When to line up for Paint the Night and fireworks?

[Catvondita]

Hi there!

My fiancé and I are WDW vets and are heading to Disneyland for the first time in July. Can you let me know what time we should start lining up for the parade and fireworks? An hour early? Earlier? Our goal is to be towards the end of main street for the fireworks so we can still experience the main street effects and still hopefully be able to see some projections on the castle.

Any advice is helpful.

Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

Are you set on seeing the parade first and then fireworks? Over the Memorial Day weekend (and on the weekdays before the weekend), I noticed that the front row curb spots began filling up by 6:30 pm (so about two hours before the parade was scheduled to step-off from Small World). There were still some spots, but in mostly ones and twos. If you wait until about an hour before the parade starts, I would guess you'll definitely be in the second row or further back. As soon as the parade passes by, guests move out onto Main Street to watch the fireworks.

If you didn't want to wait so long, another option is to see fireworks first and then watch the Parade. If you plan to be on Main Street right around when the parade passes by (you'll see guests hanging out in the shops waiting), you can move out onto the street just behind the folks that were on the parade route after the parade passes by. Then as soon as fireworks are over, move back to the curb to wait for PtN (it'll be about an hour wait), but the parade starts on Main Street, so you'll be towards the start of the route.

 

[Mike482]

Hi Cat! My wife and I are AP's and have seen the fireworks show and parade from several areas. I'm not sure who things work at WDW so if so of this info is basic, that's why.

Our favorite spot for fireworks is standing on Main Street, slightly right of center, between the Crystal Arcade and the Starbucks. There is a clock on the right hand side of the street (facing the castle). We always see the first parade, just before the fireworks start. If you are on the curb, you will have to sit. Then there will about 3-4 rows of standing area on the sidewalk which will be roped off. Beyond the rope, CM's will keep pedestrian traffic moving.

So what we do is walk down Main Street and find a spot for the parade just before it starts. There is always room to squeeze inside the rope somewhere, especially for two adults, and the rope can be pushed back a bit once you are on the other side. The Paint the Night floats are so large that you can see them just fine from the back of the standing room area.

Once the Paint the Night parade is over, everyone will move into the street and you can find the spot you want. The fireworks start about 10 minutes later. Being in the crowd and being in the middle of the projections is the best, at least that is our opinion. You can still see the castle projections and the fireworks (avoid the left side of Main Street as the trees will block part of your view). If you can't stand for that long, or just prefer to sit for the parade you will need to get there at least 2-3 hours early.

The firework show is amazing. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Catvondita]

Are you set on seeing the parade first and then fireworks? Over the Memorial Day weekend (and on the weekdays before the weekend), I noticed that the front row curb spots began filling up by 6:30 pm (so about two hours before the parade was scheduled to step-off from Small World). There were still some spots, but in mostly ones and twos. If you wait until about an hour before the parade starts, I would guess you'll definitely be in the second row or further back. As soon as the parade passes by, guests move out onto Main Street to watch the fireworks.

If you didn't want to wait so long, another option is to see fireworks first and then watch the Parade. If you plan to be on Main Street right around when the parade passes by (you'll see guests hanging out in the shops waiting), you can move out onto the street just behind the folks that were on the parade route after the parade passes by. Then as soon as fireworks are over, move back to the curb to wait for PtN (it'll be about an hour wait), but the parade starts on Main Street, so you'll be towards the start of the route.

Thanks for the response! If we are in the shops during the first parade is it easy to move with the crowd to the middle of Main Street for the fireworks? In Magic Kingdom they rope everyone in so there is a rope separating the parade watching crowd from pedestrians visiting the shops. If its like that in DL do you know if they remove the rope immediately after the parade?

 

[figment_jii]

They do rope off the parade viewing areas prior to the start of the parade, but usually, at some point during the parade, they take down the ropes (and then put them back up before fireworks).

 

[AZMermaid]

I saw people sitting this past week as early as 4:00. The curb row was completely full around 5:30. At 7:30 all roped areas were full on Main St. Everyone was sitting though. I imagine at some point, they gave everyone not in front stand and more space opens up. The parade was at 8:50.

 

[justgrace]

Not to go off-topic, but does anyone know where the assigned seating for the Blue Bayou dinner package for PTN is? I saw photos a few months ago of a huge section down Main Street reserved for the dinner packages, but wasn't sure if they were still there or not. Do you know, @figment_jii ?

TIA!

 

[AZMermaid]

It faces the train station now.

 

[CateinPhoenix]

I brought a beach blanket and got a spot in front of Carnation café, on the curb, between the fire hydrant and trash cans around 6:30. It was a great spot for the first parade and then for FW!

 

[Bud Ice]

Ive done it withless than 5 mins, generally 20 to 30 before aint bad.