Top 5 Parade Viewing Areas at Disney World

Could there be only FIVE? Of course not, but calling this a Top Fourty-Three just wouldn’t have the same ring to it! Actually, I don’t really know exactly how many Parade viewing areas there are, but I suppose any spot that lets you see the characters is a good one.

To keep this essay under 15,000 words, however, I’m only going to cover the Top Five. Beginning with:

5. Wherever there is a space

Right off the bat, I have to admit that I have never staked out a ‘territory’ for parade watching. It seems that in most cases, if you want a ‘good’ spot, you have to stake your claim one to two hours before the parade begins. I’m sorry, but that just takes too much time out of my Disney experience!

But I do agree that people who show up two minutes before the parade begins only to shove their way to the front are ignorant and should be corrected. Then removed! Now, I am someone who wanders over to the parade route just before it begins, but I always keep moving until I find an empty spot. In my view, anywhere can be a good spot. I usually put my wife in front of me (because she’s short!) and then I stand directly behind her, so we in reality take up only one spot.

And being over six foot tall in shoes, I try to regard shorter people behind me if I can. And I always keep my camera at eye level, so as not to block the view of others. For this last-minute parade viewing technique, I find Frontierland to be the best, and least crowded, area.

Of course, this is just what I do for parades. But my buddy Mike uses this method too. I also asked some of my other friends here at Chip and Company what they thought were the best spots for parade viewing, and I now give you their ideas in the remaining top four spots:

4. In the Hub

Several people I interviewed said that this was a great place. I have tried it myself and have to agree. The advantage to this spot is that you can easily move around the circle, following a particular float if you wish. For filming, you can rotate your shots with ease, especially if you are rather tall and stand in the center.

Keep in mind that most of the action in a parade takes place up on the floats, which makes it easy to see. However, this location may make it difficult to see walking characters unless you are on the outer rim of the Hub.

And when it’s all over, you can go in any direction for more Disney magic!

3. In front of the Hall of Presidents

Ken finds this to be the best spot, perhaps because you won’t get a lot of people in your shots as you photograph the parades as it is directly across from the wheelchair area on Main Street. And hey, if you get tired, maybe you can sit down in one of the chairs! But be sure to stand if one of the animatronic figures comes out of The Hall of Presidents!

2. In front of the Barber Shop

For this one, Kristen recommends this spot as the best in World, especially for nighttime parades. Due to your proximity to the main entrance you get a lot of one-on-one with the walking characters. She mentioned that her daughter has been spoken to, even over the loud speaker (by Pete on the Pete’s Dragon float). And this has happened often since they’ve started standing there!

So in front of the Barber Shop is definitely  a good spot! But only good enough for the number two spot on the Top Five.

1. Upstairs on the Train Station platform

This idea never occurred to me, but it’s so awesome it takes the number one spot! Melisa Lynn recommends it, not only for parade watching, but for the Wishes fireworks as well. But be sure to get there one to two hours early if you want a banister spot. The Train Station can be quite busy!

Think about it: An elevated viewing platform with no one in front of you. Perfect point-of-view photograph opportunities (just don’t stand directly in line with the flag pole). And the ability to see almost the whole parade at once. And when it’s all over, you can jump on the train for one last trip around The Magic Kingdom!

And that brings another Top Five to a close. If you feel like sharing your best parade viewing spot, just click on the comments and let us know about it. Hey, maybe we’ll be standing next to each other at the next Disney Parade!

Related articles

• Best Viewing Locations for the Disney World Parades (couponingtodisney.com)
• Top 10 Things To Do at Night in the Magic Kingdom (chipandco.com)

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