Parades: Are they worth it?

[Max Rebo]

I'm planning a June trip to WDW with DW, DD7 and DS4. We're planning on spending 4.5 days in the parks, so time is kind of at a premium.

My question is this: Are the parades worth it?

They kind of seem like something that could be skippable to me. Not only is there the actual time spent watching the parade go by, there's the time you have to invest to get a decent viewing spot. And with two ansy kids in tow, I'm wondering if the time spent waiting for and watching a parade couldn't be better spent doing something else.

And FWIW, we may be missing some of the afternoon parades anyhow, as we plan to take afternoon breaks.

Thoughts? Would it be a huge mistake to skip the parades?

 

[DisneyDadof3]

I would have agreed on skipping them until we came with our daughter a couple years ago when she was 4. The parades are great!!!! All of our kids (8,3, & 1) enjoy watching them and talk about them to no end. We really enjoy the one at MGM!!!

 

[marconat]

If you don't want to do parades, at least do one! Spectromagic is my favorite one... all those lights and the music, it's soooo beautiful. On my upcoming trip, it's the only one on my to do list... The other ones are also very nice, but I seen them once and will skip them to do some rides Have fun on your trip

 

[jayandstacey]

For my money, with kids that age, I would only watch a parade if you stumbled upon it and were ready for a 45 minute break. We did so and saw the MK parade over in Fronteirland while standing on the river side (between the Tom Sawyer and the paddle boat entrances, specifically between the turkey leg and the churro vendors). We decided to stay when it was clear that:
- the parade started in 10 mins
- we had a rope spot
- the turkey leg vendor was right behind us
It didn't look like we'd be mobbed, so we sat and watched. No one ever stood behind us, and we went back to the vendor a few times for water, turkey, etc.

That was worth it. Otherwise, I avoided them.

 

[cleo]

Th parades are well worth seeing if you have the time. If not, it is my opinion they're skippable, especially if you'll be back some day, perhaps with just a bit more time or needing fewer breaks as the children get older.

No matter how long you visit you can't see it all, so something is going to have to go. In this case, I would agree with you about missing a parade (or all of them) in favor of doing more attractions or taking mid-day breaks.

Perhaps a good compromise would be to plan to see Spectromagic before Wishes? That way you get the flavor of a Disney parade without taking a lot of time during your day when the children still have the stamina to keep going.

 

[OHIODISNEYFAMILY]

In our family, we let the kids make the call. They do enjoy the parades, but we usually end up just catching 2 of them during our week stay. Our littlest one talks more about the parades she saw last year than she does about anything else.

If we could only see one, I'd also choose Spectromagic.

Laurie in OH, mom to

Alex, 11 years old
Julianne and Leah, 10 years old
Audrey, 2 years old

WDW visits in 1973, 1986, 1987, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005!
Currently planning a December 9-16, 2006 trip!

 

[Gabrielle]

I remember my two kids, years ago, asleep on the sidewalk waiting for the parades. If you had asked them, they would have been happier back at the resort in the pool or in the air conditioning.

I love the parades but with kids as young as yours, in the hot June sun, I don't think they're worth the waiting, jostling for position, etc.

Have a great trip!

 

[mumzie2three]

We only saw one, Spectromagic, but I wish we had seen more.
We came back into MK and skipped by the already waiting crowds on Main Street. We ended up near the bridge to Splash Mt and found a spot at the ropes for the two little ones (5 & 6). We stood behind the kids and we had vending machines at our backs. When it was over we walked over to the bridge and waited for Wishes to start, about 15 mins. Leaving the park wasn't fun but it was tolerable.

I really wanted to see the AK parade but the family pooped out on me. There's always next time!

 

[Stitchfans]

IMO they are worth it. I haven't seen the one at AK yet, but plan to. I want to catch EVERYTHING!!

 

[Tinkerbell424]

Personally,I wouldnt miss the parade.It's part of the Magic that you will always remember! But if you have ansy kid's who probably wouldnt care about the parade,then I would say go on the ride's and show's or whatever.!

 

[scrump]

We are not parade people. We enjoy them when we stumble upon them, but we rarely take the time to stake out spots and plan an evening around them. We do enjoy Spectro, but usually only once during our trip. I'd let the kids make the call. Parades do not make the Disney experience for me, but if you or your kids are parade-oriented, I think they would definitely be worth it.

 

[alfredromero1975]

All great comments posted here. I'd say SpectroMagic is the most magical. The others are nice if your children have a need for seeing a lot of characters.

 

[bytheblood]

Personally, I think so. Well, most of them. All of the ones in MK, the AK one is cute and if you are in the right spot, you can see it twice, once from either side. The MGM Parade, I could take it or leave it. EPCOT no longer has a parade.

Spectromagic is my most favorite.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I can't imagine being at the parks and missing the parades. They are a great part of what makes DW - Disney!

 

[pepe of ohio]

I can't imagine being at the parks and missing the parades. They are a great part of what makes DW - Disney!

The parades are all of what makes Disney so grand, you'll never see a parade like theirs in your hometown. Now I won't sit for an hour to get a spot but no matter where we're at we can usually see the parade just find arriving the same time it starts. EPCOT's afternoon parade a few years ago was the best, character wise and music were the best. We most always return to our resort around noon but do go out to a park to catch their afternoon parade at least once, evening shows with fireworks are better and we always catch them.

 

[blondeheroine]

June? Oy. As Cleo said, if you happen upon one, great. The one that's really spectacular is Spectromagic and being that it is at night, you won't be in the sun at least.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

It depends on how much your kids dig the characters. There are many characters that appear in parades that you may not see otherwise.

The day parades are nothing to write home about, but you'd be really missing out if you missed Spectromagic.

NED

 

[di$neynutz]

Parades are fun for the little ones, but they can take up alot of your time. Most of the time, if you stay away from main street, you will not have to wait as long to get a good spot for he parade.

 

[MissyDVC]

Personally, we never miss a parade but I'd ask the kids want they think and then go from there. Either way, have a magical trip

 

[Captain Brain]

I loved the parade that we saw, I forget the name but it'll come back. (Oh it was One Man's Dream)

I liked it because it showed the history of Disney characters and showed all the major villains and heroes from all the movies.