Nighttime Entertainment

[queso2992]

Okay, so we're headed to DLR in 12 days, woo! I have an AP, so I can go all but one day of our trip. However, my parents are buying tickets. My dad only wants to go one day, while my mom will go 2 days. My question: is there any way to catch all 3 nighttime shows/parades in one night? WoC is at 9:00 pm, fireworks are at 9:30 pm, and PtN's second run is at 10:45. Can you beat the rush out of DCA to get into DL before fireworks?

 

[HydroGuy]

Okay, so we're headed to DLR in 12 days, woo! I have an AP, so I can go all but one day of our trip. However, my parents are buying tickets. My dad only wants to go one day, while my mom will go 2 days. My question: is there any way to catch all 3 nighttime shows/parades in one night? WoC is at 9:00 pm, fireworks are at 9:30 pm, and PtN's second run is at 10:45. Can you beat the rush out of DCA to get into DL before fireworks?

You can't. You would be late for the fireworks and likely have a very bad view for that anyways, then have a bad view of PTN.

 

[SMD]

Have they seen any version of WOC? If so, I would skip this one.

Actually, given the choice between fireworks or PTN or WOC I would rank WOC 3rd.

 

[Abbey1]

Even though I love WOC, I would prioritize the PTN parade and fireworks for the night your dad will be there. Then see WOC with your mom the next day. WOC is 22 minutes long. Even if you watched from the back (which is not a view I would ever choose), and hustled over to see the fireworks, I still am not sure you would make it on time. And if you did make it, you would have a pretty bad view of both shows, instead of seeing one from a great view. I'm all for quality over quantity

 

[queso2992]

Thanks guys!

That's what I was thinking, but I was hoping for the best! We've seen an earlier version WOC (and got soaked, so my mom was already wanting to see it from a little further away!), so that'd be what I'd bump to 3rd as well. Okay, so is it better to see the first PtN, then fireworks? Or vice versa? I'd love a good view, but I'm not sure how long we would want to wait.

Having only one day to get certain attractions done is difficult!

 

[figment_jii]

I think it's generally easier to find a good viewing spot for the second PtN compared to the first. I recommend watching fireworks from approximately the same location you want to watch PtN (e.g., on Main Street) and then as soon as fireworks ends, move over to the curb for PtN. You'll probably have to wait about an hour for PtN, but if you go for the first showing, you'll probably have to wait longer than that for a good/decent viewing spot.

 

[queso2992]

I think it's generally easier to find a good viewing spot for the second PtN compared to the first. I recommend watching fireworks from approximately the same location you want to watch PtN (e.g., on Main Street) and then as soon as fireworks ends, move over to the curb for PtN. You'll probably have to wait about an hour for PtN, but if you go for the first showing, you'll probably have to wait longer than that for a good/decent viewing spot.

Okay thanks! That hour would probably a good time to go ride one last ride with my dad while my mom holds a spot. She'll probably be the most tired by then, anyway.

 

[figment_jii]

Okay thanks! That hour would probably a good time to go ride one last ride with my dad while my mom holds a spot. She'll probably be the most tired by then, anyway.

I would gauge the crowd before you leave your Mom to try and hold two parade viewing spots by herself. I've found that people do really start to crowd/squish in over time, so it becomes harder and harder to hold spots empty (especially if you're standing). Two people have a better chance of holding spots (one seated on each side of the empty spot), but one person trying to hold spots on either side of them is tougher (I wouldn't be surprised if you came back to find space on either side of your Mom, but more like 75% of the space you originally thought you had).