Hi Ashley! You came to the right place with your question. I just caught the Main Street Electrical Parade, and I am still beaming! The minute you hear the electronic beats of the opening song and spot Mickey and Minnie on that classic, sparkling locomotive, your heart just bursts with pure joy and nostalgia! And you will not believe the new finale float! It's an incredible ode to togetherness, featuring characters from Encanto, Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon, and more. What I love about it is that the float is different on both sides, so you may want to try to catch it twice!
Ok, can you tell I am just a little excited for you?! I had been hoping to catch the Plaza Dining Package as well but missed it when they released the dates and wasn't able to find a cancellation before my trip. There is so much value in a fun dining experience that includes a spot in the preferred viewing area. Great food and not waiting for a spot on the parade route is a win-win in my book! While I don't quite have enough pixie dust to open up that reservation calendar for you, you are doing everything I would recommend to try to get a reservation. Guests can cancel their dining packages up to one day ahead of time, and they are always modifying their plans. With a little faith, trust, and patience, you might find a reservation open up! My one tip here is that instead of just searching "lunch" when selecting timing, try tapping into each of the windows available. The Dining Package is available from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. so I would individually tap into each button within that time period. No guarantees, but this has proved successful in the past when trying to score coveted reservations.
I completely understand that this is not the ideal solution, and I'm sure you are hoping to get all your ducks in a row ahead of time for your vacation. I do have a few tips and tricks to try if the Plaza Dining does not open up:
1. "it's a small world" Viewing Area: while this is not a secret spot, per se, it is definitely the road less traveled, and you can usually find a good view closer to parade time without having to camp out a few hours ahead of time. Another benefit to this location is that the earlier parade will begin right at "it's a small world", so as soon as it's over you can hop on some attractions with hopefully a lower wait time while the rest of the park is still watching the parade! There's also a VERY cute "it's a small world" Encanto Projection show that runs every hour starting at 9:15 p.m. that you could catch as well!
2. Catch the second showtime: there are two showtimes per night for the Main Street Electrical Parade. I would check the entertainment schedule for each of your park days for exact timings. Not surprisingly, the later parade definitely has fewer crowds. My fellow panelist Carrie and I were able to get a great front-row sidewalk spot just 45 minutes ahead of time to watch the second parade right in front of the Main Street, U.S.A. Disneyland Railroad Station. Keep in mind that the first parade will go from "it's a small world" to the top of Main Street, U.S.A. while the second parade will do the reverse, heading toward Sleeping Beauty Castle and finishing at "it's a small world". We knew we wanted to head out right after the parade, so it was also a great spot to beat the crowds to the exit!
One final note before I send you off to the Happiest Place on Earth! Be sure to grab some of the Electric Sweet and Salty Popcorn from the "it's a small world" popcorn carts - delish!
Magic awaits!
Tara