Someone who experienced Holiday parade last year with PtN

[MacMama0930]

For all us speculators, the recent posting of Holiday parade times is leading us to believe that they're leaving the evening open for PtN, which is how it was done last year, right? They had the holiday parade in the late afternoon and then PtN at night, right? Does anyone remember how that all unfolded? Like, what the time gap was between the two parades? It gets dark pretty early so I'm hoping they wouldn't wait until 8:00pm or something for the PtN. If we did the holiday tour, and had priority seating for the holiday parade, would we be able to stay in that spot (sans the chairs I presume) to watch PtN? I realize it's all just speculation, but still fun =)

Also interesting, the PtN link on the disney website says it's time duration is 40 minutes, but it was a 20 minute parade, right? I wander why it says 40 minutes??

 

[SMD]

They've always run the holiday parade in the afternoon, even during all the years when there was no night parade. If they do a PTN package with reserved seating I would not expect to be able to stay, because that's the seating. Your best bet would probably be to have someone hop up as the parade is passing and try to grab a spot from some people who are vacating. If it does come back, I don't think it would be much earlier than 8pm, because they will run the fireworks afterwards.

 

[mom2rtk]

Here's the November calendar from last year:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneyland/park-hours.cfm?month=11&year=2015

As an example, Tuesday 11/17 the Christmas parade was at 4:30, PTN at 8:45, and FW at 9:30.

Friday 11/20 Christmas parade 2:00 and 4:30, PTN at 8:45 and 10:45, and FW at 9:30

There were other schedule variations.

 

[MacMama0930]

They've always run the holiday parade in the afternoon, even during all the years when there was no night parade. If they do a PTN package with reserved seating I would not expect to be able to stay, because that's the seating. Your best bet would probably be to have someone hop up as the parade is passing and try to grab a spot from some people who are vacating. If it does come back, I don't think it would be much earlier than 8pm, because they will run the fireworks afterwards.

I thought prior years they had an afternoon parade AND a nighttime holiday parade? Or did they not have any nighttime parade?

I do hope they have a preferred dining package for it again. I'd be all over it!

 

[mom2rtk]

I thought prior years they had an afternoon parade AND a nighttime holiday parade? Or did they not have any nighttime parade?

I do hope they have a preferred dining package for it again. I'd be all over it!

I know in 2013 I wanted to photograph the Christmas parade in daylight and had to be sure to watch on the weekend because it was only running in the (early) evening during the week.

 

[SMD]

The last night time parade prior to PTN was MSEP (and something that briefly replaced it for a few months) in the 90s and then when DCA opened they had it there for awhile. I know they run Soundsational as late as 6pm sometimes, so they probably do run the Christmas parade that late sometimes.

 

[MacMama0930]

Mickey's Soundsational Parade: A Christmas Fantasy 5:45pm
Disneyland Forever Fireworks: Believe in Holiday Magic 7:45pm

This looks like a 2014 schedule for a Monday...
Hmmm...I think with a 4:15 parade, there'd be time for PtN before the fireworks =) Haha!! Can't wait til they post it!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

OP, are you talking about the holiday season? In prior years (not including the 60th last year) they ran the Christmas parade in the evening. It's a beautiful parade at night. But right now the only times posted are indeed during daylight hours.

 

[MacMama0930]

OP, are you talking about the holiday season? In prior years (not including the 60th last year) they ran the Christmas parade in the evening. It's a beautiful parade at night. But right now the only times posted are indeed during daylight hours.

Yes, I am trying to get a sense of when PtN may occur during the holiday season, if the holiday parade is at 4:15...Seems like they're definitely leaving an opening for PtN, since a 4:15 holiday parade would essentially mean no nighttime parade, which I would think was odd for the holiday season.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, I am trying to get a sense of when PtN may occur during the holiday season, if the holiday parade is at 4:15...Seems like they're definitely leaving an opening for PtN, since a 4:15 holiday parade would essentially mean no nighttime parade, which I would think was odd for the holiday season.

I definitely have all fingers and toes crossed right now!

 

[GatorChris]

Mickey's Soundsational Parade: A Christmas Fantasy 5:45pm
Disneyland Forever Fireworks: Believe in Holiday Magic 7:45pm

This looks like a 2014 schedule for a Monday...
Hmmm...I think with a 4:15 parade, there'd be time for PtN before the fireworks =) Haha!! Can't wait til they post it!!!

This is correct. The info given above that the Christmas Parade has always run in the afternoon is not accurate. In 2014, we booked a reservation at Carnation Cafe at 5:30 so that we could be sitting outside as the parade went by. It was really cool! I was hoping to do that again, but it appears they kept the 4:15 run-time from last year. And yes, that leads me to believe that we'll see PtN at the very least Friday-Sunday. I guess that's a good trade-off. I much preferred the Christmas parade at night - just more magical IMO. But I'll gladly watch in the day to get PtN back.