Paint the Night - Where are the castle rope spots?

[BobearQSI]

I'm planning to watch Paint the Night and the fireworks with a close up castle view and Matterhorn view. Below is an image of where I want to watch from.

My question is - does anyone know where the rope goes across Main Street for the parade, by my question mark in the image? And how will I know where it is going to be if I get there early, in order to wait? Ideally, I would want the curb right where the rope goes across Main Street, looking straight down the path to the matterhorn. But how do I find out where the rope will hit the curb?

Thanks!

 

[lvdis]

I'm no help because I haven't been to see it yet (will be there in December), but I wanted to say this looks like an excellent spot!

 

[Avery's mom]

I could be mistaken because I didn't sit in that area, but I remember that there were chairs set up directly in the hub to the left of your question mark. I don't think that there was a rope going across Main St. at that location, rather that the rope would have gone in a circle at the hub. If I were you I might sit on the curb directly to the right of the chairs. Also, what you could do (unless you're planning watching it your arrival night) is scope out where the rope is on your 1st day, then make sure to be at that exact spot on the night you want to see the parade. For what it's worth, you'll want to get there about 5pm or so, immediately after the Soundsational parade.

 

[AustinTink]

We sat in that exact spot last night. We hovered on a curb just a few feet away from where the rope goes up and I kept a keen eye out for CMs. I could see them coming out with the rope from behind the popcorn stand and we scurried over and stood as they were putting it up. We sat smack in the middle of the rope and had the most spectacular view. This was at the 11pm parade. It was much more crowded than we expected. This past few days has been very crowded, more than we have ever experienced and we visit every summer.

 

[BobearQSI]

Also, what you could do (unless you're planning watching it your arrival night) is scope out where the rope is on your 1st day, then make sure to be at that exact spot on the night you want to see the parade. For what it's worth, you'll want to get there about 5pm or so, immediately after the Soundsational parade.

Well, our choices are either the arrival night (a Tuesday), or Friday night, so I was hoping arrival night would work. This would be Tue Aug 25th, when most SoCal kids are back in school (and lots across the US, too). I was hoping 6:30pm would work to start waiting. But, maybe we'll just have to play it by ear - see what spots are available around then, and possibly change the plans to Friday after scoping it out - get a fireworks spot at 6:30, and 'listen' to the parade, then try to dedicate time to the parade on Friday from a different spot - maybe the spots that can't see the fireworks would have less wait.

We've got a 2 and 4 year old who won't wait too long (plan it to have them+mom join the 3 other adults waiting around 7:30 for the 8:30 show), and thus won't be able to see the later show either.

 

[SMD]

If you're in the prime fireworks area then 6:30 is probably too late. Don't assume that most school districts are back by Aug. 25th. Also don't assume that APs who will have only been unblocked for a week by then won't either pull their kids out of school or leave for the parks straight from school and be there by 4pm.

 

[BobearQSI]

If you're in the prime fireworks area then 6:30 is probably too late. Don't assume that most school districts are back by Aug. 25th. Also don't assume that APs who will have only been unblocked for a week by then won't either pull their kids out of school or leave for the parks straight from school and be there by 4pm.

It wasn't an assumption - I actually looked up the calendars for the districts around Disneyland. And I believe it was a blog post from TouringPlans that I read 78% of schools across the US are back in school this week.

Also, I don't disagree that APs won't pull their kids out of school, but I don't think it will be a smaller percentage of them there than if there was no school. We're going to hope for the best, but will be okay if things don't turn out. If the adults really want to see the parade, we can always let the kids sleep in the stroller and go to the later one - but the kids won't care if we don't tell them what they're missing

 

[coffeequeen]

Any insight as to possible wait times on Sept. 12th or 13th? Everyone is back in school. Think it will still be bad? I don't particularly want to wait from 6pm on....

 

[lorijohnhill]

I would count on it always being crazy crowded. The double whammy of amazing parade and amazing fireworks ensures super crowds.

I was fortunate enough to be able to watch the Fireworks/parade from the VIP section in front of the Castle last Thursday. I entered the section around 7ish and people watched. The roped off area in the street in front of the castle still had space. Up against the rope on the parade route was already taken. By 7:30, the rest of the area had pretty much filled in. More space became available once everyone stood up, but that space immediately filled in.

 

[BobearQSI]

I entered the section around 7ish ... The roped off area in the street in front of the castle still had space.

Thanks! That's good to hear - this is our backup plan - find a fireworks spot with no parade view one night, and hopefully a parade spot where you can't see the fireworks another night.