POLL: Will WDW Institute a "Squatting Ban" for Fireworks and Parades?

[JTravis58]

Sealed with a curse as sharp as a knife: "Doomed is your soul and darned is your life!" </sarc>

I wanted to laugh at this, but joking is now considered trolling to a select few.

 

[wm49rs]

I wanted to laugh at this, but joking is now considered trolling to a select few.

Glad to see you decided to stop....

 

[5thGenTexan]

We were at DLR last June and did not see a parade due to the campers. We did however walk on to Haunted Mansion that night with absolutely no wait.

 

[KaliSplash]

Lol who is crazy enough to wait 10 hours for that horrible parade. Our loss was a major win for us, that parade needed to disappear.

Can't agree with you there. MSEP is the parade I "grew up" with at WDW. Far better than Spectro. Why? The music. Spectro's main theme is a waltz.

 

[JTravis58]

We did however walk on to Haunted Mansion that night with absolutely no wait.

What you said > Any parade.

 

[deix15x8]

Has WDW done anything to improve the way they manage the crowds? That was the thing that impressed me about my trip to Disneyland in 2015. During the parades they would walk along and tell everyone in the first row that they MUST sit down and anyone in the second row MUST stand up. Beyond those two rows you were on your own, but had to stand and they were watching to make sure the two rows were organized properly. During the shows like Fantasmic they were just as strict about everyone having to sit down unless in a certain spot that could stand. I can't imagine WDW ever taking on practices like that, but it wouldn't hurt things. IMO if they would just stop people from putting kids on their shoulders or holding phones over their head everyone would be happier. The selfie stick ban was a smart move, but it only stopped part of the problem of people not being concerned about anyone else's ability to enjoy events. That was something people seemed to self police much better in Paris. I saw plenty of phones, but they were always held in front of the person's own face or chest level, not in other people's views. It's been a few years since I've been to WDW but kids were a huge problem back then and in DL it was practically impossible to watch the fireworks in any way but on someone's phone screen.

 

[larryz]

Has WDW done anything to improve the way they manage the crowds? That was the thing that impressed me about my trip to Disneyland in 2015. During the parades they would walk along and tell everyone in the first row that they MUST sit down and anyone in the second row MUST stand up. Beyond those two rows you were on your own, but had to stand and they were watching to make sure the two rows were organized properly.

They should paint three color lines along each curb. A red line, a blue line, and a green line. Anyone on the red line must be less than 40" tall. Anyone on the blue line must be no taller than 46". Anyone on the green line can be no taller than 54". People taller than 54" must stand behind the green line. That way, nobody can complain about not being able to see the parade, and it would have the additional effect of making all the photos of the parade watchers look very neat and tidy.

 

[BWK05]

They should paint three color lines along each curb. A red line, a blue line, and a green line. Anyone on the red line must be less than 40" tall. Anyone on the blue line must be no taller than 46". Anyone on the green line can be no taller than 54". People taller than 54" must stand behind the green line. That way, nobody can complain about not being able to see the parade, and it would have the additional effect of making all the photos of the parade watchers look very neat and tidy.

So says the short person

 

[JenniferS]

They should paint three color lines along each curb. A red line, a blue line, and a green line. Anyone on the red line must be less than 40" tall. Anyone on the blue line must be no taller than 46". Anyone on the green line can be no taller than 54". People taller than 54" must stand behind the green line. That way, nobody can complain about not being able to see the parade, and it would have the additional effect of making all the photos of the parade watchers look very neat and tidy.

I'm not sure if you're kidding or not, but when my children were little, I would not have appreciated them not being right in front of me ... in the dark, in a crowd of thousands of people.

Out of courtesy, 6' 8" Hubby always stands in the rear, but back in the day, nothing was coming between me and my kids.

