In the January 2, 2007 Disneyland Park Update, MousePlanet CEO Alex Stroup asked readers to share their opinions on the saving of space for shows and parades. There was such an outstanding response, that today’s mailbag is only the first half of these letters; the second set of letters will run in the regular Thursday mailbag slot later this week. Jeff Matthews writes:
My family and I visit Disneyland but once a year. We reside in Colorado, are not APs and cannot usually bear the expense of more than one trip a year. We have been doing this for over 10 years. We usually travel the first weekend in December…
Security should announce that they will confiscate blankets, towels etc left unattended and that the benches and like viewing spaces cannot be continuously occupied until no more than 90 minutes before the next show time, if applicable. The sad part for visitors like my family is that we rarely get to see a parade or the fireworks from any decent vantage point, as our very limited time does not provide for a 3-hour period waiting for a show to begin.
Theresa Reyes writes:
Thanks for the opportunity to express an opinion. I feel that if I’m willing to stop my day and sit down up to 45 minutes to 1 hour in advance of an event to get a good viewing spot, so should everyone else.
Saving spaces with blankets, bags, etc. should be allowed and guests should be warned that such unattended items would be disposed of (just like in airports these days.)
That will stop the “homeless” camps degrading the beauty of such a fab place.
Happy New Year and keep up the great work!
Rebecca Faljean writes:
As one who has saved seats for a group, I feel it is OK to save a spot or two as long as the group isn’t too large, or more than one person save the seats. I don’t think entire families need to wait to save the spot, but someone should. Obviously, those who are willing to leave their things unattended for an extended period of time, whether it is a ratty blanket or the Cadillac of strollers, is just asking for something to be taken. As for invaders of said saved space, I don’t mind sharing or even letting the little ones into our space to see better, just don’t be pushy or rude, I will gently push back or invade their space to give them quite a hint.
Rob writes:
You are way too nice. I say treat blankets and the like as abandoned property. Throw it away or turn it over to security. I am interested, and it would be a great article, to know what type of confrontations people have encountered when they remove the “blanket savers” and sit where the blankets had been left.
Martin Smith writes:
I can’t believe the reports I’ve been hearing about people leaving items ‘to reserve’ space for shows and parades in the parks. The first thing that springs to mind is ‘what a cheek!’
I’m not sure if this is becoming a custom in the US, but certainly as a Brit I’m appalled. I, and everyone I have spoken to over here, would have no hesitation in removing any item and actually reserving said space with a physical body. Some I’ve spoke to say they would just toss said items aside to make room.
Last summer we spent 90 minutes each night at Disneyland Paris staking the best curbside spots for Fantillusion. Well worth it. If one of us needed the bathroom or a food trip the other would spread out slightly, and politely make it clear the partner would be returning soon. Nowhere did we see the kind of practices described in your article.
Time in the parks is precious for every guest—those that can be bothered to make the time to get good viewing spots deserve them. To those that can’t—tough.
Leigh Anne Bartlett writes:
Hey Alex, I totally agree with you on your piece about saving space in the park. It’s one matter if the people saving the spot were actually sitting and waiting in said spot. However blankets, strollers, and backpacks don’t count. My first reaction is one I would have if I saw an unattended backpack in an airport. There could be a bomb in that bag! Unattended bags/backpacks should be immediately removed by security. And I would regard unattended blankets on walkways, curbs and benches as “lost” and send them straight to lost and found. I would even go as far to say that those types of things litter our beautiful Magic Kingdom and should be removed if no one is sitting on them. (And I mean covering the whole blanket—not just one person.)
Disneyland is not an open field or a beach. There should be some kind of rules of what is appropriate regarding guests waiting for parades, fireworks and shows. Leave the tent cities at home!
Sharon writes:
I can remember when the guideline was arriving at a bench/location, an hour before a parade/fireworks, etc. I do not know how they controlled/monitored this… and perhaps, the guests themselves just knew and abided by this written or unwritten procedure!
I think the camping out, the spreading out, is what has decreased my enjoyment of the parades, fireworks, etc. The people sitting for hours beforehand virtually close down some areas/walkways/entrances in the park. I would rather do without them, than have the mass of people sitting so that negotiating around the Castle is almost impossible!
But perhaps I have less patience with this grabbing of space so early since I can remember when the fireworks (and they were beautiful then) were viewed while riding the rides in Fantasyland! My youngest hated the noise of fireworks and it was very easy to both distract him, and help him get used to them, while riding the carousel. I remember being at DL one day and deciding to watch the Lion King parade, and was able to sit down on the curb on Main Street and watch it, as I heard it approaching down the street!
Kim writes:
This photo is appalling! Frankly, I’m shocked that Cast Members allow this to occur! My hubby and I have been APs for 5 years and thought we had pretty much seen everything at the parks; I’ve never seen this! It’s one thing if you’re willing to physically sit on that bench for the duration, but “laying out all of your crap” to save that bench? C’mon! Like I said, I’m really surprised CMs are allowing this to happen (and I’m not happy about it.) We travel to the “Happiest Place on Earth” (as opposed to other theme parks) for the nicer atmosphere, cleanliness, etc. Your comment about it looking like a “campground under a freeway overpass” is completely accurate!
Annette writes:
Since you asked for opinions, here is mine. I think that the powers that be at Disneyland should crack down on this. Anything left unattended for more than 15 minutes should be picked up and brought to a location outside the park. The exception is strollers left in a designated stroller parking area. If people found out that they had to exit the park to claim their goods they would stop it very quickly. Yes, it would be a pain for the CMs but if there were signs at the entrance and they enforced it, guests would learn.
