Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
bring your own treats for the kids—the dessert box is full of fancy desserts that
no child recognizes or wants to eat.
However, a multigenerational Seattle family called it the “highlight of the trip”:
Because we had a large party (8), we opted to pay for the dessert package for
Fantasmic!
Everyone thought it was well worth it, especially since our trip only
coincided with one showing. Iwould HIGHLY recommend the dessert package,
especially if youhave seniors inyourtouring group.Being able tosit inachair
was worth the price alone!
Finally,makesuretohangontochildrenduring
Fantasmic!
andtogivethemexplicit
instructions for regrouping in the event that you are separated. Be especially vigilant when
the crowd disperses after the show.
PARADES
DISNEY THEME PARKS ARE FAMOUS THE WORLD OVER
for their parades. Currently,
there is a parade every day in late afternoon or early evening. On days when the park
closes late (10 p.m.-midnight), the parade runs twice.
The parades are full-blown Disney productions with some combination of floats,
huge inflated balloons of the characters, marching bands, old-time vehicles, dancers,
and, of course, literally dozens of costumed Disney characters. Themes for the
parades vary from time to time, and a special holiday parade is always produced
for Christmas. Mickey's Soundsational Parade, Disneyland's latest daytime proces-
sional, premiered in 2011. It features a whimsical marching band theme with brand-
new floats dedicated to
The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid,
and a Keith
Moon-channeling Drummer Mickey. The new parade is a big improvement over
Disneyland's previous street party, and well worth watching from the stick-twirling
drum-line kickoff to the
Mary Poppins
finale.
Parades always draw thousands of guests from the attraction lines. We recom-
mend, therefore, watching from the departure point. With this strategy you can enjoy
the parade, and then while the parade is continuing on its route, take advantage of the
diminished lines at the attractions. Watching a parade that begins in Fantasyland from
Small World Mall affords the greatest mobility in terms of accessing other areas of
the park when the parade has passed.
Main Street is the most crowded area from which to watch a parade when the
route begins at Town Square. The opposite is true when the parade begins in Fanta-
syland. The upper platform of the Main Street train station affords the best viewing
perspective along the route. The best time to get a position on the platform is when
the parade begins in Fantasyland. When this happens, good spots on the platform are
available right up to the time the parade begins. When you are at the end of the parade
