Originally Posted By Chelledun Mom and I just got back from our trip to WDW, and we had a great time. I generally enjoyed MNSSHP. We got tons of candy, I thought the parade was GREAT, and the villains show was a lot of fun. All the Halloween party cast members should be commended for showing a ton of spunk in their performances. However - and this may have been discussed before - I think handing out candy before and during the parade is a TERRIBLE idea. Kids were pushing, hitting each other with pumpkin buckets, etc. just for a piece of laffy taffy or whatever. Parents were telling little Jimmy to "push on up there!" and stomp all over the folks who had been sitting and waiting for the show for hours. A twelve or thirteen year old girl came and stood literally on my feet to get candy. When my mom asked her nicely to get off of me, she said "they're coming with more candy!" Parents with toddlers in strollers were pushing their own way through with four to six bags to get candy for the little kid. Can toddlers even eat taffy? Basically, the streets along the parade route went from an orderly sitting/standing area to a smushed mob scene immediately before the parade. This was very stressful and I really think the passing out of candy would be better limited to candy stations. Did anyone else experience this?
Originally Posted By ChiMike How about Disney just goes back to simpler times and offer attractions, concessions, and entertainment. Stop the hard ticket events and stop making every little thing, i.e. handing out candy, a big deal. And stop enabling bad guest behavior. Keep it simple stupid. If people want cheap candy, go to the store.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I did not experience a bad situation during the parade, and no one really got obnoxiously pushy or physical with me in order to obtain candy from the parade performers.. However, you do have a point. Some people's manners go out the window for some free candy and having learned of your situation, I wonder why even hand out candy during the parade when most CMs make sure people do not go pass that curb or marked safety zone. Somewhat defeats the purpose. Concidering how many candy areas there are set up in the park, handing out candy during the parade seems a bit redundant and pointless. You should have brought your experience with that situation to Guest Relations.
Originally Posted By Chelledun I think I will send an email, actually. We made the mistake of watching the early parade from directly in front of the castle, because we stayed in our spot after the Villains show. This was probably the most crowded area so I guess now that I think about it the pushing was likely worse here than anywhere else. I figured everyone watching the parade had this experience, which is why I didn't think say anything about it while I was there. As for the CMs, those in our area were going out of their minds yelling at folks to get back past the curb and turn off blinking lights before the headless horseman road. I said multiple times to my mom that I sure wouldn't want that job, but the ladies stationed in our area certainly did the best they could have under the circumstances.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Situations like yours is what makes me want to take you all to TDL just so you can see how people behave during the parade... and they handle much bigger crowds than those at the MK day in and day out, and with show modes in the parade as well!!!
Originally Posted By Mickey4President Chelledun I noticed the same thing when we did MNSSHP. We went to the first parade on October 12. We were just on the Liberty Square side of the bridge that you take from in front of the castle to get to Liberty Square. My DH didn't want to deal with the crowds and sat down at the tables for the place that sold funnel cakes. My DS's were the on the edge that seperated the area you could stand and the walkway, so that if anyone stood beside them, they would be in the walkway. I stood behind them. There were several times when mothers were told to move because they were in the walkway, then they tried to squeeze there children in front of mine. I actually heard one mother tell her child to squeeze in front of mine. I must be really good and giving go to you know where looks, because each time that they tried I would give them a look and they would leave. I had no problem letting other children get in front of me, between me and my DS's. I just wanted to be close enough to my boys to be able to tap them on the head in case they weren't behaving. The thing that really annoyed me was when I saw empty stroller pulled up almost under the rope. The child, who was way too old to be in a stroller was jumping around next to the mom. It would be one thing if the child was in the stroller, but the entire time the stroller sat empty. The space that stroller took up another child could have stood, and there are places where they could have parked the stroller where it was out of the way. I'm glad that we went to the parade, but it's one of those things that unless I get the puppy-dog eyes from the DS's, I will never do it again.
Originally Posted By Mickey4President We usually don't go to the parades when at WDW, but we made an exception for MNSSHP. However, I would go to another one if it was at TDL. Getting to use DVC points to go to TDL is one of the main reasons I want to join DCV.
Originally Posted By ChiMike From my understanding, and this could be very outdated, it is cheaper to just pay cash for the Tokyo vacations. So, just my unsolicited advice, I wouldn't let that be a driving force for your purchase of DVC. DVC is most effective when used at WDW.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<Parents were telling little Jimmy to "push on up there!" and stomp all over the folks who had been sitting and waiting for the show for hours.>>> Yes this is exactly why I have given MY 6 children lessons in Football. It's a very organized team sport for my kids to abscond with MORE candy per capita than any other kids. In an effort to be considerate and give a few other kids a sporting chance, I only use one of my standard two double strollers to block other parents from getting their kids out there.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Well I AM kidding about my own personal family, we don't even do the parades AT ALL EVER, much less when candy is present. However, I am sure there are plenty of kids that are encouraged by their parents. It's rediculous.
