How awful would it be to skip all parades?

[HappyMommy2]

Hi!

Our family (DH, myself, DS 3, and DS 1) will be traveling to WDW and staying onsite July 13-19. We're planning 5 days at the parks with long afternoon breaks. This is our first WDW trip with kids. I'm quite sure that both kids will love the scenery and the easier rides at WDW, but I'm not sure about the parades and nighttime shows (Share a Dream, Spectro, Illuminations, etc.)--the 3-year-old might like them, but the 1-year-old doesn't sit still well for very long and I can't imagine being able to keep him still while waiting for a parade/show and then for the duration of the event.

We've never seen WDW parades/evening shows before (we did see Fantasmic pre-kids at Disneyland), so we're not sure how much of a must-see they are. Would it be too much of a shame to miss them all? Should we just wait till the kids are older? It would be nice to not have to struggle to keep the toddler still while saving seats and watching a parade. I just don't want to skip anything if it really would have been worth the trouble!

Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Tiggerafferty]

Since you have never seen them and the kids won't know what they are missing, this would be a good time to go to Toon Town or to Fantasyland and get on the things that normally have long lines. You would all probably love that.

I don't know that I can acutally advise you to miss them as most of them are outstanding and well worth the effort. I would give Illuminations a miss. But as far as Spectro, Once upon a dream, and Fanstasmic - they are a MUST SEE for my family. They all have enough music, lights and fun to entertain your 1 yr old and to completely dazzle your 3 yr old. Just do them once and then on the other days use that time to do the better attactions.

Just my opinion. Hope you have a good time.

 

[pokeysmom]

you might try getting lunch reservation at Tony's around parade time and you could enjoy lunch and see part of the parade, you would need to sit close to the front but this might help keep your kids occupied while you eat also.

 

[crisi]

We skipped most of the night parades, we were just too wiped (both the kids and the adults). We are looking forward to Fantasmic this time, but I have a son who is only now better about loud noises (at going on five) and at three it would have been too much. But the kids LOVED the afternoon parades. (they were 2 1/2 and 3 1/2) It was the first time I'd seen any of them, being a parade skipper myself. And we only saw the first one because we were on our way out of the MK when the parade traffic stopped us and a few minutes later the parade went by.

I wouldn't say it would be tragic if you missed them, but you may want to take a wait and see approach. If you happen to be in the neighborhood when the parade goes by, lift the kids up and watch.

 

[baloo722]

Before we had kids, I would tell my wif (then, fiance) " Who in their right mind would wai an hour & a half for a parade to begin?!?!" Now I'm sure (3 kids later) that people are saying the same thing about us. Here's a little tip sit beside them in the direction that the parade is coming...videotape their faces as the floats come along. every once in a while get a shot of the parade itself. Those videos will be the best of your trip, especiall of the night parade. Their eyes get as big as saucers. Worth every minute of waiting.

 

[Jordan's MOM]

Well, missing the parades is a small price to pay for happy children. Chances are that many of the afternoon parades will be missed by naps at the resort. The one parade that you might be able to catch with out such a long wait is the one the AK. The route to it is long and therefore a lot more area to watch the parade. This cuts down a lot on wait time. This is a very good parade for the little ones as it is filled with lots of color and music.

Another suggestion that might work as far as seeing parades is the possiblility of getting the kids to sleep in thier strollers (or at least the baby, and find a place to watch the parade and let the kids sleep while you wait and then wake at least the 3 year old as the parade starts.

The night things I would play by ear. See how tired the kids are, what the crowds are like and go from there. many toddlers do not like the noise from illumination or fantasmic so keep that in mind also.

There is so much to do besides the parades that saving them for another trip is not a big deal.


jordan's mom

 

[OneMoreTry]

I consider Spectromagic and Illuminations MUST SEES, but with your kids' ages I would have reservations, too. It just depends on what they like.

If they both get good naps you can hop to MK for Spectromagic. But you really have to play the whole trip by ear with kids that age.

Personally, I wouldn't even do five days at the parks with two little kids. I'd do a water park or just hang out at the hotel pool a day or two. With my crew we only do 2 park days, 1 water park for a six night stay. That leaves 2 days much-needed down time.

 

[Planogirl]

If you decide to see any of the parades, you might want to consider the one at Animal Kingdom. We had an easy time just walking up to it in Harambe and it is quite good IMO. But only do this if you decide to visit AK later one afternoon. AK gets so hot that it would be difficult to hang out there all day with little ones.

