Originally Posted By FerretAfros Just out of curiosity, have you seen POD? For the most part, I would agree that the parade stops are just a way to make a short parade longer, but this parade was designed to be seen with the stops. All the stunts and choreography that are done during the stops really couldn't be done while the floats are moving. Sure, some of the floats (Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid when the lift isn't working) can be a little dull in the stops, but the dancers do a really great job. I also think that the stops have the best music in the entire parade. It's really high energy, but not in an in-your-face kind of way. It just builds and builds, and then all of a sudden you see some really cool things going on. Also, having all the dancers do the same choreography with the ribbon things (yah, they're lame and over used, but they work here) really helps unify the parade, where it would be a pretty random grouping otherwise. Without the stops, we wouldn't get to see the cards on the trampoline, bungee jumping puppets, aerial Ariel, high jumping flowers and giraffes or the spinning bird people, and the whole parade would lose a lot of the energy that makes it so much fun.
Originally Posted By plpeters70 Actually, I have seen POD and I still don't like Parade stops - they're just not my thing. I see your point that the parade, as designed, wouldn't be as good without them, but I think they should just design the parades without the show stops. Add more floats and dancers if need be to fill out the time, but enough with the show stops. As for the music, I didn't think it was anything special and really just sounded like the same stuff they use for all their newest parades. Lot's of stuff about dreams, magic, etc -- I get so tired of it. I almost wish they would just go back to designing parades around specific movies so that we wouldn't be subjected to the same-old dreams/magic theme again.
Originally Posted By Witches of Morva ORWEN: Oh, I like the show stops in the Parades! They give me a chance to get involved with characters who might pass me by, otherwise! ORGOCH: Well, ya can count me in as a Cauldron gal who HATES show stops 'cause a certain fam'ly member just goes an' humiliates the devil outta the rest a this coven whenever she goes an' makes a dang fool a herself by shakin' her big, fat booty all over the place in ev'rybody's face without seein' all the dirty looks she gits from all the other guests in fear a their sorry lives 'cause they's all afeared they might git stomped ta death befer they can git outta the blimp butt's way!!
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite The show stops are what make Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams what it is. Not to mention none of the specialty acts can be performed while the parade is in movement. And the banner routine is old-school Disney, and meant to add another level of color, movement, and spectacle to the whole parade. It works, as is another aspect of the parade that makes it what it is. If you get rid of the show stops, with the specialty act, banner routine, and "Welcome" theme song, then you destroy what makes this parade as special as it is. The show stops are the highlight of the whole thing. WDW needs to keep them. If not, they are only going to embarrass themselves by again proving that the DLR entertainment team can put on a more highly consistent and quality driven show. This is WDW's chance to really show that they can do parades on that same level. As for keeping the show stops, that is critical and necessary, and should not be a problem as Block Party Bash is all about a very long show stop and they are keeping them for Disney's Hollywood Studios (as that is truly what that parade is all about. Take them out, you have no bash).
Originally Posted By ghosthost2001 Parades are designed to be an average of 45-50 mins from parade step off from beginning to end. WDW world will never have show stops anymore as far as we are being told by OSHA. All because of one accident. POD could work here without show stops. However Disney would have to spend money on trimming up trees for the floats to fit thru Liberty Square and the POD floats would not fit over the current Bridge to Liberty Square. We have so many issues with that bridge now that sometimes they are worried about any floats going over it. Disney really needs to just replace the bridge completely, but that would result in days with out a parade while they do so.
