How to escape the parade/fireworks crowds.

[mpadilla89]

From my previous experiences whether we were watching a parade/fireworks or not we always end up in the crowd when it is over.

We are not interested in watching any of the parades or watching fireworks from main st ( don't judge me).

We might do fireworks on our last night. And maybe and this is a huge maybe catch a parade, but def not in my plans as a must.

How can we utilize this time? which rides have less crowds due to this? and where should we be if we do not want to get caught in the group of people trying to leave that area?

 

[Skyegirl1999]

I'm not sure when your trip is, but there's not currently a nighttime parade, and the fireworks are only Friday-Sunday, with Fantasmic showing the same nights.

Fantasmic logjams all of NOS/Critter Country, and the fireworks shut down Toontown and most of Fantasyland. You also can't use Main Street, as you noted. Sooo, you could maybe hit things like Nemo, Autopia, Space Mountain... but no matter where you are, you'll eventually hit crowds trying to get somewhere.

I'd just go over to DCA, personally.

 

[smartlabelprint]

PLAN to be in D.Ca during parade and firework times. We hop back and forth as needed.

 

[figment_jii]

At this point, there is also F! showing on select nights, which ties up the Rivers of America (so NOS and the waterfront area). F! also ties up Adventureland and Fronteriland because of traffic (although you might be able to navigate to Jungle Cruise or BTMRR with only limited difficulties - there will be some areas that take time to get through). Realistically, I think you either have to try and concentrate on Tomorrowland (try to avoid the Hub, so things like Space, Autopia, Nemo, Path of the Jedi - maybe Star Tours and Buzz, but getting around near the entrance can be tough if they have one way traffic control in effect) or Critter Country (way back towards Splash or Winnie the Pooh) and not want to get out of those areas until well after the crowds have died down.

Otherwise, you might want to consider being over in DCA. While WoC does impact Parade Pier area, the rest of the park isn't really impacted (Buena Vista Street, Hollywoodland, Carsland).

 

[Indiana Scott]

We dont care about parades either.
What we like to do is get a good table at Jolly Holiday and have a nice cup of coffee and a light snack as the crowds shuffle by. We slowly enjoy our break and leave when it lightens up - which only takes about 20 minutes.

 

[l4dyj8]

We usually just do DL in the morning and head over the DCA by 3. I give ourselves time to get out of Main St before the parade.

The basic rule of thumb is just be aware of the time. The worst experience was being trapped near Small World. There's really no where to go!

Making your way towards the railroad is the best plan to escape. Other times we accept our faith and just stay in whatever Land we are in. I once didn't even notice the afternoon parade because we simply enjoyed the 10 minute waits in Tomorrowland.

 

[mpadilla89]

We will be going between Christmas and New Years. We have already been before so we are prepared for the crowds. I usually don't mind the parade crowds except during the holidays. We were once right at the castle for the lighting on Christmas and it was a nightmare trying to leave. Definitely trying to avoid that.

It seems like DCA is the way to go. I am a pretty good at planning so I will make that one of our options.

Thank you all

 

[SteveMP]

As APs for many years and our kids are now teens, we usually avoid parades and fireworks etc like the plague. We check the schedules and either park hop to the park without a parade, or eacape to adventureland, frontierland, sometimes Space Mountain/Star Tours, or even toontown(unless fireworks), or maybe even grab dinner somewhere in DCA.