Tips for best parade spots

[Ms Poppins]

We always end up in Main St for the parade. Is there a better spot? I think I've heard people mention that near A Small World/Bella Note is good?

Same question for Fantilusion please? We watched this briefly years ago but were too late to get a good spot. Any tips for best place for fireworks?

I plan on watching this at least once during our trip.

Thanks

 

[Boo-Boo]

I will keep an eye on this thread as we too have always stood on Main Street, would be nice to try somewhere different

 

[DLPdaft]

I can't help with Fantillusion, I've not yet managed to get a good spot to see the changing floats for that.

I love love love my spot opposite the Pizzeria Bella Notte for the OUAD parade (5 paces down from the first pink bin on the parade route ) its always quieter than anywhere on Main Street, and its where the Princesses float stops first.

Around the bandstand looks good for the Toy Story 2nd stop (ie outside City Hall and slightly nearer to Main St) and if you're on that side of the route you'd get good pictures as the floats come around the corner from Main St.

I believe you get to see 2 stops if you are on the hub, but I'm not sure where exactly is best to see this, and I'd guess, like Main St, you'd have to stake out your spot early.

 

[Happy Tappy]

I agree with Elaine for OUAD. Anywhere between Pizzeria Notte Belle and the far side of the castle (where there's a gap between two turrets marking the entry to Fantasyland) is great.

Fantillusion is far trickier. The best spot I ever had was in front of the Main Street station looking up Main Street. You have to get there pretty early to be able to sit curb side. You'll get to see some changes there and it's great watching them go around Town Square.

Watching it near Pizzeria Notte Belle is also good because it's very quiet. We went last summer and it was pretty much deserted (though it was raining!). The only problem is you don't get to see any of the changes there. On the plus side you can watch the parade and then run down and watch it again from Discoveryland (or even have a quick ride of Buzz/SM!)

 

[megarasweet]

For Fantillusion, we always stake out a spot near Casey's Corner. The Maleficent change is usually right in front of us, and we are also in a good position to look down Main Street for a fairly good view of the other changes.

I can't help much with OUAD, we usually end up on Main Street too.

 

[Ms Poppins]

Thanks

For some reason I always thought that the parade route started at the foot of Discoveryland, beside the Castle stage.

It was only our visit last year that I noticed you could walk all the way past Discoveryland round to It's a Small World. Previously we would just go through the side entrance to the castle to get to Fantasyland.

That's probably why it's so quiet there. Maybe that, coupled with the forecast rain will keep people away

 

[catkin]

What are the 'changes' in Fantillusion, we watched this on our last trip but I don't remember anything changing apart from the odd light twinkling.

Also how many/what are the stops in the OUAD parade, or indeed in any other parade either here or in Studios?

Given that we don't have really 'little' children (the eldest is a good 6ft -at 16! and even the youngest is up to my eyes now) how early would we need to start staking out a spot at the end of August?

Do any rides/areas close during Fantillusion and the fireworks? I seem to remember that although the park was open until 11pm when we were there in August before, some/all the rides shut sometime before that - 10/10.30pm?

I seem to remember reading on a trip report somewhere that Fantasyland was quiet after about 8.30pm because the little children had gone to bed, anyone any experience of this - I'm rather partial to Peter Pan's flight but am much better at staying up late than getting up early!

 

[lilacgems23]

We stopped there last week and didnt find it as good a spot as anticipated. We found standing to the side of the stage opposite the disabled bays excellent as this is where the parade stops are including the princess's getting down to dance.

 

[lilacgems23]

What are the 'changes' in Fantillusion, we watched this on our last trip but I don't remember anything changing apart from the odd light twinkling.

Also how many/what are the stops in the OUAD parade, or indeed in any other parade either here or in Studios?

Given that we don't have really 'little' children (the eldest is a good 6ft -at 16! and even the youngest is up to my eyes now) how early would we need to start staking out a spot at the end of August?

Do any rides/areas close during Fantillusion and the fireworks? I seem to remember that although the park was open until 11pm when we were there in August before, some/all the rides shut sometime before that - 10/10.30pm?


I seem to remember reading on a trip report somewhere that Fantasyland was quiet after about 8.30pm because the little children had gone to bed, anyone any experience of this - I'm rather partial to Peter Pan's flight but am much better at staying up late than getting up early!

Fantasyland and Adventureland both close at 10 so they can set the fireworks up.

 

[MichelinMan]

We hate waiting for long periods of time - the wife has a bad back, so can't stand around for ages, and finds sitting down on the kerb just as bad. We always watched the Fantillusion parade either outside City Hall or the Main St train station in the past. But this time we moved around a bit further (next to the photograph shop right at the end of the parade, next to the arcade) - we found we could leave it to 10 mins before the parade started to get a front row position there, using the arcade as a short cut to bypass the crowds down Main St, where the crowds were at least 3 deep!

The only stop you will see there is the start of the parade with Mickey's float from the front. But you can get some great photos as the floats turn the corner.

 

[Lisa_C]

For Fantillusion, we always stake out a spot near Casey's Corner. The Maleficent change is usually right in front of us, and we are also in a good position to look down Main Street for a fairly good view of the other changes.

I can't help much with OUAD, we usually end up on Main Street too.

That's my spot !! Opposite Walts you will see Jafar change, it's BRILIANT!!

 

[nahteb20]

Sorry to sound a little thick but what happens when they "change"
ive read a few people mention thats where they Change but ive never seen anything change before

 

[Ms Poppins]

Sorry to sound a little thick but what happens when they "change"
ive read a few people mention thats where they Change but ive never seen anything change before

I was just thinking the same thing

 

[Lisa_C]

I was just thinking the same thing

Oh guys you are in for a TREAT! Won't give to much away, lets just say the baddie floats transform into something rather spectacular and there is a show stop to accompany it! Be prepared though, young children either love of hate it......you MUST catch one of these!!!!

 

[Queenie122]

Oh guys you are in for a TREAT! Won't give to much away, lets just say the baddie floats transform into something rather spectacular and there is a show stop to accompany it! Be prepared though, young children either love of hate it......you MUST catch one of these!!!!

What's the best place to catch the most of these? Do they all change at the same spot?

 

[SparkleMum]

We sat oppostite the Dentist near the entrance for the OUAD parade so we were nearly at the end of the route and had no problems staking our place and no problems with other people trying to muscle in. The friends we went with have been a few times before and they said that this was the best place they'd sat as well.

Suzie.

 

[sarahc]

Great tips! Thanks for these!

 

[tinkertaylor05]

I've never seen fantillusion so will be watching this with interest! On both our trips we were happy with our parade spots and tended to get chatting to a nice cm who would advise us

 

[Ms Poppins]

We watched Fantillusion the other night just opposite Bella Notte, and it was a great spot.

Not busy at all, no-one behind us and we had loads of room. We didn't see any 'changes though'. We'll need to go back for that!! But I think this will be our spot from now on. Main St just look crazy with the amount of people jammed together.

Thanks for all the suggestions.