How long would you wait for a good spot for a parade or show?

[packy]

How long would you wait for a good spot for a parade or show?

1. 15 Minutes
2. 30 Minutes
3. 1 hour
4. 2 hours
5. Not at all

 

[elemusing]

We waited an hour and a half for the Share a Dream Parade at MK when it was first new. Other than that, we usually wait about 45 minutes to an hour. Alot of people crowded around especially after they put up the ropes, but the CM's were great that were standing by and told the people that we had been waiting a LONG time and they made the people back off and stand elsewhere. It was nice to have that pixie dust.

Now, the only parade we usually see is Spectro because it is my favorite (after ELP). We go ride attractions duing the others.

Angie

 

[beattyfamily]

I picked 30 minutes but I would have preferred to pick 45 minutes...

Also, for me a parade would have a different wait time than a show.

I would wait up to an hour for a parade, especially a special one like the Halloween one or the Christmas one, but I'd wait longer for a show if I was able to sit and wait like Fantasmic!

That being said, I think the longest I've waited for either a parade or a show is 1 hour.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

When we went in May, they were only showing Spectro once. My kids did not see it in prior trips (they were too little to stay awake) and wanted to see it this year.

For the 8:30 parade, I made sure we got back to MK at 5:30 p.m. (my in-laws though I was nuts). My MIL and I parked ourselves on the curb on main street while my DH and FIL took the kids to Fantasyland. Fiffteen minutes later, there were no more front row spots on the curb!!! The time went very fast, we took turns shopping.

I have to say, it was totalling worth sitting on the curb for three hours to have those seats. I will never forget the look on my childrens' faces as the parade went by and the characters high-fiving them. Would I do it every trip, no--but for a three and four year old, the timing was perfect.

What it all comes out to is it depends how important it is to you.

 

[Hockeychic]

But I have a bit of a funny story about seeing the night parade at MK in 2001. We had had car problems the night before and had taken our car in for repairs and had a rental vehicle. So instead of all of us missing out on a day at MK the kids and I stayed at MK while DH went to pick up our van. We decided to check in at the front of Cinderellas castle every hour, well when we went around 5 or 6 (cant remember) we noticed alot of people around so decided to just sit on the curb, well more and more people show up and I asked a lady what was going on and she told me about the parade but all I could think was wow all these people my hubby will never find me......well just as in Disney magic, someone pokes me in the shoulder and it was my hubby....just about 10 min before the parade was to start.....I asked him how on earth he found me in this crowd....he said it was my bright blue Toronto Maple Leaf Jacket that he saw.

 

[packy]

beattyfamily - you are right, shows are different from parades. I was thinking of Illuminations or MK fireworks.

 

[4greatboys]

For me it depends on the parade. We are going to MNSSHP--our first--this year and I want a good spot for the parade. Everyone says not to miss the headless horseman and Im not! lol
I picked 1 hour.

 

[goofy4tink]

I waited 1 1/2 hrs. for Spectro on the curb across from City Hall. Waited 45 min. for afternoon parade in Frontierland. 2 hr. for IllumiNations and Tapestry. Now, all that being said...would I do it again? No. We have a cruise for IllumiNations this year. Won't be doing the afternoon parades. And Spectro will be caught way inside the park this time, if at all.

 

[Disneymoon04]

1 hour is my maximum

 

[eeyore0062]

The longest we have ever waited was for the Christmas Parade at MVMCP and the Halloween Parade at MNSSHP, and that was about 45 minutes. Usually, I don't tend to stake out a spot, but if there is one when I walk by the parade, I will stop and watch. I like the parades, but don't want to invest more than 15 minutes more than it takes to watch it to wait for it.

 

[PiperG]

I am one of the voters that won't wait at all. We think the parades are the best times to hit the rides!!!

 

[drp4video]

For Illuminations, we usually have a light dinner in one of the countries, then about 7:30, stake out a good spot for the show, and while we are waiting, pig out on the mass quantity of pastry that we bought in France at the bakery.

 

[grinningghost]

I'll wait an hour for an evening parade, but won't wait more than 15 minutes for a daytime parade.

 

[packy]

Guess I am amazed that nearly 6 out of 10 people would wait an hour or more for a good spot for a parade or Illuminations. I am one of the 15 minute persons in the poll, especially for the daytime parades as we always go during the hot times of the year. The one time we waited 45 minutes (in 3:00 p.m. sun in September - and that was by accident as we thought the parade was starting near the entrance to MK - it didn't), we were literally pushed off the curb by last minute arrivals as the parade reached us. It was our first trip to Disney in 1996 and we have never done that again. I can't say that we run around the parks to go on rides during the parades either, it is just that it doesn't seen worth it to just sit and wait an hour or two for a parade or fireworks. You will still get to see them either way and your kids probably won't know the difference whether you are in the best spot or not.