 

[dreamfinder912]

I live here, and on NYE I will plop down along the railing in epcot and wait for the fireworks around 1pm. just me and a book, sometimes others join me. im usually sitting on a folded up towel for comfort (why buy a cushion or ruin a blanket on epcot ground when towels are much more durable) they come around and make everyone stand maybe a half hour before the fireworks just to make room for everyone. it has never really been an issue. same with MK, as long as you're in the little taped off sections and not in the walkways who cares? florida doesnt seem to have the problem DLR is having. the announcements for RoE even say to get there "at least 45 minutes prior to showtime" which anyone who has ever been to a park before knows means an hour at least.

 

[TP2000]

Has WDW done anything to improve the way they manage the crowds? That was the thing that impressed me about my trip to Disneyland in 2015. During the parades they would walk along and tell everyone in the first row that they MUST sit down and anyone in the second row MUST stand up. Beyond those two rows you were on your own, but had to stand and they were watching to make sure the two rows were organized properly. During the shows like Fantasmic they were just as strict about everyone having to sit down unless in a certain spot that could stand. I can't imagine WDW ever taking on practices like that, but it wouldn't hurt things...

Agree that there is a huge difference in the crowd control techniques between Disneyland and WDW.

WDW CM's tend to take a rather passive, almost submissive, view of enforcing basic crowd control policies. Disneyland CM's are much more visible and engaged in getting the crowd to follow some basic rules before and during the show.

As for the "No Camping" rule for Disneyland, it's about time! They have done this for years and years at Tokyo Disneyland, and it works beautifully and maintains a gracious atmosphere in the park. I'm very glad to see Disneyland USA getting in on the Tokyo act. It also tells me TDA isn't afraid of taking on the local AP'ers and getting them to obey with new rules.

All that said, as for "No Camping", I'm not sure it's that big of a problem at WDW. On my WDW visits I rarely waste time on parades or water shows, except for Illuminations. But I don't see the camping as a thing in WDW mostly because of the Orlando climate that doesn't encourage lounging about in the open air in the afternoon. But also because of the different demographics that visit WDW; more tourists less locals compared to Disneyland USA.

Tokyo has a demographic that is like Anaheim on steroids. When I visit Tokyo it looks and feels like it's 95% locals and 5% tourists. When I visit Anaheim it feels like a 50% locals and 50% tourists mix, or maybe a 20% locals and 80% tourist mix in summer, Easter and Christmas breaks. At WDW though, it feels like a 80% tourists, 10% locals and 10% Cast Members on their day off mix.

 

[Siren]

Wow! Thank you to everyone who voted in the poll. An overwhelming majority of votes, would like for WDW to ban people from saving spots for fireworks and parades. That's very interesting. I guess it would make things more "fair."

Can't agree with you there. MSEP is the parade I "grew up" with at WDW. Far better than Spectro. Why? The music. Spectro's main theme is a waltz.

OMG. I love MSEP. I think it's so wrong for WDW to not have a night time electrical parade. So wrong.

Agree that there is a huge difference in the crowd control techniques between Disneyland and WDW.

WDW CM's tend to take a rather passive, almost submissive, view of enforcing basic crowd control policies. Disneyland CM's are much more visible and engaged in getting the crowd to follow some basic rules before and during the show.

Thanks for noting the differences between the Disneyland and WDW CM's. I thought I was the only one who noticed that about WDW park CM's. I think they are just so nice and accommodating. They really are the best.

With that being said, I wouldn't mind WDW park CM's being more authoritative, when needed. I'm guessing they are, but only when they have to be -- like,more reactive whereas Disneyland's CM's are proactive in regards to crowd control.

 

[Ag11gani]

Agree that there is a huge difference in the crowd control techniques between Disneyland and WDW.

WDW CM's tend to take a rather passive, almost submissive, view of enforcing basic crowd control policies. Disneyland CM's are much more visible and engaged in getting the crowd to follow some basic rules before and during the show.

As for the "No Camping" rule for Disneyland, it's about time! They have done this for years and years at Tokyo Disneyland, and it works beautifully and maintains a gracious atmosphere in the park. I'm very glad to see Disneyland USA getting in on the Tokyo act. It also tells me TDA isn't afraid of taking on the local AP'ers and getting them to obey with new rules.

