Paint the Night Parade and Disneyland Forever Fireworks Strategy

[Thundergod]

With more of the passes blocked out are people still staking out spots on Main Street and in the Hub around 5 or 5:30 or is it possible to get a spot with minimal standing closer to 7?

We saw openings around 7 close to the castle

 

[courtneybeth]

People are still lining up after Soundsational for their spots at 5pm. The 11pm parade was completely clear last Friday night. Had no problem getting a seat on the curb at 10pm and by 11pm it was only 2-3 people deep the entire parade route.

 

[Thundergod]

Six o'clock and plenty of seating for parade. Could not get curb or bench facing castle but did get prime ground right in front of reserved area for the firecracker festivities

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

Thank you very much for the warning. We will be doing BB F! package thurs night. I wonder if the area is more crowded because it seems they're now combining the BB and RBT areas into one? I read that in the main F! fastpass thread. Did you notice if they were combined?

Yes, they are combined. We were just there last week. It annoyed me a little because we paid around $20/person more for BB than than the other restaurant and the only difference was the seat cushion! We asked a CM and she said they combined the two because there always seemed to be more "free space" in BB area than the RBT area. Well, yeah...it's more expensive.

 

[Angrose]

Yes, they are combined. We were just there last week. It annoyed me a little because we paid around $20/person more for BB than than the other restaurant and the only difference was the seat cushion! We asked a CM and she said they combined the two because there always seemed to be more "free space" in BB area than the RBT area. Well, yeah...it's more expensive.

I've done both packages and I have to say that the extra $20 for BB is totally worth it. You are not just paying for the cushion. The food and the ambiance there compared to RBT is so much better! I felt like I was eating in a cafeteria at RBT and the food was awful. My experience at BB on the other hand was lovely with a waterside table, great food, and the nicest waitress I've ever met. Truly, one of my favorite Disney memories.

 

[Thundergod]

Two nights in a row with no fireworks. Mass exodus and boos after the announcement. I am guessing tomorrow might be the same

 

[ktlm]

We are doing the BB package on Monday night at 5pm. Where did you get in line at 8pm?

They had us go to a spot across from the Haunted Mansion exit. They will tell you at the restaurant where to go and If you ask the CMs in the area, they will direct you too. It was kind of a mess because they had all the BB people with the blue FP people. Then they let us in the first area and were yelling for the BB people to move to the left and the Blue FP people to move to the right which led to lots of people knocking into each other trying to get where they needed to be and some confused people. They then started leading and directing people to the areas where they were going to be.

Have fun! We missed the old dessert package with chairs, but we did still really enjoy it!

We left late this afternoon- I always hate to leave. Bummer about the fireworks again tonight! I get that it is a densely populated area with not much space and they have to be extra careful, but what they call "high winds" makes us laugh. At home, what it was doing yesterday night would be considered a non-windy day or a very light breeze. We wouldn't even call it wind. We would be excited there was no wind when it was like that! We never get days less than that! I hope it slows down and they get to do the fireworks anniversary night.

 

[ktlm]

Yes, they are combined. We were just there last week. It annoyed me a little because we paid around $20/person more for BB than than the other restaurant and the only difference was the seat cushion! We asked a CM and she said they combined the two because there always seemed to be more "free space" in BB area than the RBT area. Well, yeah...it's more expensive.

Well that explains why my friend had lots of room a few weeks ago and we were packed in like sardines. That does not make me happy. I'm not a BB fan as my food has always been very mediocre at best, so we did it solely for the F! FP and best area. If we knew we could spend $20 less and been in the exact same section we would have done that!

 

[calilou]

Yes, they are combined. We were just there last week. It annoyed me a little because we paid around $20/person more for BB than than the other restaurant and the only difference was the seat cushion! We asked a CM and she said they combined the two because there always seemed to be more "free space" in BB area than the RBT area. Well, yeah...it's more expensive.

This is very disappointing to me. Why not just make the BB area a little smaller?! Duh.

Two nights in a row with no fireworks. Mass exodus and boos after the announcement. I am guessing tomorrow might be the same

So sad about fireworks being cancelled again tonight. We had a great spot on Main St too. We have two more nights here and all I've wanted is good fireworks viewing since I didn't get it for our May trip. There was a light breeze - it was in no way windy.

