FP for Festival of Fantasy Parade

[IWannaBuildASnowman]

Is it worth it to get the FP? Is it a good viewing platform? Thanks

 

[DISness Casual]

I was curious about the same thing. My daughter is 6 years old and a bit short for her age.

 

[kidsfirsttrip]

Just got it and felt it was worth it. If you want a curbside seat don't get there any later than 2:30. You are right in front of the castle and don't need to deal with any jostling. Worth it in my opinion. Did that and Main Street Electrical would recommend both.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I'd read this blog post:

http://www.easywdw.com/uncategorize...ad-festival-of-fantasy-fp-new-waffles-111414/

For me, it's not worth it because it's really not a time saver.

 

[figment_jii]

Is it worth it to get the FP? Is it a good viewing platform? Thanks

It's not really a platform; it's a reserved viewing area on ground level. If you look at Robo's map in this post (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=50338919&postcount=2), you can see where the viewing area is located (yellow area across from the castle).

I found the viewing area to be less crowded than the non-FP+ locations, but there is no shade or protection from the weather. The view is good, but as the PP said, you still need to arrive on the early side if you want a "curb-side" viewing location (i.e., seated). I used the FP+ viewing area for both FoF and MSEP on my last trip in October and I would get them again without any hesitation. While it might not save a lot of time, it did save a little time and it was far less crowded in the viewing area.

 

[WDWLODGE]

We found a "curbside" seat in Frontierland 30 minutes prior to the parade a week and a half ago.

 

[LSUfan4444]

To say whether something is worth it, you need to know what it costs so what FP+ would you be foregoing?

For me, it is undoubtedly worth it because I prefer the view from the hub witht he castle in the background. You can see it fairly easily from the train station at the front of the park or in frontierland so it all just depends.

 

[ElsasFan]

We were there last week and watched the Festival of Fantasy parade from Frontierland. We had planned to watch it from that area because it is near the parade start (it ends after Main Street), so along with lower crowds, we had the bonus of not having to wait as long. We found a place when they were starting to block off the route--probably about 40 minutes ahead of time. It wasn't too crowded, we were able to stand on a porch (so we were slightly elevated and out of the shade). I would happily choose that area to view the parade again.

BTW, this parade is fantastic! Our whole family absolutely loved it. Disney hit it out of the ballpark with this one.

 

[Networth]

I don't see them as time savers (any of the shows etc) so I never grab FP's for them. Always manage to find a spot for the parade or fireworks. Sure it may not be on Main Street but I also am not using a FP or camping the curb for an hour+.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Personally, I don't think the FP+ viewing area is the best for FOF. We took an angle over by the bridge to Tomorrowland that's closest to the castle, and it was pretty perfect, IMO. I was far enough away from the castle to be able to get the entire castle in shots with the floats/characters. The timing of the parade also allowed me to get shots of the floats by themselves, the floats w/the castle in the background, and where we were at all of the street performers stopped for their "mini-routines" as well - all of it without being rushed! Here's some examples:

Here's a shot that gives a better idea of where we were standing. You can see the FP+ viewing area flagged off w/the yellow and blue banners in the center of the Hub.

I happened to luck into this spot at 2:50 (parade had started early in Frontierland that day, at 2:45, b/c they were afraid of rain). Where we were standing, they had taped off the concrete and were only allowing 2-people deep. I happened to find a space big enough for me to stand, and since the front row was sitting on the curb, I had a great unobstructed view, and since there was no one allowed to stop and stand behind me, I hadn't taken anyone's space either. DH and my friend ended up standing behind me, on the other side of the walkway they were keeping clear, in an alcove created by the construction walls. They said they were completely happy with their view as well (it helps that the floats are so tall!)

If you were trying to get here with a family, I'd get there NLT 2:30..maybe 2:15ish? I talked to DH and said maybe next time we'd get lunch or a snack and then sit down to eat it in this spot while we waited for the parade.

 

[Terra Nova guy]

Personally, I think the FP+ area is just too close to the castle, you really can only get portions of the castle in the frame for pictures. The pictures taken by PP are nicer because farther back you can see the whole castle.

There is also no shelter from weather. May not be an issue all year, but even in October I found the heat/sun too much in the hub. I would rather set up in Frontierland in the shade even if it does take more time.

 

[Disfan613]

We just got back, and watched FOF from both Frontierland and the FP+ viewing area. Personally I preferred Frontierland because I felt the performers were more energetic and interacted with the crowd more than when we were in the FP+ area. But, as with most things YMMV.

