Parades...what to do?

[LibrarianBecky]

So, after reading the long thread on rude and obnoxious behavior at parades, I'm a little leery. We've never been to WDW before, and we leave in 11 days. I know that September is a low crowd time of year, and I've planned our days to mostly have the 'lowest of the low' crowds (according to Touring Plans), but I"m thinking that the parades are still a huge draw and, even with fewer people in the parks, will be crowded.

I don't think we will be able to stake out a parade spot an hour before the parade. I honestly can't see that working out with my very energetic five year old. I am not a confrontational person, and I wouldn't want to wait all that time just to get into a fight with someone over a parade spot. Are there places along the route that you could like up 20-30 minutes before hand and still have a chance of seeing the parades? Any advice?

Thank yoU!

 

[auprincess]

we always watch the parades in Frontierland. We've been able to find a seat on the curb, usually 20 minutes before the parade is set to start. It is something we want to see at least once during our trip, be we also have little ones so there is no way we could wait for an hour. Good luck!

 

[kshattuck]

Same situation we have encountered these last few years with our little ones. We want to see the parade, but it's hard to stake a claim and keep the kids occupied.

At MK, we have been standing near-ish the castle, over by the Christmas Shoppe, nearer to Liberty Square. Standing on the castle side, your little one can get a snack (forget the snack shop's name?) and get some energy out on the walkway toward the castle; on the other side, it's more shaded in the afternoon, and there's definitely some room for one of you to take your little guy to get some energy out.

At AK, we have stood near the end of the parade route (over toward the safari exit). Same situation, you can get a decent spot in a fairly contained area and take turns playing with your little one while the other adult hangs with the stroller at the parade route.

At DHS, we stood up by the pin trading kiosk at the Sorcerer's Hat and just watched the Block Party from afar. Shaded, room to run around for the kiddos, and room to breathe.

We've also gone these past few trips during low crowds and haven't really had trouble finding and keeping a spot.

Have fun!

.....But by 20 minutes before the parade starts, you should all be standing in your spot. We have taken to sticking the kids in the stroller and giving them some crayons or some contained-type of entertainment to pass the time until the parade starts.

 

[StitchSpawn]

Honestly some people just had bad luck. You may not have any problem at all finding a spot and may not run into any rude people. Hope for the best; it's your vacation, don't let anyone ruin it.

 

[Love Tink]

The horror stories on here are definitely the exception, not the rule.

Going in September, and if you've chosen the recommended days for the parks, my guess is that you could walk up ten minutes before any afternoon parade and get good spots.

Last year, the second week of December, we found spots on the curb on Main Street about five minutes before the 3:00 parade. My kids had all chosen a treat from the bakery to eat while we waited. They were happy to sit down and take a break at that time of day.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

The horror stories on here are definitely the exception, not the rule.

Exactly. Think about how many people actually come here to post they had a great experience overall? And when they do those threads are short lived but if someone had an extraoridinary story or something exciting to complain about the threads get lost of play.

In September you can easily walk up to spots in Frontierland for the daytime parade about 5-10 minutes before, MSEP 10-15 minutes. Main street spots go faster but you can still get spots on the front row 20-30 minutes out and on slow days can even walk up last minute at times.

 

[BlueChariot]

Don't worry yourself about finding the perfect spot. We don't watch the parades very often, but every time we have watched a parade, we never stake out a spot and are always able to find "a viewing area." It may not be the best viewing area, but good enough to see the parade. Just go and have a good time....

 

[SDSorority]

OP you'll be fine.

BUT, you could also use this time to ride rides without a long wait- that's what we do!

 

[MELISAZACK]

We were at MK on 9/2 for the parade - this women with 4 people in her family literally took up over 40 feet of space by peco bills for the parade.
now her 2 kids left and went to stand in the shade over by the bridge and her and her husband stood legs spread to try and keep that space.. after about 10 min I went up to an area between them that they had NOTHING in and stood there with my son.. there are 7 of us.. but I was the only adult and my son right next to me.. when the parade started I put the 6 yr old in front of me and held the baby so literaly we took up maybe 5-7 ft of space..
the women FLIPPED out yelling loudly how rude people were when she had been there all this time saving space for her family and then rude *** people meaning me just come up and stand in her space.. okay again you and your husband had a "space" nothing in the other 35 ft you were claiming were yours.. and she got more ticked when another family came and took over another area- screamed to her kids to get back before they don't have anywhere to stnad. mind you they and the entire famiy had PLENTY of space to stand right up front at the rope.. but she kept going and going and going..
I just smiled at her the whole time and didn't bother to entertain her gripes..
guess that fueld her..lol! so they are out there and do happen..

 

[Kae]

We have never had problems either & we try to find a spot about 30 mins before-might not be a prime spot but it is a spot. We have had more folks offer better spots for our kids & we have offered to have a little one slide up with our kids too.


Kae

 

[Laketravis]

That's been our experience as well - often, people would offer to let our little guy up front with them and we stand appreciatively behind them.

I think it's hard for most people to resist a little voice behind them saying "Daddy, I can't see anything".