The best place for the parade depends upon which float that you want to see the best. This is not a conventional parade that passes you by. The parade progresses and then stops for a show then goest to the next stop. I don't know all of the float stop locations but there was an article on mouseplanet about it. I've viewed the Beauty and the Beast float from the Main Street Railroad (great site) and the Lion King float from "It's a Small World." (Not so great). The best site for the fireworks is, in my opinion, just in front of the castle. This evening I was just to the left of the castle and did not have any obstruction from trees. I'm not sure which float stops in this area. Basically, for the parade, you want to decide which float you are most interested in and camp out where that one stops.