Alternatively, the FP+ area was great for not feeling crowded (there was no one behind us), and being almost guaranteed a front row spot.

 

[LSUfan4444]

P

If you were trying to get here with a family, I'd get there NLT 2:30..maybe 2:15ish? I talked to DH and said maybe next time we'd get lunch or a snack and then sit down to eat it in this spot while we waited for the parade.

Thats the difference and the value of a FOF FP+. You get a pretty similar view, right across the street that you can arrive at 3:05 for.

That could be a 50 minute savings in time for one of the better views of the parade and no hassle of having to guard and protect a spot or having to wish you get lucky.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you want an uncrowded place to wait it can't be beat. No kids on shoulders, no people trying to squash in front of you, the kiddies can plop right down at the curb and nobody will try to push them out of the way and you can plop down right there at the curb too if you want, or stand back a bit to have a fence to lean against.

Cons would be that there is no seating besides the ground, and no shade.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I wish we had gotten FP for it. They have a great area right in front of the castle, and unlike past years, the areas in Frontierland and Liberty Square are full early, so I would get a FP if you can.

 

[dkrauss]

Is it worth it to get the FP? Is it a good viewing platform? Thanks

We were at WDW in Sept and while doing our planning a FP for the FOF parade pretty much just fell in our lap. So I took it........mostly because this was a new parade and we really wanted to see the dragon up as close as possible.

The location for the FP+ is in the hub directly in front of the castle. We got there about 30 minutes before the parade got to that location. We had FRONT ROW seats! The characters were right there..........
Is it worth......HELL YEAH!!!!

To be fair...........The day we went (in Sept) it was sunny and quite warm. There is no shade in this area so prepare accordingly. They have traveling carts that sell water....... Also there aren't any benches either so bring something you can sit/lay on the road to sit on. We did get there about 30 prior to the floats arrival in that location.

Otherwise this location was UNREAL. What a great view....... in fact you can get a preview of what its like. I videoed it............the link is below. Look for our fun with the 7 Dwarves about 3/4th in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo2DZJcKKDE

Hope this helps.

Doug

 

[ktlm]

We did it in October, and for us, we felt it was well worth it. DD and DH hate waiting for parades, so to stake out a great spot for a parade for any length of time is a major ordeal. Generally, once they have seen a parade on one trip, they don't want to stake out a spot and wait for it ever again, and they whine if I want to do so. So, the FP+ works great for us. We walked in about 10 minutes before the parade and got a great front row spot right over where the parade makes its turn from Frontierland, so we could see it coming towards us head on. There is no shade at all in that area, and that day it was very warm, so I still heard 10 minutes of complaints by DD, but once the parade started everyone was happy. The day we were there, there was plenty of front row room for everyone with a FP+, even if there had not been, the parade FP+ area is fairly wide, and it would have been easy to sit back a few feet and still have a good view. FOF is a terrific parade. I thought the parade itself was worth the FP+ we spent on it. The only issue is that it will prevent you from stacking your FP+ up early to get to a potential 4th FP quicker.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Bring an umbrella for shade. Remember to put it down once the parade starts though!

 

[Angel Ariel]

Thats the difference and the value of a FOF FP+. You get a pretty similar view, right across the street that you can arrive at 3:05 for.

That could be a 50 minute savings in time for one of the better views of the parade and no hassle of having to guard and protect a spot or having to wish you get lucky.

Personally, I disagree that the view is similar depending on what you're wanting. To just experience it, yes the views would be similar, but to take pics I think the FP+ area is too close to the castle. Where we were standing, the parade was coming directly at us (not coming from the side as it would be in front of the castle) which allowed for pics of the floats alone (no castle or crowds), as well as pics with the entire castle in the background - with no turning required to get a "head on" picture.

Like I said, if pics aren't important, then yeah, the FP+ viewing area would be fine. If you want a curbside view, though, like a PP said, you can't necessarily wait til 3:05. We got into the hub area around 2:45, and from what I could tell curbside seating in the FP+ area seemed to be gone.

For us, we have to eat anyway...whether that ends up being at a table at Pinocchio's Village Haus, or sitting waiting for the parade, really doesn't matter all that much. That may change as DD gets older, but right now it's pretty much 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of another.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

I got an fp for it. I hate the stress of getting somewhere early to get a great spot, then having to protect it for the next hour because people are either trying to get in front of you or squeeze you out. I don't like being in real close contact with strangers. If possible I don't like to be touched. If I try to keep the spot I've been guarding for the past hour plus, I feel mean and rude. I'm perfectly happy burning a fp for both FoF and MSEP, especially after my last experience.