Where is the best place to...?

[LVdisneyChick]

Watch the parade.. in both DL & DCA.
Watch the fireworks
Find charachters
Catch a photopass photographer
Find the Dream Squad
Eat cheap with kids...both in and out of park
Let the kids run wild (3 yr old)
Cool off

All tips and hints are welcome..

Please be as specific as possible ( I know I can see the the parade on it's route)

 

[mikayla73]

Watch the parade.. in both DL & DCA. - I am not sure there is a specific best place to watch the parade, my advice here would be to get there at least 30-45 min before the parade to get a good "spot" where ever you want to sit along the route. It is usually only DH and I so we don't watch the parades often. I am sure someone else will be along with more info
Watch the fireworks - in the hub in front of the castle. You'll want to get a spot early here too so you can get a good view without trees blocking your view. DH and I like it on the left side of the hub so we can get a good view of the Matterhorn too.
Find charachters - I think they are easiest to find in the mornings. They are usually out in full force all over Main Street. Otherwise, head back to TT and I believe you can find them there.
Catch a photopass photographer - They are mostly in the usual pic spots. In front of the castle, Main St., entrances, in front of GRR, etc. There's a post around here some where with all the places people have found them and the special effects that some have gotten (like Stitch coming out of the ground or Tinkerbell in your palm) I'll look for it and link it here.
Find the Dream Squad - That is pure luck in my opinion. I have been to DL 5 times in the last year and have only glimpsed at them from a far.
Eat cheap with kids...both in and out of park - there are lots of places to eat right around DL, usually a little more expensive than if you drive down the road a little. McD's is right there, but it's more expensive than if you go to the one down by Angels Stadium on Katella. It's only slightly more, but still more. You can check out the menus on allears.net and get a feel for the prices and different places to eat inside the parks. Whitewater Snacks at GCH is really good and pretty reasonable. Most of the time in the parks it's a lot of food and is easily shared to cut down on cost too.
Let the kids run wild (3 yr old) - Can't help here
Cool off - the hotel pool. Make sure to schedule some afternoon breaks for cooling off in the pool and resting up for the evening fun. GRR will get you wet in DCA and Splash in DL. You can also do some of the shows, like Billy Hill or go to the Opera House. There's Aladian and Turtle Talk with Crush (and more) at DCA.

HTH - be sure to read Hydroguys tips in the sticky!

 

[kaity230]

Watch the parade.. in both DL & DCA.

Parade:
Parade of Dreams - There are certain areas in which the parade stops. Hopefully someone else can help with this, but I have never had a bad spot! For last minute spots try the route in between the hub and the matterhorn area.
Electric Parade - Right on the parade route is really best but it doesn't matter where. For getting a spot later, in a less crowded area, the area by A bugs land and wine county trattoria is great.
HSM 2 - Sunshine plaza or by paradise pier are the only two areas. Don't bother waiting too long for this as everyone kind of stands and bunches anyway.
Haven't seen PPP yet!

Find charachters
Character breakfasts - Hollywood Backlot in DCA - Ask at guest information on main street for specific schedules of certain characters - Princess Fantasy Faire

Find the Dream Squad - Don't try! You'll only be disappointed if you do - it's better to just forget about them. If you do see them giving out something though, go over there!



Let the kids run wild (3 yr old)
The redwood creek challenge in DCA or goofy's play area in toontown or A bugs land water areas in DCA

Cool off
Again the water areas in a bugs land dca or ss rustworthy in dca paradise pier
And the pixar play parade gets you wet! For good old ac with no waits go to the tiki room (your 3 year old will love it!) the animation academy or innoventions

All tips and hints are welcome..

Please be as specific as possible ( I know I can see the the parade on it's route)

 

[Sleepless Knight]

In front of Photo Supply you will see two stops for the Parade of Dreams. The 1st float with Peter Pan, Tink, and the assorted fairies from other films and you will also get the stop for the last float with the castle, Fab 5, Chip and Dale, and Walt's princesses.

 

[LVdisneyChick]

Thank you, those are all great suggestions...keep them coming.

 

[Capt.Bane]

There is a photopass infront of the bear mountain in DCA, one off to the side of the Castle. And I think there was one in front of the Partners statue.

 

[kiwitravel]

Watch the parade.. in both DL & DCA.

DL - Outside the Plaza Restaurant on the corner, you get a good head on view as they approach as well as the side on view
DCA - Outside the wave waterfall same reason as above

Watch the fireworks
In the Hub you have to save a spot early

Find charachters
For Mickey and Minnie get to Toon town as it opens at 10, for Winnie, Tiger outside entry to splash, get there within one hour of opening and queues aren't long
You will get a range of charactors at DCA at the Disney Academy (where crush is) with no lines

Catch a photopass photographer
Never used them so can't help there

Find the Dream Squad
A lot of reports of getting Dreamed in the walkway between Fantasyland and Frontier (along the back of BTMRR) near Fantasyland

Cool off
There's a water fountain play area in Bugsland or sit in the front of Splash

All tips and hints are welcome..

Please be as specific as possible ( I know I can see the the parade on it's route)

[/QUOTE]

 

[LVdisneyChick]

bump....
anymore input???

 

[DangerMouse]

It's an awful lot of questions for one post. . .

If there is a specific character you are seeking, go to City Hall and they will call the character finder CM to give you a time/location. Pooh, Eeyore and Tigger are at the exit of the Pooh ride; Princesses at PFFT; Cruella on Main Street; you can catch Sorcerer Mickey, Woody and a princess at the Drawn to the Magic show in DCA. Jack Sparrow on Pirate's Lair on TSI; Buzz in TL . . I could go on and on . . .

Best place to cool off: Whitewater Snacks or the lobby of the GCH. They keep it ICY COLD in there and the fireplace on. I also like Innoventions in DL, and Animation Building in DCA.

 

[avalon451]

Another place for the kids to run wild: Tom Sawyer Island/Pirate's Lair

Dream squad: some people hang out on the path between Fantasyland and Frontierland as mentioned, and have heard reports of a door there for CMs where the Dream Squad sometimes emerges and people have stalked them to their locations.. usually fairly early in the morning... also have heard that they frequently hang out inside ride exits all over and esp. Fantasyland, so you get dreamed as you come off the ride. So some people say the best way is to ride lots of rides in the a.m. I've heard BTMRR often, Pirates, Tarzan's Treehous, Alice, PP, Toad, Space and Indy.

That said, it's very random and you generally just can't predict at all. Best bet is to ride rides, keep your eyes peeled, and if you see people coming from some direction that are carrying dream FPs or special ears, etc. ask them where they got them, and hurry in that direction!