WDW veterans - how do you "do" parades at MK?

[tentaguasu]

I've been to WDW a few times, but never really done the parades. I've always been more "ride focused" so I enjoyed parades mostly for their ability to soak up people and push ride times down.

This year, however, the new Fantasy parade looks good and I think my wife and son would enjoy it.

So here are my specific questions:

1. How early do I have to get a spot? (I'm going in a mid-May at a "moderate" crowd time).

2. Is it a big deal to find a specific place, or is anywhere along the route pretty good?

3. All told, how big a chunk of time does it take out of your touring plan?

Any other hints and tips for enjoying the parades?

Thanks!

 

[BrianL]

For Festival of Fantasy, I show up in Frontierland which is the beginning of the parade route. I like the beginning because you don't have to wait for it to get to you and can move on to the next thing while Main Street is still crowded. I usually show up about 20 minutes early, but I'm tall and don't mind standing in the back. I have been able to fill in in the area near the one of the cut-ins to the boardwalk or on the other side near the underpass to Adventureland (the one leading to Aloha Isle). Remember that you must be standing within the tape (there is usually a corner here I can slip into). I would recommend getting there around 30 minutes early and you should be fine.

 

[LaurenT]

For Festival of Fantasy, I show up in Frontierland which is the beginning of the parade route. I like the beginning because you don't have to wait for it to get to you and can move on to the next thing while Main Street is still crowded. I usually show up about 20 minutes early, but I'm tall and don't mind standing in the back. I have been able to fill in in the area near the one of the cut-ins to the boardwalk or on the other side near the underpass to Adventureland (the one leading to Aloha Isle). Remember that you must be standing within the tape (there is usually a corner here I can slip into). I would recommend getting there around 30 minutes early and you should be fine.

This is exactly what I do

 

[katt789]

we usually show up 20-30 mins early, and again, watch from Frontierland. We usually head over there around 2:30 and if it's still super dead, we head into the pin shop or country bears to kill time. You could also have one person save the spots and the other 2 do something like this, or this is a great time to grab ice cream and sit and people watch for a while.

 

[disBEAST]

Frontierland is pretty much always a good spot to see parades. One drawback it has for the Main Street Electrical Parade is it's actually at the end of the route, since it travels the reverse path of FoF, but crowd levels are much lower there. Everyone wants to see a parade on Main Street so you'll get much better sightlines in other parts of the park.

Another spot I like is the turn at Liberty Square. A drawback is it can get quite crowded there as people try to make their way from Fantasyland to see the parade, and there's actually some shade. If you position yourself well though you can quickly move to Fantasyland after the parade is finished if you have plans there.

 

[ELSA711]

Doesn't anyone have a map of this parade route. We usually have FP+ for the kids but doing solo adult trip and definitely will just try to find a spot.

 

[disBEAST]

The parade route is the dotted line. FoF starts in Frontierland and ends at Town Square. MSEP starts at Town Square and ends in Frontierland. The Move It! Shake It! event is the exception as it starts in Town Square, circles the hub in front of the castle where the show is, then returns down Main Street back to Town Square.

 

[msmama]

Definitely suggest Fronteirland. In my experience, you can find a good spot 20 minutes before the parade if you want a shady spot and, if you don't mind the sun, less than 5 minutes before the parade starts (we were there mid-may last year and presidents day weekend this year).

I also found a good spot near the adventureland/frotierland cut through (near the ray ban store and some bathrooms). There's a higher spot you can stand at there to see the parade - you're further away, but you could be one of the first back to adventureland rides if you're near there.

As for time away from touring - watching from the cut through (which I only did because the rest of my family was in the bathroom) it took my 7 year old longer to use the bathroom than it did for me to watch the parade!

 

[GillianP1301]

We don't plan for the parades. My DS is really not overly interested in them and I've seen them and happy to watch again, but okay w/missing as well. So we don't have a strategy for them, but if we happen to be walking by and one is happening, we'll stop and watch. We don't go at super busy times, so that helps a lot.

 

[Minniemoo15]

Another vote for Fronteirland. I like to make ADR at Liberty Tree for lunch, then come out to watch the parade.

 

[lustergirl]

Not an ideal spot but last year I sat on Tony's porch in a rocker and watched the parade. Like I said, not a great viewing spot but it was sure nice to be able to sit down. I struck up a nice conversation with a couple from Tennessee sitting next to me. With my bad knees anytime I get the chance to sit down I take it.

 

[pens4821]

We watched FOF and MSEP from Frontierland and had good views. Also did MSEP from an area to the left of town square. FOF we ended up in front of a store (think it may have been a pin trading store). There was an elevated area (not sure if it was made to be a bench or not, don't honestly remember what we were sitting on) that we used as a bench. Couldn't see everything happening on the ground, but it was a nice spot.

Didn't have plans to watch MSEP, but my nephew had to go to the bathroom. We went to the ones on the left of town square. By the time we got it, the parade was going on, so we just sat on a bench by the restroom entrance and watched the parade. It was a nice view of the floats, but once again saw nothing on the ground.

Later that evening we were walking through frontierland as it was coming up. We were across the street from country bear jamboree, so we just stopped. There were VERY few people on that side of the street, and it was an amazing view. Since there was no one by us, we got great interaction with the characters. The other side of the street was pretty crowded, not sure if this is normal or not.

 

[TravelingTotMom]

We also watch from Frontierland (usually somewhere between the Shootin' Arcade and Pecos Bill's). We get there about 30 minutes before, have a front row spot and have Mickey bars or dole whips to pass the time.

 

[Robo]

Doesn't anyone have a map of this parade route.

Less crowded than on Main Street, but still spectacular viewing can be found near the Hall of Presidents, or deep into Frontierland, past the Country Bears. (But in the evening, from those locations you won't be able to see the spectacular, not-to-be-missed show that is actually projected on the front of the Castle, "Celebrate the Magic," which begins about 15 minutes before the fireworks.)

 

[ELSA711]

Less crowded than on Main Street, but still spectacular viewing can be found near the Hall of Presidents, or deep into Frontierland, past the Country Bears. (But in the evening, from those locations you won't be able to see the spectacular, not-to-be-missed show that is actually projected on the front of the Castle, "Celebrate the Magic," which begins about 15 minutes before the fireworks.)

Wow! Thanks, before I even read what you wrote, I thought about in front of the Hall of Presidents, glad to see you agree with my first thought on that spot. And Yes Celebrate the Magic (which I saw for the first time in 2014) is my new fav show at MK, I'll be there for that as well!

Sounds like Sleepy Hollow goodies and a parade for me and DH!!

 

[Meech Loves Mickey]

Agree with the others. Frontierland or in front of HOP about 30 min before. Bring an umbrella to shade you from the sun while you wait.