Tips for arriving at the park just as Festival of Fantasy Parade starts ...

[DisPrincessDec2014]

On our first day, we were planning to go to the magic kingdom as soon as we arrive, which would get us to the park around 2:00-2:30.

I have FP+ to see Mickey at town square for 2:15-3:15 arrival time (traveling with a 2 and 4 year old).

I was thinking we would see mickey and then secure a place at the train station to watch the Festival of Fantasy parade and then proceed down main street as soon as it is over....

My concerns are:
1. traffic patterns after the parade is over ... are we better off making our way deeper into the park before the parade?
2. if the kids get antsy and don't want to watch the full parade, being by the train station sort of traps us from going anywhere else

Any thoughts on this would be incredibly helpful. On one hand it would be a very exciting way to kick off the trip, but on the other, I could see it being a crowd nightmare.

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

You could take the train from the front gate area to another area of the park. If you are walking up Main St after the parade but find that you are going against the flow, try to duck into the shops (the ones on the left as you face the castle go all the way through) to get up Main St. These strategies have worked for us anyhow. Note that you might not be lucky enough to see the parade after meeting Mickey - those already lined up for the parade may have been holding their view for over an hour and won't be sympathetic to your wanting to catch the parade last minute, so be prepared for less than perfect views of the parade if you show up just barely in time.