Preferred parade viewing?!?

[mhalpern]

I just got my tickets in the mail - 19 days and counting!! Included was a voucher for premium preferred parade viewing. I never heard of this. How does it work?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

You show your voucher to get to the preferred parade viewing. At Disneyland it is across from It's a Small World, and at DCA it is at the right side of the entrance to Hollywood Backlot.

Depending on the parade you want to see you can pick either spot. At this time, the Pixar Parade is probably the better bet (though I like the Celebration parade @ DL, too).

 

[erinbharris]

We haven't gotten our package yet...we booked through Costco; will this viewing be included in our package?

 

[cypressmom]

We haven't gotten our package yet...we booked through Costco; will this viewing be included in our package?

It's available when booking through Disney, not Costco. That said, we were able to see the parades with no problems.

 

[MsTiauna27]

There is also preferred parade viewing at the top entrance on the main street train for the celebrate a street party parade. I dont understand the purpose of that spot since it is so far away from the parade route.

 

[mhalpern]

We haven't gotten our package yet...we booked through Costco; will this viewing be included in our package?

I didn't buy through Costco so I don't know. I ordered through a travel agent but I paid with Disney Visa which is (I think?) why I got the vouchers. I also got a Disneyland backpack that I wasn't expecting AND a voucher for a pin and lanyard. That was in addition to the vouchers I was expecting - preferred seating for a show and the Toontown morning thing.

 

[barefootmomma]

I didn't buy through Costco so I don't know. I ordered through a travel agent but I paid with Disney Visa which is (I think?) why I got the vouchers. I also got a Disneyland backpack that I wasn't expecting AND a voucher for a pin and lanyard. That was in addition to the vouchers I was expecting - preferred seating for a show and the Toontown morning thing.

That sounds like a GREAT deal!

 

[MeRSiamese]

I didn't buy through Costco so I don't know. I ordered through a travel agent but I paid with Disney Visa which is (I think?) why I got the vouchers. I also got a Disneyland backpack that I wasn't expecting AND a voucher for a pin and lanyard. That was in addition to the vouchers I was expecting - preferred seating for a show and the Toontown morning thing.

I got this same package for our trip in July - am soooo excited!!

My question: What is the "preferred" parade viewing like? Are there actual chairs to sit in? Are they right up front next to the parade? Will the characters interract with the kids sitting there?
Thanks!!

 

[MulanFan]

I think you are supposed to go to City Hall and find out where the location is a couple of hours before the parade. We never got to use it - too busy with other stuff.

The voucher is in the same book that you get along with TTMM and Aladdin preferred seating. I think you get this if you book through Disney Travel, or their authorized agent. We used the Magic for Less, and Costco packages are the same too.

The backpack and lanyard you get for using the Disney Visa. The lanyard and pin you get at one of the pin stores.

Don't forget (like I did ) that you can take a pix with a Disney character at DCA and get a free 5x7 as a Disney Visa card perk.

 

[MeRSiamese]

I think you are supposed to go to City Hall and find out where the location is a couple of hours before the parade. We never got to use it - too busy with other stuff.

The voucher is in the same book that you get along with TTMM and Aladdin preferred seating. I think you get this if you book through Disney Travel, or their authorized agent. We used the Magic for Less, and Costco packages are the same too.

The backpack and lanyard you get for using the Disney Visa. The lanyard and pin you get at one of the pin stores.

Don't forget (like I did ) that you can take a pix with a Disney character at DCA and get a free 5x7 as a Disney Visa card perk.

Funny thing is - we never got around to using our parade vouchers OR the free character meet-n-greet either... Just never got around to them.
The parade vouchers - we'd have to be at a certain place/time to catch the parade, and believe it or not - even after being there 7 days, we never caught the parades. We made it a point to leave the parks by noonish and not return until after the heat of the day had gone down a lot - and by then, most of the parades weren't running any longer. :-(
As for the character pic at DCA - it was only for the first 2 hours of the day and during that time, we were taking advantage of the shorter ride lines... Couldn't see standing in line for a character even if it was a free pic. We did several character meals and got plenty of pics, so we aren't feeling like we missed out any.

 

[princess lovers mom]

how they give so many people the preferred viewing location? Is it a large area - is it first come first serve???

I imagine all these people trying to cram into the preferred area while the rest of the street is empty?? or do not that many people book through Disney?

 

[Minuet888]

hey wait!! I booked through Disney we went in first week of August and we didn't get any parade viewing vouchers. We got out MM and Alladin preferred seating booklet and everything but nothing with parades. I just went through again and verified, nothing for parades in there. Is this something that just now started????

 

[Carolwoodpr]

The parade prefferred seating has been going on for years. I have old vouchers here. It is usually on the same voucher page as your Aladdin vouchers. Usually there are three or for different tags, each one for something different.

