View of PtN parade & fireworks from Jolly Holiday Bakery or Carnation Cafe

[earthboundfaerie]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone's ever tried to watch the parade & the fireworks from Jolly Holiday Bakery? Any idea what our view might be like from there?

I have been following the comprehensive PtN & fireworks thread and saw the great tip about catching the parade from Carnation Cafe then heading out to Main St for fireworks, but I'm not sure it will work for us since 1) we're all pretty short and 2) we will have our boys with us (ages 9, 3 and 1 1/2) and I'm not sure they'll be able to enjoy the fireworks from Main St if they can't see the castle. Any feedback on watching Disneyland Forever from Main St with kids?

 

[figment_jii]

Just wondering if anyone's ever tried to watch the parade & the fireworks from Jolly Holiday Bakery? Any idea what our view might be like from there?

I've watched a parade (Soundsational) from Jolly Holiday. It has a nice view, but some of the street elements may be blocked by guests along the parade route. I would guess those tables start to fill up hours before the parade passes by, so you'll have to be willing to spend a lot of time waiting for the parade. By the same token, I don't think much of Jolly Holiday has a very good view of the fireworks. There are trees that obstruct the view of the Castle (although, you'll probably have a pretty good view of the Matterhorn from some of the tables).

This is the view from one of the tables at Jolly Holiday.

I have been following the comprehensive PtN & fireworks thread and saw the great tip about catching the parade from Carnation Cafe then heading out to Main St for fireworks, but I'm not sure it will work for us since 1) we're all pretty short and 2) we will have our boys with us (ages 9, 3 and 1 1/2) and I'm not sure they'll be able to enjoy the fireworks from Main St if they can't see the castle. Any feedback on watching Disneyland Forever from Main St with kids?

Carnation Cafe's outside tables have an obstructed view of the parades. You'll be able to see the higher up stuff, but most of the ground level elements will be obscured by guests standing along the parade route. I think it's a good option if you've already seen the parade from on the route, but not a great option for a first time viewing.

It depends on the crowds, but if you're in the Carnation Cafe seating area watching the parade, you'll be behind all of the people on the parade route as they head out onto the street to watch the fireworks. Guests move out into the street as soon as the last float in the parade passes, so you'll be at a disadvantage because you have get out of the Carnation Cafe seating area (I'm assuming you've already resolved the bill and stuff like that), then onto the sidewalk and then out onto the street. Also, it's worth noting that being that far down Main Street means you will not be able to see the Matterhorn during the fireworks.

 

[SMD]

But you'd be able to see the projections on Main St, which is also a good view. The fireworks view from Jolly Holiday is mostly blocked by trees. I prefer Main St.

It's also worth noting that you may not get an outside table at Carnation or you may be in a part of the patio where the limit street view is blocked.

 

[Fujithedog]

From Carnation Cafe, PTN will be a partial view, but can you stay for the 2nd parade? Having 3 and 1 1/2 yo may be a challenge to stay that late, but since you are staying for the fireworks anyway, after the fireworks, you just pick a spot at the curb in MS for 2nd parade. If you want to see the Castle, then you have to get your spot for a few hours before the parade starts, which I'm not sure you'd like to do. Will you be at the park more than one day? Then you can watch Fantasmic, stay for the fireworks and see the projections on the water. You can't still see the castle but it was still amazing and at least there is no obstruction for the projections. Then the second day you can focus on the parade. Good luck!

 

[earthboundfaerie]

Thanks for all the tips, guys. We will be in Disneyland for 2 days, and yes, we do plan to watch Fantasmic then fireworks from Rivers of America on our second Disneyland day. We were just hoping we could also get a good view of the parade and fireworks on our first night there. We will be trying to make it to 7am EMH at DCA the next day so I'm not sure staying up for the second parade will be a good idea. :/

 

[scrapshappen]

I'd suggest not trying Main Street at all. We did the Carnation Cafe trick our first night and it was fine. But I much preferred seeing the parade and fireworks from IASW like we did a few nights later. It was not nearly as crowded and I found watching the projections on IASW much easier than on Main Street where they are going on all around you. That was kind of distracting and took away from the actual fireworks.

Another option would just be to go see WOC Celebrate instead on your second night. We actually liked this show the best as it celebrates Disneyland much more than PtN or Disneyland Forever do.

 

[wildflower329]

I'd suggest not trying Main Street at all. We did the Carnation Cafe trick our first night and it was fine. But I much preferred seeing the parade and fireworks from IASW like we did a few nights later. It was not nearly as crowded and I found watching the projections on IASW much easier than on Main Street where they are going on all around you. That was kind of distracting and took away from the actual fireworks.

Where did you end up sitting for the parade and fireworks at IASW? I think this is what our plan will be as well, but I haven't seen a lot of description about the best location to sit/stand in that area.

 

[scrapshappen]

Where did you end up sitting for the parade and fireworks at IASW? I think this is what our plan will be as well, but I haven't seen a lot of description about the best location to sit/stand in that area.

There is a lighter pathway between the street and the entrance to IASW. When I asked a CM where the best place to see the parade and fireworks was, she pointed me there. That was pretty close to 7 p.m. for the 8:50 parade and we were the first people to sit down. I would say it filled in over the next 45 minutes or so. It was a great spot for the parade because we were right in the front and sitting on the ground. After the parade, a lot of people from that area got up and followed behind the parade trying to get to main street. We got up and got even closer to IASW to watch the fireworks. People in front of us were sitting on the ground, but I was ready to stand after sitting on the ground that long.