Help with Rose Parade Questions?

[bdmphs]

We are headed for Disneyland for the Holiday and will be staying at Paradise Pier for 5 nights and then moving to the Courtyard in Sherman Oaks to attend the rose parade. We have tickets at the beginning of the parade and reserved parking but we can't decide what time to leave in the morning. Most sites say to arrive 2 hours before parade time (6am) but how long will it take to drive with the traffic at 5:00 am??? Any advice?

 

[mr.bungle]

my advice: stay closer to pasadena. sherman oaks is way too far. i've only been to the rose parade once and that was when i was in it 10 years ago for high school marching band. sorry i couldn't be of more help.

 

[baseballmom23]

Definitely stay closer - Pasadena will probably be booked up. Try Glendale, South Pasadena, Arcadia.

Yes, I would go at 6 a.m. - in fact I have. There is a lot of excitement in the air. And if you are near the beginning of the parade, and you don't mind walking, you can see the floats lined up on orange grove avenue and you can see the wrigly mansion.

 

[fairycat]

I agree early is wise!!!

Remember that you have traffic from the Football game in the area, and a whole lot of closed streets causing major chaos. Its better not to be late, much like my Grandmother made us when we went when I was a kid hahah! Had to see the beginning of the parade on TV instead of on the street

It stinks that DH's company has a clause in their lease that they can't have people on their balcony for NYD or we would so be there. They are right on Colorado and Fair Oaks.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

We used to go to the parade at 2am, and 'camp out' until it started. There was so much activity going on, even in the early hours when it was so cold, but we always had a great time.

Since you have tickets, you don't have to go that early, of course, but I would still recommend getting there early.

Haave fun.

 

[pjhorton21]

I've been to the Rose Parade about 20 times over the last 40 years (not much recently though). Mr. Bungle is right, Sherman Oaks is way out there. It would almost take as much time to get to the Rose Parade as from DLR. I would recommend getting a room in Arcadia, just east of Pasadena. There are some very nice hotels there. If you have reserved bleacher seats, getting into the parade area can take 30-45 minutes once you get into the area (I would figure 1 hour from Arcadia, although it's only a few miles from the parade route). The earlier you leave, the less traffic there will be.

Keep in mind that the parade is pretty long, so if your seats are towards the end of the parade route, it can take the parade close to an hour to get there from the start (not exactly sure on the time, but I can remember waiting for a long time for the parade to get to my location).

Also, if you can, try to park north of Colorado Blvd. There is very little freeway access from south of Colorado, and it takes a lot longer to get back to your hotel.

Have a great time!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

Okay - I used to crew on the City of Burbank ToR floats and used to work at a building on the corner of Lake and Colorado, so I can really help here.

1) Stay in either Glendale or in Pasadena, if you can still get a place. You can even do Burbank as a cheaper option. There is a Holiday Inn, a Marriott, a Courtyard, Extended Stay, a Best Western, and others located very close to, if not right on the freeways (5 or 134 - doesn't really matter at that locale).

2) The floats are actually lined up on Orange Grove Blvd in Pasadena and ready to go by Midnight. If your float isn't there by then, it doesn't qualify for judging and there are penalties (cash ones, too). This really rocks. You literally can walk through all of them at the stroke of midnight and just have a blast. The flowers are so incredibly fresh and you are feet away. Final judging is at 3am. Winners are announced at 6:30am.

3) If you have reserved parking, the lots are designated. We had bleacher seats by the Paseo one year and that was our lot. Very easy. You didn't indicate where you ended up for bleachers, so that will mean a lot as to when you get there. The closer you are to the corner (Orange Grove and Colorado) the earlier you need to be in place. You can go really early and then walk the floats before taking your seat if you are in those premium seats.

My best advice:
- I went at 5:30am on the years that I wasn't there with my float.
- I also packed a picnic breakfast with champagne and snacks. We were so decadent! You will need to have your own stash of snacks. It's a long time for the parade to get to some of the portions of the route!
- They actually open the streets for those camping out overnight at 12:30 noon on 12/31. Porta-potties won't be pleasant in some of those areas, either......
- Make sure to bring blankets to sit on. Those bleachers are mighty cold!!!!!
- Don't be shocked that when you drive around Pasadena after it's over, the city will look like a post-apocolyptic abandoned city. First time I saw it, that was my impression. Mounds of trash and debris...

This will be a truly great experience for you. Enjoy every minute of it!!!!!

 

[bdmphs]

Thanks for all the help...Got a room in Burbank and things should be great!!! I can't wait!

 

[bwvBound]

Bump! Any related tips for folks w/out bleacher or parking reservations? We are considering driving up with our self-contained van and parking "anywhere we can" overnight (12/31).

Edited to add links I've found:

• 2009 New Years Parade & Game - Protocol from the Pasadena Police Dept.
• Pasadena Visitor Hotline, see "Rose Parade FAQs" along left edge
• Rose Parade Tips and Frequently asked questions
• Tips from Dec 2006
• Parade Tips from LATourist.com
• An Insider's Look at the Annual Rose Parade - shows 2009 float designs and progress!
• Tips from Traveling Mamas
• Tips from Daytripping Mom
• Pasadena Tournament of Roses, Official Site
• Sharp Seating, Grandstand and Parking ticket provider
• Parade Route from Google Maps