Also, they should crack down on people taking up space too soon. They should let people start gathering for parades, fireworks, etc. only about an hour and a half before it begins. This would make people less cranky and possessive about their spots. Again, it would mean spending more money for CMs to enforce but it would be a more pleasant experience for all.
Pam Baca writes:
I feel this way—you should have at least one member of your party, preferably two, saving the least amount of space needed for your party. Leaving one person for 25 people is inappropriate. I go to Disneyland routinely with 16 other people and, yes, we save a lot of space, but we leave at least 4-5 people to save that space and we do so with about 1.5-1 hour before time. We never, ever, ever leave a stroller, blanket or bag to save a space and, if I wanted a space saved like that, I would move the stuff and take over. And if the person who left stuff like that took issue with it, I would take issue right back and I can take issue pretty darn well. You should simply never expect that a prime viewing spot can be saved unattended by anyone. And I agree that a quick trip to the trash, ODV, bathroom is acceptable, though the ODV and the bathroom are stretching it in most situations. If it’s that important to you, sit your own rear end down and take the time.
My nephew and I wanted to see the 50th fireworks from in front of the castle. I arrived more than an hour early and we sat. I left him briefly to get drinks and food while he stayed. It simply should not be done and, to be honest, I think this is enough of an issue that a cast member should step in and remove the items and take them to lost and found. On busy days, you have to prioritize. We all wish we could ride right up until fireworks or parade time and then walk into a prime viewing spot. It doesn’t work that way. You have to make choices and it isn’t fair that you can avoid that choice and take away a spot from someone who is willing to sit and wait it out.
Maus writes:
I’m firmly in the camp of “no way should blankets be allowed to save space all day.” I first noticed this phenomenon during the 50th Remember fireworks and was shocked and dismayed that Disneyland allowed this practice. On MousePad cast members posted that they would pick up these items, but because we are still debating this issue over one year later, I know this is not true.
Mike Davidsonb writes:
Having been at Disneyland from Dec 24 to Jan 1, I on many occasions observed many people who tried all sorts of ideas on how to hold spots for the fireworks or Fantasmic. I think Disney Security summed it up well on New Year’s Eve when I saw and heard security tell people to “Stand Up!!” They made it very clear that spreading out blankets and trying to hold a private viewing area for your group, like you had a private viewing box you some how were entitled to over the other guests of the park. IF you want to hold a space for 2, 4, 6, 8 or however many people then you had better have that many people standing there. It was quite evident that with the number of people in the park that both guests and security was not tolerating space hogs.
Annee Pfaub writes:
I work at the Sheraton park Anaheim but am also a huge Disney-Head and I have to say regarding your opinion on this matter: I agree 110%! I think Walt would be having a kitten right now if he saw that his beloved park is looking more like the tent city from RENT (and yes, RENT is one of my favorite musicals… but let that look belong to Broadway, NOT Anaheim).
Consider the purpose of Disneyland: the illusion of old-time America, of the way life used to be, carefree and easy and clean. And yes, I understand that Disney also stands for amazing entertainment, but when these “campers” cloud your experience at the park as early as lunch hour, it’s just wrong. And you know, my husband and daughter and I have gone to the park on many a summer’s evening specifically for the purpose of waiting a couple of hours for the fireworks or Fantasmic, but we hold space for the three of us ONLY and if we bring more people, then we require more people to stay with the space.
I say that the park needs to start a time limit of three hours waiting time for each event, and that’s it. Unfortunately, I don’t think they will impose this or any regulations on the matter any time soon. That kind of patrolling will require more manpower on one hand, and on the other hand, they’ll be swamped at Guest Relations with ticked off people. I respect them on both points, but wish that the campers would respect the fact that people want to come to the park to enjoy it the way Walt intended it to be enjoyed.
ExJungleSkipper95b writes:
A group of friends and I came across a bench just like the one pictured on your post. It was on a busy Friday afternoon and we were looking for a place to sit and watch the parade, which was due to start in less than two hours. We looked around and waited for a few minutes thinking that maybe the owner of the blanket and bag went to the restroom or something.
Well, 20 minutes came and went and still no owner showed up. We decided to gather up the person’s belongings and turn them in to Lost and Found, although one of our group thought it was appropriate to dump it into the trash. We turned in the items and sat on the bench. About 30 minutes before the parade was going to start, once the area had already been roped off and people were sitting in every available spot on the sidewalk, the owners of the blanket showed up and were shocked that we were in their spot. They made such a scene that Disney security had to intervene and they backed us up and thought what we did was the proper gesture. Security even agreed that if you are saving a spot for a parade or a show you need to have at least one member of your party there to save your spot. Simply leaving your stuff there is not saving your spot as much as it is abandoning your property.
Bill Tate writes:
I feel if you are going to save a place… do it with a body. I cannot speak for Disneyland, but at Epcot, for the Illuminations show, I staked out a good spot 3 hours ahead of time. My wife took our two kids on throughout World showcase and I stood in the same spot for 3 hours until they returned. I did not take up any benches I merely stood along the fence and waited. I do not believe in saving a spot for a large group for most of the day using blankets, etc. But if you are willing to personally hold a spot and give up part of your day, I think there is a difference.
Another type of space saving I have seen is for the character meetings. If there is more than one character in a small vicinity, I have seen groups break-up and one person get in one line as a ‘holder’ while the others get in the other line. Then when the group is done in their line, they come get in line with their ‘holder’ thus negating two long waits.
