Parades are as much a part of the theme park experience as rides, shows, and character greetings. Disney World has daily parades at the Magic Kingdom, Disney Hollywood Studio, and Animal Kingdom. While Epcot doesn't have a parade, the nightly Illuminations show brings up a similar situation. Universal has seasonal offerings at Mardi Gras (pictured at right) and Christmas, and the Mardi Gras parade adds an extra element by having floats that toss out beads to the spectators. While parades should be a fun experience, "reserved spot rage" can flare up and turn them into a nasty confrontation.
In the busy season, the unspoken rule for parade viewing is: if you want a good spot, stake it out early. That may sound simple, but two major etiquette issues come up. The first is, even if you're there early, just how much space can you reasonably expect to take up? Often one or two people will grab a prime spot on Main Street at Disney World an hour beforehand, but try to hold room for their other six family members. Others come along later, see the prime real estate, and try to move in. Mayhem quickly ensues. Or maybe the other family members were there to start with, but needed a potty break or went off to get some ice cream. While they're gone, someone else tries to move in and you're got a confrontation on your hands.
There is no set-in-stone rule, but personally I believe that if seeing the parade is important enough to you, you'll come there early and stay put, other than necessities like a sudden bathroom urge. That goes for the kids too. Once they're past toddler stage, they're old enough to learn how to prioritize. If they want to see the parade but don't want to hang out for an hour, as a parent you can simply say, "Okay, then we won't be able to do that. What would you like to do instead?" Now you've just combined a life lesson with a trip to the theme parks.
I don't have much personal experience, as my husband and I tend to watch the parades in the off-season, so we don't have trouble getting a good spot even if we arrive relatively late. But as far as I can tell, peak season spot holders do so at their own risk. I don't think most have any difficulty holding a spot or two, but when you're holding enough for the entire Brady Bunch, including Alice and Sam, how can you stop people from simply taking the spot? You could try to complain, but since you have no special "right" to that space I don't think you'd find a worker to back you up.
The second etiquette issue is the spot poachers who come at the last minute, then shove themselves up to the front. Often they'll send their child ahead as a "scout," since adults in the front row will often let a small child step in front of them. Suddenly Mom, Dad, five more kids, and a troop of aunts, uncles, and cousins have all trampled the Good Samaritan, who is now staring at their backs.
If you're there early, you have to walk a fine line between being nice and asserting your rights. If you're an adult and you choose to let kids stand in front of you, make it clear that it's the kids only. If the adults say, "I can't let them stand in front of a stranger. I have to stand there too," politely but firmly explain that it's the little ones only or no one. If you're standing there with your own kids and others try to push them out of the way (it happens a lot...some self-absorbed families don't care who they trample and see kids as easy targets), be prepared to step in and be a protective parent. Calmly but loudly call out the offenders ("Why are you pushing my child out of the spot that she's been in for an hour? Do not touch her again or I will call someone over here to deal with you.") This publicly announces their behavior and lets them know that you won't tolerate it,
It's sad that you have to deal with rudeness while you're on vacation, but any time you're out with large groups of the general public, you'll find rude and entitlement minded people among them. Thankfully there are still nice people, too, like those who give away their extra Fastpasses or hand out a pin or balloon to a child. Don't let the rude ones take advantage of you, but don't dwell on them either.
If you'd like to read my other theme park etiiquette articles in my Saturday series, click here for dirty diaper manners. Click here to learn how to deal with line cutters, and click here for thwarting theme park flashers. Whether your a smoker or a non-smoker, you might be interested in reading about cigarette etiquette by clicking here. You can view a full list of my articles by clicking here.
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