parade viewing spots

[motofox4]

I'm not sure if anyone has posted a list of the best parade viewing spots for each of the different parades in each park (MK, Epcot, MGM and AK). If anyone has any tips or suggestions for the best viewing spot(s) for the parades, can you please post them? i'm having trouble finding any previously posted ones.. Thanks!!

 

[zookeeper]

Subscribing...I'd also like to know some "not so common" places to view the parades.

 

[Robo]

I'm not sure if anyone has posted a list of the best parade viewing spots for each of the different parades in each park (MK, Epcot, MGM and AK). If anyone has any tips or suggestions for the best viewing spot(s) for the parades, can you please post them? i'm having trouble finding any previously posted ones.. Thanks!!

Parades and Fireworks:

At MK, the "3:00pm Parade" starts at the far end of Frontierland, heads up that street, winds over thru Liberty Square (in front of the Hall of Presidents), around the Hub (in front of the castle), up Main Street, around the Flagpole green and exits the park between the Fire Station and Barbershop.

Spectromagic ("lighted" parade) has the same route, except it goes in the OPPOSITE direction.
You'll also want to see "Wishes" the MK's fireworks spectacular.

Because the SpectroMagic parade STARTS at the front and moves SLOWLY to the back of MK, there is big difference in "wait time" between the end of the parade (depending on where YOU are standing) and the beginning of Wishes (which can be seen at the SAME TIME throughout the park).

Following example based on a 9pm start of Spectromagic:

If you watch from near the Main Street Train Station at the FRONT of MK:
Parade Starts- 9:00pm
Parade Over- 9:20pm
>>"Between" wait time- 40 minutes
Wishes Starts- 10:00pm
Wishes Over- 10:13pm

If you watch from near the Splash Mountain at the BACK of MK:
Parade Starts- 9:25pm
Parade Over- 9:45pm
>>"Between" wait time- 15 minutes
Wishes Starts- 10:00pm
Wishes Over- 10:13pm

The preferred spot to watch Wishes is from Main Street or somewhere around the "Hub" (the circular area right in front of the Castle where the other "Lands" are entered.)
The real "SWEET SPOT" is exactly in front of the ICE CREAM shop.
(Don't stand under the umbrella tables, just NEAR them.)
From this spot, the fireworks appear "centered" over the castle from there (very crowded).
Up Main Street as far as the PAL MICKEY store is great viewing as well.
This is where Wishes is DESIGNED to be fully appreciated.
The Castle's front facade (with added lighting and projections) is actually a part of the show.

NOTE: If you go up toward the train station any FARTHER than the PAL MICKEY store... they DON'T turn off the LIGHTS of Main Street in that area. So you'll be viewing with hundreds of lights still in your line-of-sight.

The next-preferred spot is on the bridge between the Hub and Tomorrowland (on the Hub end, not Tomorrowland.)

"Tinkerbell" also flies from the top of the castle over to just above the "Noodle Station" open-air restaurant at one point early in the show.

The reason to see Wishes at least ONCE from the "sweet spot(s)" is that there are "front" fireworks (fired from the roofs of Fantasyland) that are best viewed from in front of the castle.
There are "rear" fireworks that are aimed to erupt behind (and centered over) the Castle.
So, if you can withstand the CRUSH of people, and don't mind the longer "in-between" wait time after the parade goes by, the Main Street area is tops for viewing "Wishes".

WARNING: No matter how tempting in may seem... Do NOT stand on the sidewalk between the Hub and Frontierland OR on the sidewalk between the Hub and Adventureland... the (nearly INVISIBLE in the dark) trees BLOCK the main fireworks and the sound is ABSENT/MUFFLED here (by design?).

AND in spite of how good the idea may look before the show, unless you KNOW EXACTLY what you're doing, do not attempt to view Wishes from the Noodle Station seating area.
The main fireworks are hidden from MOST of the seats at this restaurant area and they don't kill the lights or pipe in the music.

There are PLENTY of other places to see both SpectroMagic and Wishes.
Many here have their favorites.
MY spot is way back in Frontierland by the "Turkey Leg Stand" (we don't eat the legs, but its a great place to view the parade!) As I stated above, the parade reaches this spot by about 9:25pm.

Then, RIGHT after the parade ends, we jog across the "bridge" to Splash Mountain and take a quick ride ("nobody" is in the queue, most folks are still at the parade route).

Then, after the Splash ride, we walk back to the "bridge" from Frontierland and usually get there just in time to see ALL of "Wishes" from there.
The SOUND is supplied back there, and you can see nearly everything (including Tinkerbell).
The things you MISS back there are the fun/beautiful castle-front effects and the symmetry of being in the "center of the stage" for the fireworks.
But the fireworks are HUGE, regardless, and the BIGGEST ones ("rear" fireworks) are actually sent UP from the back of MK, near BTMRR and Splash.

IllumiNations:

Great viewing from:
Bridge between UK and France (under this bridge is where the "IllumiNations Cruise" boats view the show.

The plaza area on the water (lagoon) at Italy.

Near Norway is prime.

Area to left of UK "Pub" (this is also near a roped-off Wheelchair viewing area.)

Front area of WS near the "twin gift shops" (very crowded here). Many times guests are asked to SIT on the pavement so others behind them can see.

Actually too many "good" spots to list.

So pick your spot, and enjoy the show.

 

[DeeDeeDis]

Thanks Robo - great and very detailed info

 

[Carnator]

WOW!! Robo very nice info

POFQ Sept 06

 

[JRawkSteady]

I watch all parades in MK at the Hall of Presidents. There are never any crowds, it's very shady, and you don't get cut off from the rest of WDW (including Fantasyland, which is virtually dead during parade time) so when it passes, you know where i go right after!!

