After an entire day of riding the rides, taking photos and trying to cover every square inch of the Magic Kingdom, the last thing you probably want to do is fight for a nice spot in which to watch the parade. Some families consider this part of the day the most dreaded while others actually look forward to taking a much needed rest after a full day. Here are a few tips to make the task a little bit easier, if not even enjoyable.
Plan to Get There Early
This is pretty much the basic rule when it comes to events at Disney. Waiting until the last minute will almost certainly get you a spot near the back of the crowd behind fathers lifting their children onto their shoulders and, of course, you’re going to have to do that one thing you don’t want have to do after a full day at Disney. You’ll have to stand.
The best way to gauge what time you need to get to your spot is to take a walk down the parade route two hours before the parade. Most people want to see the parade come through Main Street, so if you see people beginning to stake out their spots, it‘s best you take claim to your own. Once a few begin taking seats, others will follow suit quickly, so scope our your spot quickly and claim it.
Avoid the “Bad Spots”
There are simply some spots you’re going to want to avoid. Avoid sitting near the corner of any sidewalks as this is where they usually place parade walk-throughs. Another spot to avoid is directly in front of the door of any shops or restaurants on Main Street. No matter where you sit, you’re going to have people step over you, but there is always much more traffic just in front of the doors as so much traffic is going in and out of the shops on Main Street.
How To Deal with Child Boredom
After an exciting day at Disney, it may be too much to ask for your children to remain still and calm until the parade starts. There’s several ways to ensure your child isn’t too taxed by having to sit around the Magic Kingdom.
- If you’re traveling with two or more adults, one adult can watch your spot while another adult takes the kids on another ride or to a nearby shop.
- Bring along coloring books and healthy snacks. This can help kids channel their energy into something constructive until time for the parade arrives.
A Good Use For Those Ponchos
Anyone who’s ever spent anytime in Florida knows that the skies are unpredictable. If the weather is really nasty, you run the risk of having the night’s entertainment being cancelled. However, if you have clear skies, but have experienced rain during the day, then you’ll find the pavement to be a nasty place to sit down. This is where those ponchos come in handy. Place them down on the pavement to ensure you’re not totally uncomfortable before and during the parade. If you don’t have a poncho with you, I’ve found that you can go into one of the nearby shops and request they give you a large bag. These bags are plastic and provide a good barrier against the wetness of the pavement. To make the bag cover a larger area, simply tear the bag at the side seams and spread it out over the pavement.
Be prepared: When seeing the night-time parade (currently Spectro-Magic), Magic Kingdom does turn off the lighting making the park extremely dark while the parade passes by. Those first few moments might be a little scary for smaller tots, so make sure to prepare your little ones for those first few moments of darkness. Once the parade comes through, however, your kids will completely forget about the once darkened park.
Though it sounds like a lot of trouble to go through for a parade, the truth is, with a little preparation, waiting for the parade can provide your family with a little downtime after a day full of play. Of course, the true reward for your preparation is having a fantastic seat for some of the greatest entertainment you’ll ever see and a lifetime of memories for you and your family.