need help with parades...

[kdtwiss]

Ok - so this isour first time to Disney with 4 young children so I want to be sure we see each parade at least one time, but I can not seem to find particular info on when they happen or what restaurants we would be able to see them from. A CM suggested Tony's Town Square for the share a dream parade or something like that with PS at 2:05. (thought it was 6:05 - but looked again) but I have read nothing positive about Tony's. Pizza is fine for us , but I am hoping someone can tell me more about seeing the parade from Tony's. I mean if there are outside tables, but then people line up between the tables and the parade - would my little ones even see anything?
Also I definitely want them to see Spectromagic - is that the one where Tink flies? Where and when do I sit/stand/eat to see this? Any other parades I should not miss?TIA - planning like crazy - trying so hard to make this a great trip - but need some insider info!

 

[TXTink]

I could be wrong, but I would not suggest eating at any "sit down" restaurant during a parade if you want to see the parade. There will be people standing all around the parade route, and if you are sitting, you won't be able to see. We have eaten at Tony's and where we were seated, there was no way to see a parade.....

The only place I can think of to sit at a table would be to grab a hamburger at The Plaza on Main Street and find an outside table to sit at. Tink will fly overhead at the beginning of Wishes.

Or, with little ones, you may want to grab a curb on Main Street around an hour before Spectro and send someone for hot dogs from Casey's or a burger from The Plaza, then sit and eat at the curb. That way the little ones will be up front for the best view of Spectro, and close to where you want to be for the best viewing of Wishes.

The best view of Wishes and seeing Tink fly would be anywhere from the hub area of Main Street to the bridge that leads to Tomorrowland. Tink flies right overhead.

 

[live4christp1]

If they show Spectro twice on the night you are there stay for the last one, it is way less crowded. Watch the fireworks in the street from Main Street in front of the castle facing the castle. Tink will fly from the castle to your right into Tomorrowland. Then you can grab a spot on the curb right in front of Casey's for Spectromagic. If you have strollers push them right up to the edge of the curb, keeps people from squeezing in front of you, believe me, they will try, even if you were there an hour early they will try to squeeze you out right before the parade starts. We locked the brakes and planted ourselved firmly behind and beside the stroller. You can run in and grab a hot dog from Casey's while waiting for the parade to start. This is what we did this past Friday and it worked out great. We were in the MK on Monday also and they only did Spectro once.....we tried to get a spot to see it but by 7:00 Main Street was packed out, no place at all to go, if you have a choice.....see the last parade......we were miserable for the first one on Monday and didn't see very much at all.

 

[Nicolepa]

If you were going to watch the 3 parade from any resturant, Tony's would be the only one. They are elevated a bit so you could probably see the parade IF you were outside. We ate there on our last trip and it was good.

Personally I would stand outside and watch them, that way you are right in the action, the characters may come and shake your childs hand, give them a hug etc. For the 3:00 MK parade we always stand outside of where the toy story characters are (near Bear Jamboree). We have found that is the perfect spot. Easy to see, lots of interaction with the Characters (plus someone can hold our spot in line while dd rides Big Thunder Mtn RR & Splash).

 

[kdtwiss]

THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE! I am killing myself trying to plan every last little detail! I just want to squeeze every drop of Disney Magic out of this vaca as God knows when/if we will ever get to go again.

So from what everyone says - Wishes parade starts at 3:00? And Tink does fly during this one.
It seems Spectromagic begins around 7:00? And Tink ALSO flies in this one?
The tink flying thing I imagine would be a HUGE hit with all my children! I thank you for the best spots hints, now i am wondering what the excat times are for the parades - or if i would need to call when we are there to find out the times.
you know how it is - everything revolves around the ps arrangements - one thing off kilter and the whole plan is out the window!!
Thanks again!!

 

[TXTink]

THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE! I am killing myself trying to plan every last little detail! I just want to squeeze every drop of Disney Magic out of this vaca as God knows when/if we will ever get to go again.

So from what everyone says - Wishes parade starts at 3:00? And Tink does fly during this one.
It seems Spectromagic begins around 7:00? And Tink ALSO flies in this one?
The tink flying thing I imagine would be a HUGE hit with all my children! I thank you for the best spots hints, now i am wondering what the excat times are for the parades - or if i would need to call when we are there to find out the times.
you know how it is - everything revolves around the ps arrangements - one thing off kilter and the whole plan is out the window!!
Thanks again!!

Share a Dream is the 3:00 parade and runs daily.

Wishes is a fireworks show that will be at night. The time changes seasonally (obviously after sunset). That is the only time Tink flies. This is when you want to be in the hub at the end of Main Street.

Spectro Magic is the electric night time parade, it will be on selected nights, and changes seasonally. Check with Disney, or keep up with it here on the DIS to see what the schedule will be when you are there. In the busier months there will be two showings of Spectro, one before Wishes and one after Wishes.

With that in mind, I find it easier to watch Spectro from Main Street (say on a curb outside The Plaza Restaurant, or Casey's), that way you are near the hub for Wishes, which is the best view (in my opinion).

 

[Liz]

THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE! I am killing myself trying to plan every last little detail! I just want to squeeze every drop of Disney Magic out of this vaca as God knows when/if we will ever get to go again.

So from what everyone says - Wishes parade starts at 3:00? And Tink does fly during this one.
It seems Spectromagic begins around 7:00? And Tink ALSO flies in this one?
The tink flying thing I imagine would be a HUGE hit with all my children! I thank you for the best spots hints, now i am wondering what the excat times are for the parades - or if i would need to call when we are there to find out the times.
you know how it is - everything revolves around the ps arrangements - one thing off kilter and the whole plan is out the window!!
Thanks again!!

I'm not sure of the times, but Wishes isn't a parade, its when the fireworks go off all around the castle. That's when Tink flies, not at the parades. Have a great time! Planning is so much fun!

 

[jenr812]

Thanks for posting this. I was looking for similar info too

 

[GUNER]

Tink only flies at the start of wishes which is fireworks not parade. You must watch from the right of the castle by Tommorowland.Iwill never forget the look on dd face when she saw Tink fly. Go to Disney site and click on calendar and click on each day and it will tell you the times for the parades and fireworks.