Hi there, Gemma!
How exciting that you're headed back to Walt Disney World Resort
for (what I'm sure feels like)
the first time in forever! It's always such a treat to dream of the most wonderful time of year in The Most Magical Place on Earth, so I'm delighted that you're once again making planDisney a part of your pixie-dusted preparations. Let's clear a path. It's time to talk parades!
Walt Disney World's parades are known for their magically colorful floats, detailed choreography, catchy soundtracks, and appearances by beloved characters, so whether it's the
Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, seasonal Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, or nighttime parade debuting in the Summer of 2025,
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, I completely understand wanting to secure an excellent viewing spot. Unfortunately, the dining package you previously enjoyed at Tony's Town Square Restaurant is no longer offered. At this time, the only option for priority parade viewing is through a
Private VIP Tour.
I'm sure this isn't what you were hoping to hear, Gemma, so although you will likely not be able to guarantee your spot for parade viewing, I'd love to share my favorite place to watch the magical caravans drift by. If catching a parade on Main Street, U.S.A. is important to you, then you'll want to head that way to secure a spot at least a half-hour in advance. Personally, I'd rather spend that time enjoying dining, attractions, or character interactions, so I frequently head to the less-popular part of the parade route in Frontierland about 10-15 minutes before it begins to see the very beginning of the parade. Once the parade passes by, this also allows me to enjoy attractions in Frontierland or Adventureland while the Guests on Main Street are still waiting for it to arrive.
As I previously mentioned,
Magic Kingdom Park is debuting a new nighttime parade this summer, and here at planDisney we can barely contain our excitement each time a new detail is shared. Since the news of this parade is already dazzling Guests, I expect it will be wildly popular, so there's a chance a preferred viewing option will be announced in the coming months. I encourage you to follow along on Walt Disney World's social media and the
Disney Parks Blog so that you can know what to expect during your upcoming visit.
I hope this information helps you plan your very merry vacation, Gemma! If you need any additional assistance as your countdown continues, feel free to
stop back by planDisney. We're always happy to help!
Thinking Happy Thoughts,
Lizzie