Are the parades that great or.....

[vital]

should we use that time to ride our must do rides? I'll have DS 6 with me. His first time there. I'm not sure he'd like the crowds along the route. It makes no difference to me if we see them or not, I just don't want to traumatize him for a parade. If they are worth seeing and you had to pick only one, which would it be?

 

[MinnieFan]

I guess everyone will have their own opinions on this. In our family, DH and DS would rather do rides than the (daytime) parades, and DD and I never miss the parades. We just split up and meet again after the parade. If you have to pick only one parade, my personal favorite is the MK afternoon parade, followed closely by Spectro Magic. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[hockeybabe]

We've only done one day parade, at mgm, but the crowds and the wait, well, the next time we went to WDW we rode rides. Won't miss Spectromagic, though, it is worth it. If there are 2 showings that night, see the second and keep riding rides during the first

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

The only parade I miss is the one at Animal Kingdom. I have never been impressed with that one. I make sure I watch the other ones. Its a great chance for Character pictures, also interaction if you are lucky. Not much interaction but young kids (and big kids like me ) love it when a character might spot them on the side and come over for a high five or to pat them on the head.

My DH thinks the parades are a total waste of time and would rather be off riding the rides.

So, two very different opinions in one family.

 

[drteeth3]

I say skip em but if you ask my wife and daughter they would tell you go see all of them.

 

[MareSINY]

Spectromagic is my favorite parade. I took my niece to see it in January (she's almost 5) and she LOVED it!! We got there about half an hour before the parade started and got a good spot near the curb.

 

[lorli]

We don't miss the parades. DD (4) and neice (7) wanted to see them more than once.

 

[vicb]

IMHO I think all the parades are worth seeing atleast once. We have seen all of them once or more now so on this upcoming trip we don't plan to go out of our way to see any of them. We usually try to see one or two each trip, they really add to the atmosphere. Spectro is really neat, worth the extra effort.

 

[BrerRabbit_fan]

I love them all. The only ones I have not liked were Hercules and Mulan, both at MGM. If I had to pick one, it would be Stars and Cars at MGM, then Spectromagic at the MK.

 

[TXMommy]

Spectro is absolutely worth it!!

 

[Twinklee]

We never see the parades unless we get stuck along the parade route, like last trip at the AK. The only parade we've ever made plans to see was the Main Street Electrical Parade when it was in the MK in 2000. We'd rather spend our time doing the rides and shows then waiting in the sun and fighting the crowds to see a parade.

Toni

 

[AStamm]

The parades are probably my favorite part of the whole vacation! While my DS6 isn't as crazy as I am about them, he still has a great time. I'd so go for it...just be sure to have some snacks with you to keep your son busy while waiting. We always get one of the popcorn buckets.

 

[patsal]

Well since it will be his first time, I would watch the one at MK and MGM since they are not typical parades, but filled with characters--it is a great way to see many. Personally Spectro is a not to be missed event for our family no matter how many times we see this it never grows old. AK for us is a been thre done that, but it is really neat and very short.

 

[smilie]

I've only seen the afternoon parade at MK and SpectroMagic nighttime parade. I would never miss either of these on my trips. Spectro is probably my favorite part of the entire vacation, it's wonderful!

 

[dbm20th]

I never watch the parades, unless I happen to be walking by them ob my way to usuing that time for more rides

 

[beth_cam]

Last trip we got into AK right as the parade started so we kinda had to watch and were glad we did. We also on the same trip "turned tail and ran" lol as it started getting crowded for the afternoon parade at MK because we were trying to leave and didnt want to get stuck. While I somewhat enjoy parades, it does get boring. And I absolutely hate waiting ahead. if we happen on parades and fireworks we watch but we DO NOT plan for them. BTW as far as seeing lots of characters, well it did absolutely nothing for my then 4 and 6 year olds to see them way over there. My husband probably enjoyed the parade the most, the kids and I are much more hands on.

 

[Julylady]

I have visited WDW several times in the past with teenagers who would rather skip parades and do the rides. My last two trips included my 4-year old niece who loved the parades at Magic Kingdom (afternoon and Spectro) and MGM. We watched them all twice. Since our return in January she loves to re-watch them on the video tape.

Donna

 

[huey duey & luey]

My kids loved the stars and cars parade at MGM. HAS alot of the movie characters

 

[iluvladybugs]

I always miss the parades. I stayed for Spectro once, but was VERY disappointed. After growing up with the Main Street Electrical Parade, Spectro was such a let down. Now it just makes me angry. Go for the rides. You get next to no wait during them!!

 

[Stitchfans]

I love them all. The only ones I have not liked were Hercules and Mulan, both at MGM. If I had to pick one, it would be Stars and Cars at MGM, then Spectromagic at the MK.

I didn't know Hercules had one. I did hear about Mulan's. Or are they together? haven't caught any at MGM or AK plan to see both on our next trip