Best Strategy for BOTH Paint the Night and Fireworks on Same Night?

[DisFan444]

If I want to see both of these the same evening without waiting and saving a place hours before PTN, what's the best recommendation? If I watch the parade down by small world, will Disney allow me to follow the last float to Main Street for viewing the fireworks, or is that not allowed?

 

[Mysteryincorp]

When are you going? It's not as bad as it used to be, we were walking out last Monday and there was a few curb spots left and definitely second row on Main Street about an hour before the parade. I bet about a half an hour before you could get a second row spot, if you don't mind standing.
After the parade you just scoot right into the street for the fireworks.

 

[Avery's mom]

If you want a good spot for the parade without waiting a lot, you could reserve a BB dining package, which would allow you to see both the parade and fireworks from Main St.

If you'd rather see the parade from IASW, I have heard that people are no longer allowed to follow the last float to Main St for fireworks. Perhaps someone can give you more updated info that confirms or contradicts that.

 

[Nonsuch]

...If you'd rather see the parade from IASW, I have heard that people are no longer allowed to follow the last float to Main St for fireworks. Perhaps someone can give you more updated info that confirms or contradicts that.

The crowd following the parade from IASM was held back before reaching the hub, as the parade passed the street quickly filled with guests coming from Tomorrowland and Main Street.
This was in December.

 

[doctornick]

So, can anyone offer advice on where/how to best view the fireworks if you watch the parade from IASW? Is it better then to walk over to TL and try to enter the Hub from there?

 

[figment_jii]

So, can anyone offer advice on where/how to best view the fireworks if you watch the parade from IASW? Is it better then to walk over to TL and try to enter the Hub from there?

The Tomorrowland parade crossing waiting area gets pretty full pretty fast, so I don't know that there is a huge advantage to trying to get to MS via TL. I was there in mid-October, the parade crossing periods weren't long enough to clear out the crowds waiting to cross, so the back-up extended past Astro Orbitor. As mentioned the parade route filled up pretty quickly and by the time folks in the TL area got into the Hub area, most of the "best" spots had already been taken (the prime spots will be filled up with guests waiting from well before PtN starts). Personally, I would try to watch PtN from wherever you want to watch fireworks. So if you want to watch PtN by IaSW, I would find a spot along IaSW Mall to watch fireworks and not try to get down to the hub/Main Street.

 

[doctornick]

The Tomorrowland parade crossing waiting area gets pretty full pretty fast, so I don't know that there is a huge advantage to trying to get to MS via TL. I was there in mid-October, the parade crossing periods weren't long enough to clear out the crowds waiting to cross, so the back-up extended past Astro Orbitor. As mentioned the parade route filled up pretty quickly and by the time folks in the TL area got into the Hub area, most of the "best" spots had already been taken (the prime spots will be filled up with guests waiting from well before PtN starts). Personally, I would try to watch PtN from wherever you want to watch fireworks. So if you want to watch PtN by IaSW, I would find a spot along IaSW Mall to watch fireworks and not try to get down to the hub/Main Street.

Can you view the fireworks from around IASW?

 

[figment_jii]

Can you view the fireworks from around IASW?

Yes, IaSW mall is probably the second most popular viewing locations for fireworks (Main Street/Hub and the F! viewing area are the other two locations). You will have to turn around to see the characters that fly (e.g., Tinkerbell and Nemo), but they project the images onto the IaSW facade (similar to how they project images on the castle, the Matterhorn, and the Main Street buildings).