 

[PinkBudgie]

They had us go to a spot across from the Haunted Mansion exit. They will tell you at the restaurant where to go and If you ask the CMs in the area, they will direct you too. It was kind of a mess because they had all the BB people with the blue FP people. Then they let us in the first area and were yelling for the BB people to move to the left and the Blue FP people to move to the right which led to lots of people knocking into each other trying to get where they needed to be and some confused people. They then started leading and directing people to the areas where they were going to be.

Thank you. That was helpful.

Well that explains why my friend had lots of room a few weeks ago and we were packed in like sardines. That does not make me happy. I'm not a BB fan as my food has always been very mediocre at best, so we did it solely for the F! FP and best area. If we knew we could spend $20 less and been in the exact same section we would have done that!

Well, guess we'll keep our BB reservations at this point. We haven't eaten there for at least 20 years just because of the so so reviews. So, we'll give it a try this trip and see how it goes. Probably next time we'll do the RBT. The reason we like the Carthay WOC meal is because the area to watch is very uncrowded. I realize they can't afford to let space go unused in this area but they could put the BB people more towards the front.
Last year we saw WDW's F! show. Great seating but the show was awful! Give me DL's any day!

 

[pamcarey]

Yes, they are combined. We were just there last week. It annoyed me a little because we paid around $20/person more for BB than than the other restaurant and the only difference was the seat cushion! We asked a CM and she said they combined the two because there always seemed to be more "free space" in BB area than the RBT area. Well, yeah...it's more expensive.

That's disappointing! I was looking forward to the great BB seating, and maybe having a little space to move. I hope we enjoy the food and ambiance enough to make the added cost worth it.

Two nights in a row with no fireworks. Mass exodus and boos after the announcement. I am guessing tomorrow might be the same

I will literally cry if that happens on my trip after looking forward to it for so long!

 

[Thundergod]

Looking like a third night in a row with no fireworks

 

[calilou]

Looking like a third night in a row with no fireworks

Nope! We got 'em thankfully! I was worried too, it was definitely breezy in the afternoon. We watched after F! in the BB/RBT viewing area (they are definitely combined and it sucks but that's a different subject) - it was a great view! I still need castle viewing though!!

 

[Thundergod]

Nope! We got 'me thankfully! I was worried too, it was definitely breezy in the afternoon. We watched after F! in the BB/RBT viewing area (they are definitely combined and it sucks but that's a different subject) - it was a great view! I still need castle viewing though!!

The castle view was great tonight. I wanted to be in two places but not having the snow was okay. So glad they went ahead with them

 

[mystic_path]

My parents and I are going in September and we are trying to figure out the best strategy. My mom wants to see the fireworks from the Main Street Train Station, and catch the Paint the night parade all at the same time. But I am not sure where we can actually stand when it comes to the Train Station. I know that I have heard of people getting a prime view of all of Main Street. I can't personally imagine wanting to stand around for a few hours to stake out a spot, but my mom wants to do it. Soooo what is her best option?

 

[gmi3804]

Here's what we did last night:

-PTN from in front of iasm sign. Arrived at 8:20 for 8:50 show.
-Rode iasm We'd been prepared by CM that FW would very likely be cancelled.
-Disembarking from iasm, the FW music started, so we dashed back to the areA where we watched PTN. Could see the iasm façade and Matterhorn from there. Great shows, both.

Then a short break with a soft drink at RBT and the 10:45 F!

And BTMRR with FP (10:40-11:40)!

Quite a night!

 

[lorijohnhill]

The castle view was great tonight. I wanted to be in two places but not having the snow was okay. So glad they went ahead with them

It doesn't snow in the hub area?

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

I've done both packages and I have to say that the extra $20 for BB is totally worth it. You are not just paying for the cushion. The food and the ambiance there compared to RBT is so much better! I felt like I was eating in a cafeteria at RBT and the food was awful. My experience at BB on the other hand was lovely with a waterside table, great food, and the nicest waitress I've ever met. Truly, one of my favorite Disney memories.

Thanks! That does make me feel a little better!

 

[MeeskaMooska13]

We still had plenty of room in the combined F! area. Now don't get me started that the CC WOC viewing area was three tiers back from water's edge!! Not what I was expecting at all.

 

[apple9117]

We followed the tips in this thread and hung out in the ice cream parlor / candy shop during the first parade. Then as soon as the parade ended, we rushed onto main street to grab a good spot for the fireworks. Right after the fireworks, we grabbed a couple spots on the sidewalk for the 2nd parade. This was a perfect strategy. Thank you folks!