Many people hope to enjoy character parades and the nightly fireworks spectaculars during their time at Magic Kingdom® Park. Both events are hallmarks of a Disney vacation that many people treasure for years to come. There's nothing quite like waving to your favorite Disney characters as they float by on impressively themed parade floats.
However, the logistics surrounding both events tend to confuse, stress, and overwhelm many park goers. As a travel advisor, I love assisting individuals by helping them plan the very best Disney experience imaginable. Part of creating this experience is teaching my clients where to go and how to navigate fireworks and parades. Let’s explore several of the best places to watch these events so you can make the best decisions for your Walt Disney World® Resort vacation.
Magic Kingdom® Park Parades and Fireworks: Planning Your Spectacular
Experience
Due to seasonality, differences in crowd size, and other factors, Walt Disney World® Resort does not have set times for parades and fireworks throughout the year. The best way to find this information is to check the My Disney Experience app for the day of your visit. Also, please remember that inclement weather can affect both parades and fireworks displays and can cause cancellations if the weather is particularly bad.
Magic Kingdom® Park Parades: Unveiling the Spectacular Celebrations
Magic Kingdom® Park features different parades based on the time of year and
sometimes the weather. Make sure you stick around when it’s rainy. You might get a chance to see the Rainy Day Cavalcade- Magic Kingdom® Park's mini-parade that only takes place when it’s rainy! For this post’s purposes, however, we’ll discuss the most popular parade in Magic Kingdom® Park - the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade.
Frontierland Parade Viewing: Optimal Location for Spectacular Views
One of our favorite spots to watch the parade is from the start of the parade route over in Frontierland. This is the best spot for enjoying the parade with a minimal wait. It allows you to quickly resume your day while many others are still waiting for the parade to pass by. The only real disadvantage for this viewing spot is that you won’t get the iconic photos of Main Street, U.S.A. or Cinderella Castle in the background. If this isn’t a priority for you, we would highly suggest selecting this as your parade-viewing spot.
Indulge in Delights: Snack Break Suggestions
Parade watching time is also a fantastic time to enjoy a short break with a snack. From this location, you can easily access delicious cinnamon glazed pecans from the glazed nut cart, corn dog nuggets from Westward Ho, and Dole Whip from Aloha Aisle if you use the secret cut-through between Frontier Trading Post and Country Bear Jamboree. If you opt for Dole Whip, we suggest planning ahead and mobile ordering! The lines here get lengthy, so take that into account.
Ideal Spot 1 for Castle Views: Liberty Square Bridge Path
If you’re looking for a great view that isn’t too crowded, but offers glimpses of Cinderella Castle, we suggest checking out the path by the Liberty Square bridge. Standing here allows you to see the castle and get some of those iconic pictures, while also avoiding the crowds and wait time that are associated with standing on Main Street, U.S.A. If this is your goal, stand on the same side of the street as the Liberty Bell and Ye Old Christmas Shoppe so the castle is behind the floats as they pass by.
Considerations for Waiting Time and Comfort
The primary disadvantage of this spot is that you do have to wait about ten to fifteen minutes before the parade begins to pass by. While it’s minor, we also find that this area, accompanied by the deep red brick walkway, can feel hot. However, if you arrive early (around 30 minutes) and claim your spot, you might be able to find some shade. We also suggest opting for the earlier parade, if two are scheduled, as the sun isn’t as high in the sky.
Indulge in Delicious Snacks Nearby
As we mentioned above, parade watching time is a great time for taking a snack break and you’re close to one of the best park snacks in this specific location. Go ahead and mobile order the Nutella fruit waffle from Sleepy Hollow. It’s the perfect breakfast or morning snack, which is another reason we suggest this spot for the first parade showings each day. If you’re in the mood for a savory option, Liberty Square Market has the classic Mickey pretzel or turkey leg. Sleepy Hollow also offers delicious chicken and waffles. These options are all available after 11:00 AM.
Prime Parade Viewing: In Front of the Castle or Main Street, U.S.A.
Your third, and the most popular choice, is to view the parade from in front of Cinderella Castle or along Main Street, U.S.A. Many people feel that this offers the quintessential Disney experience along with picturesque photo opportunities. If this is your priority, we highly suggest arriving early and planning to spend a bit of time waiting. If you can swing it, Main Street Train Station is an incredible viewing area, but arriving early is an absolute must as most of the area is reserved for VIP viewing. Only consider this if you don’t mind spending a long time waiting.
Considerations for Lightning Lane and Wait Times
If you want the best view without the wait, you can currently opt to use a lightning lane and get a premier viewing spot in front of Cinderella Castle. However, we don’t typically recommend this as you can find a great spot without it. If you do opt for this, remember that it may sell out early. Keep that in mind if it’s your strategy.
