Favorite Nighttime Parade??

[marshallandcartersmo]

Hi all and thanks in advance for your help!! I'm planning a trip for my family in late April or late May, and I'm checking to see which nighttime parade you like best. We'll be traveling with 2 2year olds and a 5 year old (all boys, so no "princessy stuff" needed), and arriving at the parks when they open each day. Though I'm sure each parade is great, we have limited time to spend at WDW, and need to hit the parks early to see as much as we can each day. Really not a lot of time to sleep in because we were at the parks till midnight the night before!! I really would like to just pick one evening parade---which one is "best"?

 

[bigmac5]

That is a good question. However my boys are 11, 13 and 14. Any suggestions?

 

[snowy76]

I think for WOW factor, Fantasmic may be your best bet for your boys. It's a lot of Mickey vs. Villians. This is actually a show rather than a parade. There are only a couple of mushy Princessy parts

However, if you do an evening at MK you could catch the Wishes fireworks AND the Spectromagic parade. A two for one kind of thing, if you find the right spot to watch.

I would probably say no to Illuminations with small boys. It's cool to watch, but Fantasmic and Spectro both have lots of characters, so I think the kids would be more into them. For older boys (bigmac, talking to you now!) they might really like it.

Really though, any night in the parks is great! So I'm probably no help at all! LOL

 

[kizmac]

Spectro for sure! It's the lighted parade at MK...depending when you go though it may not be every evening so you'll have to check Disney's calander of events once it gets closer to your trip. Spectro is a must see though!

 

[AMYSER]

We were there May/June this year, and in the party were 2 and 8 year old boys. They stood with their mouths open for all of spectro magic. We watched from liberty square, and stayed in the same spot for wishes. If you don't mind not having the castle w/ the fireworks, they are litterally overhead. Amazing!
The 2 year old missed on Fantasmic, but the 8 year old was in amazement!
Have a great trip!

 

[bigmac5]

I think for WOW factor, Fantasmic may be your best bet for your boys. It's a lot of Mickey vs. Villians. This is actually a show rather than a parade. There are only a couple of mushy Princessy parts

However, if you do an evening at MK you could catch the Wishes fireworks AND the Spectromagic parade. A two for one kind of thing, if you find the right spot to watch.

I would probably say no to Illuminations with small boys. It's cool to watch, but Fantasmic and Spectro both have lots of characters, so I think the kids would be more into them. For older boys (bigmac, talking to you now!) they might really like it.

Really though, any night in the parks is great! So I'm probably no help at all! LOL

Personally I would like to see them all, but was thinking Illuminations and Fantasmic for sure. I figure if they really don't like it we could leave and do some rides.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I think for older kids Fantasmic is a great option. Also Wishes and Spectro are so incredible, anybody of any age would enjoy them. I can see younger children, especially 3 and under being scared during Fantasmic. I know I have seen some children really crying and upset. It has a lot of loud, dark scary elements. I can also say I see more young children enjoying it than being scared but it is something that needs to be explained a bit beforehand. I would tell them Mickey has to fight the bad guys and that it gets loud and there is even fire but of course Mickey wins in the end! Illuminations would be great for older less "Disney enthused" guests since it has nothing to do with Disney. The nice thing about WDW is that it has something for everyone. I know that my almost 11 year old son does and enjoys things at WDW he wouldn't necessarily do at home or in front of his friends!

 

[BluOrchid2]

There is only ONE nighttime parade, Spectromagic at the Magic Kingdom. It doesn't run every night, though, so be sure to check schedules.

MGM and Animal Kingdom both have afternoon parades. I think MGM's is at 3:30 and AK's is at 4:00.

Illuminations is Epcot's nighttime fireworks presentation.

Fantasmic is MGM's nighttime show.

But Spectro is the only nighttime parade.

 

[OhioTony]

Mine has got to be Specromagic followed by Wishes.............
I do really love Fantasmic best of all......
However I enjoy Illuminations the most.......
I'm not being much help , am I?

 

[Bob P]

There is only ONE nighttime parade, Spectromagic at the Magic Kingdom. It doesn't run every night, though, so be sure to check schedules.

MGM and Animal Kingdom both have afternoon parades. I think MGM's is at 3:30 and AK's is at 4:00.

Illuminations is Epcot's nighttime fireworks presentation.

Fantasmic is MGM's nighttime show.

But Spectro is the only nighttime parade.

I think this is worth repeating!

If the OP wants a nighttime PARADE, there are no alternatives to Spectro.

Bob