Pushing and Cutting at Fireworks and Parades

You gotta box out like Dennis Rodman...the only way. Use your body, your stroller, a garbage can, street light, anything.

A agree with the Colonel in using things to block out your space.

I frequently have an ECV, and I park it defensively (usually right up against the rope line) but then I sit down on a ledge about 2-3 feet away. I spread out with my purse and bags, sometimes put my feet up on the seat of the ECV creating a "block" for people trying to walk by. Or I'll put my bags on the ledge and stand between the ECV and the ledge.

Honestly, it takes more than one person to defend your spot. I've found this to be the case even when I'm in the handicap viewing areas. You have to be as large as possible, and not look terribly friendly. Elbows out, large hand gestures, don't move your feet. If you appear to be "nice people" you'll get squashed.

6 foot 360 here not many people cut in front of me

I would suggest going on the rides during the parade and fireworks on your MK day, there will be little or no queues. Then on another day watch the fireworks from the Polynesian beach or California Grill (you will need a reservation or get to the bar early). It is stressful trying to hold a spot for the parade so just turn up 5 mins before and you will still see it, and if you have very little kids with you, people are normally ok about them going in front of them to watch.

The best place right now to watch the night parade is on the porch of Country Bear Jamboree. We showed up 10 minutes before and didn't have to fight for a spot.

Fireworks in the park are just a nightmare no matter what, I think.

For stress-free viewing of Wishes Fireworks, try the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party. Here you are in a reservation-only seating area with tables, you get to enjoy a buffet of desserts and (non-alcoholic) drinks, and you don't have a bunch of people crowding around you to see the fireworks. I did this a few weeks ago with my DD and it was well-worth it. I would actually do it again on a future trip.

You arrive at the event about 1 hour prior to the start of Wishes (so you may have to miss ELP - no big deal if you are doing MK on more than one night or if you have seen it already). Cost is about $24 per adult depending on the season. I believe I paid $23.99+tax for myself and $11.99+tax for my DD. Some may think this is a lot to spend just on a plate or two of desserts, but you are really paying for the amazing view and the convenience of having a reserved chair in a nice, comfortable space as you watch the Fireworks.

Reservations open up only about 45-30 days prior to the event date. I called many times a few weeks ahead, but reservations were not open yet. I finally was able to make a reservation online about 30 days out on the ADR site: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/magic-kingdom/tomorrowland-terrace-fireworks-dessert-party/

Let me know if you have any questions about my experience and I'll be happy to share

Anyone have a must see parade?
The last two times I visited WDW our older children were more focused on maximizing the number of times they were on rides, and we did not see any parades. We did survive the walk of death through the Wishes ending. Honestly, I thought we were not going to survive. I had adults pushing in front of me; which separated me from my young grandsons. I even had a stroller and people pushed me backwards. It was a nightmare, not a wish. We were simply wanting to move out of the park and could not get through the crowds.

This time I am going with the idea of enjoying the parades and fireworks that makes WDW different from all of the other amusement parks. I would love to hear from anyone else who did the Tomorrowland Terrace dessert.

Watch the Animal Kingdom Parade from the Dawa Bar, it's a very tall parade so you can see everything even if you're not in the front row. The bar provides a shady spot with tables & chairs, refreshments are right there, it's pretty great.
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/articles/my-favorite-disneys-animal-kingdom-parade-spot

My favorite WDW Parade is the "Boo To You" that's shown during the Halloween Party.

I'm a sucker for every parade and fireworks show. I've seen everything so many times, there is no anxiety. If I get a good spot, fine, if not, that's fine too. Sometimes, you luck into an interesting spot. I couldn't get near Electric Parade once, so I watched from a distance standing on a fence in liberty square. Right over everyone's head.

I have no must-see parades. Hubby loves the AK parade, so we always make time for that one. We've seen others as well, usually because we happened by the parade route shortly before the parade began and were lucky enough to find a suitable viewing spot. I was very pleased to have a chance to see the electric parade this way on our last visit and loved it. But frequently, parades are pointless for me because I'm quite short and (as has been pointed out here) many grown, ought-to-know-better adults who have a good foot on me height-wise think nothing of parking their kiester right in front of me, and then hoisting a small child onto their shoulders. (I've got news for them - their kid is going to grow up to be as tall as they are. I'm never gonna hit five feet. So give me a break, okay?)

Last trip, we did wait for the AK parade and found a spot right at the rope. When the parade started, of course people started trying to push up front. There was a young boy, maybe 6-8 years old and a good foot shorter than I am, so of course I let him stand in front of me. But Mom didn't want to be separated from him and tried to push in front of me as well. Sorry, Mom. I held my ground. She kept trying all through the parade. She'd inch a little, I'd inch a little. She probably spent the rest of the day talking about the b**** who got between her and her kid. If it was that important, she should've kept the kid back with her.

I don't see many of the parades because a)I am short and b)I get claustraphobic. I hate people bumping and pushing me in a grocery store so I am content to view them on YouTube. Not the same I know but you pick your poison.

I agree with everyone about blocking your spot. I was once able to get a spot right at the rope which I defended by standing wide-legged and holding the rope in my hand so as not to get butted out of my spot. It was the second time I've been front and centre at a parade.

If you're lucky enough, I'd also suggest taking advantage of parades during the rain. I got to see a rainy day parade where the characters are in rain gear and some ride in cars. Most guests were in the Main Street USA shops to avoid the downpour, but I took advantage of it and stood out in the rain with a few other diehard guests!

My must-see parade would be the electrical water pageant because I'm always guaranteed a good spot!

I'll go off on tangent. I love the parks in general in the rain. I went to MNSSHP in a downpour and there were no lines, no crowds, AND, Disney gave everyone their money back due to the weather. Still got the parade, Hallowishes, and walked on rides with no wait at all.

my craziest parade story happened this summer at AK. I was just behind the rope, and able to see over the head of the woman in front of me. HOWEVER, when the parade started she whipped out an IPAD - not a phone, mind you, but a large tablet - and stuck it up above her head at my eye level! The folks around me could not believe it either.

And she would not respond to our requests to lower it. No Disney manners.

I just booked the Tomorrowland Terrace party as well for our upcoming 40th birthday/17th anniversary trip and it was challenging getting it. I tried online and kept getting an error, so i just called reservations who said no availability and thats why i got the error.

That didn't sound right though because you shouldn't get an error for that, so then i tried from a different computer and got the reseravtion.

We are pretty excited about it.

In regards to getting a good spot along the route we just spread out and hold our ground. You can't be nice about it even if it goes against your normal demeanor.