How long does the parade at AK last?

[figment27]

We have a 4:30 pm PS at RFC on Friday, Oct. 8th.
The parade begins a 4:00 pm that day, and the park closes at 5:00pm
Will we have enough time to see the parade and make our PS for 4:30 pm?
Is there a good place to view the parade that is closest to RFC, so we can make a quick getaway after the parade to our PS?
I hesitate to make this PS much later than 4:30 pm because we are relying on WDW buses for transport back to our resort after dining.
Thanks.

 

[ironz]

I think you'll be cutting it a little close...as it seems like the parade is about 15-20 min., and it'll take a good 15-20 min. to get to the front of the park, which would be the closest viewing to Rainforest.

On the other hand, if you were late for your PS, or moved it back...don't the busses run at least an hour after park closing?? Seems like they would have to, to cover the restaurant? Maybe someone can help with that.

 

[WDSearcher]

You'll be cutting it close.

The parade takes about 45 min to get from step-off back to step-down, and the parts of the route that are closest to the exit (and RFC) are just past the half-way point. Which means the parade probably wouldn't get to you until about 4:20pm. It'll take maybe 7 or 8 min to pass with all the floats, etc, and then you'll be streaming out of the park with everyone else, which will tack on more time.

If you want to try and do it all ... your best bet is to watch the parade from Harambe, near Tusker House. That's where it originates from. You can see it as it begins, which means it'll be about 4:10 or so by the time it's totally past you. Then you'll have another 20 mins to make it out of the park, which sounds like a lot until you realize that you'll have to skirt around the parade route too. But I think that's the better option, timewise.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Busses run from AK to the resorts and other parks until 1 1/2 hours after closing time. There are a few "Rainforest" busses that will run to the other parks for an hour after Rainforest takes their last seating (which is 1 1/2 hours after AK closes)

I think you could probably safely push your PS time back to 4:45 or 5pm, and not have to worry about rushing out following the parade.

 

[figment27]

I have changed our PS to 5:00pm. Knowing we will not be left behind if our PS runs later than expected helped.
Figment