Very Disappointed In Lack of Parades

[gottaluvtink]

I am very disappointed in the whole parade schedule. In January, it seems they have really cut back. Electric Lights parade is very few and far between. No more parade in Hollywood Studios. I have convinced several family members, (A group of 23) to go, and now hardly any parades for the kids to see.

[DizneyFreak2002]

I am very disappointed in the whole parade schedule. In January, it seems they have really cut back. Electric Lights parade is very few and far between. No more parade in Hollywood Studios. I have convinced several family members, (A group of 23) to go, and now hardly any parades for the kids to see.
Say bye to Jammin Jungle Parade too... After the holiday season, DAK will no longer have a parade...

And when Festival of Fantasy starts, the current plan is to run it twice, replacing MSEP while the ancient parade gets a refurb... new evening light parade you ask? Yea.. right sure.. LOL... Not happening....

[ibelieveindisneymagic]

hardly any parades for the kids to see.

The Disney parades have been great, and are great.

But, don't worry too much, there is still lots to do. I think Disney figures that they cost a fair bit (salary) and with everything else, they won't be that missed.

I miss the lower ride lines during the parades!

[AgentC]

The Disney parades have been great, and are great.

But, don't worry too much, there is still lots to do. I think Disney figures that they cost a fair bit (salary) and with everything else, they won't be that missed.

I miss the lower ride lines during the parades!

I agree with Heather. I'm not sure how long you are going for but if you can see a parade once or twice it will be more than enough for most kids.

My kids enjoy the parades but it is never something they specifically ask to see.

[11290]

And when Festival of Fantasy starts, the current plan is to run it twice, replacing MSEP while the ancient parade gets a refurb...

Would really like to know the source of that information. Not at all what we are hearing from the parades management team at MK.

[lightyearfan]

i kinda of agree with this post, when me and my family started going to WDW , the parades were a many( does that make sense? lol) DHS use to run a parade whenever a new movie came out i can still remember the Hercules Parade and Mulan Parade, i believe that they use to do a Aladin Parade as well. These parades use to run at 11 or 11:30 not sure, now we just have the Pixar Parade at 3. There was even a Parade that went around Epcot"s World Showcase. as far as seeing the same parade more than once, this is ok for us, we don't mind, its a nice little break in the day.

Victor:mickey:

PS PLEASE BRING BACK SPECTROMAGIC!!! ENOUGH OF MAIN STREET ELECTRICAL

[Aurora]

I am very disappointed in the whole parade schedule. In January, it seems they have really cut back. Electric Lights parade is very few and far between. No more parade in Hollywood Studios. I have convinced several family members, (A group of 23) to go, and now hardly any parades for the kids to see.

I seem to remember during a trip in January 2002 that there was an abbreviated parade schedule at night because the park hours themselves were pretty short in January. I know for sure that the MK closed at 7 p.m. most nights.

[buzznwoodysmom]

On our first few trips when my kids were just babies the parades were very important to us. As young children my boys loved the parades, but as long as we saw each parade once during the week that was good enough for us.

As my kids have gotten older sometimes the shorter waits at the rides during parade time has been great.

So either way less parades is a bummer for lots of families like mine.

[gottaluvtink]

I go every year, so yes, I have seen all the parades numerous times, but to people who haven't been, it is something they were really looking forward to. I always enjoyed the break at the Studios, because there just isn't as much to do there. It was nice to sit down and watch the parade. We are taking some toddlers and for their sake, I would have liked to be able to take them to the parades.

[Main Street Jim]

I seem to remember during a trip in January 2002 that there was an abbreviated parade schedule at night because the park hours themselves were pretty short in January. I know for sure that the MK closed at 7 p.m. most nights.This was just post 9-11. Tourism in general was down all over the place. When Disney saw that the crowds were not coming those few months after 9/11, they abbreviated the park hours.

I can recall working a parade one day at Magic Kingdom, and our managers told us there were only 3,000 people in the park...

[joanna71985]

Would really like to know the source of that information. Not at all what we are hearing from the parades management team at MK.

I sure hope you are right! I don't want MJJP to leave


i kinda of agree with this post, when me and my family started going to WDW , the parades were a many( does that make sense? lol) DHS use to run a parade whenever a new movie came out i can still remember the Hercules Parade and Mulan Parade, i believe that they use to do a Aladin Parade as well. These parades use to run at 11 or 11:30 not sure, now we just have the Pixar Parade at 3. There was even a Parade that went around Epcot"s World Showcase. as far as seeing the same parade more than once, this is ok for us, we don't mind, its a nice little break in the day.

