Infamous "3 o'clock parade?" question, myth or truth?

In some periodicals and website, CMs often quote the guest who asked "What time is the 3 o'clock parade?" to which the CM offers practical advice, but never forgets the goof.

Is this based on fact? The reason I asked is because there was a never a parade at WDW called the "3 o' clock parade", it always had a name and was always advertised as that name. The reason I would think no guest ever asked that is because no guest would have ever known to ask that.

So does anyone know is this is true, or just a metaphor concocted in literature to represent helping out even the most oblivious guest?

Joe - I really don't know if it is fact or fiction. But, I do know that I worked at Busch Gardens Tampa as a ride operator in college and you do get asked some pretty silly questions!

Of course BG honchos did some silly things too! Such as making announcements that, for example, the Clydesdales can be viewed at such-n-such place. "Ask any employee for information."
Well, we get asked and we'd be clueless as to where the Clydesdales were - because nobody would ever make us aware of it!

So whenever a CM talks about a rumor - take it with a grain of salt, they probably do not have any legitimate info!

You know... I often thought many of those stories were a little exaggerated or even made up. Then, a couple of weeks ago, I was in Epcot taking pictures. I heard a group of people talking and looking at a park guide map, pointing, etc. A CM was sweeping up nearby, and they asked him where it's a small world was. He told them nicely that they were in the wrong park, and that it was in the MK, etc. The woman begins to point out to her (very tired looking) husband that, "SEE?? I TOLD you this wasn't Disney World. We're in the wrong park." Of course, the CM clarified everything for them, but still... scary.

True story.:dizzy:

Slightly off-topic, but the 3 o'clock parade question made me think of it.

Ah.. the parade..

The important thing to remember is that the parade starts at 3 at one end of the route or the other.

So, around 3:15 and it's not to Mainstreet, people start asking questions. Essentially, people are meaning to ask "When does the parade get to this point?"

Yes, they do ask it.

They also ask "Is this a ride?" to which a CM responds with "Yes.. blah blah blah some info about it." and the guest says "But is it a ride?"

People are not always smart - I used to work at a movie theatre (not quite as cool as Disneyworld...) people would come up to the box office all the time and I kid you not - ask when the midnight shows started...
:dizzy:

OK - if you are looking for some kind of "official" proof that someone actually asked about the "3 o'clock parade" I can say that I have answered that question many times in the past.

I was a CM in DL back in 1969-1970. I started off as as a street sweeper and then moved into merchandise (worked both magic shops). So, this question didn't originate in WDW. But there were many times that someone came up and asked that question (or one similar to it). To add to that one, one of my favorites was when a guest asked me where the fireworks would be at (I told them in the sky ....) and then they asked where would be the best place to see them (which I replied "on the ground"). After that I actually informed them that the fireworks appeared over Sleeping Beauty's Castle and that anywhere on Main Street).

So, yes, the question was really asked by a guest to a CM at least once.

B.T.W. I had a list of questions asked by guests and have seen most of them posted on other newsgroups in addition to "where's the nearest bathroom" or "where's the subway ride", etc.

Not exactly Disney, but...

I work at the Michigan Renaissance Festival every year. Our booth is located at a spot equally distant from three restroom areas, each in a different direction...

People continuously ask, "Where's the nearest restroom?" So we always ask, "Which way are you headed? Because we're the exact same distance from three different ones." Invariably, we get back, "It doesn't matter - which one is closest?"...

What part of "exact same distance" do people fail to understand???? :dizzy:

Once upon a time when I was an EPCOT CM I got asked some pretty interesting questions. I worked at the Canadian Pavillion with my city and province on my nametag. I don't know how many guests asked me if I was really from Canada. When I told them I was really from the Great White North they would ask me to speak Canadian to them!?! I was also asked if we all had wildlife walking through our backyards and if we really had snow all year 'round. Always an interesting day. I have also been asked where a certain ride was and (ie small world) and when I would say it's located at MK people would get upset because they were not at Disney World.

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Originally Posted by Loric

They also ask "Is this a ride?" to which a CM responds with "Yes.. blah blah blah some info about it." and the guest says "But is it a ride?"

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Was the guest dressed in a really weird pirate outfit? This reminded me immediately of........"But why is the rum gone? -pirate-

Hey Goofy Guy, that's funny. I just watched "Pirates of the Caribean" with my daughter so that scene is still fresh in my mind and it fits the situation perfectly