Generally there is 2 parades and the first is be there early and stake out your spot. The second is pretty much walk up and enjoy a good view. there is a couple spots you can sneak in with people in a crowded park but sometimes in the party with some stores you use to get behind the crowd or slip in at the last second are closed so I'm not going to mention them except to say walk behind ye old christmast shoppe, turn left at liberty bell and then the liberty hall you can usually stand on the walkway higher than the crowd or go down the steps to the last couple spots there. generally along that walk there is a few spots, but there is also a few walkways to get from adventureland to the parade so they fill up as soon as the parade starts.
It takes about 25 minutes from the moment it comes into view at the start and when it leaves main street. figure about 15 minutes and it'll be approaching or just getting into the hub and 20 minutes from start it'll be somewhere on main street. There are designated spots that you can cross inbetween floats time to time during the parade if you want to skip the first but get stuck behind it to not waste more of your time than you need too.
