Did your kids enjoy the parade? Some ?s about the parade and Fantasmic

imjen

DIS Veteran
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Nov 12, 2004
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I'm wondering if the parade is something we should try to make time for and if so how early we ought to save our seats and where a good spot to sit is? Is 20-30 min. prior enough time to get a decent seat?

I'm thinking we'll see the 6:30 pm parade on Friday and then ride a couple rides and go over and start staking out our spot for the 9 pm Fantasmic. How early should we do that and is it okay if half our party saves our spot while the other half does things with the kids up until 15-20 min. before showtime? I think we'll need to do that for all of our sanity. We will be there with FIL, dh's younger bro & sis, and BIL's family. There will be 7 adults and 5 kids (ages 3-8 yrs) so we can easily split up. Anyone got any tips on the best way to save places (a thin blanket or jackets or something else? It has to be small to pack since we're flying) And where would be a good spot for us to sit? I've heard that sometimes you stake your spot and then later get kicked off by CM's putting up ropes. I really don't want that to happen!

Thanks for any and all help! I haven't seen Fantasmic for about 8 years and am really excited to share it with my kiddos. :wizard:
 
My dd now 7 LOVES the parade, we watched it every day we were there last year. How soon you need to stake out a spot in part depends on how busy the parks are. We haven't done fantasmic because, well my kid is a wimp and thinks it will be too scary.....
 
Kids that age will love the parade. It really is great if they're into characters and all the movies. For Fantasmic, I think if someone starts saving seats 60-90 minutes early and the whole group is there by 30-45 minutes before 9:00 (so 8:15-8:30) you should be fine.
 
My son who is 13 still enjoys the parades at DL and WDW. My daughter who is 11 has and always has, enjoyed the parades to the point she will see them each day of the trip! Its a nice way to have a snack and sit down if nothing else! My favorite spot in DL for the parade is on the walkway that goes from the hub into Fantasyland. Sort of on the side of the Matterhorn, near the Alice in Wonderland ride (but before you get to that ride coming from the hub). Nice long, stone bench, near a restroom and always shaded. I generally get a spot there 45-60 minutes early.
 

I'm wondering if the parade is something we should try to make time for and if so how early we ought to save our seats and where a good spot to sit is? Is 20-30 min. prior enough time to get a decent seat?

I'm thinking we'll see the 6:30 pm parade on Friday and then ride a couple rides and go over and start staking out our spot for the 9 pm Fantasmic. How early should we do that and is it okay if half our party saves our spot while the other half does things with the kids up until 15-20 min. before showtime? I think we'll need to do that for all of our sanity. We will be there with FIL, dh's younger bro & sis, and BIL's family. There will be 7 adults and 5 kids (ages 3-8 yrs) so we can easily split up. Anyone got any tips on the best way to save places (a thin blanket or jackets or something else? It has to be small to pack since we're flying) And where would be a good spot for us to sit? I've heard that sometimes you stake your spot and then later get kicked off by CM's putting up ropes. I really don't want that to happen!

Thanks for any and all help! I haven't seen Fantasmic for about 8 years and am really excited to share it with my kiddos. :wizard:

Parade. Watch it up by Alice. They close the FL matterhorn line down and everyone pays attention to your side of the street. We were there 30 minutes prior to parade start time in the summer and got a good spot. Over on main street, all the good spots were gone an hour before the parade.

Fantasmic. In the summer, they roped the front area off for sitting about 30 min prior and everyone behind the rope had to stand. The sitters were asked to scrunch in at that time. They then roped the back of the standing area off too and scrunched the standers in. They really pack em in like Sardines in the standing area. If your party shows up 15 min prior, well they're going to have a hard time finding you up in the sitting area with everyone standing behind it. And the big scrunch will have already occurred so it will be trying just to step over people to get to you.
 
We just spent 3 days at Disneyland and my daughter (7) insistes on watching the parade every night. It really is magical.

I also sat near the matterhorn...but on bench before you turn toward Alice in Wonderland. Next time, I'll do the stone bench....didn't consider how the characters would focus on that side since there is no seating on the other side. What a wonderful observation!

We grabbed a bench about 45 minutes before parade time. I saw many people saving spots with backpacks or small blankets. Not a problem at all. Their party joined them 10-15 minutes before parade time.

Have fun!
 












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