 

[BevS97]

we enjoy the parades, and my dd loved the afternoon one when she was 3 1/2, but I wouldn't wait an hour or more to see it. We do other things, and head over to the parade route at the last minute - we don't go to main street, but try one of the less busy locations through frontierland etc. Sometimes we get a view and sometimes we don't - we are prepared to take a chance and see what happens. We only see each parade once, and then on other days we take advantage of the short lines on rides throughout the park.

At MGM we found a spot right by the entrance to the park which was very quiet - there is a little information booth with a spire on the top, and you can stand in front of that - we were able to stand there at the last minute.

and as others have said, at AK the parade route is long, and I believe part of it is doubled over, so you can catch the parade on it's second pass through the africa area - everyone who saw it on the first time around will have left by once it has passed by.

The parade at Epcot is no longer on.

My dd did not like Illuminations at 3 1/2, it was too noisy, and quite late, and she didn't appreciate it at all. She has never seen Fantasmic, but we may try that this year (she will be 6).

She absolutely loved SpectroMagic, and we did wait a while for that one since it was only on once during our trip, it was definitely worth the wait. we bought some snacks to eat, and had a lightup toy to play with and she chatted to other kids waiting and was quite happy.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Thanks for all the great replies! That was exactly the sort of information I was needing. We're going to be sort of playing the whole trip by ear with two very little children along! I guess we won't try to wait overly long for any parade, but if the opportunity arises we will jump on it.

Thanks again!

 

[swilphil]

My children are also 3 and 1. We just returned and saw Spectromagic and the MGM 5:30 parade. The wait for Spectro was too long and too late. My 3 yo really liked the MGM parade. We really didn't have to wait long. We found a spot right outside the Brown Derby where we could stand on a bench and see the parade. It's a round shaped shaded benched area. My 3 yo could run around. I was taking the kids to be changed inside the Brown Derby (even though we didn't eat there) during the wait. I would try to see at least one parade for the characters.

 

[dijid]

We spent a week at WDW in May and never saw a single parade. DD (3 1/2) and DS (1 1/2) haven't complained once that they missed them. Oh, well, I guess that's because they never found out about them LOL! They had a GREAT time and we are already planning next year's trips. Don't know whether we'll catch a parade or not, but I know if we don't I won't feel like we missed out on anything.

 

[tjmw2727]

Agree with the prev ideas - but I will recommend Cinderella's surprise celebration, every day 3-4 times in font of the castle. My girls like this much better than the MK afternoon parade.

You may also have better luck with the MGM parade - its at 4 so you may be able to do a nap and return to MGM in time. We found many shady spots (unlike mk) along the route and it was a wonderful parade. MGM is also a great nighttime park even if your not catching fantasmic.

TJ

 

[Bradford]

We find the parades are a perfect "introduction" to the characters. They are not as intimidating when you see them from the curb! And you get to see a lot of them. We always do the MK parade on our first day.

Also, we ALWAYS watch the parade from the sidewalk by the Dalmation Firehouse. Sure, you miss the view of the parade as it comes down Main Street with the castle in view BUT.....there is never a crowd. Usually single file

And there's a restroom within 10-15 yards. (Okay, maybe a little farther but definitely right there) And you can exit as soon as the parade ends while the rest of the crowd is still waiting to see the end.

However...if your kids are tired it ain't worth it. You are smart to take it slow and enjoy.

 

[Bradford]

We find the parades are a perfect "introduction" to the characters. They are not as intimidating when you see them from the curb! And you get to see a lot of them. We always do the MK parade on our first day.

Also, we ALWAYS watch the parade from the sidewalk by the Dalmation Firehouse. Sure, you miss the view of the parade as it comes down Main Street with the castle in view BUT.....there is never a crowd. Usually single file

And there's a restroom within 10-15 yards. (Okay, maybe a little farther but definitely right there) And you can exit as soon as the parade ends while the rest of the crowd is still waiting to see the end.

However...if your kids are tired it ain't worth it. You are smart to take it slow and enjoy.

 

[Shells9]

I agree with everyone who said your kids are probably not old enough now to realize they've missed them, but I will tell you this. DD, who is 6 and avid viewer of the travel channel (don't ask!), was well aware of them. And then, after watching the Disney Vacation Planner DVD, was even more aware. She will not let us miss them!

DH and I are not major parade fans. If we see them, great, if not, we will catch them next time is our motto. Fortunately, on our last two visits we were lucky enough to literally run right into the Share a Dream Come True Parade (which DD wants to see again!), and without planning lucked into a great place to watch Spectro, also (which we ALL enjoyed much more than we thought we would.)

So, my opinion for what it's worth, is you're probably okay for now, but in another year, if you go back, you'll want to work them into your schedule!