Howdy, Kirsten! Welcome to planDisney.
Oh boy! How incredible that your daughter will be performing in the
Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom Park! That's the kind of memory that gets talked about for years, and you're going to have the absolute best time cheering her on. You'll be so proud seeing someone you love right there on Main Street, U.S.A., bringing the show to life.
As for the park reservation note, some Park Hopper tickets still require a theme park reservation for the first park you enter that day. Since your daughter's parade is at
Magic Kingdom Park and the itinerary specifically mentions needing a reservation, I'd go ahead and
secure a reservation for Magic Kingdom to keep things simple and stress-free. It's always better to have that set rather than risk any hiccups the morning of her performance.
For watching the parade, find a spot on Main Street, U.S.A., and arrive at least 45 minutes early. You'll get a fantastic view of
Cinderella Castle in one direction and the huge Christmas tree in the other direction. Perfect for photos! Enjoy every second of it, Kirsten!
Mike