What is the deal with standing at parades and fireworks

[robynv]

I'm puzzled as to why we had to stand for the parade and the fireworks? It made it hard for my kids to see over the adults all around us. I've never encounterd this before. Was it simply to pack more people in ? If so, that is not cool with me.

 

[disneyfanzz]

This happened to us in October and it was horrible. We were sitting waiting for the fireworks and my son had fallen asleep in my lap. Cast members came around and told us we would all have to stand. My son wouldn't wake up and was screaming during most of the fireworks. My other kids could only see the adults standing around them. I decided we probably won't see the fireworks again.

 

[DisneyFairytale]

I think it's a matter of space. They have hundreds of people who want the best spot for the parade, the only way to do that is to keep everyone standing. Tho I agree with you, it's not much fun, I'm sure they have many reasons we haven't thought about or know of as to why they have set up that way

 

[Hester]

Agreed ... this is ridiculous and only compounded the problems I was having with the teenagers around us.

My wife and daughter had gone to the restroom and I had to "hold the Alamo" as the group of teenager next to me kept packing in newcomers. When they made us stand, they just filled the space in around us and when my daughter did make it back (miraculously), I had to hold her, as not to be trampled by the unruly crowd. I almost lost my *%*% big time.

All in all ... I will never, NEVER, NEVER, EVER stake a place out in front of the castle for fireworks. The absolute worst Disney experience I've ever had.

 

[Boo Bear]

That sounds so stupid. If you snooze, you lose... if theres no room for other people then they just have to deal.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I never get this either. At WDW, you can sit to watch Wishes, your view may be obstructed by people standing but you are free to sit on the ground if you desire. I remember when you could sit at DL too, but that was pre Remember.

This is one of the reasons we enjoy seeing them back by Its a Small World. Far less crowds, places to sit and not that mob mentality you get by the castle. You miss some things but for Remember they did projections on the exterior of IASW that were very cool, not sure if Magical is the same way. But regardless, the fewer crowds and abilty to sit are worth missing a few of the affects and Tink flying, especially if you have members of your party who are elderly or young children.

 

[robynv]

ok then. so it is not new and you all know what I mean then. I found it completely puzzling. I mean what the ...>?? This was our first trip to DL having only been to WDW in recent years. Why during parades too? If the front row stands then only they can see, if the front sits well then back rows can see. This was the only thing about the trip we really hated. It was so stupid, it also made it easy for lots of pushing and shoving with stroller wars. I think it made it much harder.

Fix this Disney...

 

[zeitzeuge]

This is strange. When we were last there in December of '08, we tried to stand (we were about the 4th row of people from the front and couldn't see well) while watching the holiday parade and were told by CM's we had to sit so people behind us could see. Eventually they made almost everyone sit except for the back row. When we saw the fireworks that night, our entire area of the hub was sitting for the most part. Is this something new that Disney is doing?

 

[Amy&Dan]

I think the parade thing is new. I know when Parade of Dreams was going, you could sit. But my brother was there when the new, current parade was going and he was told they had to stand due to the way the performers on the parade route perform.

As for fireworks, my experience has been that since Remember they made people stand. I asked once (since we generally sat when it was Imagine, because even with people standing in front of you, you could still see since they are high up) and the cm told me that Remember was so popular, drawing such huge crowds and that they had now decided for safety sake, everyone needed to stand.

 

[specialks]

I am really worried about this. When we were there in September we watched the parade back near the Storybook Canals/IASW and we were able to sit. Then we watched it again on Main Street another day and again sat on the curb. This will be horrible unless you get there really early and lay down for your spots how do you make sure you can see things. I hope they get enough complaints that they change this so hopefully by our trip in September we will again be able to sit.

 

[Golfing Goofy]

This is strange. When we were last there in December of '08, we tried to stand (we were about the 4th row of people from the front and couldn't see well) while watching the holiday parade and were told by CM's we had to sit so people behind us could see. Eventually they made almost everyone sit except for the back row. When we saw the fireworks that night, our entire area of the hub was sitting for the most part. Is this something new that Disney is doing?

That is the way we remember it too....I can't believe they are making everyone stand. That makes it so hard!

 

[Minuet888]

It was this way for the fireworks about two years ago we had to stand but we had 3 small children with us and only two adults to hold them so they could see. The youngest fell asleep so we put him in the stroller but what if he was awake? How do they expect small children to see???

 

[DVC&CM]

Safety.

 

[bumbershoot]

Safety.

Agreed.

Although I've seen some sitting for the old parade, that area is always roped off from the walkway. And there's sitting for the fireworks back in the big, broad, area near Small World, but that's a nice big area where you won't get bottlenecked too easily.

But the idea of people sitting willy nilly along Main Street and in front of the castle during the fireworks just screams fire hazard to me, and I'm a little freaked out that it's ever been allowed!

I'm only 5'3" and I've never had a problem seeing the fireworks even with tall people in front of me...after all, they're high up in the sky...but what DOES get my goat is when a tall person decides that their child can't see and puts them on their shoulders...augh.... My brother and I once had a whole rant about that, while waiting to ride Nemo, then we went to find my hubby and son who were watching a parade...and hubby had put E on his shoulders. OH that was a fun convo! I hold DS on my hip or in a piggy back position and he can see at the same level that I can, and if it's good enough for me it had best be good enough for him.

