Where to view Spectro from other than Main Street

[zuzu310]

My DH and I usually scope out a spot on Main Street to watch Spectro but I really hate spending an hour just people-watching only to have some huge family come by 5 minutes before the start of the parade and sit their kids in my lap.This happens everytime like clockwork. So my question is...where are the prime spots in Frontierland?

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Liberty Square.

 

[patrokls]

I'm not sure if this a "prime spot" but I watched it from the seating area of Sleepy Hollow Treats. You can get a seat right by the fence and watch it cross over the bridge from the hub to Liberty Square.

 

[handicap18]

I like the area in front of Country Bears. There is a bit of a porch that is a bit higher than the ground. good for standing as most people in front sit. Its also not usually very crowded in that area.

 

[jpolak]

Liberty square. Just to the left of the stockades.

 

[SqueakyMouse]

Here's another vote for Liberty Square. Late at night, it's much less crowded than other areas.

 

[disneycruise05]

I fifth Liberty Square. It's much less crowded then Main Street. My friend and I were sitting there and Mary Poppins came over and talked to us! It was great! You can expect more individual treatment either at Liberty Square or Frontierland where the shooting gallery is.

 

[GarrettJD]

I like the area in front of Country Bears. There is a bit of a porch that is a bit higher than the ground. good for standing as most people in front sit. Its also not usually very crowded in that area.

This is exactly where we watch from. It's usually not too hard to fid a good spot there. It's awfully nice to see the Castle during the parade, though. Still, anywhere from Frontierland to Liberty Square is much less crowded.

 

[BlindTyldak]

My favorite spot by FAR is right by the parade route gate into Frontierland. Stand on the Adventureland side of the gate . . . there's a bench by there and a split-rail fence, on the other side of which is the gate that the parade will enter or exit the park depending on the day. That spot has always been free (at least during slower times of the year) 5 minutes before the start of the parade. You won't be RIGHT next to the route, because if you are leaning on the fence, there's a couple of thin trees and then another split-rail fence about 5 feet away, which is where the road is. But there's no one in front of you (and NO chance someone can cut in front at all!) and we've always gotten incredible character interaction between that 5 foot space.

Downside: you're then in a bad possition to watch Wishes if you stay there. However, three times now I've walked from that spot and to the front of the castle and have gotten a primo standing spot on main street just in time for the fireworks because a lot of people leave to catch the bus right after the parade goes by.

 

[Karnak]

The last time I watched that parade it was from the porch at Tony's Town Square resturant. Great table right on the rail. Takes some planning and a well-timed reservation, and some luck to get a table outside, but well worth the effort. (By the way, the CMs would not let children from other tables on the porch crowd onto the railing. They were asked to remain at their tables.)

Enjoy.

 

[mickeymom55]

Absolutely Frontierland. One evening, we saw the second parade (10 or 11 PM if I'm not mistaken) and we were practically the only people there. Even for the earlier parade I wouldn't watch it anywhere else. The only downside is if you are in a hurry to leave after the parade. You are definitely behind the large crowds on Main Street. We, however, love to linger and be some of the last guests to leave the park. For us, it's our down time and an opportunity to take in the park without the crowds. Either way - it's our favorite viewing area.

 

[mac3013]

Back in 97 we watched the parade from the porch roof of the Country Bears. They had chairs up on the roof and we asked if we could sit up there. Best view of the parade by far.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi ya zuzu310, I can understand how you might feel about having a child dumped in your lap, especially if not asked beforehand. However many of my favorite moments at DW have been with a lapful of newly met children in my lap. I love it when a family who has been trying to get in every attraction comes by and I am able to share a bit of the magic with them. Not the rude obnoxious ones though. Even I am not THAT nice.

On our last trip we were at the train station and met a family with 5 children and I ended up draping my jacket over two in the stroller while two of the girls sat on my lap. I have a large jacket and a large lap. They were very nice people and one of my favorite memories.

Karnac, the children can crouch down under the table and they do not hurt the view at all. I do that often.

That being said I CAN feel you pain in suffering for a good spot only to have someone else spoil it for you at the last minute. I have had that happen also.

GRANDMA Slightly Goofy

 

[Karnak]

Hi ya zuzu310, I can understand how you might feel about having a child dumped in your lap, especially if not asked beforehand. However many of my favorite moments at DW have been with a lapful of newly met children in my lap. I love it when a family who has been trying to get in every attraction comes by and I am able to share a bit of the magic with them. Not the rude obnoxious ones though. Even I am not THAT nice.

On our last trip we were at the train station and met a family with 5 children and I ended up draping my jacket over two in the stroller while two of the girls sat on my lap. I have a large jacket and a large lap. They were very nice people and one of my favorite memories.

Karnac, the children can crouch down under the table and they do not hurt the view at all. I do that often.

That being said I CAN feel you pain in suffering for a good spot only to have someone else spoil it for you at the last minute. I have had that happen also.

Naw. You misunderstood me. I didn't say that the children blocked my view at all. I just noted that the CMs asked the children to remain at their tables. (I didn't ask them to in any way.) As for crouching down under a table, if one did that, one would not be able to see anything. Not a drop of the parade.

 

[Deb & Bill]

After so many bad experiences when we tried to stake out a place to watch the parade, we now show up as the parade is starting and watch from behind the others watching. A lot less tense, easier to do and takes a lot less time. That said, we've seen Spectromagic several times, so it's not new to us.

We did just about the same thing for the DL parade last week. We showed up at the last minute, got behind other people watching the parade and had a great view.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi ya, Karnac, sorry I misunderstood. I do not hear too well and that often happens to me. I just thought that there was a view to be had from the front of the tables, below your sight line as there is at the train station. I have never eaten at Tony's (yet).

BTW, if you were the real Karnac you would have been able to read my mind. (small print and all)

Slightly Goofy

 

[zuzu310]

SlightlyGoofy,
I agree that half the magic is getting to watch the kids when I am there. Last time we watched Spectro we met a very nice mother and daughter while we waited for the parade. I guess I draw the line when someone tried to wedge in between me and our newfound friends. Her 9 year old had waited patiently for 45 minutes. It was not fair when someone tried to swoop in 5 minutes before the parade and try to wedge a 12 year old in between us.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

zuzu310, it all in the attitude. I have sympathy for the parents who want their children to have a good view but it is all in how they ask or act that determines if I invite them to share my view. Since I get to go so often I feel an obligation not to suck up all the magic myself since I have the good luck to know about the boards and know how to get to things better than most.

I truly enjoy being able to share with someone and make their day just a tad bit better. I hope that when they view their vacation pictures and happen upon one of me they think of the 'nice lady' and smile. I do with the people who share with me too. It is the memories of the people I bring home with me from each trip. I may not remember everyone's name but I remember the shared experiences and that is better.

Hope to run into you sometime and we can share a memory or two.

Slightly Goofy