FP for Festival of Fantasy Parade?

[Bullseye]

Now I am considering not making a FP+ for FoF. We are going at a very low crowd time, so we should be able to get a decent spot somewhere.

Deep in Frontierland past Country Bears or near Hall of Presidents are reliable choices.

Yeah I'm actually thinking I'm not going to FP it either. In fact I think we'll hit the area Robo's suggesting and just get there somewhat early. I don't mind using a FP for a parade but I don't want to be totally baking in the sun....3pm is just about the hottest part of the day.

 

[smitch425]

We each all parades from Frontierland. With FoF (and Boo To You), it starts there so you can be off doing other things well before the parade ever makes it to Main Street.

 

[jrjankowski8]

We went in December and were in the middle of the hub just in front of the castle. Based on the image above, I'm assuming it has moved since. The hub was a great spot and very easy to get in and out. Regardless, if you have the extra FP+, use it for this. Always nice to know you don't have to battle crowds. And since you can add FPs after your 3rd, if you have FoF you could always add more and have a whole day ahead of you (Unlike Wishes).

 

[Robo]

We went in December and were in the middle of the hub just in front of the castle.

Based on the image above, I'm assuming it has moved since.

Yes. Due to the extensive Hub reconstruction, yet to be completed.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

We sat on the low stone wall next to the Shooting Gallery directly across from the wooden bridge that goes to the Big Thunder Mountain area. We got there about 15-20 minutes before the parade started. It was a perfect spot. They allowed us to sit on the wall but didn't let anyone stand in front of us. Immediately afteer the parade ended we were able to go to BTMRR and ride with about a 20 minute wait. The parades really draw a lot of the crowds away from the attractions. This was in early June 2014.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

When is construction on the Hub slated to end?

I saw both FoP and MSEP from the town square and liked it. However, we didn't need to sit and it was cool outside. We were able to stand behind people that were seated and I loved seeing the parade coming down Main St. We used the FP+ so we could pop in last minute if we wanted to, which we did. Almost all of the seats along the curb were taken but we didn't mind standing.

If it is a must do for you I would spend the FP+ on the parades. You can hit the rides whenever but the parades are only once or twice a day depending on the time of year.

 

[lily2521]

I saw both FoP and MSEP from the town square and liked it. However, we didn't need to sit and it was cool outside. We were able to stand behind people that were seated and I loved seeing the parade coming down Main St. We used the FP+ so we could pop in last minute if we wanted to, which we did. Almost all of the seats along the curb were taken but we didn't mind standing.

For us, it was totally worth it. We were able to sit (on the ground) and watch the whole parade. Several of the walking characters interacted with those of us in the FastPass area to the delight of all of us, but the kids especially.

We just did the FP for FOF yesterday and it was great. It's definitely HOT with the sun but my 2 boys were in their strollers and had their sun shades up. I'd suggest bringing umbrellas for the sun if you have strollers to store stuff. We were there early because I wanted a spot looking down main street and didn't want to have to worry about my boys not seeing. You have tons of room to move around and the CMs are very friendly. They had no problem letting my husband take our sons out of the area for a bathroom break. It was nice not having to worry about staking out a spot and loosing it if you moved.

We just used a FP for that parade and enjoyed it more this time than previous times without a FP. If you get there right when the FP area opens, you can choose a spot with the sun behind you as well as on the curb. We had so few people in the FP hub that we weren't blocking any views from kids and we were even able to walk around the hub as we photographed the parade from different angles as it moved thru the square. Based on your current FP plans already lined up and because you've already nailed down your first priorities, I'd consider this a good choice for a secondary FP.

If our FP says for 2:45-3:05, and the parade is at 3:00, what time should we plan on entering the area with the FP's? I don't want to sit there forever waiting for the parade to get to use because it doesn't start in the FP area.

Or am I better off just getting there right at 2:45 when our FP window opens, even though the parade won't be there for a bit?

 

[Robo]

If our FP says for 2:45-3:05, and the parade is at 3:00, what time should we plan on entering the area with the FP's? I don't want to sit there forever waiting for the parade to get to use because it doesn't start in the FP area.

Or am I better off just getting there right at 2:45 when our FP window opens, even though the parade won't be there for a bit?

There WILL be other guests arriving very early.
What time you arrive is up to you.
(Knowing that once all of the curb positions are taken, later guests will be behind those.)

