Help please! MVMCP Parade ?

[Serenity]

We are attending the 12/17 MVMCP and are looking for help from someone who has seen the parade. I have curious as to how the night-time parade is lite. Is there a spot where the lighting is better so that it is easier to view? I am just worried that it will be dark and we will not be able to really see things well. I looked at the pictures posted on the DIS and can tell that where they were, there was a light behind them that cast a lot of light on the parade. But you could also tell that the areas just down from them were darker and I wasn't sure that those spots would have a good view. So can anyone tell us if there are any "better" spots to view from or will all the areas along the parade route be well lite?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[chesirekate]

We watched the parade in Frontierland, in front of the Shooting Gallery. It was dark, but we could see everything just fine. Photos did not turn out at all though, with or without the flash. But that's my fault because I haven't figured out all of my camera's settings yet.

I would think Main Street would be the best lit area to see the parade, but I've never watched it from there so maybe someone else can chime in.

 

[DemonLlama]

Those pictures are in Frontierland, and it is much darker there than on Main Street. We prefer the Main Street view, but it means you have to get there earlier to get a good spot, since this is the preference for a whole lot of people.

 

[Serenity]

Thanks for the answers. I was afraid you were going to say that. We usually watch most parades from Frontierland as we can find a good spot without getting there too early. We will do the second parade and just have to hope that we can get a spot with a good view on Main Street.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[HollyJoy]

We viewed the parade in Liberty Square, and the view was fine!

 

[Serenity]

Thanks, HollyJoy. Did you watch the first parade or the second? How far ahead did you have to get your spot?

 

[HollyJoy]

Well, we were planning on watching the second parade, but ended up watching the first. We actually were lucky enough to find a little empty space near an Ice Cream Cart to watch. We found our spot about 5 min before the parade started. Like I said, changed our plans at the last minute. The girls were able to get up front, and I and DH stood behind them. Don't think the CM at the cart cared!

 

[Serenity]

Thanks for the info. We are going to try to see it on Main Street as the kids (and me) want to see the snow during the parade. We will be there during the daytime showings of the parade as well and we will probably watch it that time in Frontierland.

 

[llij]

We viewed the parade from Frontierland and had a great spot. The lighting seemed fine, but then again, I haven't gotten my pictures developed yet. We would have loved to have seen the parade from Main Street, but people were staking out spots as soon as the party started and we wanted to explore a little before we staked out our spot. The parade was great!!!

 

[Serenity]

Thanks llij. Appreciate the response. Glad you had a great view. Hope we are as lucky.

 

[WaltD4Me]

We went to the 10:45 parade on 12/9 and sat in front of a funnel cake stand just over the bridge going into Liberty Square. Great lighting, good spot to watch from. We could not get seats on main street because it was packed!

If you watch the Celebrate the Season show at the castle, right after it is over, immediately head toward Liberty Square, at the end of the bridge to your right is the funnel cake stand which is well lit and alot of the characters stop there after coming off the bridge...then after the parade you can just turn around and take the little side path that goes by the castle into Fantasyland and avoid the crowds on the main paths! HTH!
And you are in for a treat, because the parade is AMAZING!

Lisa

 

[lllovell]

My mother in law was with us when we saw the parade this year, so we went to the wheelchair section in the area in front of the castle. To make sure it was light enough, they had extra lights that came on (you can locate them because they DON'T belong there and stick out) and the light that they turned on near us made it hard for me to take pictures because it was across the street. One the floats were "blocking" the light, I got some great shots. Soooooooo it is somewhat hit and miss if you are trying to take lots of pictures. I took enough to have some in our memory books, and then just enjoyed the parade. It was WONDERFUL. The best parade I have ever seen at WDW. )

Next time, we are going to try it in Frontierland as others have recomended, but with my M-i-L there this time, we focused on the shows and fireworks, etc and didn't ride much outside of Tomorrowland and that was ok too! Each trip for us has a different focus. However, I will not miss the parade completely ever! It is too wonderful to miss (and we do skip the parade at the parks after seeing one on each trip, so I am not a parade nut )

Have fun!

 

[Serenity]

Thanks WaltD4Me and lllovell. So it really seems that unless we are going to do nothing but sit in a spot on Main Street all night, then we will have to watch from Frontierland. That is OK as that is where we have watched most of the MK parades in the past, but we did really want to see the snow on Main Street. Oh well, maybe at the end of the party when we are leaving. Others have posted that it snows then.

Try to sit in front of the big light poles instead of across from them so that it doesn't ruin our pictures. Great Tip!! Thanks.

 

[crow11ad]

If you are going twice then you will be ok. I mean I don't know if your going for all the shows and the rides too. But if you are going twice here is a nice tip. Depening on what time you get there, head to the rail road station. There are some chairs and tables up there. Camp a spot up there and the parade comes right out of the fire station. Perfect view and a great view for wishes as well.