How early to arrive before parade/fireworks

[dragitoff]

I posted this a while back, but never really got an answer to my main question, although the discussion in the thread was relevant and good. My wife and I are in the adoption process for a sibling group of 4 boys. While we've taken our bio daughters every year, we're taking the boys to WDW this weekend for their first trip. They just came to live with us in January of this year so it's not like we've been leaving them at home. One of the boys is very afraid of loud noises so we were thinking of seeing the parade and fireworks from a "safer" vantage point. While many suggested we leave the parks to do this, we were leaning more towards watching both from the train station area of main street. My specific question is how early should we plan to arrive to get a spot in that area? On top of my family's 8, my brother and his daughter will also be with us so that's 10 people. Obviously with 7 kids ranging from 3-13, we'd rather not get there any earlier than we need to (gotta' keep them occupied), but we also don't want to miss out on the parade. The fireworks are not a necessity in the event the youngest is too frightened even at that distance.

 

[Robo]

I posted this a while back, but never really got an answer to my main question, although the discussion in the thread was relevant and good. My wife and I are in the adoption process for a sibling group of 4 boys. While we've taken our bio daughters every year, we're taking the boys to WDW this weekend for their first trip. They just came to live with us in January of this year so it's not like we've been leaving them at home. One of the boys is very afraid of loud noises so we were thinking of seeing the parade and fireworks from a "safer" vantage point.

1. While many suggested we leave the parks to do this, we were leaning more towards watching both

from the train station area of main street. My specific question is
2. how early should we plan to arrive to get a spot in that area?

3. On top of my family's 8, my brother and his daughter will also be with us so that's 10 people. Obviously with 7 kids ranging from 3-13, we'd rather not get there any earlier than we need to (gotta' keep them occupied), but

4. we also don't want to miss out on the parade. The fireworks are not a necessity in the event the youngest is too frightened even at that distance.

1. As would be obvious, no parade can be seen from outside the park.
But, the fireworks can be enjoyed from many outside vantage points.
2. Varies between 45-90 minutes (or more,) depending on, well, EVERYTHING.
3. Having so MANY in your group, it will be more difficult to find that much space
if you wait too late.
------------------------------------------
4. In that case, instead, go deep into Frontierland (past Country Bears) to view the parade.
MUCH easier to find a good parade spot. Grab viewing spots there about 30 minutes before the scheduled START-TIME. Just know that MSEP will not reach that area until 25+ minutes after it begins.

After the parade passes that area, you can exit MK via crossing over into Adventureland, then
go thru the Main Street shops INSIDE (they are internally open-connected) and you'll not have to even be in the park as the fireworks begin. (You won't be able to actually SEE the fireworks
just outside MK, but, if you take the Ferry boat to TTC/MK Parking, you'll be able to see the fireworks while on-board and/or after you exit the boat at TTC.)

Just remember that with any of these plans, you will NOT be able to see "Celebrate the Magic" which is the absolutely SPECTACULAR show that is projected on the front of the castle...
starting 15 minutes before the fireworks.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

Right now crowd levels shouldn't be too bad, although it's never really not crowded at Disney these days, so I would plan to be in the Town Square at least 45-60 minutes before the parade starts. With such a large group you will be able to stake out a good spot on the street which will allow the kids to maybe go with someone to poke around the shops or get a drink and snack. Also, things like glow sticks and bracelets from the dollar store can keep kids entertained. Get a bunch of them and your kids can share with others while waiting. From there you will be able to get out of the park quickly and will be able to see the fireworks from outside the park which should help mitigate the noise. Cheers and have fun!!!

P.S. Like Robo said when you leave the MK, time it so that you can get on the ferry boat to the TTC during the fireworks. Even if you don't need to go to the TTC you will be able to watch Wishes and you can just ride the boat back to the MK if need be. And yes, Celebrate the Magic is a spectacular show. See if you can.

