Please HELP, Question re: Christmas parade

[karensi]

We are trying to plan a trip to DW sometime next Nov. or Dec. but want to make sure that we get to see the Christmas parade. This is the one that has Santa in it and there is snow on Main Street. We know that the Christmas decorations go up in Nov. but we are really more concerned about being able to see the parade. We dont know when, what week, it begins. We tried calling DW but the CM was really not helpful at all. She told us that she didn't know when it was but that we could buy tickets in June We thought that our Dis friends would be a much better source of information. Any help re: this parade?

 

[LibertyBelle]

The Christmas parade is exclusive to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas parties (after the last Christmas Party it is introduced into the park as the day parade). Obviously the dates have not been set for this years party (or at least not released yet) but for 2003 the parties were November 30, December 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19 they are generally around the same time frame, starting the end of November and running up to about the 20th of December. You can defintly use the 2003 dates to plan around keeping the mind set that the parties are usually on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in December. If you are looking for when it will be in the park during regular park hours that will not be until after the parties so more towards Christmas Day and all the crowds Hope that helps you to plan...

 

[meeko_33785]

They also run the Christmas Parade in place of the 3pm Parade at MK Christmas week. I believe it's from maybe December 23 through New Years usually, but I'll double check for you.

 

[meeko_33785]

Double-checked this year's entertainment schedule and they did it in the afternoon Demeber 22 - 31. Keep in mind that the time they run the parade is one of the busiest times at WDW. The weeks when they run it during MVMCP are much less crowded and you'll be able to see a lot more in the parks than if you went between the 22 and 31st. They also do not do the snow in the afternoon showings of the parade, so if the snow is a priority, be sure to see it at MVMCP.

 

[C.Ann]

I was just looking at the calendar for November 2004 and Thanksgiving is very early this year - the 25th..

Do you think they'll still hold off till Nov. 30th to have the first MVMCP?

 

[karensi]

Hmmmmm, thats a good point C.Ann. Thanks everyone for the help. I knew I could count on you guys . If I understand correctly, the parade runs on Main St., with the snow,which is what we would want to see, (although right now I can't immagine wanting to see any more snow ) and it also runs, later in Dec. in the MK. I guess we should plan on going down around the week after Thanksgiving, to catch the snow and the parade on Main St., and also, for less crowds. Do you think thats correct?? Oh, BTW, I'll be going with my 2 grandchildren again .and, oh yes, my DD and sil. Can't wait

 

[Samirella]

Originally posted by C.Ann
I was just looking at the calendar for November 2004 and Thanksgiving is very early this year - the 25th..

Do you think they'll still hold off till Nov. 30th to have the first MVMCP?

Isn't it always the last Thursday in November?

 

[DebbieB]

It's always the 4th Thursday in November, which is usually the last but not always. Actually November 25 is the 4th and last Thursday this year. They usually have MVMCP for 3 weeks. Thanksgiving was Nov 22 in 2001, the earliest possible date for the 4th Thursday (Nov 1 was a Thursday), I don't believe the first MVMCP was until around Nov 30.

 

[linda_pizzuro]

We watched the Christmas Parade on December 30 in front of Town Square Exposition Hall. This is a great place to see it from - the park was very crowded but this area is pretty open so we had no trouble. We arrived about an hour earlier and had a place right on the curb. The only problem with this spot is you do not get "snowed on" - we saw the snow but it was not on top of us. There were also 4 high school bands playing before the parade so this gave us something to watch. I believe the Christmas Parade started playing on December 20 and continued until December 31. I believe most of the shows they have at Mickey's Christmas Party play this same time - we saw Mickey's Night Before Christmas show at the Galaxy Palace, Diamond Horseshoe Christmas Review, Celebrate the Season at Castle Forecourt stage, and the Country Bear Jamboree was a special Christmas version. We have never been able to make it to Mickey's Christmas Party because we do not go down to Disney until the day after Christmas but they have most of the same shows at the park during the day. The only problem is it is VERY CROWDED. This is ok for us because we have been to the parks quite often and know that we will not get through all the things we want to see - although we did get to do the Haunted Mansion, Mickey's Philharmagic - both with FP among other things.

 

[js]

Although I LOVE all the planning I will have to do since I have never been during the Christmas Season, my head is spinning with all this new knowledge I must learn LOL
Can anyone tell me where the best spot will be to get "snowed" on during the parade? We will make sure we go to the MVMCP during our stay the week after Thanksgiving. Thank you very much for your help.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by js
Although I LOVE all the planning I will have to do since I have never been during the Christmas Season, my head is spinning with all this new knowledge I must learn LOL
Can anyone tell me where the best spot will be to get "snowed" on during the parade? We will make sure we go to the MVMCP during our stay the week after Thanksgiving. Thank you very much for your help.

The snow only falls on Main Street along where the buildings are. The machines are set up on the roof tops of the buildings on Main Street.

Just pick a spot on the curb there on Main Street and you'll be "snowed on".

The snow started a bit late last year when we attended our MVMCP and waited for the second parade. When it did start, it looked pretty but after awhile, it started to be a pain as it was just too much and kept getting on my camera. It's kind of soapy suds!

 

[js]

Thank you very much! We will make sure we get a spot on Main Street