Favorite Fireworks and Parade locations in MK

[Psymonds]

So, being Disneylanders, we have "our spots" and "the way we do things" in California all figured out, but I need some help:

• Where do you get great views with only moderate crowds for the Daytime Parade and Nighttime fireworks?
• we don't need the "Best" location, just a high reliability location that doesn't take 2 hours of waiting.

(I promise we won't be there when you're there so you can share your secret spot if you want)

 

[mz-s]

There's not really any secret spots sad to say, but you can watch them from near the country bear jamboree. Decent viewing spot and not as crowded as main street for sure. Especially handy if you want to stay in the park and ride Big Thunder after the fireworks.

 

[Psymonds]

There's not really any secret spots sad to say, but you can watch them from near the country bear jamboree. Decent viewing spot and not as crowded as main street for sure. Especially handy if you want to stay in the park and ride Big Thunder after the fireworks

this is great info!

at DLR we often watch fireworks from parts of Fantasyland, does that work in MK?

 

[Anna131517]

this is great info!

at DLR we often watch fireworks from parts of Fantasyland, does that work in MK?

They’re a little harder to see from Fantasyland - partially obscured by buildings and trees. You also miss all the projections if you’re not in front of the castle.

 

[zmdisneyworld]

Away from the crowd because everyone is a maniac. We watched from the edge of Tomorrowland and it was ok. You miss some of the effects but you also miss the idiots.

 

[sponica]

So we stumbled upon this parade location last time, by accident, as we were trying to get to LTT for lunch during the parade...now because the parade is crossing the bridge, you don't get the full experience because the dragon doesn't breathe fire and some of the aerial effects don't occur, but the characters were still pretty interactive with us. It was honestly the best parade experience I've had.

 

[Psymonds]

They’re a little harder to see from Fantasyland - partially obscured by buildings and trees. You also miss all the projections if you’re not in front of the castle.

yeah, at DL, they also have projections on Small world, but I understand that's not the case at MK

 

[BalooFan]

I don’t really have fireworks recommendations (I just squeeze into a vacant spot in the hub), but lucked upon a good spot for the parade the last time I was there. I normally don’t watch parades, but was leaving MK for lunch when the noon parade was starting to go by and stopped to watch. I stood behind a trash can located on the left side near the park exit. I had an unobstructed, straight-on view of the parade as it made its way around the circle near the train station and got the best parade pictures I have ever taken. For some reason, no one else seemed to want to hang out near the trash can, but if people at the Epcot festivals use trash can tops for tables, why not? This strategy would only work for one or two people who are tall enough to see over the trash can.

 

[Psymonds]

So we stumbled upon this parade location last time, by accident, as we were trying to get to LTT for lunch during the parade...now because the parade is crossing the bridge, you don't get the full experience because the dragon doesn't breathe fire and some of the aerial effects don't occur, but the characters were still pretty interactive with us. It was honestly the best parade experience I've had.

View attachment 751679

sounds cool!

I'll have to look at a map of the parade route to see where it goes.

 

[holden]

When we watch the parade we like to see it from where it starts in Frontierland. That way when it’s finished we are close to some attractions.

 

[scrappinginontario]

yeah, at DL, they also have projections on Small world, but I understand that's not the case at MK

For the parades we find being in Frontierland requires less advance arrival than Main Street. We wander until we find a place we can see.

Fireworks is a much greater challenge. There are projections on the castle and now on Main Street too but I’m not sure what the Main Street projections look like. If you want to see the castle projections (which are amazing) I would recommend investing the time needed (60 mins at least) to secure a spot.

You are correct that there are no projections on small world at WDW.

Something we noticed that differs between WDW and DL is that guests stand during parades and fireworks at WDW. This may be something to take into consideration too.

 

[1lilspark]

Either right at the step off point in frontier or near hall of presidents are my go to viewing sites

 

[kitkat4622]

Along this same subject. Is the upper level of the train station available for viewing?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Along this same subject. Is the upper level of the train station available for viewing?

Unfortunately this is not a simple yes/no answer but is already being discussed here. Please see that thread.

 

[flyingenie]

When there are 2 parade times during the day, does the second one also start at frontierland, or does it start at main street and go back to frontierland?

 

[1lilspark]

When there are 2 parade times during the day, does the second one also start at frontierland, or does it start at main street and go back to frontierland?

Main parade and present cavalcades start frontier end main street

When move it shake it used to happen it would start/end Main Street as it just went down to the hub & looped around I’m surprised with the full parade back and 50th over Adventure Friends doesn’t follow this format

 

[flyingenie]

Main parade and present cavalcades start frontier end main street

When move it shake it used to happen it would start/end Main Street as it just went down to the hub & looped around I’m surprised with the full parade back and 50th over Adventure Friends doesn’t follow this format

OK thanks! Last time we got burned in Disneyland because the second parade started at Main Street and there we were near Frontierland waiting for sooooo long (didn't help that a float broke down mid way!) before it came to us!

 

[flyingenie]

So we stumbled upon this parade location last time, by accident, as we were trying to get to LTT for lunch during the parade...now because the parade is crossing the bridge, you don't get the full experience because the dragon doesn't breathe fire and some of the aerial effects don't occur, but the characters were still pretty interactive with us. It was honestly the best parade experience I've had.

View attachment 751679

Do you mean to circle the bigger bridge (around 4 oclock, rather than the one circled at 6oclock)? Hard to imagine the whole parade fits in the tiny bridge! Were there lots of people gathered in the viewing area in question beforehand, or easy to get a spot at the last minute?

 

[sponica]

Do you mean to circle the bigger bridge (around 4 oclock, rather than the one circled at 6oclock)? Hard to imagine the whole parade fits in the tiny bridge! Were there lots of people gathered in the viewing area in question beforehand, or easy to get a spot at the last minute?

The parade crosses the larger bridge, we were trying to get to LTT but had to skirt around the parade and when we realized we still had time before lunch, we just decided to stay and watch the parade from there, I wish I had thought to take pictures but I really didn't think it was a bad place (especially since my kids don't like loud noises). There was only a handful of people there because it's not a straight view of the parade, you're sort of watching it as it passes rather than as it comes to you...but if I was in a pinch or running late and near that spot, I'd watch from there again.

If I wanted a closer experience, I do prefer to watch it from frontierland rather than the hub/main street. With Splash being closed the only real draw to the parade start area is big thunder mountain.

But I'd also aim for the 3 parade if it's a day where the parade runs twice.

 

[JPKanks]

It's a secret ---nice try though