Victor:mickey:

PS PLEASE BRING BACK SPECTROMAGIC!!! ENOUGH OF MAIN STREET ELECTRICAL

Countdown to Fun is no longer at DHS (there is no parade at the moment). And unfortunately Spectro will not be coming back

[mgmnut]

As my kids are older now we don't stop for the parades anymore either, we also take advantage of the shorter wait times and ride rides instead.

That said, I still think the parades are very important for the little kids and first timers though. They get to see Mickey himself, and all the other characters dancing, jumping, and waving at them to music. Tons of stimulation for the little ones. If they don't get to see characters in the parades they will only get to see them if they stand in long lines to get quick pictures with them. That doesn't sound Magical and memorable.

Going back I remember Tapestry of Dreams at Epcot, I loved that parade. My now soon to be 16 year old twins were just 4 years old at the time. My son had fallen asleep sitting with my wife, I had my DD on my shoulders, dancing, bouncing, and watching the nighttime parade across the way from them. So many characters in the parade interacted with us. If anyone remembers this parade there were giant puppets controlled by cast members on long poles. Since my daughter was up so high on my shoulders the puppets would be right at her level and stop to interact with her. Some characters had big wings attached to their arms that they would wave around. Some of them would come over and wrap her up completely in their wings, she would come out laughing and giggling, she absolutely loved it. I just remember how much fun she was having, and how awe struck she was of it all. To her it was magical and she still has some memories of it today.

That was 2001, the first of many trips as a family with my DW and children. I had been to WDW many times as a kid, but my first trip was at about 13 years old. Coming back with my own children, and seeing everything through there eyes, and the looks of amazement on their face is what kept bringing us back all these years. That parade, and others, are memorable experiences, at least to us. Get rid of, lessen, or lower the quality of parades and some may not feel that initial spark that brings them back year after year.

[lightyearfan]

Countdown to Fun is no longer at DHS (there is no parade at the moment). And unfortunately Spectro will not be coming back


wow really we were there back in March, was this recent? and what a bummer about Spectomagic. it's night and day better Main Street Electrical Parade .

[Main Street Jim]

What a bummer about Spectomagic. it's night and day better Main Street Electrical Parade .Uhhh...*no*. :)

I'll respectfully disagree with you there.

Spectro was....*different* than MSEP, but not better :)

Spectro had a lot of floats that we had to EXPLAIN to guests - quite a few of which some had *never* heard of: the Silly Symphonies, the Sleeping Beauty garden fairies, and the Fantasia floats (Bacchus, Ali Gator, Chernabog, the ostriches), the carousel at the end. Not to mention the Spectromen (the "creepy clown" things at the beginning of the parade).

With MSEP, pretty much everything is familiar: Alice, Tinker Bell, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Snow White. About the only one i can think of that guests *might* not recognize right away is Elliot.

MSEP's music is way better, too :)

[11290]

Jim, all LOT (should say MOST) of us in PAC and Parades Entertainment will "respectfully disagree" with you on this one. We have grown very tired of MSEP and would love to have Spectro back.

Just my $.02 LOL

[lightyearfan]

Jim, all LOT (should say MOST) of us in PAC and Parades Entertainment will "respectfully disagree" with you on this one. We have grown very tired of MSEP and would love to have Spectro back.Just my $.02 LOL


exactly , thanks

Victor

[Main Street Jim]

Jim, all LOT (should say MOST) of us in PAC and Parades Entertainment will "respectfully disagree" with you on this one. We have grown very tired of MSEP and would love to have Spectro back.

Just my $.02 LOL:D:D:D

As far as "logistics" go...what makes the two parades different for you guys on the street, if I can ask?

The *worst* part, for me when I was working PAC with Spectro, was the City Hall crossing. It was *very* hard to get guests to *stop* crossing once you started - even though there were five openings.

Well, I also forget that you guys now have the entire parade route. When I worked PAC, we *just* had Main Street up to Ice Cream/Casey's. The other lands took care of the rest. How long *is* PAC training these days?

Never got the chance to work MSEP - it left just before I started on Main Street in 2001.

[11290]

Really not anything different from a logistics standpoint other than some of the South positions are now also West "breakdown" position, pulling the stanchion cart, pulling stanchions, plugging the stanchion holes and back rope, with rollers and clippers part of the West cast. Just the monotony of the audio track, the total "sameness" of the floats and transitions plus the "slow speed" of the parade is what has gotten so boring. Tinker Bell, Goofy, Elliot and Flag are OK but the rest, for the most part, are just one in the same.

Crossings aren't any better, still 5 at City Hall for both parades and now we do 3 crossings at Pecos / Splash for the first parade only.

3 days training now including backstage 2, although backstage 2 is usually done either with day parade or with the 5:40 MiSiCi.

[Main Street Jim]

Back your normally-scheduled programming :)