Behind on the times - Parade Wishes No more FP need strategy

[jkstewart1800]

In the past three years there have been so many changes to the way FP works and new areas have been built that strategic planning that was back in 08/09 committed to memory is ALL OUT THE WINDOW now!

Okay. so. FP+ is gone for wishes and I have read that the "casey corner side" of the lawn is available to first come people... is that right? How early are people showing up? is it a picnic blanket sitting around thing and then stand once it starts? Are people staking out claim hours in advance like for the parade with their beach towels growling and anyone who dares look at their peice of turf? LOL

I kid. (kind of) What about the parade. If you are on the lawn for wishes won't you be able to see the MSEP too? What is the visibility like?

ACK! I use to know all the ins and outs but now I feel like a newbie all over again!

Help please!

Thanks guys!

 

[Robo]

1. FP+ is gone for wishes and
2. I have read that the "casey corner side" of the lawn is available to first come people... is that right?
3. How early are people showing up?
4. is it a picnic blanket sitting around thing and then stand once it starts?
5. Are people staking out claim hours in advance like for the parade with their beach towels growling and anyone who dares look at their peice of turf? LOL
I kid. (kind of)
What about the parade.
6. If you are on the lawn for wishes won't you be able to see the MSEP too?
7. What is the visibility like?

1. Yup.
2. Yes.
3. Some, a couple of hours. Others, an hour.
4. Can be. Otherwise, it can be too full.
5. Some people will try anything.
6. Not a good spot to see MSEP.
7. If it's a busy night, much of the street-level of the parade will be blocked.

 

[Mom2J&J]

As much prep and planning as I've done for our trip next week, I am still unclear about the best strategy for parade/CtM/Wishes. I've heard:

1. Tomorrowland bridge for all three.
2. Casey Corner side of the lawn for CtM and Wishes - get there 1-2 hours early
3. Stand in front of Confectionary in Town Square and follow parade up toward castle for all three
4. Get a table at Casey's for CtM and Wishes
5. Get a table outside at Plaza for all three

I still don't know our plan and I'm getting a little anxious. We haven't been in over 10 years and we had a five year-old and a baby so we didn't even do parks at night.

What to do, what to do....

 

[MJ6987]

Isn't this over complicating things? Just go anywhere on the Parade route to see the Parade and then move to the hub / Main Street for the castle show and Wishes (unless your spot for the Parade was already there!).

 

[DWillowBay]

...Just join the herd and enjoy the show.

 

[Mom2J&J]

Isn't this over complicating things? Just go anywhere on the Parade route to see the Parade and then move to the hub / Main Street for the castle show and Wishes (unless your spot for the Parade was already there!).

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Strikan]

Agree with the above. We watched the parade at 9pm from Frontierland earlier this week and then walked to the hub area thinking we would leave before the castle projection show and fireworks to avoid the crazy crowds. Instead we ended up right in the center of the hub in the open walkway area between the two garden viewing areas as the castle projection show started. At that point, cast members actually direct you toward the castle filling up the open walk way right in the center of hub before you reach the Walt and Mickey statue. We ended up having probably the best view ever of the whole thing basically by accident. Not sure this will always work, but it is good to know.

 

[kayteekt]

Isn't this over complicating things? Just go anywhere on the Parade route to see the Parade and then move to the hub / Main Street for the castle show and Wishes (unless your spot for the Parade was already there!).

This has always been my thought. I know different people have different priorities, but neither I or in anyone in my family have any interest in sitting around for an hour or two just to save a "good" spot. We've always just walked up.
This past January we walked from frontierland towards hub when the EP started, so we stopped along the path to watch. After it was over we migrated toward hub, ended up right at the bridge just before it dumps into hub...between the two there are some benches. We were looking at the left side of castle. Not a dead on, best view you can get...but it wasn't crowded...just a little further and it was wall to wall people. We thought it was a great view without all the chaos. Some in our party sat at the bench, some of us took the kids and stood by the railing.
My point is, there are so many good spots i wouldn't waste my time (or fp when that was available) waiting around for the show, you're at Disney, so many other things you could do with your time!

 

[jkstewart1800]

Isn't this over complicating things? Just go anywhere on the Parade route to see the Parade and then move to the hub / Main Street for the castle show and Wishes (unless your spot for the Parade was already there!).

unhelpful comment is unhelpful.

 

[jaysmom4285]

This has worked well for us, at least when the MSEP is one hour before Wishes. Watch MSEP from anywhere in the Town Square area (the parade starts there). When the end of the parade goes by, step in the street and follow the parade up Main Street. Lots of people do this. When you get to wherever you want to stand to watch Wishes, just stop. Although you won't have a place to sit, you'll be squarely in front of the castle, and you won't have stand around very long. The end of the parade should go by around 9:20 (if the parade starts at 9). It will take a few minutes to follow it up to the Hub, putting you in place around 9:30 or 9:35. Celebrate the Magic will start at 9:45, and Wishes at 10.

 

[MJ6987]

unhelpful comment is unhelpful.

Why is it unhelpful? This is exactly what we do and have had no problems at all. We prefer Frontierland for the Parade then move to Main Street / Hub for the castle show and Wishes - perfect view of both.

Plus the post below mine said pretty much the same thing, or a variation of it.

Your comment is the only unhelpful one here.

 

[Eastern]

The best thing we ever did was decide not to wait for parades/fireworks. We see them from whereever we are at the time. We've seen them while walking down Main St USA, when everyone stops when the fireworks start, from the Aladdin Magic Carpet ride, from the PeopleMover, and sitting on the wall near Winnie the Pooh ride. All good experiences. It is fun to see the whole show from start to finish from in front of the castle, but it often takes planning and unnecessary stress, as everyone wants to do that. It just works better for us when we do what we want and enjoy the firworks from wherever we happen to be. Sometimes it works out better than you could have planned.

 

[jkstewart1800]

This has worked well for us, at least when the MSEP is one hour before Wishes. Watch MSEP from anywhere in the Town Square area (the parade starts there). When the end of the parade goes by, step in the street and follow the parade up Main Street. Lots of people do this. When you get to wherever you want to stand to watch Wishes, just stop. Although you won't have a place to sit, you'll be squarely in front of the castle, and you won't have stand around very long. The end of the parade should go by around 9:20 (if the parade starts at 9). It will take a few minutes to follow it up to the Hub, putting you in place around 9:30 or 9:35. Celebrate the Magic will start at 9:45, and Wishes at 10.

Thank you ! For my family we relax best when we have some sort of outlined planned. Thank you for sharing yours.

 

[jkstewart1800]

Why is it unhelpful? This is exactly what we do and have had no problems at all. We prefer Frontierland for the Parade then move to Main Street / Hub for the castle show and Wishes - perfect view of both.

Plus the post below mine said pretty much the same thing, or a variation of it.

Your comment is the only unhelpful one here.

I asked for help with what I perceive as a complicated situation. You "explaining" that it isn't really complicated doesn't automatically change how my brain works. I don't want to "wing it" or just wander from place to place. It works best for my family if we have clear outlined plans and destinations. I was asking for help so I could make a plan.