Crowd and Convenience Factors
The major upside, as we mentioned, is the picturesque views and nostalgic experiences. However, if these aren’t your top priorities, we’d select an alternate location. This area will require some wait time and tends to be crowded. Not only does this contribute to crowds during the parade, but it also makes getting to your next activity a bit more challenging as you must navigate exiting the crowd.
Snack Options Galore
Another upside to this location is the vast number of snack options. Some classic options are Mickey pretzels, Mickey bars or a good ole’ box of popcorn. These can all be bought at the snack cart between the bridges for Adventureland and Liberty Square or the snack cart by the bridge to Tomorrowland. If you’re looking for a caffeine fix, this is the ideal time to indulge. Main Street Bakery is the Starbucks on Main Street, U.S.A. and is the perfect option for that much-needed morning pick me up. For afternoon parade goers, mobile order some corn dog nuggets from Casey’s Corner and have a yummy little sidewalk picnic. It’s a great choice for an afternoon break.
Magic Kingdom® Park Fireworks: Selecting Your Perfect Spot
The fireworks nighttime spectaculars in Magic Kingdom® Park are an awe-inspiring experience that all Disney visitors should do at least once. However, it’s important to prioritize what you are most interested in as this is a huge determining factor when it comes to selecting your spot.
Considerations for Viewing Preferences
Those most interested in Castle projections will want to stand in a different place than those most interested in the projections on Main Street, U.S.A. Another determinant is your crowd tolerance and how quickly you wish to exit the park following the fireworks.
Special Event Considerations
You also need to take special events such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party into account. Use the My Disney Experience app as your times guide to make sure fireworks are indeed occurring while you are in the park. The firework show often happens after closing on nights when the park closes early for these events. Additionally, when these closures occur, specialty fireworks spectaculars designed for the event often take place.
Magic Kingdom® Park Fireworks: Castle Projection Views
If the castle projections and special effects are a high priority for you, and you don’t want to push your way through the crowd, I typically suggest claiming your spot an hour and a half before the fireworks are set to begin. One of my go-to spots for a great view of the projections is to stand between the statue of Walt and Mickey, and Cinderella Castle. This area fills up quite quickly. Cast members will start encouraging guests to fill in all available space about half an hour before the show. If claustrophobia is a concern, this is likely the wrong spot for you. I would highly suggest checking out some of my alternative suggestions below.
Precautions for Comfort
Additionally, be mindful that the ground here gets quite warm. If you’re sitting waiting for the show to begin, it doesn’t hurt to put a barrier, like a towel or blanket, between you and the ground. If you know at the beginning of your day that you’d like to prioritize this, you can place your towel or blanket in a locker at the front of the park.
Mobile Ordering Tips
Finally, if you choose this option, you may find that you want dinner or a snack. Utilizing mobile ordering via the My Disney Experience app is incredibly helpful. While you can’t mobile order from the snack carts, Casey’s Corner is an excellent choice. Just be sure to place your order early as they do close down the mobile ordering option as the fireworks time draws near.
Viewing Fireworks from Main Street, U.S.A.
Option number 2 is to catch the fireworks from Main Street, U.S.A. While you won’t be able to see the castle projections up close, you will be able to see the projections around you while also having a great vantage point for the actual fireworks. This is a good spot if you are concerned about the crowds or wish to quickly exit the park following the fireworks. If that’s a priority for you, try to stand near the end of Main Street, U.S.A. close to either the bakery or the emporium. If you want to prioritize a quick exit, but would like to stand a bit closer, stand near the walkway by Crystal Arts. This path often opens following the fireworks to reduce bottlenecks and diffuse the crowd.
Consider the Fireworks Dessert Party
If your top priority is seeing great views of the fireworks without the stress you may want to book a Fireworks Dessert Party. I always recommend the pre- or post-party as they offer seating in the Plaza Garden. The standard party includes viewing on Tomorrowland Terrace where the castle projections aren’t as visible. These parties are a hot commodity, so be sure to book by the 60-day mark.
Benefits of Fireworks Dessert Parties
We love fireworks parties because they offer the opportunity to relax and avoid a bunch of pre-planning. Having a dedicated location to enjoy the fireworks also means there are fewer crowds. It also creates space for a little extra breathing room. Sweets are included as the name suggests and we’ve found that these are quite delightful and often are themed according to the season. Choosing to indulge in a Fireworks Dessert Party is also a fantastic way to celebrate a special occasion or commemorate something important.
Planning Your Parade and Fireworks Experience
If a parade or fireworks is a crucial part of your day at Magic Kingdom® Park, I highly recommend taking the time to consider where you want to be and what matters most to you. Remember to consider what sounds most enjoyable for your party and have a conversation about how you’ll navigate these pieces of your day.
When you use me as your travel advisor, I can ask questions that help you decide your priorities before we work together to craft the perfect plan for you and your people. Looking for more specific tips and tricks about Magic Kingdom® Park or Walt Disney World in general? Check us out on Instagram and join our email newsletter.
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