When Do They Film the Christmas Parade?

[twocat]

I'm pretty sure it's not on Christmas based on actual weather and what you see on TV. Anyone ever been there when they filmed or know anything about this?

 

[DVCconvert]

Yes, what you see on tv is pre-recorded over a couple of days. Generally it's done during the first 1 to 1 1/2 weeks of December.

 

[Shells9]

Last year it was done over the first weekend in December.
It was very cold that weekend!
Also, they had to extend filming a day because it was either Regis or Kelly (I think Kelly) that could not get there due to bad weather elsewhere in the country.

 

[Ducky4Disney]

I will be there 12/5 - 12/15 so I guess there's a chance that I will be there for that. Is that a good thing, or not? It seems like it would be fun to be there for that, but maybe not. Huge crowds and lots of pushing and shoving, is the reason I go in December - to avoid that!

D4D

 

[brack]

I had this great idea several ago to be at WDW Christmas day for the televised parade. (I am sooo gullable). I rush my DW to be the first in the park to stand right behind the stage .... there was no stage, no set up for cameras. What's up? I ask a Castmember ... they prerecorded last week. My DW has not let me live that down since.

 

[FatCow]

somebody please chime in.

In terms of park crowds, will this be a good or a bad thing?

Coz I'm going to have CRT breakfast that morning.


Cheers,
FatCow

 

[DebbieB]

I was there in 2001 when they taped it on a Thursday morning. It was not crowded. They don't publicize the date of the taping, I only found out because I asked a cm at the tip board if anything special was going on for Walt's 100th birthday on December 5th (next day), she said no but we're taping the Christmas Parade on Thursday. It's a long drawn out process. The parade doesn't just march by as usual. They stop and start, send one float at a time down Main Street. They ran 2 tapings that year, one slow and one more normal, it takes hours. Regis & Kelly had been in town all week taping their show at MGM, Regis also did WWTBAM, I saw a taping of that. The past 2 years they did it on Saturday since they did their show in NY during the week.

 

[amee]

We were there in 2001 also....actually we got to be "in" the parade as audience members...saw ourselves on TV a few weeks later.....anyway, it was very exciting for a very short time. They continuously tape little sections of the parade....so we saw the same piece for 45 minutes, until they got it right. Our favorite part was talking with and getting photos with characters....the costumes were more elaborate, for sure.

have fun!

 

[zurgswife]

It has been historically filmed on the first weekend of december ....So, this year it should be Dec 4th....but there is no guarantee...

 

[danny1649]

 

[WDWAurora]

*sigh* I remember when they used to film it live...We were there 3 different Christmas mornings and have the videos from the shows (my great-grandmother used to tape it for us). It made Christmas so magical for me as a kid...although the starting and stopping was frustrating. I thought the performers were great during the pauses though, one time (the coldest Christmas in 50 years) the Big Bad Wolf stole my toboggan, and one of the gingerbread men chased him down for me. It was lots of fun...I don't look at gingerbread men quite the same way though.

 

[betterlatethannever]

We were there in 2002. They filmed the parade on the first Saturday in Dec.

We went to the MVMCP Friday night. There were signs set up mentioning the filming the next day. Many cameras were already set up.

Saturday morning was a zoo. The place was packed. Main street was blocked off. We had to go through the Stores on the left side to get through to the rest of the park. It probably was 20-30 minutes to get to Adentureland.

Ed

 

[memymomonica]

OK, so if we show up on the 4th, are we safe from the crowds? I would love to see it, but would rather have a relaxing time.

 

[FatCow]

agreed with the previous poster's question.

"how about the rest of the park"?

That's the question that yet to be answered. Especially because I'm going in December to AVOID the crowds.