FoF parade timing

[raraavis]

I know the Festival of Fantasy parade in MK starts at 3 near Splash Mountain, but does anyone know about what time the parade is in front of Town Sq? We're planning on meeting Mickey and MInnie in Town Sq around 2pm (trying to snag a 4th FP that day), so we were interested in staying in that area to see the parade. Is this a good spot, or does it get super crowded? Do you think the parade will make the meet and greet busier?

 

[Robo]

I know the Festival of Fantasy parade in MK starts at 3 near Splash Mountain,
1. but does anyone know about what time the parade is in front of Town Sq? We're planning on meeting Mickey and MInnie in Town Sq around 2pm (trying to snag a 4th FP that day), so we were interested in staying in that area to see the parade.
2. Is this a good spot,
3. or does it get super crowded?
4. Do you think the parade will make the meet and greet busier?

1. I'm anyone and it gets there about 3:25.
2. Yes.
3. Those are actually two different questions that don't necessarily cancel each other.
It is a good spot, and it can get crowded.
Also, guests will tend to head that way after the parade leaves the areas deeper in the park.
4. Yup.

 

[raraavis]

Thank you Robo; that helps a lot!

 

[yulilin3]

I know the Festival of Fantasy parade in MK starts at 3 near Splash Mountain, but does anyone know about what time the parade is in front of Town Sq? We're planning on meeting Mickey and MInnie in Town Sq around 2pm (trying to snag a 4th FP that day), so we were interested in staying in that area to see the parade. Is this a good spot, or does it get super crowded? Do you think the parade will make the meet and greet busier?

Just a heads up Mickey and Minnie are not meeting together anymore. Mickey is in Town square but Minnie is back in storybook circus

 

[raraavis]

Just a heads up Mickey and Minnie are not meeting together anymore. Mickey is in Town square but Minnie is back in storybook circus

Eek, I didn't know that! Thanks for letting me know. Luckily, we already have a plan to meet the characters at the circus on a previous MK day, so we'll see Minnie then. Thanks!

 

[yulilin3]

Eek, I didn't know that! Thanks for letting me know. Luckily, we already have a plan to meet the characters at the circus on a previous MK day, so we'll see Minnie then. Thanks!

you're welcome.. It's Minnie and Daisy on one side and Goofy and Donald on the other at Pete's Silly Sideshow, no fp offered for them

 

[Isabelle12345]

Also, guests will tend to head that way after the parade leaves the areas deeper in the park.

Does that make leaving the park a nightmare? I was thinking of doing Tony's Parade Package in order to get a great spot and be able to get to the buses quickly afterwards... would that be possible?

 

[Robo]

Does that make leaving the park a nightmare? I was thinking of doing Tony's Parade Package in order to get a great spot and be able to get to the buses quickly afterwards... would that be possible?

There will always be an extra-heavy exit of guests following any parade or fireworks event.
Guests are not allowed to exit MK until the parade finally concludes in Town Square, so you will find
a LOT of guests exiting all-at-once at that time.

 

[Isabelle12345]

There will always be an extra-heavy exit of guests following any parade or fireworks event.
Guests are not allowed to exit MK until the parade finally concludes in Town Square, so you will find
a LOT of guests exiting all-at-once at that time.

So is it better to watch in Frontierland and wait for the crowds to dissipate? ( we are planning to leave after the parade but we Don’t want to be stuck in a huge bus line... ) If so, around what time would it be more manageable? 4PM or even later?

 

[Robo]

A. So is it better to watch in Frontierland and wait for the crowds to dissipate? ( we are planning to leave after the parade but we Don’t want to be stuck in a huge bus line... ) If so,
B. around what time would it be more manageable? 4PM or even later?

A. Not necessarily Frontierland, but, from a spot a distance from Town Square would be good.
B. After 4pm would be a good plan. On a really busy day, after 4:30, give or take.

 

[RememberWhoYouAre]

The parade will reach Town Square area about 3:20. If you want to watch the parade and leave immediately after hoping to beat most of the crowds, watch it from right in front of Tony's, near The Confectionary, or in front of the train station. Anywhere in that area on the curb/sidewalk and you'll be to quickly leave. If you are on the "wrong" side of the street (side with the Emporium gift shop) or in the reserved Tony's dining package area (middle of hub where the flagpole is) you will have to wait until parade is completely over to cross the street.

 

[yulilin3]

So is it better to watch in Frontierland and wait for the crowds to dissipate? ( we are planning to leave after the parade but we Don’t want to be stuck in a huge bus line... ) If so, around what time would it be more manageable? 4PM or even later?

It is actually very doable to watch the parade from Frontierland (from the country bears side) after the last float walk through Adventureland and to Main Street and beat the start of the parade there thus beating thr crowds exiting

 

[Robo]

It is actually very doable to watch the parade from Frontierland (from the country bears side) after the last float walk through Adventureland and to Main Street and beat the start of the parade there thus beating thr crowds exiting

Well, that's is not exactly a sure thing...

The FoF parade, end-to-end, runs about 12 minutes.
So, if you see the start of the parade (near Country Bears) at about 3:03pm, the last float will go by at about 3:15pm.
BUT, that means that the front of the parade will be well into the Hub.
By the time you can walk through Adventureland and back to the Hub, (say, 3:18pm) the parade will be on Main Street.
It will likely not be possible to cross from the west side of Main St. over to the east side of Main St.
If you are on the west side of Main St. you cannot exit MK until the parade is fully over and exited MK in Town Square.

Ask me how I know this.

 

[yulilin3]

Well, that's is not exactly a sure thing...

The FoF parade, end-to-end, runs about 12 minutes.
So, if you see the start of the parade (near Country Bears) at about 3:03pm, the last float will go by at about 3:15pm.
BUT, that means that the front of the parade will be well into the Hub.
By the time you can walk through Adventureland and back to the Hub, (say, 3:18pm) the parade will be on Main Street.
It will likely not be possible to cross from the west side of Main St. over to the east side of Main St.
If you are on the west side of Main St. you cannot exit MK until the parade is fully over and exited MK in Town Square.

Ask me how I know this.

I've done it many times. I walk from Adventureland straight into Casey's/The Emporium and beat the parade by the barbershop where I cross and exit. Obviously not a sure thing depending on how fast/slow you move but I was not running, only fast walking a bit

 

[gap2368]

I've done it many times. I walk from Adventureland straight into Casey's/The Emporium and beat the parade by the barbershop where I cross and exit. Obviously not a sure thing depending on how fast/slow you move but I was not running, only fast walking a bit

I have done the same thing and I do not walk that fast

I have also seen the parade close to the castle on the opposite side as the emporium and have made it out and was on the next bus to pop or all stars ( forgot wha one I was at )