The PTC carousel horses some were sideways, and the hidden gate was open, so I was peeking... of course. I noticed the WWC sign was gone too, but I think that goes every year.

Lots to do before opening day....

Yeah, I think they remove several of the signs in the winter to protect them from fading in the harsh winter sun.

On topic, I am looking forward to the Nick Parade again this year. It was quite a production and had people lined up well in advance of the parade starting!

I hope they dont use robotic or computer driven floats, we don't want anyone to die.

(Backstory, resently there was a Disney employee ran over by one of their computer driven floats. How it malfunctioded or how stupid the person was to get hit by a alow *** float is not known.)

I can 100% guarantee that the floats are not driven by computers.

I hope they dont use robotic or computer driven floats, we don't want anyone to die. 

(Backstory, resently there was a Disney employee ran over by one of their computer driven floats. How it malfunctioded or how stupid the person was to get hit by a alow *** float is not known.)

I can 100% guarantee that the floats are not driven by computers.

They were driven by people

Yeah, since the floats travled to all 5 parks, they were driven by drivers. In fact even the sound system for the parade was temporary. You could see the wooden crates with the speakers on top of several buildings along the parade route, such as bathrooms and foodstands.

The Disney floats are computerised because their parades follow the exact same route everyday. The expense of the computerized floats is justified by the fact that the parks are open year round and they don`t have to pay people to drive them, which eliminates operator error. PKI and the other Paramount Parks could not justify the expense of installing computer driven floats.

http://photos.pkicentral.com/displayimage.php?pos=-1002

Look at the teal tube that the staircase wraps around. On the top of it you can see a box with a slight discoloration from the rest of the object. This is a see through material that allows the driver to look out.

A nickelodeon parade is awesome. A lot of people will be there to see it.

The float drivers really couldn't see to much, they relied on spotters/ radios.

The Parade is yet another reason I buy my family a season pass every year. More perks and more activities for my family’s money! I am sure it will be back bigger and better this year.

The Nickelodeon Parade will be awesome...especially for folks like me who want to see Disney's parades (which I have in years past) and cannot afford the trip to Florida or California.

Have a great off season!

Italian Chef

Apparently the parade will be twice as large this year, maybe their will be a float for an ACErs favorite cartoon, DANNY PHANTOM.

I saw this topic and almost died, does PKI do a parade every year? I mean as a guest i watched the parade with some friends ( we were actually all of on the same day, wow) and it wasnt bad. It was just having to go through it and watch it and hear it on the way to or from break, EVERY SINGLE DAY for like a month. It was enjoyable but was glad it was over when it finally ended.

Yes, Paramount Parks is trying to make the parade a seasonal event, especially after the success of last year's run (PKI's version won the IAAPA award for best Parade Production ) It will be back this year with a few new floats as well as the return of the favorites from last year. I can't delve into any detail about the additions for this year, but expect some interesting changes

It was just having to go through it and watch it and hear it on the way to or from break, EVERY SINGLE DAY for like a month. It was enjoyable but was glad it was over when it finally ended.

How do you think those 100+ people felt after performing it everyday for a month!!!!!

How do you think those 100+ people felt after performing it everyday for a month!!!!!

I could take a guess, after hearing about it form my supersvisor who drove a float.

I could take a guess, after hearing about it form my supersvisor who drove a float.

True....but those rides supervisors were not there every single day of the parade, like some of the Entertainment folks were......talk about burnt out, doing that parade + your regular daily job for a month straight.

I could take a guess, after hearing about it form my supersvisor who drove a float.

True....but those rides supervisors were not there every single day of the parade, like some of the Entertainment folks were......talk about burnt out, doing that parade + your regular daily job for a month straight.

Hey i loved it. Yes i got a little tired here and there. Once the music started and i walked out of those gates and i saw people with big smiles i got soo much energy. Even on those rainy days. I know we were all happy when it was over, but it was a nice break to the normal schedule. I am glad they are bringing it back and i am excited about the new floats and other changes they are making.

punk

Seriously - Regardless of having to do it for a month, it had to be a good break in the day.

So, did you guys ever get a day off? I saw the parade about 10 times, and it seemed like it was always the same people.

Now....I think you all might have misunderstood what I was saying. I personally loved doing the parade as well and I agree with all of the feelings that KIemployeeforlife said, however what I was trying to point out is that it was a very tiring job and it took a lot of work and effort to do for 30+ days. I thanked god every day through the parade that Cincinnati had a mild summer (It could have been so much hotter) Most people do not realize the effort that went into doing this parade every day. There was parade activity that started at the staging area at least 4 hours before the parade even started, plus all of the work at night getting those floats back to the starting area. All of this added ontop of your regular daily job added up to quite a few 15+ hour days. (That's what I meant by burnt-out)

So, did you guys ever get a day off? I saw the parade about 10 times, and it seemed like it was always the same people.

Most of the performers in the parade had a day off through the week (although some went 2 weeks without one). The drivers alternated throughout the parade, every float had 3 drivers who would switch days. The managers only had 1 day off through the time of the parade (which includes the week of 5am rehearsals the week before the parade started), and for some that day did not come until the very end.

Ack that would suck, I would get burnt out real fast.

I've heard from several employees that there was a marked downgrade in quality the last week of the parade. Almost as if the performers got burnt out... can you blame them?

Honestly I feel that the parade was awsome the entire time. True we got a little brunt out but we all had the energy and gave it our all even at the end. It all depends on who you ask. There are those employees who hated the parade because they would be yelled at everytime they would walk in the parade path to go to oscars. Then there were even those employees who came on their break just to watch us and take pics (Shman you should know who i am talkin about). We all tried our very best to keep up the 100% attitude and i think we did a pretty good job at it. We all had our rituals before the parade music began just to get the energy flowing and if you would see us even after the parade some of us still had that energy goining while we were doing our normal portion of our job.

I admit, I had my little gripes about being put on break just as the parade started, and having to work out how to get to oscars without crossing through the parade, but I think it was a really good parade overall. I miss the music, and all of those people dancing and smiling throughout hb- it was one of those things that still has me remembering and smiling about every little aspect of my summer.

I have to agree with KIemployeeforlife, I definetly do not believe that there was any mark down in the show quality of the parade(even though everyone was tired)....even during the last weekend. Everyone involved really gave it their all, even to the end.

DeliriumDreamer......Thank you for at least trying to find ways to and from your break without crossing through the parade, unfortunatly some other employees did not understand the saftey issues/show quality issues of this and would not listen to us when we told them not to cross. A beg everyone who is an employee to be smart about these things this year....we don't want any disney type accidents happening.

Kickin it all over town, this party's getting out of bounds. Everyday's a second chance, so get on your feet and dance!!!!

not to mention push backs......and who can forget rehearsals!

kicking it all over town......

Pie Poo in 04

Thanks alot, just by reading the post, i now have that FORSAKEN song stuck in my head.... I thought it went away too

The song never goes away and never will. It will always be in the back of your head waiting for that one moment to come out. The next step is breaking out into the dance.

i never really got to do all the dance.....i spent most of my time wishing PKI wasnt built on a hillside praying my cart wouldnt run over small children.

good thing we had to big strong guys pushing it

good thing we had to big strong guys pushing it

I wouldnt go that far...(just kidding). You guys did great on that i know i had issues at night when i had to push it back.

The song never goes away and never will. It will always be in the back of your head waiting for that one moment to come out. The next step is breaking out into the dance.

If i EVER start dancing to that song i will shot myself in the face on the spot.