Question about Parade at DCA.....

[civileng68]

is this the same parade that used to be the Main St. Electrical Parade at WDW?

Also, what is the best way to see this parade and be back in DL for the fireworks at 9:25?

 

[got2travel]

It is the Electrical Parade that used to run on Main Street in DL. I never saw the Electrical Parade at WDW so I can't say for sure, but probably similar. Although it is NOT like Spectromagic currently running at WDW.

You and a several hundred other people will be trying to do the same thing and rush back to DL. It's difficult. The only thing I can suggest is to watch the Electrical Parade from the Sun Plaza in DCA then as soon as you see the America float, hightail it over to DL. The America float is the last one and was added after 9/11.

 

[ScooterL]

Instead of watching the Electrical Parade at Sunshine Plaza, I would suggest watching it from in front of the Golden Dreams Theater (it runs from Paradise Pier to Sunshine Plaza), and then once the last float passes, head as fast as you can walk to DCA's entrance using the path that goes beside Grizzly River Run and Soarin'. The parade will still be going by Sunshine Plaza when you are exiting the park, so you'll beat some of the crowd, at least. But be prepared for long lines at Disneyland's entrance since lots of other people have the same idea. You won't end up with a very good spot on Main Street to watch it from, but at least you should be able to see the fireworks that go off above the castle.

 

[got2travel]

Scooter's right. I completely forgot that they reversed the route and start back in Paradise Pier.

 

[DangerMouse]

Instead of watching the Electrical Parade at Sunshine Plaza, I would suggest watching it from in front of the Golden Dreams Theater (it runs from Paradise Pier to Sunshine Plaza), and then once the last float passes, head as fast as you can walk to DCA's entrance using the path that goes beside Grizzly River Run and Soarin'. The parade will still be going by Sunshine Plaza when you are exiting the park, so you'll beat some of the crowd, at least. But be prepared for long lines at Disneyland's entrance since lots of other people have the same idea. You won't end up with a very good spot on Main Street to watch it from, but at least you should be able to see the fireworks that go off above the castle.

We did this successfully last Sunday night. It worked fine for us and we manged to make it all the way to the Hub for fireworks.

 

[Cinerbelle]

We are going to watch the parade and then high tail it to the Mickey and Friends parking structure...I heard there is a great view from the top story...then we will hop in our car and drive home.

 

[bumbershoot]

We are going to watch the parade and then high tail it to the Mickey and Friends parking structure...I heard there is a great view from the top story...then we will hop in our car and drive home.

But the fireworks are more than just fireworks, so you will be missing quite a bit of the *show* by doing this.



Watching from across from Jumping Jellyfish, then going over to DL worked VERY well for me. And I got so caught up in the parade that I just dawdled along, walking behind it (instead of walking briskly and purposefully) until the turnoff to Grizzly, and I still got out of the DCA gates before the whole parade had gotten to Sunshine Plaza!

Then I could have gotten a better spot to watch the fireworks from, but I met celebrity cast member Maynard, and he entertained me for a good 20 minutes, so I just watched from where I was to the side of main street.

 

[got2travel]

But the fireworks are more than just fireworks, so you will be missing quite a bit of the *show* by doing this.



Watching from across from Jumping Jellyfish, then going over to DL worked VERY well for me. And I got so caught up in the parade that I just dawdled along, walking behind it (instead of walking briskly and purposefully) until the turnoff to Grizzly, and I still got out of the DCA gates before the whole parade had gotten to Sunshine Plaza!

Then I could have gotten a better spot to watch the fireworks from, but I met celebrity cast member Maynard, and he entertained me for a good 20 minutes, so I just watched from where I was to the side of main street.

Ah, an evening with Maynard is so much more fun anyway.