Originally Posted By ghosthost2001 As for Block Party Bash, go to the Studios one day and observe the parade crowd there. Its not nearly as hectic as MK during the parade, we use ropes and still cant keep people from running out in front of floats to cross the street. Block Party is a completely different type of Parade if you want to even call it a parade.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Why are they not allowed to do parade stops any more? Was it because of the Pluto accident? I think that would have happened whether or not the floats stopped in the middle of the parade. As for the bridge, what is wrong with it that it can't get floats over it? Is it too narrow? It would be an easy enough problem to fix, and they could even run parades through there after they have done the major structural work, and just keep it closed while they are putting on the finishing decorative touches for guests. During construction, they could still run a parade through the park, they would just need to be a little more clever about it. They could run it up Main Street, give it a lap around the hub, and then bring it back. Going around the hub would definatley limit the length of the parade, but not that much. The road around the hub is about 515 feet long. For a reference, when POD is in a show stop (I'm using the first one, with the train float by the Alice bathrooms, and the castle float just inside the iasw gate), it's about 625 feet long. You could easily get a decent length parade to go up Main Street, turn around and come back. Sure, it would look funny, but it would be better than no parade. Heck, they could even just use some of the Main Street vehicles (assuming they still exist out there), the castle float they love so much, maybe a couple other generic floats (the stairs used for the turkeys last fall) and call it a "Character Cavalcade". That way, people know it won't be a huge production, but they still get something.
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite Sorry, POD will NOT work without the show stops. Everything that makes that parade what it is will be ruined. If they truly cannot ever do show stops again (and I have never heard that before), then they should NOT be purchasing POD for the Magic Kingdom. They will be presenting nothing but another quick, 9 minute parade of characters that rush by without much going on...not much different then what they are doing right now. Sorry, to be harsh, but it's true. If they cannot mount the parade as it is supposed to be done, on the level of the DLR folks, then WDW once again will show that they cannot stage a high quality, complex, theatrical parade in their MK park. They are setting themselves up for a lot of "I told you so" from other folks, especially the ones in CA. If they cannot stage it as it is supposed to be done, then they should not buy it. Period.
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite On a side not, you can call Block Party Bash a completely different kind of parade...but in essence, it is still a parade. And if they are staging that as it was done in DCA, keeping the show stop (which TRULY IS the whole entire point to this production), why is different that OSHA would say they cannot have show stops for the Magic Kingdom, but they can have them for Disney's Hollywood Studios? Doesn't make sense to me...one park can't do them but the rest can? Lee...are you around? Have you heard anything about Magic Kingdom never being able to do show stops ever again?
Originally Posted By figment1986 They will probably change the show stops to be shorter and have different chirography? Change out the music for something else?
Originally Posted By tcsnwhite Still wouldn't make sense, as the stops are short enough already. They were originally longer, but song was then shortened down a bit. I would hope they keep "Welcome" as it is already in the beginning and ending units as a musical bookend...not to mention that it is fantastically produced and arranged. You have no clue how many people end up humming that tune after seeing the parade, and asking for it in the shops (sadly to find out it is not for purchase).
Originally Posted By ghosthost2001 The Liberty Square bridge is not wide enough for POD. nor is it in good condition for the weight of those floats. The bridge needs to be replaced completely. It has been rumored that there would be no parade for about 2 weeks while the bridge could be replaced. We have more issues with the floats making it over that bridge than most people know. If they don't maintain enough speed they don't make it over. And some of the floats are so heavy that they just get stuck anyways. Disney World would never do just a parade down mainstreet around the hub and back. Thats too short and with the crowds we would have in the park there would not be enough viewing. It would be a 3 float parade and that would suck. I also mentioned the trees in Liberty Square. It would work if they would trim the trees up and back, yes. Will they? Most likely not. Churnabog in Spectro can't even open his wings in Liberty Square because of the trees. I want POD as much as alot of people, I would prefer to have it with show stops because they are what makes the parade. Those floats are amazing!
Originally Posted By ghosthost2001 What about a brand new day parade or even a night parade in general for WDW!
Originally Posted By bean I really have no idea how entertainment is run in WDW but if they can not control corwds in a park like the MK that has such a large parade route as well as a wider one than Disneyland then i am really confused. That shows that managment still has not been able to implement proper procedures to its Castmembers on how to manage entertainment crowds for those parks.
Originally Posted By ghosthost2001 I didnt say we couldnt manage the crowds, I am just stating some guests are stupid when it comes to parade time.
