Celebrate! A Street Party Viewing Tips

[glendalais]

As you might know, the Disneyland Resort introduced a new parade today at Disneyland Park. Celebrate! A Street Party asks our Guests What Will You Celebrate? as they party along with the Disney Characters in a high-energy performance.

This new parade is a bit different from our recent parades, including the now-gone Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams as well as the A Christmas Fantasy Parade, which will return this Christmas season. So I thought I should share a few tips on what's new about this performance.

What used to be one of the prime viewing areas for our parades - the sidewalk near the bathrooms over by Alice in Wonderland - is no longer a viewing area. Indeed, the entirety of Matterhorn Way stretching from Alice in Wonderland to the Central Plaza is no longer a viewing area, and will be roped off during the performance, Cast Members will begin asking Guests seating in this area to leave about 30-60 minutes before the scheduled start time for this parade.

There will be a small viewing area set up by the Matterhorn near the Pixie Hollow Merchandise Cart. However, this is quite possibly the worst place in all of Disneyland Park to watch the parade from, as it is not a designated show stop area. The floats and performers will quickly pass by this area on their way to the next party zone without stopping. Guests sitting here will basically see the entire parade pass by in about 10-25 seconds, and won't get that much other than a few waves from the characters/performers.

There are three designated show stop areas: along Main Street U.S.A., in the Central Plaza, as well as in the plaza located in front of it's a small world. These are the main viewing areas, and the only areas where the Parade will actually linger for any period of time.

Finally, this is a very long parade duration-wise, taking about 1-1.5 hours from start to finish. This is due to the very long show-stops, which are about 20 minutes each. Take that into consideration when deciding to arrive at a viewing area, as Guests sitting at the last show-stop area might be waiting upwards of about an hour.

 

[Stacerita]

Thanks for the tips.

 

[mechurchlady]

Triple hugs and thanks and I will miss your DLR inside info so much.

 

[4everluvDisney]

What time does the parade usually start?

 

[Snow Orange]

Where does it start from? Or does it alternate?

 

[glendalais]

What time does the parade usually start?

Generally, if we have two parades, they will be at 3:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M.. On slow days when we have one parade, it will be at 7:30 P.M.

Parade times may vary day to day, however. Please check with Disneyland.com, a Times Guide located at any Disneyland Resort Turnstyle, or with any Disneyland Resort Cast Member for the Parade times during your visit.

Where does it start from? Or does it alternate?

Generally, the first parade of any day will go from it's a small world to Main Street USA.

If there is a second parade, it will go in the reverse direction, from Main Street USA to it's a small world.

 

[4everluvDisney]

Generally, if we have two parades, they will be at 3:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M.. On slow days when we have one parade, it will be at 7:30 P.M.

Parade times may vary day to day, however. Please check with Disneyland.com, a Times Guide located at any Disneyland Resort Turnstyle, or with any Disneyland Resort Cast Member for the Parade times during your visit.



Generally, the first parade of any day will go from it's a small world to Main Street USA.

If there is a second parade, it will go in the reverse direction, from Main Street USA to it's a small world.

Thanks for the info. This will be our first trip to DL and trying to plan meals around parades, shows etc.

 

[mechurchlady]

They changed the route a bit so that it goes straight back stage instead of looping around the circle and past City Hall and the Opera House. A lot of the route around the Matterhorn they do not allow guests to plop and watch.

 

[charmama4]

What is considered a slow day??

 

[ScooterL]

I saw it yesterday along from the terraced area near small world. The performance area they roped off was pretty much from the corner by Storybook Land Canal Boats up to the corner near small world where the parade turns right. We got to the terraced area an hour early, and already all of the street viewing areas were taken, though there were still some spots right up against the railing in the terrace.

The parade started at 3:30. It took them not quite 5 minutes to get all the floats in place for the first performance stop, and then the performance was 12 minutes. So by 3:48 the parade was out of that area. According to the Times Guide, they anticipate it will be at the Hub by 3:45 and at Main Street by 4:00. I think it's going to be a little later than that, but yesterday it was definitely over before 4:30.

One thing - if you're not in one of the parade zones, the parade moves VERY fast - if you blink you'll miss it!!! There's not very many floats in it.

I really admire the energy of the performers - it was a warm afternoon (but not as hot as it will be in the summer time!), and we were wondering how much energy they would have when they finally got to the final stop on Main Street.

Unfortunately I didn't care much for the parade itself. There's really not much to it - the floats are quite simple and not nearly as elaborate or interesting as the Parade of Dreams. Not something I'll go out of my way to see again.

 

[perlster]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z43YIp0-EBk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMMil4nlZSM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKDjTXcELw8

 

[visitingapril09]

Did anybody notice where good wheelchair viewing areas were??

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Generally, if we have two parades, they will be at 3:30 P.M. and 6:30 P.M.. On slow days when we have one parade, it will be at 7:30 P.M.

What is considered a slow day??

Excluding summer, spring break, Christmas/New Year's, and some holidays:

"Slow days" would generally be Mondays through Thursdays, when DL has shorter hours.

For example, on Mondays through Thursdays, toward the end of May, the Celebrate! parade will likely be shown once per day, at 7:00pm.

HTH

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Thank you for the tips. I'm looking forward to seeing the parade.

 

[okduke]

Thanks for the information. Can't wait to see it this June!

 

[momto2nenas]

When the parade only shows once per day (7pm during our trip) which way will it be running? Will they alternate days or will it always start at IASW?

 

[glendalais]

When the parade only shows once per day (7pm during our trip) which way will it be running? Will they alternate days or will it always start at IASW?

Generally, the first parade of the day will always run south, from it's a small world to Main Street USA.

 

[jodilynnw0214]

There was a wheelchair viewing area by the plaza inn it was just to the left of the resturant. It looked like it had a great view. I would get there early though so that you had front row seating.

 

[brenda1966]

I watched some of the video. What a disappointment! I want to see Beautiful Disney themed floats, with princesses and characters.

 

[Armadillo4]

glendalais, thanks for starting this thread and providing the DIS community with so much helpful information! I think this thread is going to be important as there are some viewing differences with CASP than normal parades.

I caught three of the show stops today in each of the viewing locations (3:30 IASW, 4pm Main St. USA, and 6:45pm Central Plaza aka The Hub) and can offer a couple more tips.

IMHO, this one is the most important: if you want to SIT while watching CASP, the only viewing location that allows this is at IASW. At both The Hub and along Main St. USA, the guest control CMs instruct everyone that they have to STAND during the show--except within the handicap sections, of course. You can sit while *waiting* for the street party, but once its near show time, they'll ask you to stand. You get plenty of advance warning from guest control CMs when you are in a standing-only zone.

The reason for this is that there are tricycle units in the show that pedal around the floats practically right up against the sidewalk curbs. Think of the scooters motoring around the floats in Block Party Bash, but larger. The parade route is wider in the IASW promenade, so you can sit on the ground like normal.

The corollary to the above note though is this: if you decide to watch at either the Main St. USA or Hub viewing areas and you have small children, find a spot EARLY along the front of the sidewalk. Otherwise your children will have problem seeing over everyone who end up standing at these locations. Heck, as an adult, if you're behind other adults at these viewing locations, it might be challenging to see everything.

The above notes withstanding, I thoroughly enjoyed CASP! It's not a real parade though, so those wishing for a more traditional parade may not find this to be their cup of tea. But if you liked Block Party Bash (and I loved BPB), and the older Party Gras streetacular, I think you'll like CASP.