Should I rearrange my whole schedule so my 5 yo can see the Spectromagic Parade?

[Piglet99645]

OK, I don't think I am "overscheduled," but since we only have 4 days, I have made a broad schedule that includes one park the first day, and the other 3 days splitting our time b/n two parks each day, with one TS reservation each day based on this park schedule ... keeping in mind that my SIL will probably take my son back to AS Music to rest in the afternoons or evenings while hubby and I do some grown-up stuff at Epcot. It really is not a strict schedule.... as I realize flexibility is KEY to traveling to WDW with a pre-schooler.

SO - looking at my schedule........ the only "BIG" thing we are going to miss (that I would like to include) is the Spectromagic Parade. We are spending One evening and two mornings at MK, and the one day we are there in the evening there is no Spectromagic.

Somebody please tell me this is not a big deal?

We WILL be seeing the Jammin Jungle Parade, the Share a Dream Come True Parade, Wishes and Illuminations. Also possibly the parade at MGM. (I actually don't even like parades that much....)

(We decided to forego Fantasmic this trip as it sounds like a nightmare for our particular family... and I'm ok with that. We'll be back).

Opinions?

Piglet

 

[sleepyone]

I'd say, if you are only going to see one parade it HAS to be Spectromagic. It was our favorite.

 

[daisax]

Since you only have 4 days -- I'd skip it. I'm 42, this past trip was my fourth to WDW, and I saw Spectromagic for the first time. And it was fun. But I don't think the pre-schoolers around me were so awestruck by it that it would be worth sabotaging the rest of your plans. Parades can be crowded, awkward affairs, and all it takes is one jerk nearby to take the fun out of them -- so why change the schedule that works for the rest of the day for the sake of a 15 minute parade? Especially if your child ends up spending the parade asleep, or playing with a sticker, or coveting the light up sneakers of the kid on the curb.

Since you're going back, it will be something new and exciting for the next trip!

 

[Nicoal13]

I'd say, if you are only going to see one parade it HAS to be Spectromagic. It was our favorite.

I would agree with this as well. I think seeing a parade at night, with all the lights, is the best.

Spectro is my fave!

 

[ScoJo15]

I asked the same question before my trip in September, and am so glad that the people on this board convinced me to change my plans and see it!

I'm not one for parades, but Spectromagic is really something special. I would try my hardest not to miss it. (My daughter is 7 and loved it!)

 

[jann1033]

sorry can not tell a lie..i loved it and would change it if i could. however since it would mean your adrs , depends on if you really want to eat a certain place. and it looks like it shouldn't be superbusy when you go so you shouldn't have a problem seeing it...hint hint we sat on a bench by the small bridge leading to liberty sq. ( castle to our left) and had a good view and since there is a railing no one in front of us ..last min. a very preg. mom, her hubby , her kiddie( sleeping in stroller) and parents came but we scooted over and all the ladies got to sit, no biggie for us.
it really is good imo and most of the parades i can take or leave

if this is cheating sorry, just read the rest of the comments and have to add most of the pit falls mentioned we did not have off season. guess i never thought /counted how many disney charcters are in the parade..we were too blown away by the lights and music...once again, it's all what's important to you. everthing does seem more magical at night ( to me) so if i were going to skip one i'd skip a daytime one( which we usually do, we are the "if we see it we see it" types for the most parades)

 

[oogie boogie]

Well last year I missed all the parades and shows (minus the fireworks) and this past friday on Discovery channel they had a WDW special and they show the Spectromagic parade in Hi-Def? Wow! It looked pretty kool!! It will def. be on my list of parades 2 see this year.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I don't know why so many people praise Spectromagic. I think this is the worst parade Disney has put out - many characters in the parade are not Disney characters, and the ones that are characters only face one way the entire time! So if you're on the wrong side that's too bad for you - also there's way too much time between floats, so it just eats up time waiting for the next one to come along. The only redeeming quality is the pretty colors and the music. Personally Main Street Electrical Parade was my favorite nighttime parade...too bad it's gone

 

[bopper]

Your 5 year old is probably unaware of Spectromagic and will never miss it.

Will *you* miss it?
Do you know if he even likes parades?
Will this be your only trip to WDW?

With a child that age, you are better off going with the low rather than trying to stuff too much in.

 

[YCFAN]

It was one of my 4 year old's favorite things this past July. The lights really grab their attention at that age.

 

[Dimk]

We love Spectromagic. I try to see it more than once each time we go. Have fun.

