But here's the big question: Are you, and everyone around you, standing or sitting? Few questions cause more conflict in theme parks than this collective nightly decision: Is everyone going to stand up to watch the show, or sit down?
Standing allows more people to crowd into the space, giving more people the chance to see the show from its optimum viewing point. But standing leaves shorter visitors, including all those kids, straining to see anything above the taller adults in the crowds. Sure, you could put your kid on your shoulders, but that's just going to block the view even worse for the people behind you. And have fun with that sore back tomorrow.
Sitting allows people to enjoy the show without having to worry about the people in front you. Little kids can see and enjoy the show. But people sitting take up more room than people standing, leaving fewer able to get into those prime viewing spots. And sitting on the hard concrete for an hour or more? Have fun with that sore back tomorrow.
So which is it? Sure, this is a collective decision, but which way will you try to sway the crowd? Sometimes, you don't have a choice. Every time I've watched World of Color, Disney California Adventure cast members have enforced a "no sitting" policy, forcing everyone in the crowd to stand to see the show. But over at Disneyland, crowds at Fantasmic! almost always sit, at least whenever I've watched the show. At the fireworks in front of the castle I've seen the crowd go either way - some nights everyone sits; some nights everyone stands.
And some nights, a few people get into nasty shouting fights with those around them who want to do the other, instead.
I'd love to hear your thought about standing vs. sitting for theme park street shows. The comments await you!
The second sentence disqualifies the first sentence. Even at 5 feet 11 inches, I can still have a head to block my view when standing up. I feel badly for those shorter than me.
The best viewing arrangement is seats that are highly raked with the show occurring in the middle, not at stage level. This is more likely at Disney's shows that has a multi-media experience.
I prefer seats since standing is just exhausting.
I've sat on the curb for parades before and that was great, but involved camping out for an hour for the exact spot I wanted for Boo to You. (could care less about the rest of the parades that haven't changed in years).
I think that half of main street should be sitting and half standing so everyone can have their preferred way of viewing and still see. I don't think it will ever actually happen, but that's what I would like to see.
I voted "sit" since my family can sit down and I can have full view; Fantasmic at DHS is a good example.
One other random comment about parents putting kids on their shoulders...I don't mind it, but please be considerate. Last time I saw World of Color, there was a dad at the front of our section with his daughter on his shoulders (if you're gonna do it, stand toward the back of your section), who let his daughter keep her conical princess hat on (remove anything that makes your child taller), and was dancing around to the music the entire time (it's distracting to have something bouncing around right in front of you the entire show).
I also think Disney is stupid. At Epcot and Magic kingdom second level viewing areas could be build and intergrated in the design of the viewing area. Mainstreet could have a second level with restaurants with outside dining options and baywindows inside so guests can dine and watch the fireworks and castle projection show. How wonderfull is that? And at Epcot the upstairs restaurants in Japan, France, Norway and the ones I forgot should include the view of the show in their restaurants and the rest of the countries should build them. And please make the stage of the American gardens thingie (don't know the name) so that it can sink into the floor. More multi level walkways around the lagoon would also help.
I love how you can sit at the Christmas skating show and firework at Sea World and I love that you kow can sit at When The Grinch Stole Christmas at IOA (awesome show!!). Sitting it the way to go.
Disney and other parks should not allow children on parents' shoulders. Parents who do this are being rude to the guests behind them who end up with an obstructed view. This is especially so when a guest staked out that view early, and then finds out when the show starts a kid is going up on a parent's shoulders. I always carried my kids so their eye level was the same as mine, and therefore did not block the people behind me. People need to have more consideration and stop being so selfish.
In addition, the liability issue for the parks in allowing precariously positioned youngsters on a parent's shaky shoulders is outrageous. I can't believe Disney hasn't forbid the practice for that reason alone. Disney and all the guests around a child who fell off a parent's shoulders would be liable for a big lawsuit. Disney needs to ban this practice now.
I'm very aggressive about this and while my aggression angers those who I go after I think the parent who does this is just as rude to those positioned behind them.
FWIW, in Japan, everyone sits. In the US, even when some people sit, there's a point in the crowd where everyone else behind them stands. (There's a math paper begging to be written on that, BTW.) But when I visited Tokyo Disney, I noticed that everyone sat if they were not going to be moving while they waited: parades, fireworks, Fantasmic, even the waiting for the park open in the morning.
I hate watching the shows/ parades in America, in Japan I love it
I feel the exact opposite about rock concerts! If you plan on sitting down during a Rolling Stones show, you should just go home and watch them on DVD! I've actually had people ask me to sit down at rock concerts so they could see!
The evening light parade is best viewed near the Liberty Tree Tavern or the shooting gallery. There are plenty of seats built into the landscape.
I usually like to at least lean up against something for the evening fireworks because by that time my back is wrecked and I truly need a seat. Man, does the bucket seat of my car feel luxurious after a long day at MK!
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I believe it's a similar setup for the fireworks, but I worked there less frequently than out at Fantasmic.
Asking guests to stand up was always one of the worst parts of the night, but I feel like it's the fair thing to do in many sections so as many guests can see the show as possible - and since there are sitting sections available to those who arrive early enough, there's an option for those with kids that would be negatively impacted by a standing section.
Of course that means you have to get to the water's edge at 7 p.m. for a 9 p.m. show...but so it goes.