mummabear
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 2, 2012
I think this sounds excellent, based on the reports I've read about what spot saving is like at DL. It will certainly improve parade viewing opportunities for once-in-a-lifetime guests. Once people get used it, it will probably decrease rather than increase disagreements and angry guests. I would hope there's some flexibility in enforcement of the rule that the entire party must wait together. I can think of a few situations when people might be gone for longer than a typical potty break, including kids who have unique challenges and need to move their bodies to prepare for sitting for the parade, moms with babies who have diaper blow-outs or need to nurse, people who need a bit longer in the bathroom, etc. It will take a little discretion to distinguish between the person holding all the spots while the family keeps going on rides and situations where the family can't all sit and wait. However, I've found (from WDW experiences) that Disney CMs are much better at exercising that type of discretion than employees at other theme parks.
I personally am glad they are stopping this endless one up of how long you have to wait to get a good parade spot, previously I didn't really mind if families had a couple of people holding spots while an adult took kids to do something, then swapping as long as they were a) clear that a couple of more people were coming (not 15 but 2-3) and b) the whole party was showing up a reasonable amount of time before the parade (not 2 minutes). I think it's an unreasonable expectation for young kids to be told to sit and hold a spot for hours, and sad that families were basically being pushed out of being able to see the parade.
Disney doesn't distinguish between once in a lifetime guests and any other guest. If you want a certain spot for the parade, you have to plan to get it and hold it, based on whatever rules they put in place. I think it's great if they make whole parties hold the spot. There shouldn't be exceptions. Most of your examples can be easily handled while waiting in place. Like walking or moving near your parade spot. Don't go in expecting special treatment and you won't be disappointed when you don't get it.
No they shouldn't distinguish between regular and once in a lifetime guests, this rule helps the once in a lifetime and infrequent guests without negatively impacting their regular guests.
The local guests with APs can go all the time, it doesn't matter to them to waste hours holding a spot for a parade, fireworks or character meet.
It does make a huge difference in the day to an infrequent guest. And Disney needs to look after both types of guest.
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.
YOUR family can do whatever they want, as long as it follows Disneys rules.
Your family is still able to camp out on Main Street if you want to sit and enjoy people watching for hours on end.
What you can't do is do it while holding down a parade spot.
If your favourite thing truly is the camping out then you aren't going to be affected. If your favourite thing is actually holding down a prime parade spot, you are still not at a disadvantage over any other guest trying to get the spot.
Personally I do find it odd that someones "favourite" thing would be to spend hours on end doing nothing while waiting for a parade, I can't see why someone would be unhappy with being told you can go actually do something fun with that time AND see the parade.