MVMCP Parade...When are people lining up??

[DVC1991]

We will be attending the MVMCP on Dec. 18. We are planning on being in the park all day anyways before the party, and we have dinner planned at CRT around 6:40pm. Im assuming dinner will take us about an hour. What time have people been lining up for the parade on Main St.? Will we basically have no chance of finding a spot somewhere around Main St. or the castle after we get out of dinner around 7:45pm? I realize there is the second parade too, but I heard that one is getting just as busy as the first.

 

[Robo]

We will be attending the MVMCP on Dec. 18. We are planning on being in the park all day anyways before the party, and we have dinner planned at CRT around 6:40pm. Im assuming dinner will take us about an hour. What time have people been lining up for the parade on Main St.? Will we basically have no chance of finding a spot somewhere around Main St. or the castle after we get out of dinner around 7:45pm? I realize there is the second parade too, but I heard that one is getting just as busy as the first.

First parade... on Main Street... figure 60-90 minutes (or more.)

The second parade will not require that much advance time, even if it is getting busier.

 

[DVC1991]

So are we probably better off on planning to get to Main St. in time for the fireworks, watch those wherever we can squeeze in, then stake out a spot for the second parade?

 

[mom2rtk]

So are we probably better off on planning to get to Main St. in time for the fireworks, watch those wherever we can squeeze in, then stake out a spot for the second parade?

Did you try searching for an earlier time at CRT? It's such an expensive meal already. I hate to see anyone make it even more expensive by using party time to do it.

 

[Robo]

So are we probably better off on planning to get to Main St. in time for the fireworks, watch those wherever we can squeeze in, then stake out a spot for the second parade?

You also want to see "Celebrate the Magic" (projected on the front of the castle) which starts 15 minutes before the fireworks.
To do so, you want to be in or near the Hub.

 

[DaisyNY]

Remember that having a 6:40 reservation does not mean you'll be seated then. We went to MVMCP last night...had a 4:40 ADR for LTT and were not seated until 5 pm. HAVE FUN!

 

[DVC1991]

ok! so what time do you recommend we really stay in the area? i was assuming that once we finished dinner we would just hang around the hub or Main St. anyways.

 

[DVC1991]

Remember that having a 6:40 reservation does not mean you'll be seated then. We went to MVMCP last night...had a 4:40 ADR for LTT and were not seated until 5 pm. HAVE FUN!

Yeah I realize that they can be off on the seating times. There are just two of us going and we're really going for more of the experience of eating in the castle, not the characters...so i assumed we wouldn't take that long at dinner. Don't have to worry about sitting around waiting for all the princesses to reach our table.

 

[Robo]

Yeah I realize that they can be off on the seating times. There are just two of us going and we're really going for more of the experience of eating in the castle, not the characters...so i assumed we wouldn't take that long at dinner. Don't have to worry about sitting around waiting for all the princesses to reach our table.

And, ask for your bill as soon as your waiter arrives.
Pay it as soon as it arrives.
No waiting for the bill after your meal.

 

[DVC1991]

Did you try searching for an earlier time at CRT? It's such an expensive meal already. I hate to see anyone make it even more expensive by using party time to do it.

Yeah we looked but that was all we could ever find. I've been checking every couple days. We have annual passes so we didn't really have to factor in the cost of the party on top of our other park tickets, but it is still annoying that the party cost extra to go to.

 

[Robo]

Yeah we looked but that was all we could ever find. I've been checking every couple days. We have annual passes so we didn't really have to factor in the cost of the party on top of our other park tickets, but it is still annoying that the party cost extra to go to.

If you have AP's I'd plan to "eat at the Castle" on any other night (or on another trip.)

 

[DVC1991]

If you have AP's I'd plan to "eat at the Castle" on any other night (or on another trip.)

haha trust me, we've tried to get reservations on other trips and it never works out. Even though we have the APs, we still have to fly down to florida so it's not like we can go on a whim. We end up going around 3 times per year, but even with that we were never the people that booked dining 180 days out, more like 3-4 months before cause thats when we start planning to go.

It's probably worth mentioning too that we really don't care about doing the characters during the party either. If the lines are shorter, then great! if not, we're not crushed. The main reason for going to the party was really for the parade/firework festivities.

 

[Robo]

haha trust me, we've tried to get reservations on other trips and it never works out. Even though we have the APs, we still have to fly down to florida so it's not like we can go on a whim. We end up going around 3 times per year, but even with that we were never the people that booked dining 180 days out, more like 3-4 months before cause thats when we start planning to go.

We live in the Kansas City area (Go Royals!) and we often buy AP's, too, so I know the situation.

 

[DVC1991]

We live in the Kansas City area (Go Royals!) and we often buy AP's, too, so I know the situation.

thanks for all the input hopefully it'll work out ok! we've done the regular parades but i've heard some horror stories about how early people are lining up and how aggressive it gets for a spot. We just want to be prepared for the craziness!

 

[jessicadisneygirl]

We are interested in some more advice about finding a spot for the first parade and castle entertainment. The castle stage shows are not an absolute must but we do want to be able to see the projection show and fireworks in addition to the first parade. If it is our goal to see all this from the same spot where should we sit? And how soon should we save this spot? I'm thinking somewhere at the top of Main Street where it joins the hub?

 

[RachaelA]

All curb spots were taken by 7:15 (I'm sure earlier, that's just when we got there after meeting some characters) last night on Main Street and the circle in front of the castle. It was not a sold out party.

 

[RachaelA]

We were in the 2nd row behind the curb and the people in front of us said they were there at 6.

 

[ameliahyde]

We went to the party on November 17th. Now, granted, it was probably much less busy in general, but we attended the second parade, and yes, there were plenty of people but we lined up only about 30 minutes before and got front row seats in front of town hall at the end of the park. We had to wait quite a while for the parade to get down to the end, but our seats were perfect and the parade was absolutely amazing - well worth the wait! Also, the area was not packed at all, most of the people in our area were in the front row. I would guess that the area down in Frontier Land was probably similar. I highly suggest waiting for parade no. 2 if you can. I think it will ease a lot of pressure from dinner, and allow you to get a nice place for fireworks (we were in the hub area in one of the grassy spots, sitting on the ground). Again, it was quite nice. After watching the fireworks, we were able to go to a the dance party, see a little bit of the tomorrowland show, and then hit the parade on our way out. It was great!

 

[moodyeeyore]

I'm going to the Dec 18 party too, and am not sure when I should try to get a spot to see the fireworks. The projection show is can't miss for me, but DH's favorite part is meeting characters, so we're going to spend time at the beginning of the party doing that.

 

[Dr Gunnie]

I had the same question and we are going to the same party - only difference is our ADR is at 5:50. Hoping to find a curb spot right after dinner. Thanks for the help!