All that said, as for "No Camping", I'm not sure it's that big of a problem at WDW. On my WDW visits I rarely waste time on parades or water shows, except for Illuminations. But I don't see the camping as a thing in WDW mostly because of the Orlando climate that doesn't encourage lounging about in the open air in the afternoon. But also because of the different demographics that visit WDW; more tourists less locals compared to Disneyland USA.

Tokyo has a demographic that is like Anaheim on steroids. When I visit Tokyo it looks and feels like it's 95% locals and 5% tourists. When I visit Anaheim it feels like a 50% locals and 50% tourists mix, or maybe a 20% locals and 80% tourist mix in summer, Easter and Christmas breaks. At WDW though, it feels like a 80% tourists, 10% locals and 10% Cast Members on their day off mix.

Um, TDL, last time I checked does not ban people from camping out a spot. In fact if it is a new or seasonal parade, people will wait hours for it, and most of the time they lay down towls too. Sometimes they'll wait from park open. But what Tokyo does do is ban people from holding devices over their heads.

 

[larryz]

So says the short person

Did you just assume my height!!??!!

 

[Obobru]

Um, TDL, last time I checked does not ban people from camping out a spot. In fact if it is a new or seasonal parade, people will wait hours for it, and most of the time they lay down towls too. Sometimes they'll wait from park open. But what Tokyo does do is ban people from holding devices over their heads.

Well part from the fact that this isn't a fact they actully only allow people to sit on mats ONE hour before, I was there last week. They announce this and CM's actively make anyone trying to break this rule move their things. People are much more disciplined and not full of self entitlement at TDR so CM's don't have have confrontational situations. The mats are also small and people are not selfish they sat sat down.

Strollers can not be left up and must be flattened or left in a parking area away from the parade route and lifting cameras above your head is forbidden and people stick to that. I actully managed to sit on a bench and watch the parade easily because the people in front of me were sat on the floor, first time I shave done that in any Disney park.

 

[mm121]

Just show up before the parade or fireworks and find a spot. You can squeeze in and force others to move if you know how to do it right. We do this every trip and space somehow manages to be found every time.

so in other words your an ***hole that has no patience and no respect for other people.

I'd probably punch you in the face if I'd been waiting and got to the show early enough to get a good spot and you tried to squeeze in and get in front of me and especially if you cut in front of older people or kids.

 

[mm121]

My question is this.. We all pay the admission to get in. If one chooses to sit on a blanket on the curb all day, who's to say they can't do that? They paid their admission, they should be able to Disney however they want. As long as they're not taking up the entire sidewalk so that people can't pass, what's it matter?

the problem at DL is lots of these people are AP holders so while yes technically they did pay, they paid alot less than the tourists

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

We were in DLR in January the week the parade came back but since it was raining we didn't see a lot of people sitting in the rain. One of my biggest problems with Epcot is trying to watch the fireworks. If you don't get a spot around 7:00 you can't see anything water level and I refuse to spend two hours waiting for a show. Wish I could remember how much viewing area there was before the restaurants in Mexico and Morocco were built. I know we can use a FP+ to watch the fireworks.

 

[Lets Respect]

The Illuminations FP isn't worth much unless you get there early to get a front spot

 

[flynnibus]

My question is this.. We all pay the admission to get in. If one chooses to sit on a blanket on the curb all day, who's to say they can't do that? They paid their admission, they should be able to Disney however they want. As long as they're not taking up the entire sidewalk so that people can't pass, what's it matter?

Because you are hoarding resources. That bench now only served you... instead of dozens. Multiply that selfish attitude across the thousands of aps and you find there are no benches available for others for hours and hours of the day.

Then the blankets... the riverfront would look like a freakin refugee camp.

The problem with these practices is they just lead to escalating. Wait 30mins for a spot... then it's 60... then it's 90... etc.

This change is LONG overdue at Disneyland.