BTW, a 3:00 FoF parade won't reach Town Square until about 3:25-ish.

 

[twinmom2012]

If I didn't have young kids in strollers I would have arrived at the end of the fast pass window. There was lots of room to stand and see the parade with out being squished. It was nice showing up early and chatting with the CMs and resting. I would even recommend grabbing a snack and enjoying it while you wait for the parade.

 

[disneyeveryyear]

We got a FP+ for the FOFP for our Spring Break trip next month. Our DD16's band is the Preshow. I now just need to figure out which side of the street she will be marching on. We were told they will head out at 2:30, so we will definitely be in our spot early (if it offers the best viewing for her).

 

[11290]

Is the move to town square in stead of the hub a permanent one? Or will it be moving back to the hub soon?

It is "supposed to" go back to the HUB but probably won't very soon. More construction walls will be going back up in the HUB after the Spring Break for a several month period and one part of the previously used HUB FP+ area is now "off limits" for parade viewing due to the construction walls on the Liberty Bridge. Those are not projected to come down until later in the Fall season so I would doubt the FP+ would change location anytime very soon, HOWEVER, thing at Disney can and do change on a moments notice. They could move it back, make a smaller area and just reduce the FP+ available allotment.

 

[DisneyFive]

So FoF starts at the Frontierland location? Good to know, thanks!

Dan

 

[mesaboy2]

So FoF starts at the Frontierland location? Good to know, thanks!

Dan

Yep. I'm not sure it is even capable of going the other direction--kinda like NASCAR.

 

[dkrauss]

Yep, the island "teardrop" area smack dab in the middle of TS with the flagpole. That's great for viewing, the parade goes almost all the way around you. In the middle of summer, just realize it won't be the coolest spot around.

Because of the timing of when you'll need to arrive the "coolest spot" is definitely important to be aware of. But the FP location is just great...........we went last Sept when the location was up at the front of the Castle..............it was hot (no shade at all) but it was magical

Doug

 

[Robo]

We got a FP+ for the FOFP for our Spring Break trip next month. Our DD16's band is the Preshow. I now just need to figure out which side of the street she will be marching on. We were told they will head out at 2:30, so we will definitely be in our spot early (if it offers the best viewing for her).

Keep in mind:

A. Guest bands will step off sometime 15-30 minutes before the actual WDW parade start-time.

B. The FP+ area is only on one side of the street (even though the band/parade will march 3/4 of the way "around" that FP+ area.)
If your DD is on the Right-hand side of the band (related to a band-member's forward motion,)
then that is the side closer to the FP+ area (when the parade is marching from Frontierland to Main Street, as is FoF.)

There is a lot to keep straight in these operations!

 

[lily2521]

There WILL be other guests arriving very early.
What time you arrive is up to you.
(Knowing that once all of the curb positions are taken, later guests will be behind those.)

BTW, a 3:00 FoF parade won't reach Town Square until about 3:25-ish.

This is good to know, we would like a curb spot for DD, so we'll get there right when the FP window opens. Also good to know we'll be there for a while before we see the parade, since it takes a bit to reach Town Square

 

[Fastpassminus]

@Robo? Does this parade go through Frontier land? Is it easy to view from there? I have always enjoyed being able to watch the 3pm parade from Frontierland and then hit some attractions there after it made it's way through ( also you don't have to wait for it to get to MS). Is that still a possibility? TIA!

 

[mesaboy2]

@Robo? Does this parade go through Frontier land? Is it easy to view from there? I have always enjoyed being able to watch the 3pm parade from Frontierland and then hit some attractions there after it made it's way through ( also you don't have to wait for it to get to MS). Is that still a possibility? TIA!

The parade route has not changed, you can see it and MSEP easiest in Frontierland.

 

[11290]

Yep. I'm not sure it is even capable of going the other direction

Some floats have "issues" going up the ramp from the HUB to Liberty Bridge, HOWEVER, that area may get "reconfigured" with the new construction ongoing on both sides of the bridge in front of the Castle.

Time will tell how those changes might / will have on the parade direction. Things are changing daily (hourly and less than that) sometimes. Hard to keep up.

 

[Fastpassminus]

The parade route has not changed, you can see it and MSEP easiest in Frontierland.

Awesome! I love the 3pm parade from Frontierland. So much better than MS.