Paint the Night Viewing

[kwdw]

Okay - this is going to be a Must-Do on my summer trip. The dining packages for reserved viewing just don't appeal to me - but I also hate waiting for parades. I have my "favorite spots" at WDW where I know I can get decent viewing just showing up about 15 minutes before the parade - but I've been to DL ONCE and that was 6 years ago now.

I don't have to be "on the curb" - but I would like to be maybe just one layer back. Any tips? Suggestions of where to find a spot? Not really concerned about our "fireworks" spot - it's a just a pair of adults - so I'm thinking we can find a spot in the crowd for that - don't need perfect spot for firewords, just decent.

It will be July - and possibly a Saturday night - though we might switch things up and make it Monday night instead.

 

[SMD]

There is nowhere that you can be one row back from the curb 15 minutes before PTN. You have to invest time for that parade to get a spot. I imagine that won't change between now and July.

 

[mom2rtk]

There is nowhere that you can be one row back from the curb 15 minutes before PTN. You have to invest time for that parade to get a spot. I imagine that won't change between now and July.

Did I hear they were going to cut back to one showing per night? If that's the case, it gets even harder.

 

[mom2rtk]

Best place to get a spot late in the game is out by Small World.

 

[lindyv321]

I am planning to watch the parade and the fireworks by it's a small world as per the questions I've posted here and other things I've read that seems to be a less busy spot then MainStreet. Again according to other posters they say you can get a good spot 30 to 45 minutes before parade start time in that area.

 

[tkradtke]

My daughter and I were able to do this no problem last summer down by It's a Small World. But it was for the second parade, not the first. Not sure how the first one would have been.

 

[PoohsFan1]

This is all great information, thank you. We will be going in June and for a few days my DMIL will be meeting up with us (this will be her first time to DLR) and we want to make sure to get a good spot to see PTN (this will be our first time watching the parade as well), however we do plan on watching the fireworks right afterwards (again first time watching it). We will want to get the full effect while watching the fireworks, so with that would you all recommend watching them somewhere down Main Street? If we were to watch PTN near IASM, could we see the everything that Disneyland Forever has to offer? This all is mostly for my DMIL because she will only get one night to view all of this and I want her to get the full experience, as for my family, we will be able to watch it again later in the week.

 

[sheetz]

It seems very difficult to catch both PTN and the fireworks from Main St without camping out for hours beforehand. I've heard some people hang out in the shops during the first parade and then move into the street after the last float passes by. Then it should be relatively easy to grab a curb spot for the 2nd parade assuming there is one.

 

[figment_jii]

As others have said, I doubt you'll be able to find a prime viewing spot for PtN with less than a 15 minute wait. The parade continues to be very popular and I don't see it's popularity ebbing in the near future. If they do drop down to a single presentation per night in the summer, then that will make it even harder because the second showing is usually much easier to find a good viewing spot (you still had to invest ~45 minutes or so to take a front row/near front row viewing spot). During early Spring Break, I saw guests sitting down on the curb on Main Street from just after Soundsational ended and most of the curb spots appeared gone at least 1.5 hours before the parade started.

If we were to watch PTN near IASM, could we see the everything that Disneyland Forever has to offer?

Yes and no...you will see a lot of the show, but somethings are a bit more awkward to see. For example, if you want to see Tinkerbell and Nemo, you'll have to turn around and you'll miss whatever is happening at that point in terms of the projections (on IaSW) and any of the higher fireworks. I don't know if they do the seaweed/sea plant effects atop IaSW like they do on Main Street. Overall, I think IaSW is a good viewing alternative to Main Street, but if you want the full effect of the show, I like Main Street best.

 

[PrincessDenisse]

As others have said, I doubt you'll be able to find a prime viewing spot for PtN with less than a 15 minute wait. The parade continues to be very popular and I don't see it's popularity ebbing in the near future. If they do drop down to a single presentation per night in the summer, then that will make it even harder because the second showing is usually much easier to find a good viewing spot (you still had to invest ~45 minutes or so to take a front row/near front row viewing spot). During early Spring Break, I saw guests sitting down on the curb on Main Street from just after Soundsational ended and most of the curb spots appeared gone at least 1.5 hours before the parade started.