 

[Robo]

From there you will be able to get out of the park quickly and will be able to see the fireworks from outside the park...

Sorry, but not so "just" outside the park.
The fireworks are nearly fully blocked by buildings and trees.

 

[dragitoff]

I should've mentioned we're staying at AKL so we'll be catching the buses when we leave. I thought of the train station as a viewing point for the fireworks (if we stay for them) simply so we could be far enough away to help reduce some of the noise, yet still have a viewing point of them and especially the castle. We've seen some of the projection stuff they've done on the castle and it is definitely amazing!

Robo, your maps are always so helpful!

 

[dragitoff]

Right now crowd levels shouldn't be too bad, although it's never really not crowded at Disney these days, so I would plan to be in the Town Square at least 45-60 minutes before the parade starts. With such a large group you will be able to stake out a good spot on the street which will allow the kids to maybe go with someone to poke around the shops or get a drink and snack. Also, things like glow sticks and bracelets from the dollar store can keep kids entertained. Get a bunch of them and your kids can share with others while waiting. From there you will be able to get out of the park quickly and will be able to see the fireworks from outside the park which should help mitigate the noise. Cheers and have fun!!!

P.S. Like Robo said when you leave the MK, time it so that you can get on the ferry boat to the TTC during the fireworks. Even if you don't need to go to the TTC you will be able to watch Wishes and you can just ride the boat back to the MK if need be. And yes, Celebrate the Magic is a spectacular show. See if you can.

Love the suggestion for the cheap glow sticks/bracelets and the kids sharing them with others!

 

[Alesia]

I thought of the train station as a viewing point for the fireworks (if we stay for them) simply so we could be far enough away to help reduce some of the noise
!

It really doesn't.

Earplugs will probably help.

 

[Robo]

It really doesn't.

Earplugs will probably help.

Ditto.

 

[kwdw]

Fireworks - by train station isn't bad. They are farther away. It does help a SMALL amount on the noise - but not a ton. The tip for getting to that area late is to walk THROUGH the stores - starting by Casey's.

Parade - With that many people in your party - and if you all want front row - I'd second Robo's suggestion of deep into Frontierland. 30 minutes before official start time is "likely" you will get a spot - probably in full sun. If you want a shady spot - probably need 45 minutes. It's a long wait for it to show up since it moves slow, but it is less crowded in general. We've also had great viewing spots only 30 minutes in advance - by the train station/town square - but we've never tried with a party that large. Guarantee good spots - an hour on Main Street.... but man... you gotta want to see the parade to do that (IMO).

 

[Robo]

Parade - With that many people in your party - and if you all want front row - I'd second Robo's suggestion of deep into Frontierland. 30 minutes before official start time is "likely" you will get a spot - probably in full sun. If you want a shady spot - probably need 45 minutes.

There is no "full sun" for MSEP.
That parade runs in full darkness.

 

[lovndisney12]

Also - probably obvious - but when kids were little we always used part of the waiting time as snack time - bucket of popcorn, etc. - to help pass the time.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

My son is also not a fan of fireworks because of how loud they are. We watched Wishes from Frontierland our last trip and it wasn't too bad...still loud but tolerable for him with his hands over his ears. He actually peeked a few before tucking himself under the stroller canopy! I did enjoy the view from Frontierland...it's obviously not straight on the castle, but it really shows you how "big" the show really is. You will be deep in the park, though, so an easy exit will be impossible.

The other possibility is to watch MSEP in Frontierland, as Robo suggested, and then cut through Adventureland and then through the Emporium to get to the front of the park. While the view isn't great at the end of Main Street on the ground, it is possible to see some of the fireworks and you shouldn't have any problems finding a spot in the street after MSEP passes by. We've also watched Wishes on Main Street (maybe half way down) and it does seem like the noise is muffled a bit. Maybe it's the buildings or the eleventy jillion people crammed in there with you, but it didn't seem nearly as loud as watching closer to the castle in some of the prime viewing areas.