Can anyone recommend any areas to watch MK Parade in which you're not packed like sardines?

[TeamSy]

This year we will be traveling with someone in our party who is immunocompromised. They unfortunately will not be joining us for most of our meals, as they will need to mask in all indoor locations. But outside, they would love to be able to take their mask off to take a break / and from the heat in non-packed spaces.

We would love for them to join us to watch the parade -- are there any locations you could suggest we go? Their worry is it being packed that we'd be shoulder to shoulder with others. We had thought about just putting them in between two others from our party so they wouldn't be next to a stranger in case, or just skipping the parade, but if anyone knows of any location that aren't super popular - even if the view isn't that great - so they can enjoy it with the kids that would be awesome! TIA!

 

[Skippyboo]

The parade starts at Frontierland and goes down around the castle and down Main Street. Frontierland is probably the less crowded area. Maybe you could get there early and spread out a bit.

 

[CarolynFH]

I agree with Frontierland near the starting point, which is on the Adventureland side of Tiana. There's a wide walkway coming from Pirates (Adventureland) toward Tiana that's usually not very crowded, and we've had a pretty nice view of the floats even when standing back from the crowd.

Edited to add - I'm talking about the area near the Golden Oak Outpost, number 30 on this map: https://www.wdwinfo.com/maps/MK.htm.

 

[Jack Kerouac]

We had good luck eating outdoors at Pecos Bill and then just standing up and looking over the wall and / or moving to the other side. It's not really crowded and you can see the parade easily.

 

[Debbie Jean]

Agree that Frontierland will be your best bet. Also if you get there early, I’d suggest that the other people in your party could perhaps create a buffer zone around your immunocompromised members to keep others from crowding in.

 

[TeamSy]

Thank you all!!

 

[Marthasor]

I don't know if this would work for you, but we actually like watching the parade from the dock area over at Tom Sawyer's Island. It's not a close view, but it's not crowded and there is usually some seating and shade.

 

[Mousetopia]

There will still be much shoulder to shoulder when the parade ends in Frontierland. Last parade I saw was standing just below the train platform. The parade rounds the circle coming right at you. It was not crowded on a crowded night.

 

[Pixydust227]

We had a reservation for Tony’s Town Square right about the parade time (2:45pm). They gave us the option to either wait until the parade is over and watch from the outside the restaurant or we could sit in their outside patio seats to watch before going in to eat (they didn’t have any wait staff serving outside). We were the only ones out there and because you are elevated by a few steps we had great views!

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

The walkway between Magic Carpets and Country Bears is a good spot. They close the walkway a few minutes before the parade arrives, so if you time it right you can get front row viewing with a very short wait.

 

[Ochio]

Least crowded area we have experienced is in front of City Hall and in front of the train station.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

This year we will be traveling with someone in our party who is immunocompromised. They unfortunately will not be joining us for most of our meals, as they will need to mask in all indoor locations. But outside, they would love to be able to take their mask off to take a break / and from the heat in non-packed spaces.

We would love for them to join us to watch the parade -- are there any locations you could suggest we go? Their worry is it being packed that we'd be shoulder to shoulder with others. We had thought about just putting them in between two others from our party so they wouldn't be next to a stranger in case, or just skipping the parade, but if anyone knows of any location that aren't super popular - even if the view isn't that great - so they can enjoy it with the kids that would be awesome! TIA!

The park entrance. Everyone goes to the hub or Frontierland, park entrance is often the least crowded and you can usually find a spot somewhere that’s not crammed in.

 

[rwdavis2]

We've had good luck near the bottom of the train station steps.

 

[Laura's Dad]

At the very end of the parade route in front of the City Hall bathrooms. You will have to wait until the end of the parade, but the crowds are not large there.

 

[team bradfield]

least crowded place is You Tube from your resort

 

[zackiedawg]

There's a sneaky spot that might work well - the bridge from the hub to Liberty Square is a narrow point and no one is allowed to stand on the bridge - right next to the Christmas Shoppe side, the sidewalk crossing spot right next to the bridge has a small space where if you plan ahead, you can take over that little spot - it fits maybe 4-5 people and you are right on the parade line, with the river to your right - and behind you there's only enough room for 1-2 people to stand deep - so you're almost in your own private little cubicle spot with only people to your left. If your party could take over that little corner right at the bridge, the immunocompromised person could stand in that recess with your party blocking them in, and they'll have 3 open sides and only your party to the left - and still be right on the parade rope. Also, down along the river by the water fountains and farther, there are spots where you can stand on the rail along the river and see all the parade pass over the bridge, while staying well out of the crowd and getting some nice tree shade to boot.

 

[goofyernmost]

The problem with asking that question is that should such a place exist, once someone publicly makes it known, it will no longer be a good place to be. Everyone will know about it then. Ask instead for a private message answer. Sometimes one has to be a little sneaky to achieve a goal.

 

[zackiedawg]

Sad but true...once made public, more will know the secrets. But since this one is out of the bag already, here's a shot from along the river, behind the Christmas Shoppe, just past the water fountains...the parade will cross over the bridge you see in this shot - and no one will block your view:

And some parade shots I took while standing in that little corner next to the bridge I was describing:

That corner is a primo spot with great views of the parade, while also not having people shoved up against you from all sides.

 

[aleria24]

We like to sit on planters in Frontier Land at the end of the boardwalk type walkway. We get there early, grab a snack and sit and wait.

 

[slo]

We've watched the parades from several locations throughout the years.

We love watching The Halloween parade right at the beginning of it in Frontierland (this was mentioned above). Not tons of people and as soon as it's done you can hit some rides with less lines, because so many people are still waiting for the parade to finish. You can also race your way to Main Street if you'd like to watch it again (which we have done).

Last year my DD21 and I watched the afternoon parade from the top of the train station - there was barely anyone up their with us, which was awesome. I did tell a few little kids they could stand in front of me by the railing so they could see better, but I don't count them as part of a crowd - their parents were close to us, but that was about it. I found it odd that practically nobody was up there. We loved this spot and we'll stand there again in March.

Have a great trip!!!