FP+ for parades

[kitkat4622]

Is it really necessary to use FP+ for any of the parades and if so which one's would you use one for and why?

 

[Robo]

Is it really necessary to use FP+ for any of the parades and if so which one's would you use one for and why?

FP+ priorities found HERE.

BTW, there are now only two regular full throughout-the-year parades at WDW. Both at MK.
(MVMCP and MNSSHP have parades, too.)

(The DAK parade ends permanently very soon and the DHS parade ended its run months ago.)

 

[cheesemouse]

We thought that using a FP+ for MSEP was a great use of FP (at least for OUR family). We arrived at 8:20 for the 9:00 parade and had a great spot right in front of the castle. The surrounding areas on the hub and main street were absolutely packed at that point (as expected). The FP+ area was only partially filled (to about 2-3 people deep at most). No one crowded in at the last minute in front of my little kids. We had plenty of space to stretch out. It was awesome not having to try and hold a spot for 60-120 minutes ahead of time and have squirmy kids the whole time.

The downside is that the FP+ spot for parades at MK is NOT a good spot for firework viewing. But we knew that ahead of time and have seen the show many times so it wasn't a huge deal for us.

I personally wouldn't (and didn't) use a FP+ for the afternoon parade because 1) it's not in the shade, and 2) the parade starts in Frontierland so if you arrive the usual 30-40 minutes before parade start time, you actually end up waiting an hour or more (in the heat) for the parade. We just prefer to find a shady spot in Frontierland and grab some ice cream while we wait.

 

[Golden Rose]

I was just wondering what the best way to do the new afternoon parade at MK would be. My family never cared about parades (or characters) until this year, and all of a sudden, the kids seem to want to meet lots of characters and watch parades. (Life was so much easier when they weren't interested!)

I was thinking about trying to get a FP for it, but I absolutely don't want to wait an hour in no shade with them.

How far in advance do you generally look for your shady spot in Frontierland?

 

[ferd]

I was just wondering what the best way to do the new afternoon parade at MK would be. My family never cared about parades (or characters) until this year, and all of a sudden, the kids seem to want to meet lots of characters and watch parades. (Life was so much easier when they weren't interested!)

I was thinking about trying to get a FP for it, but I absolutely don't want to wait an hour in no shade with them.

How far in advance do you generally look for your shady spot in Frontierland?

I have seen the parade mulitple times, including the premiere performance (which I watched from in front of Liberty Tree Tavern.) For the premiere I secured my spot 2 hours before it started (in no shade.) The following week and then the third time I also saw it in Liberty Square (the second time being on the opposite side of the street) and I believe we lined up about an hour to an hour and a half early and were on the ropes.

This past Sunday we used a FP+ for the 12 noon (special Easter week time) for the FOF parade and the viewing spot is in front of the castle. Per our FP+ time we could get there starting at 11:45 to 12:05. We got there at 11:40 and most of the rope spots in front of the castle (in the reserved section) were already taken (and we had a FP+) However, we were able to get on the side of the circle at the ropes but were the second to last family that got the available 'front row' on the ropes seating in the reserved section. The space is very large and spacious and there is tons of room to stand and move and not feel smothered and you get some great pics with the castle as a backdrop and it's nice not to have to line up so early, but I would recommend getting there before your FP+ time states so you can get the best viewing within the reserved section. And I would definitely recommend FP+ for the FOF parade.