attendees.

Not right, but what can you do when you are in the guest services industry.

 

[ter-moo]

The saddest part is that the angry lady could have joined a REALLY nice bunch of people. By the end of the parade, we were all friends and were hugging and wishing each other Merry Christmas. She chose to be stubborn and not stay there with the rest of us (there really WAS room for all--just not ON the curb) and I think SHE missed out!

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

This is why dd and I have stopped watching the parades consistently at DL. Instead of being a magical experience that we can all share in it has become a competition for the best spot and view.

When we do watch a parade we get there early. Since it is just the two of us there is no running off to do rides and what not. We just use that time to chill and have a snack!

 

[LucyDingo]

I don't think I've ever actually watched a parade at Disneyland. I've walked by and kind of seen bits and pieces. But I've never actually stood/sat and watched a parade.

And from the looks of it...there will be no parades at Disneyland at all on our next trip. Which stinks because I had actually planned on watching one this time.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Hey Lucy - here's a tip for the parade. You can always get a last minute seat by the cannon across from the Opera House in Town Square, because people think the brick curb cut is a walkway and it's not. You can also get one right next to the Camera Store/photo pick-up store. We do that a lot, as we are often coming out of Baby Care and run into the parade.

Those are not competition spots like being on Main Street directly.

 

[LucyDingo]

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, no parades are scheduled for our visit.

 

[pixiewings71]

I've never heard of people just leaving a towel and going off to enjoy the park. That is ridiculous. That woman was clearly a fruitcake. A very RUDE fruitcake...haha.

Amen!!!!

The saddest part is that the angry lady could have joined a REALLY nice bunch of people. By the end of the parade, we were all friends and were hugging and wishing each other Merry Christmas. She chose to be stubborn and not stay there with the rest of us (there really WAS room for all--just not ON the curb) and I think SHE missed out!

Sounds like it was definitely her loss. Maybe she thought that by throwing a fit she could get better seats from the CM. How lame!!! I would NEVER put a blanket or towel down and assume that I would have a seat hours later. We love watching the parades but we have amazing luck walking up at the last minute and finding a spot so we tend to not stake out a spot.

 

[pixiewings71]

Thanks for the tip. Unfortunately, no parades are scheduled for our visit.

Keep checking, sometimes they add them at the last minute.

 

[LucyDingo]

Keep checking, sometimes they add them at the last minute.

They are redoing the tracks on mainstreet so I think that's why there are no parades.

 

[DangerMouse]

I believe during the time they are repaving Main Street, they are offering F! nightly in lieu of a parade. At least that is what I had read on another Dis fan site.

 

[LucyDingo]

I believe during the time they are repaving Main Street, they are offering F! nightly in lieu of a parade. At least that is what I had read on another Dis fan site.

Eh. I'd rather see the fireworks. I hope they add those to the schedule.

 

[pixiewings71]

They are redoing the tracks on mainstreet so I think that's why there are no parades.

Oh that's right, I keep forgetting that. No parades from 1-5 to 3-19 or something like that right?

 

[LucyDingo]

Oh that's right, I keep forgetting that. No parades from 1-5 to 3-19 or something like that right?

Not sure of the exact dates. But that sounds about right.

 

[bumbershoot]

Leaving a towel sounds like a really good way to have a towel stolen!

 

[nunzia]

Last time I checked there was nothing on our trip in January except Fireworks on the weekend nights. No Fantasmic, no parade..I think just an odd offering of Pixar parade in DCA..

 

[LucyDingo]

Last time I checked there was nothing on our trip in January except Fireworks on the weekend nights. No Fantasmic, no parade..I think just an odd offering of Pixar parade in DCA..

I looked earlier today...and they didn't even have fireworks listed for the weekend we're there.