Spectro to Illuminations - too crowded? Best way?

[WDWorld2003]

We'll be going to the Spectro parade next Saturday (only one while we're there - just wondering if when the parade ends if we could scoot over to Illuminations - I'm sure this is the thought of many others though.

Has anyone done this? Is it really crowded? Also, what's the best way? By monorail or bus..... we also will have a car if that would be easier...

Thanks as usual for any advice.....

 

[DebbieB]

Spectro is at 7:15 according to the calendar on disney.com.

I would watch it from Town Square (where it starts). You should be out of there by 7:35-7:45 before most of the crowds. That would give you plenty of time to get to Epcot. I would go by monorail, I'm not sure there is a bus from MK to Epcot. You probably will not be able to get a front row spot for Illuminations, but if you head farther back in the WS you might get a decent spot. The front by the entrance to FW is usually the most crowded. Have a great time!

 

[tjkraz]

Someone else asked this question a few weeks ago, and I immediately assumed the monorail was the way to go. But another poster had a great suggestion--take a bus from the MK to the Boardwalk or Beach Club. From either resort it's a short walk to the International Gateway, which puts you right in the heart of the World Showcase.

 

[Bamboo7]

Originally posted by WDWorld2003
We'll be going to the Spectro parade next Saturday (only one while we're there - just wondering if when the parade ends if we could scoot over to Illuminations - I'm sure this is the thought of many others though.

Has anyone done this? Is it really crowded? Also, what's the best way? By monorail or bus..... we also will have a car if that would be easier...

Thanks as usual for any advice.....

hey, if you see spectro near the start of the parade route, you should have no trouble making it to epcot for illuminations. If you take a bus to the boardwalk and walk from there to enter epcot at international gateway you would have plenty of time. Or if you wanted to take the monorail, it might take a little longer but i imagine you would still have time to get there. Last week i wanted to see fantasmic (7pm) and illuminations at the same night, and was able to do it with time to spare, using a resort bus from MGM to EPCOT. Good Luck!

 

[Dznefreek]

we also will have a car if that would be easier...

Drive to the Boardwalk and go in through the International Gateway. That way you will not have to park in the Epcot lot, take the Tram, and then walk through FW. It is also an easier escape at closing.

 

[pouncingpluto]

I am thinking about doing the opposite.. watching 9:00 Illuminations, then heading over for 11:00 Spectro. The only thing is that we would want to be on the FW side to get to the monorail pretty quickly, and I know firsthand how crowded that gets. I really doubt we're going to want to stake out a spot hours in advance, because we're only going to have a few hours in Epcot this trip, and I remember last time I tried to watch Illuminations from FW side without staking out a spot far in advance I really couldn't see much.

Anyone got any ideas?

 

[dgaston]

Although it might be too far into WS, there's always the "porch" at the Stave Church in Norway. A lot of people don't know you can stand in there.