 

[Minuet888]

Yah mine were for:
Aladin
Muppets
Tough to be a bug
Animation Academy

Same as they were last year too

 

[davidsprincess]

Yah mine were for:
Aladin
Muppets
Tough to be a bug
Animation Academy

Same as they were last year too

Just got mine yesterday and this is the same for us. No preferred seating for parades.

 

[princess lovers mom]

The Disney Rewards Visa Dream Vacation Package includes:

Your stay in any Disneyland Resort (Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa , Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel or the Disneyland Hotel) or Good Neighbor hotel.
Disney backpack (one per package)
Preferred Premium viewing for ONE parade at either Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure Theme Parks (one per guest)
Collectible Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir ticket.
Disney Character Calls - Receive a phone call from Mickey and his pals!
One Magic Morning into Fantasyland in Disneyland Park valid with Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir tickets of 3-Days or longer.
Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness - An interactive Guest and Character experience.
Preferred seating to select shows in Disney's California Adventure Park
Walt Disney Travel Company Collectible Pin & Lanyard (one per person)
Walt Disney Travel Company Luggage Tag (one per person)


*The Disney Rewards Visa Dream Vacation Package must be paid for with your Disney Visa card.

looks like is has to be the package paid for with your VISA card to get the parade veiwing

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

The Disney Rewards Visa Dream Vacation Package includes:

Your stay in any Disneyland Resort (Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa , Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel or the Disneyland Hotel) or Good Neighbor hotel.
Disney backpack (one per package)
Preferred Premium viewing for ONE parade at either Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure Theme Parks (one per guest)
Collectible Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir ticket.
Disney Character Calls - Receive a phone call from Mickey and his pals!
One Magic Morning into Fantasyland in Disneyland Park valid with Disneyland Resort Park Hopper souvenir tickets of 3-Days or longer.
Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness - An interactive Guest and Character experience.
Preferred seating to select shows in Disney's California Adventure Park
Walt Disney Travel Company Collectible Pin & Lanyard (one per person)
Walt Disney Travel Company Luggage Tag (one per person)


*The Disney Rewards Visa Dream Vacation Package must be paid for with your Disney Visa card.

looks like is has to be the package paid for with your VISA card to get the parade veiwing

Just adding that your package has to be paid with your Disney Reward Visa in order to get the preferred parade viewing, backpack, etc...

 

[bnbheartdisney]

I didn't buy through Costco so I don't know. I ordered through a travel agent but I paid with Disney Visa which is (I think?) why I got the vouchers. I also got a Disneyland backpack that I wasn't expecting AND a voucher for a pin and lanyard. That was in addition to the vouchers I was expecting - preferred seating for a show and the Toontown morning thing.

What a nice deal!!!

 

[Minuet888]

See!!!!

I'm actually a little ticked about this, lol

As I've mentioned my son is autistic and we didn't do any parades. He can't wait and can't be crowded from all angles. Thats why we pay for Fantasmic preferred seats and use the priority seating stuff because it is easier and gives him a little more breathing room.
We couldn't do Celebrate it just wouldn't work. We did do the Pixar parade. He LOVES Pixar stuff, hubby took him on Grizzly (I didn't want to get wet) while I staked out the spot that would have the easiest esacpe and see how he did. Surprisingly there was not a crowd for the Pixar parade that day. It helped that our friend (former student of mine) is a performer in that parade and DS was excited to see him.

BUT ANYWAYS, sorry for the long windedness but I feel like I got cheated. No offense to the poster above me but at least it wasn't just me. I thought I was going insane thinking I missed something. It was a little releif seeing I wasn't the only one (sorry no offense, I don't like that you were cheated either)

 

[princess lovers mom]

See!!!!

I'm actually a little ticked about this, lol

As I've mentioned my son is autistic and we didn't do any parades. He can't wait and can't be crowded from all angles. Thats why we pay for Fantasmic preferred seats and use the priority seating stuff because it is easier and gives him a little more breathing room.
We couldn't do Celebrate it just wouldn't work. We did do the Pixar parade. He LOVES Pixar stuff, hubby took him on Grizzly (I didn't want to get wet) while I staked out the spot that would have the easiest esacpe and see how he did. Surprisingly there was not a crowd for the Pixar parade that day. It helped that our friend (former student of mine) is a performer in that parade and DS was excited to see him.

BUT ANYWAYS, sorry for the long windedness but I feel like I got cheated. No offense to the poster above me but at least it wasn't just me. I thought I was going insane thinking I missed something. It was a little releif seeing I wasn't the only one (sorry no offense, I don't like that you were cheated either)

what are you upset about- did you book the Disney Visa package?