Yes and no...you will see a lot of the show, but somethings are a bit more awkward to see. For example, if you want to see Tinkerbell and Nemo, you'll have to turn around and you'll miss whatever is happening at that point in terms of the projections (on IaSW) and any of the higher fireworks. I don't know if they do the seaweed/sea plant effects atop IaSW like they do on Main Street. Overall, I think IaSW is a good viewing alternative to Main Street, but if you want the full effect of the show, I like Main Street best.

Hello Figment!

Where do you think is a good spot in Main Street to catch both Paint of the Night Parade and Fireworks?

Thank you!

 

[figment_jii]

I think you can get a pretty good view of Paint the Night from pretty much anywhere on Main Street. The only spots I avoid are on the blinds-side of curves; for example, if the parade is heading towards Town Square, I would sitting on the side of the curb facing the Train Station because you won't see the parade until it comes around the bend is practically in front of you.

Personally, I like watching fireworks from somewhere between the Candy Palace and the Partner's Statue. It depends a lot on whether the trees are full of leaves or not. The large fireworks are slightly to the left of the castle (when facing it on MS), so I like to stand more to the right of the center of the street.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

The problem with watching the parade from the Town Square area is that you get conflicting music as the parade goes around the flag pole. It's also not the best for the fireworks. I recommend going more to the middle of Main Street OR going to the hub area to watch the parade. Then for the fireworks, either place yourselves in the middle of Main Street for those effects, or in the area between the partners statue and the corner cafe/photo supply corner, where you can see the Matterhorn and the castle because there will be projections on both.

The above are the best areas to see the show because you will see all of the effects, including Tink & Co. flying through the air. Small World is also a great area, however, for the first time it's not ideal, in my opinion. Standing there you'll be looking from castle to Small World and back to castle.

Like figment_jii said, the fireworks are seen a little to the left of the castle, so you need to make sure that your view of that area is not blocked by buildings (like don't stand on the Candy Palace side of the street, but look for the pedestal clock across the street).

 

[AZMermaid]

To add on, We are going in early June. We are going to try to watch it from Main St on a Thursday that is a Grad Night. Is 90 minutes early enough time for a curb or first standing row? If you are in the first standing row- can you sit to wait until a certain point. This will be the kids (4 and 5) first time seeing it. DH and I saw it in November on a Friday. We got a bench near the train station about 2.5 hours early. We were running the 10K the next day so we didn't mind sitting and waiting- but we could have gotten a curb (and even a bench) at about the 90 minute mark.

We were considering the BB package (and still are somewhat) but the reports have been so rocky lately. Small World doesn't appeal to us because we don't want to be so far back in the park so late. It will be pushing bed time a lot as it is!

 

[Minniekins]

I think you can get a pretty good view of Paint the Night from pretty much anywhere on Main Street. The only spots I avoid are on the blinds-side of curves; for example, if the parade is heading towards Town Square, I would sitting on the side of the curb facing the Train Station because you won't see the parade until it comes around the bend is practically in front of you.

Personally, I like watching fireworks from somewhere between the Candy Palace and the Partner's Statue. It depends a lot on whether the trees are full of leaves or not. The large fireworks are slightly to the left of the castle (when facing it on MS), so I like to stand more to the right of the center of the street.

The problem with watching the parade from the Town Square area is that you get conflicting music as the parade goes around the flag pole. It's also not the best for the fireworks. I recommend going more to the middle of Main Street OR going to the hub area to watch the parade. Then for the fireworks, either place yourselves in the middle of Main Street for those effects, or in the area between the partners statue and the corner cafe/photo supply corner, where you can see the Matterhorn and the castle because there will be projections on both.

