when should i head to the parades?

[ryan840]

hello. i was just looking for some advice for when to scout out a place to watch the parades, and also wishes and illuminations. where is the best place to see them from? thanks!

 

[ErinInCT]

We watch Wishes on Main Street btwn Casey's & Plaza Ice Cream. You can see everything, even Tink. To get an even better view of Tink you can go closer to Tomorrowland. We were there in Sept when it was uncrowded so we got there about 15 minutes in advance!
Spectromagic was another story. Of course, it only showed one day the whole week so I guess everyone went on the same day. We got there about an hour early & did not get a spot "on the street". We stood near Plaza Ice Cream but then people kept walking in front of us. I suggest finding a better spot or reserving 2 hrs in advance!
EPCOT is so big that you can see Illuminations from tons of places. We stood in a little grassy area in front of France. The bridge by UK is good but awfully crowded if you don't get there early.

 

[all4fun]

For Illuminations, we like to stand near Italy - like the pp said there are tons of good places to stand since you can see it from just about anywhere around the lake. If you want a really good place, make a ps at the Rose & Crown for just before the show. Of course, you'll be expected to eat. You can also grab dinner and a table at the Mexican cafe (Cantina del San Angel), this is counter service so you have to get there early if you want to get a good seat. Of course, it's always a crapshoot because that's a really popular spot. We like to go offseason and when we want a good spot near the railing so we're not standing behind a bunch of people, we find a half hour early is the mininum. DH and I are on the taller side, so even if we do have to stand behind some people we can still see almost everything.

For Wishes we stood near the entrance to Tomorrowland and felt it was a good viewing spot, although I thought a spot along Main street like the pp suggested would have been better. Last time we stood on the path that goes down to the smoking area in front of Tomorrowland (It's that cute little covered area by the water) and we had a terrific view of Tink making her way across the night sky. Very cool.

We also tried to grab a table & chairs at the Plaza Pavilian restaurant patio, (they were redoing the restaurant so it wasn't open at the time) but found if you're not right up against the rail, you really can't see much since it's covered. So you have to get there really early if you want that - but at least you'd have a chair to wait on.

hth!

Cheryl

 

[ryan840]

thanks for the tips! i think were going to eat at the mexican cafe, because my husband had already mentioned that he wanted to eat inside at the san angel so we comprimised. if we snag a seat by the railing, we should be able to see/hear the entire show from there, right? does anyone have any suggestions for the daytime parades?

 

[W21981Brick]

For the parade that starts around 3pm in MK we head for the front of the park. Up at the top of the train station (or above all the lockers) you can get a great view looking down at the parade. My video from that area always comes out great too! Try to get there alittle early to get up to the railing. Good Luck!

 

[ryan840]

thanks for the tip. that will be perfect timing, since we will be spending the morning at mgm to see playhouse disney. we'll get there around the right time and wont have to backtrack! how long does it typically last?