OK. Is it just me or do fireworks & Parades not do anything for you?

[PolyAddict]

I am just a freak? Parades (we are from New Orleans area, we don't do parades here either) and especially fireworks (my kids don't like them) just don't do anything for me while at Disney. We are all about the rides and shows!! When reading the boards I can't get over how much people talk about the fireworks and parades? Am I missing something? We try to sneak around everyone during these times to get on rides.


Please share your stories about your passion for the parades and fireworks and maybe I'll catch on for my next trip.

Thanks

 

[alyssa810]

The parades don't really do anything for me either, although I really liked the tapestry parade....I do love the fireworks though.
We always use parade time to take advantage of shorter ride lines too.

 

[sugermouse]

I like em`. They are pretty cool, and you don't see them too often. If we had fireworks in California, the state would be one big fireball... so we take advantage of seeing them.

 

[Nickunited]

I am iffy on Fireworks but I do watch them. I Love the Disney Parades, I think the music is great and It is the only place where you can see all the characters together. I am a HUGE fan of Spectromagic. Listen to the CD every day as I am eager to leave on my trip.

If you really just cannot get into the fireworks and parades, then I will give you a tip. One year, during the fireworks I happened to go on Thunder Mountain. They let us ride it 3 straight times because there was no line. LOL! Just something to ponder!!!!

 

[Princess Michelle]

I adore the fireworks but not so much on the parades. I've never watched the ones at AK or MGM and unfortunately never did get to see Tapestry of Nations/Dreams at EPCOT and I actually did want to see that one. The only daytime parade that I've ever seen all of is the one that is currently at the MK with the big snowglobes and having seen that one twice is plenty for me. Now the night parades I do like a lot! I loved the Electric Light Parade, love Spectromagic, the parade during MVMCP is great too. I also like the Electric Water Pageant. Must be the pretty lights that I like. LOL

 

[KevinFSU]

Not big on the parades...... love the fireworks.

 

[KayakDaddy]

I love the parades and the fireworks!!!

Unfortunately, my 4.5-year-old son could care less about parades. He was so board during the daytime parade at MK, that we ducked through the crowd to have an ice cream sundae just off of Main Street, then on to Tomorrowland. We live one block off of our city's Christmas Parade and we usually walk home about half way through it.

He is more tolerant of fireworks, but I suspect he is really just into them because I make such a big deal out of them. In May, he couldn’t wait for Illuminations to be over, just so he could go back and play on the Viking Ship playground in Norway (I promised him we’d go back if he was good during the fireworks).

My wife really doesn’t get into parades and fireworks either. Both of them did love Fantasmic though. It’s part fireworks, laser show, parade, and action adventure movie all rolled into one. DS wanted to stay and watch it again. Me too

 

[chicknoodle99]

Both DH and I love the fireworks!

This past year watching Wishes was so moving that I cried! I think it just adds a finishing touch to a perfect day!

We usually do the parades..the Share a Dream Come True parade is my favorite. The snowglobes are amazing I think. We have seen the Motor Cars and Spectromagic but could do without if we had to.

I think both fireworks and parades just add to the magic!

 

[robertsmom]

This has always been my deep dark secret! I really don't care anything about the parades or the fireworks. (Now Fantasmic is another story, but it is much more than just fireworks) I would much rather spend the time on rides when everyone else is jockeying for a spot on Main Street.

 

[disneyfanz04]

I love the firework, especially the new wishes display @MK. Just listening to the music gives me goosebumps, and watching the sparkle in my DGIRLS eyes makes my heart melt. As far as the parades go, I am not crazy about them, would rather do character dining so we can interact with them. But that's only MHO.

 

[Missy1961]

I don't bother with the afternoon parades. I live in NY and we have the great Thanksgiving parade every year. But I don't go to NYC to watch it, I stay home and watch it on TV!