The above are the best areas to see the show because you will see all of the effects, including Tink & Co. flying through the air. Small World is also a great area, however, for the first time it's not ideal, in my opinion. Standing there you'll be looking from castle to Small World and back to castle.

Like figment_jii said, the fireworks are seen a little to the left of the castle, so you need to make sure that your view of that area is not blocked by buildings (like don't stand on the Candy Palace side of the street, but look for the pedestal clock across the street).

Could you watch the parade from a spot on the curb on the right side of the street where you both seem to be describing a similar area, two adults and one ECV, then move into the street for fireworks? Are there spots there I could get off the curb to the street to get to the hub area or to right of it to have good all around view? Would 90 mins waiting work for this? I think our first sat and sun there will be two parades. I do have a ressie a carnation cafe about 7:50 or so I think, and thought of trying to go into street after first parade goes by, as another option. Do you think either of these could work for us, myself(w/ECV) and DD25, Sat May 7-14. TIA for any help!

 

[jfk4]

I generally watch PtN by Small World, as suggested by others. My favorite place to watch the fireworks is on Main Street.

If you time things right it is possible to do both. Follow the end of the parade until you get to the path that cuts past the Submarine lagoon. Then follow it through Tomorrowland. This is necessary, because Disney crowd control doesn't allow you to follow the parade past a certain point. Your goal here is to arrive at Main Street just as the last floats arrive at the top of the street. You'll need to pace yourself and walk reasonably slowly to do this, but if you time it right you can grab a spot in the middle of the street.

 

[GeneralTso]

I'll be the lone wolf here and tell you our experience. We have watched the parade with and without the dinner packages. Both work fine.
We don't wait for parades either. Our tip came from a CM working Main Street. He said to slip under the rope (right on Main St, at Starbucks)--cuz they make folks that aren't sitting on the curb, stand up. Once they stand up, there's room for many more people within the rope. If you don't care about being on the curb, front row, this works fine.

It was fantastic for us. We didn't wait, we weren't in anyone's way. That being said, we've also watched the parade from the curb, front row and it was fantastic. Better. We got great pictures both ways so don't worry if you aren't in the front.

 

[Kontos]

Hey all, I see Main St is a great spot to catch the Parade/Fireworks. Is there a specific shop I should camp out in front of beforehand to get a good spot for the fireworks? I will probably start camping out around 6:15ish on either May 4th or May 5th...haven't decided yet. Should ~2.5 hours be enough to get me a front row experience on a Wednesday or Thursday night? May 4th I'm a little worried about since it's the whole Star Wars thing but maybe for May 5th?

NVM I see this map was posted in another thread.

Should I go for spot 1 or 2? And I'm assuming these will also be great spots for the parade?

 

[AussieCaribou]

Should I go for spot 1 or 2? And I'm assuming these will also be great spots for the parade?

So, if you look at the photo, you will see in the upper right section a dotted line...this is the parade route which is then covered as it closer to Main street by the fireworks info...if you are in spot 2, you will have a good view of the parade as it goes down main st but I am not sure if that is a spot where you can stand for the parade or not. The 1 section will not have a good view at all. If I were going to sit around and wait for both the fireworks and parade, I would try to get a seat someplace in front of Plaza Inn (yellow section, right lower side) but not on the Main St (so kind of where the 2 is lined up but on the edge by the restaurant.

 

[Kontos]

So, if you look at the photo, you will see in the upper right section a dotted line...this is the parade route which is then covered as it closer to Main street by the fireworks info...if you are in spot 2, you will have a good view of the parade as it goes down main st but I am not sure if that is a spot where you can stand for the parade or not. The 1 section will not have a good view at all. If I were going to sit around and wait for both the fireworks and parade, I would try to get a seat someplace in front of Plaza Inn (yellow section, right lower side) but not on the Main St (so kind of where the 2 is lined up but on the edge by the restaurant.

That's awesome thank you

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

There is a thread with a lot of this information, and I think putting the images would better serve the community on the other thread, so I'm closing this one.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/pa...isneyland-forever-fireworks-strategy.3412136/