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A recent TikTok skit spurred controversy among Disney Parks fans, who debated whether children should have priority over adults while watching a Walt Disney World Resort parade. A proposed policy would ban so-called “Disney Adults” from viewing Magic Kingdom Park parades without children.
The afternoon parade is a quintessential part of any Disney Park experience. Over the years, Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disneyland Park, and Disney California Adventure Park have all had their own unique parade offerings.
Credit: Disney
Right now, Walt Disney World Resort visitors can only catch one parade: Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom Park. It runs from Frontierland through Liberty Square, crosses a bridge in front of Cinderella Castle, and finishes on Main Street, U.S.A. Disney Parks fans of all ages can spot favorite characters from Beauty and the Beast (1991), Frozen (2013), The Little Mermaid (1989), and more. And don’t forget Mickey Mouse!
On busy days, thousands of guests line up at least an hour early for a front-row view of Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade. But most frequent Disney Park visitors know that there’s always the family that rolls up at the last minute and expects a perfect spot.
Last-Minute Disney Parade Spectators
Former Disney cast member Kelsey Conkling (@disneywithkels on TikTok) recently re-enacted an experience with an entitled mother at Magic Kingdom Park. The parent demanded that Conkling’s group–all adults–let her child in front of them for the Festival of Fantasy Parade.
@disneywithkels Sorry I don’t want your kid to be parade roadkill #disneyworld #disneyparks #disneyland #disneyadult #disneymom #momsofdisney #stacyatdisneyworld #karensofdisney #disneykaren #karen #karens #karensgoingwild #disneyparade #disneytips #magickingdom #disneyorlando #disneytipsandtricks #disneyhacks #disneyvacation #disneyfamily #toddlersoftiktok
When the woman approached, Conkling’s group was sitting on the curb on Main Street, U.S.A. She responded calmly, “There’s not really room, and we’ve been sitting here. So, no, thank you.”
“Seriously, you’re going to say no to a child?” the angry mother replied. “Scoot over.”
The Disney Park guests reiterated that there wasn’t room, and the mother told her daughter to just stand in front of them. Moments later, a Disney cast member approached and told Conkling that “her daughter” couldn’t stand in the road. All guests must be on the curb when the parade passes.
Credit: Disney
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“This is not my child,” the Walt Disney World Resort guest replied. “It’s her child. Can you tell her?”
The parent was furious when the Disney cast member said her daughter had to move: “These people are just really selfish, so we’re not going to get to see the parade today at all. Come on.”
“Sorry, I don’t want your kid to be parade roadkill,” Conkling concluded.
Kids to the Front?
Credit: Shanghai Disneyland
Most Disney Parks fans empathized with Conkling’s experience.
“My family would always stake out our spot for parades, & various night shows no less than an hour ahead,” said @marilouwest10. “EVERY FRICKEN TIME, people would show up minutes before & think they can just squeeze in.”
“That happened to me and she literally made her kid stand in front of us to the whole parade even though we got to the curb like 30 minutes early,” @haleycdefeo replied. “People are ridiculous sometimes.”
Credit: Tokyo Disney Resort
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Some Disney Park guests found themselves in unwanted confrontations over parade viewing spots.
“Had this exact thing happen to me,” @glamourghoultara wrote. “I was told by the mother that I should never have kids. I said I don’t plan on it .”
“I felt this in my soul – and absolutely saw a fight breakout the other day in this exact same scenario,” @meredithcee commented.
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Still, this behavior isn’t exclusive to families with children.
“I had the opposite thing happen to us,” @mrsshooooooob recalled. “We were at a spot for over an hour with our two girls and two old ladies came up and kept trying to squeeze in while telling us they’ve done this a million times.”
“Sometimes they don’t even ask, I’ve had an older couple just stop and stand in front of me without saying anything 😅 right in the road and everything,” @h2otterfield said.
Are Disney Adults Selfish?
Credit: Disney
Some commenters felt like Conkling and her party were in the wrong for not giving up their spots for a child.
“If it’s two adults sitting on the curb, [I don’t know], I feel I’d give up my spot to a ‘small child’ because we could both see,” @stacy1111555 argued. “And it’s a parade…”
“I can’t believe how many [emotionally] immature ‘adults’ are willing to take it out on kids who are just trying to see,” @barbaelw77x agreed.
Credit: Disney
A few argued that adults shouldn’t be welcome at Disney parades without children.
“Families first at the family park,” @thejabberwock97 argued. “Yes everyone is welcome but it’s obviously a park about cartoons and geared toward kids primarily. It’s [delusional] to think otherwise. Grow up.”
“As an adult, I always step back and let the kids get the best view,” said @user1392222743290. “I’m taller anyway. Disney is about them, not us.”
Should Disney parade viewing spots be first-come, first-serve, or should children always have priority? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