Again, we have lots of fireworks as well. And I have to admit, Wishes didn't blow me away. but that might be because we had a bad spot for watching it.

I did enjoy Spectromagic, but that might have been because I got to watch my 5 yr old niece enjoy it so much! That made it wonderful for me....she just was so excited. But when I went back to MK without her, I didn't stay to watch the parade.

 

[buzzz1]

Must be just you ..........

We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Parades and Fireworks !!!!

 

[DISUNC]

POLY POLY POLY!!!!!!!!

Very simply, You ain't doing Disney if you dont see the Parades & Fireworks!!!!

The parades just flood my memory bank with wonderful moments.
I can't explain the thrill of the fireworks.....ITS MAGIC.

Give them a try on your next trip, let us know.

 

[MinnieGi]

I love the parades & fireworks!

DH loves the fireworks but could care less about the parades. He watches them to humor me. And if he can get out of watching the parade he will - we go with friends and family a bunch so if one of them wants to watch with me he doesn't feel the need to stay and goes on some rides instead.

DD likes the parades and is iffy on the fireworks. She doesn't like the loud noises all that much but does like the pretty colors in the sky!

 

[Margie J]

I often skip the parades myself. I use that time to do other attractions while the masses fight over the "perfect spot" for viewing.

As for fireworks, it depends. In May Wishes at MK was new to me so I went to view it one night from the Ferry dock. After that I tried to get out of the park ASAP before the show. I've seen Illuminations many times but not every time I am at Epcot. Same with Fantasmic at MGM.

 

[Disney Doll]

I love SpectroMagic...I could watch it 100 times and never tire of it. The daytime parades...once I see them once or twice, I don't need to see them again.

Love the new "Wishes" fireworks show...one of the best yet, also love IllumiNations, although I'd like to see them change it soon.

 

[disneymom3]

I love to see the fireworks if i happen to catch them. At this time in my life, however, I have a very freaky four year old who HATES anything that might possibly be too loud. (This child will not ride Pooh because he heard his sister say once that it was kind of loud.) So we skip them. Plus, no way would I wait for them while missing out on touring time.

And that is my attitude about parades--all those crowds, all that waiting and for WHAT??? Now, at night, maybe, but still.....not so much.

 

[PolyAddict]

OK-

I am interested now. But do I have to sit for hours to see Spectromagic? After reading the responses, I realize that I am probably just too impatient.

My DD3 will probably enjoy a parade. MY DD12 and 11 would probably rather do something with DH during that time.

I will do my best to try one parade (spectromagic?) and one fireworks (shouldn't be too hard since we will be there for NYE)!

Thanks

PolyAddict

 

[flyinglizard]

Thank you all! I thought I was the only one who didn't care about parades or fireworks. Now I can come out of the closet!

I really liked the 35th Disneyland Parade, but the music made my feet start dancing. The Main Street Electrical Parade was always fun to see with a large, enthusiastic group.

The Lion King Parade at DL was the best I have ever seen. The first time I saw it, I was with a friend from Ohio. After the parade had finished, I said to him, "The hair on my arms is standing up". He replied, "That's the closest I've ever come to a religous experience in a theme park". He's a catholic priest...

DW usually wants to hang around to watch the fireworks so I usually stay with her so she doesn't get lost in the crowd. I would much rather be on the "shooting" end than the "watching" end. I do like hanging out at the UK by the ropes for the beginning of the EPCOT show. But at MK, I usually enjoy the music and seeing how they coordinate the explosions to the score.

NOT that I would want to see the parades and fireworks discontinued, they are a big part of the magic for a lot of guests.

I feel so much better now that I know there are others like me out there...

 

[cooldisneymom]

Love the parades, love the fireworks!!!! However, in 31 years of going we have never "waited" for the parade, we always just see it from where ever we are at the time it starts. My favorite was without a doubt MSEP - makes me cry everytime I hear the music. Love Spectromagic, too, but MSEP will always have my heart.