Hi Ana!
Welcome to planDisney! I’m happy to help you out because I just did my own little research when it comes to viewing the new
Starlight Parade from different areas around the park on my recent trip!
For the
Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Pre-Party, you’ll get to enjoy all the delicious desserts and drinks first, then head over to the Plaza Garden viewing area. At this time, there are two showings of the Disney Starlight parade whenever Magic Kingdom is not hosting a
holiday party: one usually happens about an hour before the
Happily Ever After fireworks, and the other usually happens about an hour after the fireworks. So, like you mentioned, the second showing will be your best bet to enjoy the parade!
Once the fireworks are done, I’m not quite sure if they completely empty out the Plaza Garden viewing area or not, but there’s usually no other events being hosted in that area. So there’s a good chance they’ll let you stay put. I’d ask the Cast Member at the entrance to the area when you arrive to make sure.
With that being said, I watched the first parade of the night from that area on my recent trip, and while the view was actually better than I was expecting it to be since a lot of the floats are tall, I’d recommend snagging a spot right along the parade route if possible.
From the Plaza Garden viewing area, you don’t get to fully see the floats and performers. And there were times when I felt like I was hearing the music from more than one float at a time because of the location between Main Street and the main hub area by Cinderella Castle. If seeing all of the details and characters close up is a priority, I’d plan to leave the Plaza Garden viewing area once the fireworks are over and watch the parade elsewhere.
If you see a spot along Main Street or by the castle, I say grab it! But those areas might end up being crowded. What I found, though, was that during the second parade of the night, the crowds toward the end of the parade route were very light, especially if you head there right after the fireworks.
Even on a busy night, the parade route in that area didn’t start filling up until about 20-25 minutes before the start of the parade. So I would recommend hanging out in the Plaza Garden area for a few minutes while the big crowds begin to exit the park after the fireworks, then make your way back to Frontierland or Liberty Square.
I hope that gives you some guidance as you plan your night! Enjoy the parade! It’s so special! Let us know if you have any other questions. We’re always happy to help!
Jenn J.