Fastpass+ for fireworks/parades- why?

[jessiesgurl]

I may be mis-understanding something, but why would you need a fastpass+ reservation to watch the Wishes fireworks, or any other fireworks show? Can't you just stop what you're doing and watch? Or can you only see them from certain areas that they have roped off?

Sorry if I sound dumb- but I don't understand. I thought you could see the fireworks from pretty much everywhere? Not just Wishes, but I've seen people talk about fastpass+ for other displays that I thought could be seen from pretty much everywhere.

THanks for explaining....

 

[MakiraMarlena]

So you can watch in a roped off and uncrowded area without parade hogs, people pressing in around you or unexpected kids on shoulders. Plus you may be actually able to move over if somebody in front of you lifts up an Ipad to video the entire presentation. That's why.

 

[Reddog1134]

It insures you'll get a good spot without having to camp out for an hour.

 

[jessiesgurl]

Ok- so the fastpass+ is for a special area, got it.

Thanks!!

 

[mesaboy2]

So you can watch in a roped off and uncrowded area without parade hogs, people pressing in around you or unexpected kids on shoulders. Plus you may be actually able to move over if somebody in front of you lifts up an Ipad to video the entire presentation. That's why.

It insures you'll get a good spot without having to camp out for an hour.

I have never waited more than 15-20 minutes to get a perfectly good spot in the Hub or near to it. I always cringe when someone mentions that it takes a full hour to get a good spot.

Ok- so the fastpass+ is for a special area, got it.

Thanks!!

Yep. The advantage of the special area is basically that it is uncrowded. That's about it. It is not even a particularly good vantage point in my opinion.

 

[fizz13]

I chose to get a FP for the festival of fantasy parade for my upcoming trip. My reasons: I love that I'm guaranteed a spot in the hub, I love that my kids won't have to wait in the august sun for an hour overheating & getting irritated, I love we will have a great view, I love that I can do other things right up to 2:45, nobody will be blocking our view either.
I did think long & hard about it, I could probably get a decent view in frontier land with a shorter wait than an hour, but it takes the guesswork out of it all. It's my birthday that day too so I know I can spend my morning at blizzard beach, stroll into MK at 2:30/2:40 & I've got that spot, it's my present to myself.

So just one perspective for you

 

[ParrotBill]

FP+ viewing for a parade was a total waste of our time. We arrived 30 minutes prior, which was the start of the entry time, to find the place half full already. The area filled to capacity just as much as any other area by parade time, and when the parade arrived, everyone stood up...so now we were 4 rows back and could not see at all.

So you have to arrive an hour ahead to get a front seat. Just the same as any place at all along the parade route!

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I chose to get a FP for the festival of fantasy parade for my upcoming trip. My reasons: I love that I'm guaranteed a spot in the hub, I love that my kids won't have to wait in the august sun for an hour overheating & getting irritated, I love we will have a great view, I love that I can do other things right up to 2:45, nobody will be blocking our view either.
I did think long & hard about it, I could probably get a decent view in frontier land with a shorter wait than an hour, but it takes the guesswork out of it all. It's my birthday that day too so I know I can spend my morning at blizzard beach, stroll into MK at 2:30/2:40 & I've got that spot, it's my present to myself.

So just one perspective for you

This is kind of our thinking, too. I have FoF booked for our arrival day, as well as lunch at BOG, 7DMT and Splash Mountain. Just like the feeling of knowing that afternoon is all set and not having to worry about staking out a spot so early. I probably wouldn't do it if I planned to be at the park earlier in the day, as it locks you out of that 4th FP, but since we won't be there until 11:00 or so, this worked great.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

FP+ viewing for a parade was a total waste of our time. We arrived 30 minutes prior, which was the start of the entry time, to find the place half full already. The area filled to capacity just as much as any other area by parade time, and when the parade arrived, everyone stood up...so now we were 4 rows back and could not see at all.

So you have to arrive an hour ahead to get a front seat. Just the same as any place at all along the parade route!

Which parade was this and when? The return time for FoF starts at 2:45. Are you telling me people actually show up at 1:45? That kind of defeats the purpose!

 

[mesaboy2]

I chose to get a FP for the festival of fantasy parade for my upcoming trip. My reasons: I love that I'm guaranteed a spot in the hub, I love that my kids won't have to wait in the august sun for an hour overheating & getting irritated, I love we will have a great view, I love that I can do other things right up to 2:45, nobody will be blocking our view either.
I did think long & hard about it, I could probably get a decent view in frontier land with a shorter wait than an hour, but it takes the guesswork out of it all. It's my birthday that day too so I know I can spend my morning at blizzard beach, stroll into MK at 2:30/2:40 & I've got that spot, it's my present to myself.

So just one perspective for you

I hope you read the next post, because that is typical. I don't know where you got the idea that you can get a primo spot with no one blocking your view if you walk up 15 minutes prior. This parade does not go through that Fantasyland either.

 

[OasterP]

This is my first trip that I'll remember, but I got the fast passes for parades/fireworks just because I wanted the best chance to view without being super crowded (relatively speaking). Before I could book fast pass I was trying to get the dessert party for the same reason.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I hope you read the next post, because that is typical. I don't know where you got the idea that you can get a primo spot with no one blocking your view if you walk up 15 minutes prior. This parade does not go through that Fantasyland either.

So if the FP says return time 2:45, what time do they actually start letting people in? I thought times on FPs were enforced.

 

[mesaboy2]

So if the FP says return time 2:45, what time do they actually start letting people in? I thought times on FPs were enforced.

That's a good point, but for parades and fireworks I don't think enforcement applies. Lots of posters have reported showing up at the beginning of their window for parades and the place being already populated with FP holders.

 

[RVinMomma]

When we went in November we got FP for Illuminations. The spot was awesome and we only had to arrive 30 mins before the start. That got us right to the ropes by the water.

 

[bearchele]

I just got back and we booked a fast pass for the Electrical parade. We arrived during our window about 15 minutes prior to the parade and had great viewing. It wasn't crowded.

 

[marypoppins81]

When we were there in may they started letting people in at 815 for the 9pm parade. We arrived at the start of the window and got 2nd row spots. I felt bad for those arriving at the end of the window expecting a good view only to be crammed at the back. It was packed to capacity and honestly there were better spots left outside the fp area.
They seriously needed at least half the amount they let in for it to be a benefit and worth use of a fp.

Counting down to 14th May!

 

[ParrotBill]

Which parade was this and when? The return time for FoF starts at 2:45. Are you telling me people actually show up at 1:45? That kind of defeats the purpose!

This was FoF in April. The FP+ did not open until the week prior to the parade and the return time started at 30 min before the parade. We showed up 35 minutes before and found it half full already - it had been opened early.

In your example, return time of 2:45 for a 3:00 parade? I would say show up at 2:15 to check.. then every 10 minutes... which kinds of defeats the purpose. Oh,that's what you said!

 

[vinotinto]

I just got back and we booked a fast pass for the Electrical parade. We arrived during our window about 15 minutes prior to the parade and had great viewing. It wasn't crowded.

Was this for the first or the second parade?