 

[Minuet888]

safety my butt you are more likely to get trampled with everyone standing then with everyone sitting

and you wouldn't have a problem with parents putting their kids on their shoulders (so they can see too!) if everyone was sitting.
How else are small kids supposed to see?

 

[toocherie]

Agreed.

Although I've seen some sitting for the old parade, that area is always roped off from the walkway. And there's sitting for the fireworks back in the big, broad, area near Small World, but that's a nice big area where you won't get bottlenecked too easily.

But the idea of people sitting willy nilly along Main Street and in front of the castle during the fireworks just screams fire hazard to me, and I'm a little freaked out that it's ever been allowed!

Molly--I respectfully disagree. I think people take up more "room" when they are sitting--hence less people can see the fireworks, and therefore if there were an emergency there would be less people to evacuate. Frankly, I won't wait for the fireworks because having the number of people jammed in like they do--standing--makes me extremely nervous. I think it is much more a hazard--I think the only reason for the "standing" rule is to jam in as many people as possible. That's why I wish they had a preferred fireworks seating process. I just won't do it on many levels.

safety my butt you are more likely to get trampled with everyone standing then with everyone sitting

and you wouldn't have a problem with parents putting their kids on their shoulders (so they can see too!) if everyone was sitting.
How else are small kids supposed to see?

Yes, I would have a problem if I was sitting and someone in front of me put their child on their shoulders and blocked my view. Presumably if a parent was sitting and the child was standing next to them they would be at the same level as the parent so no reason they would need to be on the shoulders.

 

[bumbershoot]

safety my butt you are more likely to get trampled with everyone standing then with everyone sitting

and you wouldn't have a problem with parents putting their kids on their shoulders (so they can see too!) if everyone was sitting.
How else are small kids supposed to see?

The idea is that people who are already standing (like at the back of a viewing area), or those who can get to their feet faster, are going to squish those sitting and who can't get up as fast.

I hold DS on my hip or in piggy back, that way he's at my head level and can see as much as I can. No need to put him on my shoulders.

Molly--I respectfully disagree. I think people take up more "room" when they are sitting--hence less people can see the fireworks, and therefore if there were an emergency there would be less people to evacuate.

True, there would be fewer to evacuate, but the idea of some sitting and some standing still scares me, b/c the standing people would be able to move, and might be pushed over those still sitting.

Worst Case Scenario girl strikes again, LOL.


When we were there last month and managed to get close-up spots (that were obstructed by trees) for the fireworks that didn't continue past the POTC part b/c of wind, there WERE people sitting on benches that didn't get up for the fireworks. It was right near the perma-cart to the left of the castle. Now I don't know what they could see, just b/c they were facing away, but they did keep on sitting.

We haven't really made "great view for fireworks" (or parade, other than my solo trip when I saw the ELP) a priority, we just take what we can or stumble across, so standing vs sitting isn't something that has bugged me. Don't know what that has to do with anything, but it was typed by my fingers before I could think about it, LOL.

 

[robynv]

Well I hate it. I was really upset by it as was my son. At the last moment because we had to stand, a large man and woman squeezed into the space in front of us and totally blocked my son's view (and mine really). Yes they were in the sky, but my son could not see the castle, the reason we staked out the spot in the first place, nor could he see Dumbo or Tinkerbell because of the crowd.

No I won 't agree this is better, My blood was boiling at the audacity of these people to squeeze in front of us and to be offended when I suggested they move slightly to the side so my son could try to see the castle. When I say slightly I mean less than a foot. They said no becuase then they couldn't see the castle...imagine that??

 

[zeitzeuge]

Maybe most of the problem isn't Disney's new policy for standing versus sitting, but teaching some people manners.

I have no problem allowing someones kids to stand in front of us. Actually, we encourage it when we see youngin's around us. I make sure their parents can see them very well. I'm not about to let the entire brood move in front. I've done that before without a thank you or anything. Heck, one time a little girl put her arms up and wanted me to hold her so she could see. Caught me off guard, but it was no problem. Her mother just laughed. Although my arms killed me by the time it was over.

One time while waiting for a parade, we were standing 4 rows back. Some people about 5 feet behind us on benches were sitting and rather then ask us politely if we wouldn't mind crouching down or sitting so they didn't have to stand, they literally yelled at us and told us that we were being rude and that if we didn't sit down they would call a CM and have us removed from the park.

Um, seriously? I'm pretty easy going if a person asks me politely. But that's the thing, many people aren't considerate of others around them. Act like they're the only ones in the park.

Ok, that's off my chest now.

 

[DVC&CM]

safety my butt you are more likely to get trampled with everyone standing then with everyone sitting

and you wouldn't have a problem with parents putting their kids on their shoulders (so they can see too!) if everyone was sitting.
How else are small kids supposed to see?

DFD and AFD would respectfully disagree. System isn't perfect, but it's there for a reason.