 

[Robo]

I watch all parades in MK at the Hall of Presidents. There are never any crowds...

I do like this spot, very nice... but I would not exactly say "NEVER any crowds" at any spot along the parade route.

When its busy, it is BUSY!

 

[RedsoxMickey]

Robo,
Thank you!! Great post!!

Would like your opinion on the following:

Day of arrival - we are staying at the Contemporary. Check in to Hotel at around 2:15 and head over for 3pm parade. Heading to Poly for Aloha dinner 5:15 show.

We are also going to try one night to catch Spectromagic parade and head to California Grill after the parade for a 9:50 ADR and catch wishes from Cali grill.

 

[fanofdisney]

BUMP- great thread

 

[GoofyBaby]

Subscribing - keep em coming - these are great suggestions!

 

[Robo]

Robo,
Thank you!! Great post!!

Would like your opinion on the following:

Day of arrival - we are staying at the Contemporary. Check in to Hotel at around 2:15 and head over for 3pm parade. Heading to Poly for Aloha dinner 5:15 show.

We are also going to try one night to catch Spectromagic parade and head to California Grill after the parade for a 9:50 ADR and catch wishes from Cali grill.

If at all possible, go to MK before you check in. You'll get a better spot to see the parade that way (and much better chance to not MISS it).
You should be able to leave your bags with the Contemp. luggage service. (If you are using DME, you won't have to worry about luggage anyway.)

After the parade, go to Hotel to check in, then head over to Poly.

5:15pm Aloha show will be out before 7:00pm, then go back to MK.

You didn't say what DATE, but if its a 9pm start for Spectro, if you watch from near the train station, the parade will be completely ended at the front of the park by 9:18pm, so you'll have no trouble getting to your 9:50 ressie.

 

[Cool-Beans]

In the MK, I really like to watch from the edge of the curb on Main Street.

At MGM and AK (especially AK), it doesn't matter. I'm a paradeaholic and have skipped the AK parade a lot.

 

[chesirechik]

At MK I watch all the parades from Frontierland. It seems like most people try to go to Main Street so it's not as crowded. We either sit on the porch near LTT (grab a rocking chair) or the benches along the main walkway. Then if people stand in front of you, you can stand on the benches.

Several times we've had Spetrco practically to ourselves in that area!

 

[Minnie824]

Last year, we found a great spot for the parade in MK....the christmas party parade actually. For that one, it starts at Main Street. If you go to the hub area, right outside the barber shop/emporium its great! Or across the street from there. Right outside the emporium though, you can see the parade coming out, so you actually see it for longer. You dont have the castle there, but the spot worked great for us, because we wanted to make an exit after the parade also, and since most people wanted to see the castle, this area wasn't too crowded.

 

[Robo]

If you go to the hub area, right outside the barber shop/emporium its great!

Just to be clear.

The "HUB" is an actual place on Main Street.
It is the "loop" at the end of Main Street that is in front of the castle.

The area YOU are describing is actually called the "Town Square" or the "flagpole green" (in front of the train station where the life-sized statue of Roy Disney sits with Minnie Mouse.)

And I agree that this is a great spot...
but I must say that it USUALLY can be one of the most CONGESTED areas to watch the parade...
and right AFTER the parade, it can be a "zoo" of exiting guests and their "wheeled projectiles."

 

[MacUK]

Like to stand just at the end of main street, in the middle, between the ice cream parlour and Caseys.

Stood once by the Starlight Cafe but sound was terrible.

 

[bamabelle]

We watched Wishes from the Poly beach our first night there. On our last night, we went back to the MK and watched from underneath Tinkerbell's flight next to the Walt Disney statue. Nothing compares to seeing the show that close up! Like someone said above, the lighting on the castle is part of the show and it really doesn't make sense unless you are right there up close and personal. Crowds are part of Disney, so don't base your decision strictly on that. If everyone based decisions based on the crowds, no one would ever go.

As far as Spectromagic, we stood and sat right at the corner of the end of it. Along the split rail fence around Splash Mountain where it meets the pavement is a great spot. You have to look on the ground for a brass line in the pavement and make sure you are behind it. That is the boundary and if you are right on it, no one will stand in front of you. Believe me, the CM's will not let you cross that brass line!

Have fun and enjoy!

P.S. Not to be a downer, but we did the Aloha show and were very disappointed. Next time I would dine in Ohana and skip the show. It wasn't that impressive. Maybe you will have a better experience. A tip on how to get the better seats, pick up your tickets early at the Poly. They are first come first serve from ticket pick up, not reservation date. If you are not staying at the Poly, you will need to make a special trip over there, but it is worth it to get there VERY early. You don't want to be stuck in the back of that theater--you will be very disappointed. We were considered 2nd row, but we were still on the main floor. They have 2 and 4 top tables on the front then a row of tables that can accomodate up to 10 people. They stagger them so no one is right in front of you. We picked up our tickets early and got a really good seat.

 

[fanofdisney]

What are the best places for those of us who don't want to be smashed by crowds?

 

[Robo]

What are the best places for those of us who don't want to be smashed by crowds?

Frontierland and Liberty Square.

That said, it does not mean you WON'T EVER be "smashed" as the parade finally REACHES those areas.
You just don't need to go and stand there quite as EARLY as on Main Street,

And, depending on crowd-levels that day, those areas MAY ultimately have fewer guests trying to "stand on you" there.

 

[mikayla73]

Great info for a newbie thanks!

As for viewing the Wishes from the CG in CR, how is the view there? I have never been to MK or seen wishes (I know it is horrible!! I plan on remedying this next year ). I know I definately would like to see them while in the MK, but thought maybe seeing them at CG would be cool too. I know it is probably a very hard ADR to get, but hey a girls gotta have some sort of plan