MK parade???

[Mickey Mom]

Where is the best place to watch the afternoon Magic Kingdom parade? Our high school band is marching in the parade after Easter and we would like to get lots of pictures. I was thinking that it would be great to stand in the circle facing the castle (loking down Main Street), so we can get the band marching down Main Street with the castle in the background. Has anyone else ever watched the parade from there? How soon do you have to be there to get a good spot?

 

[natt]

IMO..Minimum time for a "Good" spot is 30 min. But since you're looking for a REALLY good spot (and it will probably be crowded then) I'd say 1 hour min. I know that seems like a waste of time, but I'm just guessing! Anyone else???

 

[Eeyore2U]

Click on the link in my sig for the Share A Dream Come True Parade. These were taken on the patio at Pecos Bill;s and I thought the view was good.

 

[Mickey Mom]

Eeyore2U: Nice pictures! How soon were you at that spot?
Unfortunately, we will be with the busses helping the band get ready to march, and I don't know how much time we will have to actually find a spot once we get back to the park area. We were hoping to get some good close up pictures of our kids marching in the parade.

 

[Eeyore2U]

I think we were there 15-20 minutes early but it was the last week of February and not to crowded.

 

[Steven Barrett]

Mickey Mom,

Your idea is an excellent one. Just be sure to stake out your spot in the Town Square circle 45 minutes or more ahead of time. And ask a cast member where the parade starts (it usually starts in Frontierland); you want the band to march toward you down Main Street, so you can get the Castle in the background. Also remember that the visiting marching bands go 5 minutes or so before the main parade starts, so even if you're late to your spot, folks should give you space if you explain what you're doing.

Steven Barrett, author of the "Hassle-Free Walt Disney World Vacation" and the newly released "Hidden Mickeys of Walt Disney World", both books published by The Intrepid Traveler Publishers.

 

[KBFinFan]

I just got back from Disney in March, and I actually caught the parade by surprise. I came in around 3 (when it started) and just walked to where it ended (to the left of main street and across from Tony's Town Square). Although not being able to participate in the parade or to see the parade in a straight line, I got a good view w/o a lot of crowding. Excellent picture opportunities (w/o the castle but still good) and overall good viewing position.

 

[jimmybop]

ooooo... awesome my band got to do this dec 99!!!!

see if you can do this. ask the band director for a band t-shirt (i dunno if ur band has a golf t-shirt or something like that w/ the band name on it or what not) and see if you can walk the parade route with them then when u get over by main street, run in front of them and snap a picture from the middle of the street.

or if u cant do that, get to main st. and talk to one of the CMs on the middle main street saying you want to run out in the middle of the street infront of the band. one parent did this for our band, and it came out awesome... i'll have to find the picture and post it here

ohhh... and make sure u have a fresh camra battery.... my mom went to take pictures of the band... and her battery died!!!!

 

[jimmybop]

here is my band on main street.... i had the orginal scan here somewheres but cant find it.... but here is the scan i did out of the local paper who published the same picture

(note, if u see an x.. its because so many people are looking, come check it out again in about an hour

 

[Mickey Mom]

Thanks for all of your ideas! I will have a Band Golf shirt that I will wear that day, so I think that I will try to get a picture of the band by asking the CM if I can go out in the middle of Main Street. We will not be able to march along with the band, but another mom and I are going to try to get on opposite sides of the street to get more pictures of the band. We are so excited!!!!!