Just to add to the sitting vs. standing - we've done three before parties in the last year or so. Nothing was ever said by a CM about whether people should sit or stand. Many people were sitting and relaxing before the show started, and most stood when it did start. People like to stand along the front rail, but it's still possible to see over them, since the castle projections are a little higher anyway. Some chose to stay seated, and people were pretty good about not standing directly in front of them so as to not block their view. CMs were good about keeping people moving along the walkway in front of the area and not letting them stand there, although, as noted, it was a constant battle, but they were made to move, as the CMs are quite insistent.
