Parades- Anything and everything you can tell me

[Shelbizzles]

Hello all!
So I'm looking for information, any tips or tricks you can offer me about the parades.
I'm a total newbie when it comes to them. I saw one once about 13 years ago when I was 12 lol
We are going on our 3rd trip next year and we just never got a chance or even planned it into our days. But we are going for 8 days and I want to be able to fit some in
So what's your typical plan to see the parades?

 

[Davey Jones II]

First of all, don't waste an FP+ on the parades. Save the fast passes for rides.

Secondly, I always recommend staking out a parade spot in Frontierland, or in front of Hall of Presidents. That's because all the good spots around Main St. are staked out hours in advance.

My favorite spot is in front of Country Bears; you can even take turns going in to the see the show, while the other people in your party hold the spot. Show up 30-40 minutes before the parade starts (a bit more on busy days) and sit right at the curb. They will draw the rope in front of you, and you'll have an unobstructed view.

After the Electrical Parade at night, if you want to see the fireworks, move with the herd into Fantasyland, and you'll see them above you.

Both Festival of Fantasy and Disney's Electrical Parade are must see parades. And if you're doing the Halloween Party, Boo To You is unmissable, as well.

 

[Keyser]

From our trip a couple of days ago: if they have two MSEP showings, and if you can stay up late, it seems you can go to the second one pretty much anywhere in Frontierland or Liberty Square without waiting at all. We were right by the stockades in Liberty Square (something about that sounds ironic...) and had a great view of the parade coming head-on then turning (it ran from Main Street to Frontierland - I think the first one ran the opposite). Although we were there a few minutes beforehand, other people showed up by us just before the parade (I mean JUST before) and there was plenty of space, and lots of empty space around. In fact, it almost felt weird to have so few people around - I think sometimes a bit more of a crowd gives some energy... Still, it was nice to watch a parade without having to worry about staking out a spot ahead of time, and we had an absolutely perfect view. People were staking out spots on Main Street from just after the fireworks, so it was strange to see all those people waiting 45 minutes when there was no wait at all just down the parade route a bit.

In the past, we've usually gotten a spot well ahead of time. We have pretty much always been in the Liberty Square area.

If you can position yourself in the right position near a bend in the route, you can see floats both head-on (as they come toward you) and then to the side as they pass.

The parade takes a while to travel its route, so if it's a 3:00 parade, it might be just starting to get to the far end at 3:15 or 3:20 or so (that's an estimate - someone probably knows for sure). Consider that when deciding how long you're willing to wait - getting one near the head-end of the parade could save you a significant chunk of time. Also consider that if you are planning to leave or be somewhere after the parade - if you are near the end, you could be running several minutes late. Also, realize that right after a crowded parade, lots of people are dispersing (and possibly going the same way as you), so if time is an issue, positioning yourself along the route closest to where you need to be next could help.

 

[Klayfish]

I agree with not using a FP+ for the parades (not even sure they're available anymore). But strategy depends on the parade you're trying to see.

Main Street Electrical Parade (MSEP) is very, very popular. You'll want to stake a spot out 30 minutes in advance. If you want to see it in Main Street, you may want to be closer to an hour early. If you don't mind watching it in Frontierland, you can probably get there 20 minutes ahead. This is a must see parade. All the floats are covered in lights and it's really amazing. They're large floats and there are a lot of performers who will interact a little bit with the crowd (mostly kids).

The Festival of Fantasy parade is fun, but you don't need to be as early. In fact, you can walk up right at parade time and find a spot. If you're there in summer, just be aware it's hot just standing there in the sun as the parade goes by, so have a cool drink.

 

[Shelbizzles]

Okay so no fast passes.
And it's better to settle in frontierland vs Main Street.
Do they generally do two of each of the parades every day? Or does it vary a lot?
Do they run the same route?

 

[Klayfish]

Someone will let me know if I'm wrong, but I think there is a parade around lunch time and one around 3pm. For the MSEP, some nights there are one, some nights there are two. It follows the same route, except when there are two it goes one way for the first parade, then back the other way for the second. Often, with MSEP, it's a 9pm parade, 10pm fireworks, 11pm parade.

 

[lady_hlh]

I personally will only do the night time parades now, in August or September it is just too hot to stand outside in the afternoon watching a parade. When our DD was little we watched a few afternoon parades but they just weren't worth standing in that heat.

 

[hiroMYhero]

FoF is only at 3:00p each day with the exception of the week before Easter and perhaps Presidents' Day weekend when a parade will be at 12:00 and 3:30. Christmas week the Christmas Parade runs twice per day until FoF returns. FoF may or may not run twice per day depending on the day in which it returns.

It always begins in Frontierland and ends in Town Square.

 

[CynBeth]

The MK parades are great. They only do FOF once a day I believe at 3 pm. With MSEP it is sometimes only once and sometimes twice. But, if you are going when they have Halloween parties it will only be on nights when there is no party. If you go to a party (special ticket to attend) there will be a different parade. Even though this isn't a parade make time to see Illuminations at Epcot at night. Also see Fantasmic at DHS. Not sure if they will have Star Wars fireworks or not then. Also not sure what will be in the evening at AK so keep checking for info.