Animal Kingdom parade - good viewing area near Rainforest Cafe?

[waltdisneymama]

Hello,
We would like to watch the AK parade at 4 p.m. and have an ADR for Rainforest Cafe at 4:45. Can anyone recommend a good spot to view the parade which is near the Rainforest Cafe, so that we can get there fairly quickly after the parade? Is the parade about a half hour? AK closes at 5 p.m. that day, but I think that Rainforest Cafe is open until 7. We are hoping to go to MGM after supper - do you know how late we can catch a bus to MGM?
Thanks!!

 

[iluveeyore]

There is no parade spot near RFC - your best bet is to watch it by the bridge that leads to the park exit, the spot where you can first view the Tree of Life when entering the park. It's a fun parade and lasts about 15 min., so you should be fine for time. One tip - there is a turnstile no one seems to know about that we actually use to sneak into AK when it's busy - through the RFC gift shop after you clear bag check before the regular turnstiles, you can go into RFC and turn right and go right through and out of the gift shop to a turnstile into the park and there are never any lines . To get to your ressie faster, do the reverse and go through the turnstiles into RFC - on your way out of the park, keep to the right, and before you get to the bathrooms by the exit, take the path to your right (check map) - I'm sure there's a sign that points out the RFC there as well.
Enjoy the parade!

 

[waltdisneymama]

Thank you very much for this tip!! If the parade is only 15 minutes, maybe we could be there for 4:30 instead. If we arrived 15 minutes early at Rainforest Cafe (our ADR is for 4:45,) do you think we may get in early?
Thanks again!

 

[drakes]

I would recommend watching the parade from as close to the start location as possible, as well as on the side of the street as close to RFC. I learnt being seated at the start of the parade allows you to see it first and move on after. That's my parade strategy and worked at all the parks , but did not try it at AK because we had moved on to another area of the park. Just an idea

 

[sapper1]

Thank you very much for this tip!! If the parade is only 15 minutes, maybe we could be there for 4:30 instead. If we arrived 15 minutes early at Rainforest Cafe (our ADR is for 4:45,) do you think we may get in early?
Thanks again!

Disney reservations aren't exactly what we think of when we use that term. In fact, Disney calls it "preferred seating" All that means is when you arrive at the appointed time you get to wait in line and get a table before anyone who didn't call ahead for preferred seating. While it isn't really a reservation it works better than having nothing because sometimes they are so busy that walk-ins are turned away no matter how long they are prepared to wait.

 

[iluveeyore]

Thank you very much for this tip!! If the parade is only 15 minutes, maybe we could be there for 4:30 instead. If we arrived 15 minutes early at Rainforest Cafe (our ADR is for 4:45,) do you think we may get in early?
Thanks again!

I would leave your ADR as is - parade starts at 4pm, but won't get to that point till about 4:10, plus it depends on how many people around as to how quickly you can escape to the RFC. If you show up before 4:45, you may get seated sooner, but don't make it so you're late for it.