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Does anyone have a suggestion as to the least crowded place to view the Electric Light Parade? I am typically not a parade person, usually by parade time I have found a fun spot for "adult" beverages. But I will be there with a bunch of people, some of which have never been to WDW! How fun right??? So, as the designated tour guide in the family, I want to be able to have the best location, with the least crowds. I'm sure Main Street is out of the question... thanks in advance for the help!

There's no such place as an uncrowded place to watch a parade at WDW, unfortunately. However, we've had good luck in front of the Barber Shop on Main Street.

Future Guy wrote:There's no such place as an uncrowded place to watch a parade at WDW, unfortunately. However, we've had good luck in front of the Barber Shop on Main Street.

I honestly wish that they would do the 9PM and 11PM runnings of the parade. I know from experience that the 11PM parade is a lot less busier than the 9PM. Last year we were able to have all the area we wanted in front of Tony's. It was so empty that the CM's were hanging around and talking with us since there was really no need for any crowd control.

As for the MSEP this year, it is only going once a night. I would say that it would really come down to the least popular viewing locations. I think the best place might be in the circle near the park entrance. It is toughest to get pictures over there as the floats are coming around a bend and it cuts down on the photo angles.

Len90 wrote:

Future Guy wrote:There's no such place as an uncrowded place to watch a parade at WDW, unfortunately. However, we've had good luck in front of the Barber Shop on Main Street.

I honestly wish that they would do the 9PM and 11PM runnings of the parade. I know from experience that the 11PM parade is a lot less busier than the 9PM. Last year we were able to have all the area we wanted in front of Tony's. It was so empty that the CM's were hanging around and talking with us since there was really no need for any crowd control.

As for the MSEP this year, it is only going once a night. I would say that it would really come down to the least popular viewing locations. I think the best place might be in the circle near the park entrance. It is toughest to get pictures over there as the floats are coming around a bend and it cuts down on the photo angles.

True on the photo angle but more people might want to watch the parade there so as to have a quick exit once the parade is over...

cousininmiami wrote:Does anyone have a suggestion as to the least crowded place to view the Electric Light Parade? I am typically not a parade person, usually by parade time I have found a fun spot for "adult" beverages. But I will be there with a bunch of people, some of which have never been to WDW! How fun right??? So, as the designated tour guide in the family, I want to be able to have the best location, with the least crowds. I'm sure Main Street is out of the question... thanks in advance for the help!

Is there a speak-easy on Mainstreet? I'd love an adult beverage before the parade.

greendoor678 wrote:

cousininmiami wrote:Does anyone have a suggestion as to the least crowded place to view the Electric Light Parade? I am typically not a parade person, usually by parade time I have found a fun spot for "adult" beverages. But I will be there with a bunch of people, some of which have never been to WDW! How fun right??? So, as the designated tour guide in the family, I want to be able to have the best location, with the least crowds. I'm sure Main Street is out of the question... thanks in advance for the help!

Is there a speak-easy on Mainstreet? I'd love an adult beverage before the parade.

If you want an MK adult beverage you need to bring your own in a squeeze bottle.

If there is a second parade the night you are there, I highly recommend it. Was there on Wednesday and it was a zoo getting to the middle of Main Street but the park was a lot less crowded than before the fireworks. The funny thing was that after I saw MSEP that night and left the park to go home, most of the people who left before the second parade that night were still waiting for the Express Monorail on the the ramp. I just walked over to the Resort side and got on the next Monorail in the station...

We always had good luck viewing Spectro in front of the bakery. Just take a seat at the edge of the curb and you should be all set.

We like to view Spectro in Frontierland, it never seems to be as crowded. I think most people try to crowd in on Main St.

Len90 wrote:I honestly wish that they would do the 9PM and 11PM runnings of the parade....As for the MSEP this year, it is only going once a night.

You probably already know this but they are running the parade twice nightly, at 9 and 11. They both run from Main Street to Frontierland (no reverse direction route.) Definitely seeing the end of the 11pm parade from outside Pecos Bill's is the easiest way to have fewer crowds. I was there Thursday night and that area of the park was dead while Main Street was gridlocked.

horizons1 wrote:

Len90 wrote:I honestly wish that they would do the 9PM and 11PM runnings of the parade....As for the MSEP this year, it is only going once a night.

You probably already know this but they are running the parade twice nightly, at 9 and 11. They both run from Main Street to Frontierland (no reverse direction route.) Definitely seeing the end of the 11pm parade from outside Pecos Bill's is the easiest way to have fewer crowds. I was there Thursday night and that area of the park was dead while Main Street was gridlocked.

They finally updated their park operating calendar to show the two MSEP performances last week or so. I was extremely excited to see that since the 11PM parade is usually about 1/3 of the crowd of the 9PM parade. However, last year the 9PM parade would be packed and the 11PM parade would be barren. You would almost think that there was no parade happening since the crowds were so light.

Is anybody reading any of this?

Jacca5660 wrote:Is anybody reading any of this?

Yep... You don't find this info helpful, Jacca?

NaCler wrote:

Jacca5660 wrote:Is anybody reading any of this?

Yep... You don't find this info helpful, Jacca?

I'm reading it too...I am pretty intrigued by what MadEye said about the resort monorail vs. the express monorail...it has been so long since I was at WDW I forget exactly what goes where...but I do remember the interminable wait for the monorail some nights I much prefer walking around and enjoying the lights and music than being stacked up on the ramp waiting...waiting...waiting...
So...if you take the resort monorail (after enjoying the Electric Light Parade - so as to keep on topic ), can you then take a bus to wherever you really want to go?

Thanks for all the ideas everyone!!! I am going up on July 31 just to watch the parade and want to make sure i see every bulb!!! lol