Electric Light Parade AND fireworks???

[Misskitty3]

We are going in May and I was just looking at the May 2008 park schedule. Looks like the Electric Light Parade was scheduled at 8:45pm in CA and the Fireworks at DL start at 9:25pm.

Assuming the schedule stays the same, anyone know how difficult it would be to do both??? I would have DH and 2 kiddos in strollers to get from CA over to DL.

 

[mystic_path]

Its doable but you wont be able to find a fantastic spot for the fireworks on Main Street near the castle if thats what your hoping for.

If you seek out a seat for the electrical parade near where it begins down by Paradise Pier. You will be the first to see the show and then you can make your way immediately over to DL to see the fireworks. I have done this and it has worked but I got stuck by the emporium on Main Street to see the works. Another time I watched the electrical parade and left DCA and sat on the ground between both parks and watched the fireworks from there. That was a pretty cool experience.

 

[mechurchlady]

The parade is at the end of the day for DCA so everyone will be leaving when you do. If you stake out a spot near the front then you could leave and see the fireworks from the esplanade for sure. I doubt you would get into DL and onto Main Street without missing some of the fireworks and the good spots will be taken though Main Street is a very nice view. I have seen them in the esplanade between the parks and while some of the show is not seen it is still nice.

 

[Sherwin]

Yeah, that's tough. Main Street will already be filled then. If you can do it in two nights, I would suggest that so you're not pushing your little ones in a rush to get to a mediocre spot to watch the fireworks, which you might be late to.

 

[Caroline NZ]

Is the electrical light parade going to be on in May though? I thought I read on here not long ago that it won't be. I was gutted because it was one of my enduring memories from my visit 21 years ago!

 

[Armadillo4]

Is the electrical light parade going to be on in May though? I thought I read on here not long ago that it won't be. I was gutted because it was one of my enduring memories from my visit 21 years ago!

Caroline, I think you're right. The last threads I saw about the Entertainment cuts at the park had DEP being dark until June and the start of the Summer season. There was no specific return date, so there's always a chance it could return sooner.

The refurb time is being used to add Tinker Bell as the opening unit as well as adding a Snow White float. I don't think I've seen any official press releases from Disney on the changes, so please take these all as rumors until confirmed.

 

[ScooterL]

My experience is like that of mystic_path - we have on several occasions watched the Electrical Parade from the Golden Dreams theater area. Once the last float passes, we take the path past Grizzly River and Soarin' to the entrance to DCA. At that point everyone at Sunshine Plaza is still watching the parade - it doesn't finish passing by there for another 5-10 minutes. There's usually a line at the DL turnstiles, but in our experience they have a lot of them open, so it moves quickly. But, by that time it's about 9:15-9:20 and Main Street is already pretty crowded - one time we were over on the left side near the Penny Arcade. The fireworks were going off to left of the Castle that night, and our view of them was pretty obstructed by trees.

You can get a pretty good view of the overhead fireworks from the Esplanade, if you don't want to go in to DL - you just have to be far enough back towards DCA that the monorail track doesn't block your view.

 

[Misskitty3]

I think we will probably go for the fireworks this trip! And as mentioned above, who know if the DEP will even be running while we are there.

The DEP is very meaningful to DH & I but DS & DD have never seen it. DS has already said he wants to do the fireworks!!

One thing I enjoy about the fireworks is the sitting down and resting for the hour before while you hold your spot!!

 

[S. S. Columbia]

FWIW

In Aug ’07 we saw the DEP and the fireworks in the same night.

We watched the DEP at the Paradise Pier area (from the Mulholland Madness side)(map). Just as the last float passed us, we “walked with purpose” down the path that passes the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, GRR, and Soarin’. We exited DCA, crossed the esplanade, entered DL and walked to the hub. We watched the fireworks in the hub (in the “3 o’clock location,” in the middle of the street between the Partners Statue and the Astro Orbitor). Seeing the fireworks from that location was good, but not great; that’s the downside of the duality -- you don’t have time to get a great viewing spot for the fireworks. That’s why IMO it’s better to see the DEP and the fireworks on separate nights. (DangerMouse has a better description in the following thread.)

DangerMouse saw the DEP, fireworks, and Fantasmic in 1 night (the “entertainment trifecta”) and she wrote about it in the following thread (post #8):
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=22799853

I agree with the others, the DEP may not return until the summer seaon (Friday, June 12).

*******************.com (link) said that the DEP wouldn’t return until June 12, 2009.

Disney’s California Adventure Park

Disney’s Electrical Parade will have its final run on Sunday, Jan. 4 [2009] at Disney’s California Adventure® Park and will not return until June 12 [2009] for the summer season.

Source: http://*******************.com/archives/tag/disneys-electrical-parade

HTH

 

[mechurchlady]

Better to get a good spot and have fun and set your heart on the fireworks. Right now the Electric Parade is not on the schedule from now to April 7th. They are supposed to be removing one float and adding another. Also parts of the parade route are under construction like the amphitheater that overlooks the lake is being rebuilt to hold like 9000 guests so it might not be safe at night to be running a parade, not sure.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

Where oh where is Callie (Dangermouse) She gave us the best tips last year. I printed it out and took with us and worked out great! Oh Callie....where are you???

 

[prncssmel]

I think we will probably go for the fireworks this trip! And as mentioned above, who know if the DEP will even be running while we are there.

The DEP is very meaningful to DH & I but DS & DD have never seen it. DS has already said he wants to do the fireworks!!

One thing I enjoy about the fireworks is the sitting down and resting for the hour before while you hold your spot!!

We have done the rush like DangerMouse from ELP to Fireworks. I wouldn't do it again. I would much rather have a great spot picked out for the fireworks and be able to relax with hot chocolate (even in the summer) and Mickey pretzels before the fireworks start.

 

[Misskitty3]

We have done the rush like DangerMouse from ELP to Fireworks. I wouldn't do it again. I would much rather have a great spot picked out for the fireworks and be able to relax with hot chocolate (even in the summer) and Mickey pretzels before the fireworks start.

Hot chocolate and Mickey pretzels????? Hmmmm.......I have always done my pre-fireworks relaxing with a nice big churro!! May have to give your suggestion a try this trip!

 

[DisneyMomma81]

We would've successfully completed the Trifecta last April had they not cancelled the fireworks! We watched the EP from the start point, when the last float passed us we *walked with purpose* over to DL, had a great spot to the left (looking at it) of the castle. But do to winds (what winds I say) no fireworks for us, so we headed over to grab a spot for the 2nd showing of Fantasmic. That night was the only night of our trip that any of these shows were available.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

We would've successfully completed the Trifecta last April had they not cancelled the fireworks! We watched the EP from the start point, when the last float passed us we *walked with purpose* over to DL, had a great spot to the left (looking at it) of the castle. But do to winds (what winds I say) no fireworks for us, so we headed over to grab a spot for the 2nd showing of Fantasmic. That night was the only night of our trip that any of these shows were available.

I love how she words it..."walk with purpose". It worked out great for us. We didn't feel rushed or anything. We knew what float to keep an out for and off we went. We made it in perfect time with 4 adults, two strollers and two kids walking.

 

[DangerMouse]

Where oh where is Callie (Dangermouse) She gave us the best tips last year. I printed it out and took with us and worked out great! Oh Callie....where are you???

Looks like the OP doesn't need my help since no DEP scheduled for their visit. I miss the Trifecta -- oooh how I do!

 

[MommyWithDreams]

Looks like the OP doesn't need my help since no DEP scheduled for their visit. I miss the Trifecta -- oooh how I do!

LOL I don't know about you but it made me feel empowered!! LOL