Ride Strategy during parades/fireworks?

[Jacova]

Hi all. My DH and I will be spending 3 days in the parks in July, no kids. We aren't overly interested in parades/fireworks/shows but especially don't want to stand in a crowd waiting for any of these (claustrophobia has gotten worse during Covid). I've heard that wait times go down during these times but also that some areas might close or get very congested as people are waiting for shows. So my questions are:

1. What are the best areas and rides to head to when people start lining up for nighttime shows? Interested in both DL and DCA.
2. What areas should we avoid?
3. Any tips on places to see various shows "accidentally" - a place that may not have the best view but we can watch without being crowded? WOC, Fantasmic, etc?

Thanks in advance!

 

[V.I.N.CENT.]

The biggest tip i have is pick a side. if you want to ride Tomorrowland/Matterhorn, plan on staying on that side. It's a pain crossing the parade route.

 

[monkeypat83]

For DCA World of Color is in the back of the park so staying toward the front of the park will avoid those crowds. Carsland, Avenger's Campus, Hollywoodland and Condor Flats will be away from WOC plus both Carsland and Avenger's Campus are worth seeing at night in addition to seeing them during the day.

 

[Aspencreek]

The biggest tip i have is pick a side. if you want to ride Tomorrowland/Matterhorn, plan on staying on that side. It's a pain crossing the parade route.

Yes, exactly right. We aren't that into the parades either and find it a great time to stay on the Adventureland side and very often the waits will drop down to near walk-on for many rides (HM, POTC, BTMRR, etc.) Good time to get a bunch done.

 

[DLgal]

So, my advice is that Fantasyland is good to do between about 8 and 9pm, as the MSEP is happening. Closer to 9, they will rope off a portion, so you won't be able to ride Mr Toad, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Snow White, or the Carousel (these will reopen around 10).

It's easy to do Small World, Storybookland Canal Boats, Teacups, and Alice in Wonderland in this 8-9 hour.

Once the parade has passed (around 9:10...it starts at Small World), head to Tomorrowland. Stop at Matterhorn first. Tomorrowland is great to be in during fireworks.

Alternatively, get yourself over to the left side of the park by 8pm and stick to the rides over there between 8 and 10. However, this area becomes very difficult to navigate due to Fantasmic viewing areas taking up a lot of space.

 

[xipotec]

At least in MK, Adventureland and Frontier land were the best place to be for fireworks time.

I would be curious what GE is like during those times, it does not seem to affect ROTR waits.

 

[DLgal]

At least in MK, Adventureland and Frontier land were the best place to be for fireworks time.

I would be curious what GE is like during those times, it does not seem to affect ROTR waits.

GE is typically pretty dead. ROTR is not always open past 8pm, though. It has been running late recently. Probably because they sold ILL and the ride was down earlier in the day.

 

[DLgal]

Okay, so gonna alter some of my advice.

We were at DL last night and the only fantasyland rides open after 8 were Teacups and Small World. They closed off the rest of the lines at 8pm so if you weren't already in them, you were out of luck.

This was a departure from what I experienced like a month ago when I literally entered the Alice in Wonderland line at 8:50pm as the MSEP was passing by. We were denied entry to that line at 8:18pm last night because they had "closed the line for fireworks." Dumbo was closed completely around 8. Not sure what is up with these earlier closings.

 

[xipotec]

Okay, so gonna alter some of my advice.

We were at DL last night and the only fantasyland rides open after 8 were Teacups and Small World. They closed off the rest of the lines at 8pm so if you weren't already in them, you were out of luck.

This was a departure from what I experienced like a month ago when I literally entered the Alice in Wonderland line at 8:50pm as the MSEP was passing by. We were denied entry to that line at 8:18pm last night because they had "closed the line for fireworks." Dumbo was closed completely around 8. Not sure what is up with these earlier closings.

Likely the same thing affecting most of the parks….
staffing

 

[DLgal]

Likely the same thing affecting most of the parks….
staffing

There were, literally, 6 Cast Members standing around inside the Dumbo queue when it was "closed for fireworks" at 8pm.

It's not a staffing issue.

 

[Chickinvic]

I'm another one who doesn't really care about parades/shows and just go on rides during that time. I also agree it is a major pain trying to get through the throngs of people clogging up the pathways, etc, leading up to those parades. Good advice to know where you want to be ahead of time and stay on that side.