No more saving seats for the parade

[ashley0139]

I'm here now for the second parade. For the first parade, they started letting people sit on the curb around 5 (parade was at 6:45). Curb was not nearly filled yet at that time though.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

I'm here now for the second parade. For the first parade, they started letting people sit on the curb around 5 (parade was at 6:45). Curb was not nearly filled yet at that time though.

Do you mean the curb was not filled when the parade started at 6:45? My mind boggles!!!

 

[ashley0139]

Do you mean the curb was not filled when the parade started at 6:45? My mind boggles!!!

No, sorry for the confusion. It was not very filled at 5 when I walked by. I'm sure it filled up by 6:45 as the second parade is very full right now.

 

[disneymouse16]

I really hope they won't make us move strollers. I can see if they aren't being used but we typically use the strollers to contain the kids!

 

[lildreamer101]

When I went to the parade "Paint the Night" it was the worst! There were people already sitting on the curbs by the afternoon. When the parade happened people with children in the strollers were pushing and shoving me out of the way just so they could fit their strollers in the viewing areas. Weird! Also, it caused bottle-necking if you wanted to leave the park. CM's were trying to help but my gosh it was crazy! Maybe the 60th?

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I'll be there on Saturday, so if we're around before parade time or decide to watch it, I'll report back on what I see.

If you happen to notice, please report back on whether guests waiting for the parade are allowed to get up to use the restroom. I think your answer will be reassuring to other guests planning their visits.

 

[ashley0139]

If you happen to notice, please report back on whether guests waiting for the parade are allowed to get up to use the restroom. I think your answer will be reassuring to other guests planning their visits.

They were today. The girl next to me got up to go get popcorn. A cast member was diligent and noticed the empty spot. When her friend said she was just getting popcorn though, the cast member said it was totally fine. So restroom/food breaks are allowed, but they are definitely watching.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Thank you for reporting back. It just makes sense that Disney would allow guests waiting for the parade to use the restroom or to get a snack or drink. After all, I don't think it is Disney's intention to make guests suffer while waiting for MSEP!

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm here now for the second parade. For the first parade, they started letting people sit on the curb around 5 (parade was at 6:45). Curb was not nearly filled yet at that time though.

That timing sounds pretty free floating and it's only been a few days. Interesting.

 

[Whistlebee]

We were there yesterday. A CM said they'd be setting up for the 6:40 parade around 5:00. He said you can still have someone in your group grab food or use the bathroom, the point is that most of your group needs to be waiting. Strollers have to be flattened/closed or moved to stroller parking/out of the way. Even young kids were asked to get out of their stroller. I'm guessing if a child was asleep itd be ok to keep the stroller tho! We loved the new policy/rules. Most if not all curb spots were taken 1 hour before parade but there was still a TON of spots available! We grabbed spots at the King and Queen bathrooms 1 hour before the parade and we were the first ones in that area (besides people on the benches). This was the first parade and on a Wednesday. Guessing the weekend will be a different story!

 

[KatieCharlotte]

Everybody makes choices. If your trip is once-in-a-lifetime and doing other things off the parade route is more important than saving a certain spot, that is a choice. Very rarely has there been zero parade viewing available without leaving a family member with a blanket behind. Nothing in the park favors any guest, it's still up to each individual's choice for how they spend their time. I think there's a difference between moving in an open space near the spot you're holding on the parade route and sitting on Main St while someone with motor tics is walking in Frontierland. I don't think that's a special circumstance Disney needs to accommodate.

I know this is going off topic, but from Harvard Health: "Simple motor tics include head shaking, eye blinking, sniffing, neck jerking, shoulder shrugging and grimacing. Simple vocal tics include coughing, throat clearing and barking. Complex motor tics include self-hitting or self-biting, jumping and hopping, and twirling while walking. Complex vocal tics include repeating words out of context, echoing what someone else said and speaking obscenities." If you had these types of tics and found it physically painful to not tic (basically like holding your breath), you might find it extremely difficult and potentially humiliating to stay in a small area surrounded by bored strangers for an hour or two before the parade distracts your mind and the people around you. Thank goodness for the WOC dessert party making one situation a lot easier, for those who can afford it.

At WDW, we typically watch the parade from Liberty Square, so regardless how they enforce the rules, we'll be looking for those "secret" spots at DL.

 

[SMD]

I know this is going off topic, but from Harvard Health: "Simple motor tics include head shaking, eye blinking, sniffing, neck jerking, shoulder shrugging and grimacing. Simple vocal tics include coughing, throat clearing and barking. Complex motor tics include self-hitting or self-biting, jumping and hopping, and twirling while walking. Complex vocal tics include repeating words out of context, echoing what someone else said and speaking obscenities." If you had these types of tics and found it physically painful to not tic (basically like holding your breath), you might find it extremely difficult and potentially humiliating to stay in a small area surrounded by bored strangers for an hour or two before the parade distracts your mind and the people around you. Thank goodness for the WOC dessert party making one situation a lot easier, for those who can afford it.