 

[Kira G.]

For us Spectro is take it or leave it.

We saw it last Feb with my kids (13, 10, 6 & 4), and no one really cared that we skipped it when we went back in August. My kids thought it was kind of weird - altho a lot of people LOVE it so maybe we're the weird ones!

If you know you'll be back don't sweat it!

 

[theflowerladee]

Spectromagic is definitely something i try never to miss. i have rearranged
my schedule to see it. if have 3 ds's 18,11 and 5 and they love it also.
have a magical time with whatever you decide.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I think Spectro and Wishes is worth the cost of admission alone!!

Our first trip we missed it, but I was sure to catch it the next year.

If you are returning, then I would leave things as is and have a Great reason to plan another trip.

 

[JRawkSteady]

Wishes is definitely worth changing around plans for...you can't help but get all emotional during the presentation.

 

[MNmom]

We skipped it this year and didn't miss it at all.

I even gave my kids(5,8,12) a choice on our last night to go or not and they chose to hang at the pool all night long. We watched WISHES 3 times from the POLY pool and watched the electric water parade each time too. It was a much better evening than racing to the park and find a spot to sit for an hour and watch our 5th parade!!

I am sure you will have a great time no matter what you decide to do!!!!

 

[AnaheimGirl]

We didn't think it was all that great, ourselves. We are not big parade people and usually prefer to take advantage of shorter ride lines when there is a parade, but we watched Spectro this last trip, specifically because everyone says how great it is. We were disappointed. It was very short, it seemed like it was just starting and then it was over. As someone else said, not a whole lot of Disney characters. I also remember Main Street Electrical Parade fondly, and I didn't enjoy this as much, of course, the age thing might really be the factor there, I'm old and jaded now, LOL!

My kids liked it, but they too, thought it was very short, and not worth the time we camped out waiting for it to start (about 40 minutes, and that was for 2nd row in October).

I wouldn't rearrange my schedule to watch it again. I probably wouldn't even watch it again if I was in MK at the right time.

 

[dibey]

We didn't take our DD who was five at the time to see any of the parades. We didn't mention them to her so she didn't miss them. We just couldn't see scheduling our time for them. Now that DD knows about the parades she wants to see some of them next time we go. We did watch Wishes at MK and from the Polynesian and it is not to be missed. It is definitely worth watching from the park.

 

[Rella Bella]

Somebody please tell me this is not a big deal?

We WILL be seeing the Jammin Jungle Parade, the Share a Dream Come True Parade, Wishes and Illuminations. Also possibly the parade at MGM. (I actually don't even like parades that much....)

(We decided to forego Fantasmic this trip as it sounds like a nightmare for our particular family... and I'm ok with that. We'll be back).

Opinions?

Piglet

I wouldn't change a thing. The number one rule for all trips to WDW... particularly FIRST trips is: YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL!
You have this figured out... and you're already planning to go back.
So why not save something for the next trip?

You're opinion of parades may change after going to Disney. Disney parades are wonderful and SO much a part of the experience. But ALL the parades are great... everyone will have a favorite (or several favorites) and even if yours ultimately turns out to be Spectro, missing it this one trip is not that big a deal.

You have planned a wonderful schedule... so relax and enjoy it!
You'll have just as much fun planning for your next trip, any you'll be sure to see then what you can't see this time!

 

[aubriee]

I would say don't miss it. This past January I took my eldest son and GD to WDW (first ever trip). We missed Spectro. In May I went back solo and got to see it. It was wonderful, but not as wonderful as seeing the look of wonder on the little kids' faces around me. In Sept I took my younger son and D-I-L and got to see Spectro again. We got there early and had perfect seats sitting on the curb. There were two families behind us (one with three girls and one with one girl). We told their parents to let them move up with us to watch the parade and we'd keep an eye on them. They did and the father of three plopped the three year old right onto my D-I-L's lap. I don't know who was more suprised my D-I-L or the little girl, but my D-I-L has always been a magnet for kids and this one proved no exception. The look on those little girls' faces and the way the three year old kept grabbing my D-I-L's face and saying 'look, look' was priceless. When it was over the other girls moved back to the parents, but the three year old kept ahold of my D-I-L's hand and seemed to almost be in a trance with a wonderful grin on her face. At that moment I sincerely regretted missing Spectro with my GD back in January and made the decision that I was taking her back next spring and there was no way we were missing Spectro. Don't miss the chance to see that look on your child's face.