Crystal Palace // Parade Viewing Advice

[SteelSonny]

I’m not a parade guy so I planned out an attraction filled day for the fam next Friday (w 8 yo daughter, 4 yo son) but now that I’m reading about the Festival of I’m thinking my kids will love it.

We have Crystal Palace reservations at 3:25 and some free time before the 3:00 parade time. Do we have a chance to do both?

If we stake out a spot near Casey’s Corner is the pace of the parade enough that we can see it? Should we watch up near Frontierland so we catch it earlier and then slide down? If we’re a few minutes late could we lose the reservation? Help me!

 

[Robo]

I’m not a parade guy so I planned out an attraction filled day for the fam next Friday (w 8 yo daughter, 4 yo son) but now that I’m reading about the Festival of I’m thinking my kids will love it.

We have Crystal Palace reservations at 3:25 and some free time before the 3:00 parade time. Do we have a chance to do both?

1. If we stake out a spot near Casey’s Corner is the pace of the parade enough that we can see it?
2. Should we watch up near Frontierland so we catch it earlier and then slide down?
3. If we’re a few minutes late could we lose the reservation?

1. I'd watch elsewhere.
2. You can do that. Cross over into and walk through Adventureland.
Or, stand near Hall of Presidents for the parade.
3. Nope.

 

[Surgie2]

@Robo Thanks for the map - and all of your other ones. If we don't have the constraints of the OP, where are some ideal spots for viewing the parade? We will have 10 people including 2 kids in strollers.

 

[Robo]

@Robo Thanks for the map - and all of your other ones. If we don't have the constraints of the OP, where are some ideal spots for viewing the parade? We will have 10 people including 2 kids in strollers.

Pick any spot along the route.
Any street view will be great.

Less crowded than on Main St., but great viewing is deep in Frontierland past Country Bears or near Hall of Presidents.

 

[Tomh]

The parade starts near Splash Mountain, and takes some time to make it's way over to Casey's Corner. As Robo said, I think you would do much better to head into Frontierland, somewhere close to one of the crossovers. Watch the parade there, and as soon as it is over, go through the crossover to Adventureland, and then work your way back to Crystal Palace from there. This should get you back to Crystal Palace earlier than if you watch at Casey's.

 

[SteelSonny]

Awesome info and visual. We'll definitely find a spot in Frontierland and then double back for reservations. Thank you. 6 days!!!

 

[SteelSonny]

Also was able to scoot the reservation forward to 3:45 to give us a cushion. Much thanks again!

 

[Wubar]

We watched it twice this past week with great results (thanks again to Robo's trusty strategy maps). One spot I can't recommend enough is on the hub, if noon is closer to the castle and 6 o clock is closer to main street, then A great spot is about 6:30 pm, on the left side of the sidewalk, right on the curb up next to the posts the CMs set up to keep one walkway clear. Those CMs do a great job keeping that walkway clear of the inevitable "parade and crowd creep", and in that spot, with the castle as the backdrop, the floats and performers turn and face you head on for a short time before making the left turn up main street. Great views, great photos, and my son got a lot of attention from the street performers and characters on the floats! Got there about 45 min early.

Also a short walk across the park to CP!