Using FP+ for Main Street Electrical Parade viewing

[Lisa F]

Planning a trip for first week of December next year and pre-planning based on historic schedules - we will probably be arriving around 3:30pm and staying at a MK resort (trying to switch to a couple of days at the Poly at the beginning of our trip at the 7 month window - we are DVC members).

Anyway since the 7 day parkhopper is only $10 more than the 6 and my kiddo will have an annual pass since it will be his second trip, I'm thinking it would not be a big deal to have a nice dinner at Ohana and head to MK JUST for the parade and fireworks. Single mom with then 8 year old boy who is not great at waiting (when I took him in september 2014 although it was crowded, we were able to minimize waits) so staking out a good parade site can be tough with him (it was really the only difficult part) and I'm thinking the first night it might be a good time to burn a FP+ on parade viewing.

Can someone give me the scoop on where it is, how it is, how early you have to show up etc?

Thanks for any and all help and opinions.

 

[hiroMYhero]

scoop on where it is, how it is, how early you have to show up etc?

The Parade FP area is located in Town Square near the flagpole and wraps around clockwise. If you aren't concerned about a curbside view, showing up 20 minutes early will get you in a situated before MSEP begins. Only FP holders are allowed in that area and it's never opened up for others.

 

[Lisa F]

The Parade FP area is located in Town Square near the flagpole and wraps around clockwise. If you aren't concerned about a curbside view, showing up 20 minutes early will get you in a situated before MSEP begins. Only FP holders are allowed in that area and it's never opened up for others.

how about for curbside viewing? you have to show up as early as anywhere else?

 

[hiroMYhero]

You'd probably have to show up 20 minutes before your FP window opens. The curbside that faces the train station should have openings. The side that has the view of the Castle fills first.

The FP return time for a 10:00 MSEP is 9:30 - 9:50. If you arrived by 9:10/9:15, there should be curbside available.

 

[Lisa F]

How about for the best seats? an hour before the show?

 

[hiroMYhero]

You can always check an hour before. If no one is there you two can window shop and then come back out. It doesn't hurt to be early depending on where you want to sit.

 

[Lisa F]

I have always gone as early as I need to to stake out a curb spot. Doesn't sound like having the FP will save me any time, only guarantee SOMETHING if we are late. but the best spots you still need to be well in advance.

 

[Robo]

^^ Yup.

 

[violakat03]

Do you need to be right in the center of the action? If you go more towards the end of the parade route, you can find spots a lot easier. I got a spot across from the restrooms that pass through between Liberty Square and Adventureland. My group were the only ones there until right as the parade got to us, when people walking past stopped to watch also. We were almost at the end of the route but we still got to see the whole parade just fine.

 

[mmouse1239]

Can someone please clarify??? Haven't been to WDW in a few years, so I'm not too familiar with fastpasses, but I'm learning to prepare for an upcoming trip. So, am I understanding that if you want to sit anywhere on the circle where the flagpole is located, you need a fastpass? That has always been our favorite viewing locations so we could exit as soon as it was finished. If that is not available, then can you still sit on the curb around Tony's?

 

[Robo]

Can someone please clarify??? Haven't been to WDW in a few years, so I'm not too familiar with fastpasses, but I'm learning to prepare for an upcoming trip. So, am I understanding that

1. if you want to sit anywhere on the circle where the flagpole is located, you need a fastpass? That has always been our favorite viewing locations so we could exit as soon as it was finished. If that is not available, then

2. can you still sit on the curb around Tony's?

1. Yes. (Except for part of the area which may be reserved for handicap or VIP viewing.)
2. Yes.

 

[Lisa F]

1. Yes. (Except for part of the area which may be reserved for handicap or VIP viewing.)
2. Yes.

facing the castle is not a good thing for any parade starting on the main street side rather than... is it frontierland where it ends up? You're basically seeing the back end of the parade?

 

[hiroMYhero]

facing the castle is not a good thing for any parade starting on the main street side rather than... is it frontierland where it ends up? You're basically seeing the back end of the parade?

It does end in Frontierland.

The advantage of the Castle View is that FP holders can arrive early or remain in their spots after the parade to watch the Castle projection show and Wishes. Just depends on whether the FP is for the 1st or 2nd MSEP.

 

[Lisa F]

It does end in Frontierland.

The advantage of the Castle View is that FP holders can arrive early or remain in their spots after the parade to watch the Castle projection show and Wishes. Just depends on whether the FP is for the 1st or 2nd MSEP.

I am looking at going to the 9pm on a saturday night, which I believe is the first for that time of year (early december so nothing published yet but going on historic schedules). They also do some castle lighting ceremony too that time of year now, don't they? Can you tell it's been a while? used to go 4 times a year then life and adulting happened and now I am a newbie all over again lol.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I am looking at going to the 9pm on a saturday night, which I believe is the first for that time of year (early december so nothing published yet but going on historic schedules). They also do some castle lighting ceremony too that time of year now, don't they? Can you tell it's been a while? used to go 4 times a year then life and adulting happened and now I am a newbie all over again lol.

The Castle lighting has happened twice per evening - but early: 6:15 and around 7:30. You'd need to be much closer than Town Square to watch the show portion if you are into watching Elsa freeze Cinderella Castle!

 

[Lisa F]

The Castle lighting has happened twice per evening - but early: 6:15 and around 7:30. You'd need to be much closer than Town Square to watch the show portion if you are into watching Elsa freeze Cinderella Castle!

I'm actually really not. Am I still allowed to go to Disney? it does look super pretty in pictures. My son hates frozen lol. He thought it was boring and has begged me not to make him watch it again. I can safely miss any frozen stuff but looking forward to seeing the bazillion lights on the castle

 

[love2flyatl]

Do they have 2 electrical paredes every day?
We will be there in 02/24th and would like to know if they will have 2. Ty.

 

[Robo]

1. Do they have 2 electrical paredes every day?

2. We will be there in 02/24th and would like to know if they will have 2. Ty.

1. Nope.

2. The parades are listed on the calendars.