At WDW, we typically watch the parade from Liberty Square, so regardless how they enforce the rules, we'll be looking for those "secret" spots at DL.

How is it operationally feasible for Disney to keep track of which spots are allowed to be saved for certain motor tics or extra long bathroom needs or whatever else people want an exception to have their seat saved while Disney generally monitors the area. How someone feels about their personal issues or challenges isn't something Disney needs to accommodate. The parade isn't otherwise inaccessible to them, and saving a seat on the curb isn't the only way to experience the parade. Again, you make your own choices when you're in the parks, and if it's too humiliating to stay in the general vicinity of your saved seat to avoid losing it, consider choosing a different viewing time or area when you choose to view the parade instead of other park activities.

 

[DL_Forever]

First hand observation report on Micechat by Sir.Mouse :

I was in the park with two friends and I gotta say Main Street looked great! Walking down Main Street in the early afternoon I saw one CM sort of roaming and advising guests that their blankets, towels etc. can no longer be used as place holders. We kept checking back and she was still holding down the fort....Pun intended.

We headed over to Carnation for dinner and still not a camper in sight. I was at least expecting a few people to slip by but all the curbs looked clear.

As it got later the parade cm's showed up with their ropes and polls. I was honestly expecting people seeing this to rush the newly established viewing sections but the crowds remained light. We were able to enjoy our dinner and have desert without worrying about losing a spot; in fact, there were still spaces available during the first parade.

Once we found a place along the route I observed a few things:
1) The CMs expressed that all members must be present while waiting for the parade unless group members had to leave momentarily. So people couldn't get away with stretching their legs across the sidewalks. They were good at checking in to see if people had returned.
2)Blankets were only permitted if everyone was seated on them; sprawl was discouraged. So unless the blanket is completely under you, you had to put it away.
3) Lastly, I noticed a lot of strollers in the viewing section, a lot more than I can remember being used to. I'm not sure if It's me but it seemed like a possible reaction to the no place holder situation. Anyhow, CMs dealt with this by politely mentioning the near by stroller parking spots and having all strollers facing towards the street.

All and all I think Main Street was a success. I wonder how the rest of the route faired.

So glad to see this finally happening. It irritated me to have to sit for 2-3 hours before the Paint the Night Parade during the Diamond Celebration. We are going again next month and I wanted to see the MSEP but wasn't going to camp out for it, and I didn't want to be forced into a Blue Bayou or Aladdin Oasis meal for the "reserved seating".

 

[sharona]

Thank you for reporting back. It just makes sense that Disney would allow guests waiting for the parade to use the restroom or to get a snack or drink. After all, I don't think it is Disney's intention to make guests suffer while waiting for MSEP!

Nor do they want to restrict you from spending money on snacks and drinks while you wait!

 

[mom2rtk]

Nor do they want to restrict you from spending money on snacks and drinks while you wait!

Maybe they prefer to make people buy from that $45 pizza cart!

 

[ashley0139]

That timing sounds pretty free floating and it's only been a few days. Interesting.

Yes, it definitely is. The cast member I spoke to about it said it would be different each day depending on whatever their conditions are I guess, so they were reluctant to give an exact amount of time before the parade that you would be allowed to sit.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, it definitely is. The cast member I spoke to about it said it would be different each day depending on whatever their conditions are I guess, so they were reluctant to give an exact amount of time before the parade that you would be allowed to sit.

So I get that they're apparently trying to keep people from lining up, but now that just means people will have to hover for an hour or so before the time they expect they will allow people to claim a spot.

 

[StageTek]

Comment from another blogger :

I spoke to a CM yesterday to ask how things were going with the new rule. Despite the "civilized" look of Main Street and the Hub, she encountered a LOT of animosity with the new guidelines. And that was a Tuesday. One PO'd guest said that camping out along Main Street is her family's favorite thing to do at Disneyland. HELLO?! That's the purpose of city parks and beaches, not a theme park. If you're family likes camping out, there are plenty of freeway overpasses they could park under and have a great time.

I love the "HELLO?!". What a closed minded person this blogger is. I, too, enjoyed "camping" out for the parades
at Disneyland. I'm sorry you feel the same way, LizzyS. To me the "purpose" of Disneyland is what each individual
makes of it. Waiting for several hours (clogging the street as some call it) was a big part of our trip - perhaps even
a favorite things to do there.

But clearly most of you feel that is not what MY family should like to do. And Disney is now keeping us from doing it.
We'll get over it. I only wish people were more accepting of others favorite things to do.

 

[SMD]

So I get that they're apparently trying to keep people from lining up, but now that just means people will have to hover for an hour or so before the time they expect they will allow people to claim a spot.

Yes, those poor CMs will have lots of shadows while they prep to open the seating areas.

 

[sharona]

Maybe they prefer to make people buy from that $45 pizza cart!

? There is a $45 pizza cart?