Ok I have an admission to make about the parades.....and a question about seats.

[D L and K's Mom]

Ok I am going to admit it......"My name is D and L's Mom and I have never watched a Disney parade in all my trips to Walt Disney World". WOW, I feel better having admited that!!! yup, it's the truth in all the trips we have never sat and watched any of the parades. The kids never were interested and they wanted to ride the rides so we took advantage of the fact that most people DO GO to the parades. Now, after 13 years we have a new addition (surprise!!) and she LOVES parades. We have to go to one or two for her , Problem is DS is a special needs child and he is not fond of crowds. My oldest daughter will be fine but he is ok when we are pushing his chair but to sit in the chair and have people crowding over him is another story. He starts to get upset and cries easily. We went to our towns 4th of July parade and he enjoyed it but it was not crowded as we had chairs etc. Where would be the best place for us to catch a parade. I know that they are very crowded but here must be someplace that offers a little freedom from the crowds. We can do any park, any parade. I was thinking main street and let DH and DS sit in one of the shops and get a cookie or drink. Is this plan CRAZY?? I would love for us all to sit and watch the parade but I am not sure how DS will be and I know it would be worse for us to have to try to leave during the parade. I know this is the place to ask you all always have the answers. Thanks in advance.

 

[LittleMermaidsMom]

There is a handicap viewing area in the MK that is near the front of the castle. We used it last year for my mother, who uses a scooter. The CM's rope off the area and are pretty good about keeping people away from this area. Everytime someone would come and stand in front of us they would make them move so they didn't block my mother's view.

We arrived about 15 minutes before the parade started and had a great view, but this was during a slow time of the year. You might want to arrive a little earlier if it is busy.

Hope this helps!

 

[B'rer Karen]

My recommendation would be to watch either the Share a Dream Come True Parade or Spectromagic from the Train Station. You'll have to get there really early, but my impression is that you don't get a lot of last minute people trying to push their way around you up there. Also, you don't have to worry about people trying to cut through the crowds. As an aside, there is a ramp to get up there. If memory serves, if you're facing the station from Main Street it is on your right in front of the first shop.

 

[Missy1961]

I have heard that it is possible to get special treatment if you let them know he is a special needs child. I guess if you have a note from a doctor explaining what he needs and his problems with crowds they will allow him to sit in a special area. I know when we were in the MK last month there were roped off sections for wheelchair users.

 

[D L and K's Mom]

Thank you so much for all the great ideas. I never even noticed that they had roped off areas for wheelchairs becasue we were fleeing the scene of the parade so quickly!!!! I would never ask for a "special place" for us to sit with him , but if it is roped off for other wheelchairs he would be ok there too!! Thank you so much!

 

[bobcat]

If for what ever reason you decide not to do the roped off area there are a couple of places wher you can sit and watch the MK parades and AK parades. In MK right in front of the shooting arcade there is a raised platform that is perfect to sit on. If your sons wheelchair is in front of you no one can be infront of him because he will be right at the rope. Also in AK if you catch the end of the parade in front of Flights of Wonder it is shaded and most people watch the beginning of the parade so it is less crowded. Just a couple of alternatives for you.

 

[Schmeck]

If you haven't already checked out the disAbilities board here, I'd like to recommend it. I work with special needs kids, and have found lots of great info on that board.

You can get a Guest Assistance Card (GAC) at Guest Services that should help you meet your son's needs. There's lots of info about the GAC on the disAbilities board.

Hope this helps,

Schmeck

 

[Tigger&Belle]

It's good to know that there are parade viewing areas for people in wheelchairs. I'm also not a parade person, but I'm planning a trip to WDW with my 4yo, my sister, and our 81yo mother (her first trip to WDW). We hope to convince our mother to rent an EVC and it would be great of there are some areas that are set aside for that purpose. I can take or leave the parades, but this trip is for our mother and I know that she would really enjoy them.

T&B

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Um, D and Ls Mom, about your second tag...I hardly know you. Well, actually I don't know you at all.

T&B

 

[PandyPaws]

A great place to catch the parade at AK is in Harambe Village, in Africa...upon it's return. When it begins at 4pm, the streets are jammed with guests, who then tend to follow it out....

However, the parade circles the park and again returns through the same gate (adjacent to the Safari entrance) from which it emerged, approximately 25-30 minutes later. At this time the streets have plenty of elbow room for comfortable viewing...in fact, you can just about walk right up and stop to view just as it comes back without looking for, or staking out, a viewing space. Those 'in the know' will stand right at the Safari entrance, watch the parade, then about-face and head right into the Safari cue with little or no wait to ride