Best locations for parades/fireworks?

[JerseyBallerina]

Where are your favorite viewing locations for the following:

Share a Dream Come True Parade
Spectro
Wishes
Mickey's Jungle Jammin Parade
Illuminations
Stars and Motor Cars Parade

Also, what time would you suggest staking out the spot? We will be there in July.

 

[kandmwedding]

Here's my faves:

SADCT - at the rope near Splash Mountain. This is right at the start of the parade, so you can usually get a spot with no one in front of you and get great pics. And if you time it right you can get on Splash right after.

Spectro - This has never been one that I've staked out. Usually I end up somewhere in the hub.

Wishes - I like it from the Plaza Pavillion counter dining area between Main Street and Tomorrowland. DH and I arrived about 45 minutes before hand, got some food and camped out. Great view!

MJJP - never watched.

Illuminations - We've watched this from several locations (Morocco boat landing, Germany, Rose & Crown, etc) but our favorite by far is China. Like Wishes we get there about 45 minutes beforehand, grab some food and a bench (or the ground if they're taken) and wait for the show.

SaMC - never watched.

 

[Terk-1]

Here's my preferences:

Share a Dream Come True Parade -- Over by Splash Mountain.
Spectro -- 2nd Floor of the Main Street Train Station
Wishes -- Same spot
Mickey's Jungle Jammin Parade -- Near the Tusker House
Illuminations -- Rose & Crown
Stars and Motor Cars Parade -- Next to the TV Hall of Fame statues.

When to arrive:

For Share & Jammin, I would say about 30-45 minutes prior to the start of the parade.

Spectro & Wishes: At least an hour to hour & a half prior.

Illuminations: Need a dinner reservation.

 

[dcsetman]

kandmwedding



Illuminations - We've watched this from several locations (Morocco boat landing, Germany, Rose & Crown, etc) but our favorite by far is China. Like Wishes we get there about 45 minutes beforehand, grab some food and a bench (or the ground if they're taken) and wait for the show.

QUESTION : I've never seen information about watching Illuminations from the China Pavilion - can you give me some additional information: is there a place to sit, snacks or beverages close by, or do you have to stand...

thanks for your help!

Penni

 

[JerseyBallerina]

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Cleokitty]

Illuminations: from the Japan pavillion. Grabbed a bench along the railing about 30-45 minutes prior. Had to walk the rest of the way around the pavillion afterwards but we stopped in the pastry shop in Norway, picked up a few treats for breakfast the next morning and then, by the time we got to the busses, there were no more crowds--and the kids liked seeing the countries all lit up.

Spectromagic: Right in front of Cinderella's castle, in the garden area facing the castle. Same area for the fireworks.
Usually have to stake this out an hour ahead of time (in Sept. when crowds are low).

 

[kandmwedding]

Originally posted by dcsetman
kandmwedding



Illuminations - We've watched this from several locations (Morocco boat landing, Germany, Rose & Crown, etc) but our favorite by far is China. Like Wishes we get there about 45 minutes beforehand, grab some food and a bench (or the ground if they're taken) and wait for the show.

QUESTION : I've never seen information about watching Illuminations from the China Pavilion - can you give me some additional information: is there a place to sit, snacks or beverages close by, or do you have to stand...

thanks for your help!

Penni

You can see Illuminations from anywhere around the World Showcase, and as I mentioned earlier, we've viewed from a lot of "prize" locations. I personally like China though. There's no specific area set up for viewing. We just usually grab some food at the counter service place and take a seat on one of the benches (or if necessary on the ground) near that railing that borders the World Showcase lake. I like this spot so much because you can see the globe the entire time, and the fireworks feel a lot closer than they do in some of the other locations. The show looks totally different depending on where you view it from. We staked out a spot right against the railing in China about 45 minutes prior, although some people stopped and stood behind us right before the show started, so you don't necessarily need to get there super early. My second favorite spot was up against the railing in Germany. This seemed to be pretty uncrowded too.

 

[aimee11621]

The view from the contemporary resort .

Sitting on the balcony with my loved ones and sippin soda and eatin snacks.

We have the tv full blast tunned into the channel thats playing the music.

No crowds and no heat!!!

 

[Suzanne74]

love the idea about jumping on Splash Mountain after - we will do the parade there for sure!!

I have heard to do Wishes further away from cinderella's castle due to moise for small children. Does the train station fill up quickly - that seems like an ideal spot for firesowrks

 

[kandmwedding]

The train station fills up super fast. By an hour to an hour and a half beforehand all the seats are taken, but you can still find standing room. And just an fyi, I personally didn't like the view from here because I thought the lights of Main Street got in the way of the show. I prefer somewhere closer to hub, and don't remember noise of fireworks being an issue. Mostly you hear the narration, not the fireworks.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Another question from somebody who has never been to MK (well, just once when I was a kid !)

For the Share a Dream Come True Parade, I am curious about why Splash Mountain is a great spot? I am assuming that this is where the Parade actually enters the MK?

I guess I just have always envisioned watching the Parades come down MainStreet. What route do the Parades follow?

Thanks!

 

[kandmwedding]

Both parades (Share a Dream Come True and Spectro) follow the same route, they just go in opposite directions. Spectro starts at the front of the park, gos up Main Street, and ends to the left of Splash, while Share a Dream Come True does the opposite. I happened upon the Share a Dream Come True parade the last time we were in Frontierland, and just can't imagine there being a better spot than right next to Splash. They tie a rope from the fence right in front of the mountain to a lamp post down the street. If you stand right between the rope and the fence you get an almost head on view of the parade, with trees in the background instead of people. Makes for great pics!! And like I said earlier, if you time it right you can run down to Splash and get on with little to no wait!!!