Where to watch the parade at Magic Kingdom

For many guests, a day in Magic Kingdom Park isn’t complete without enjoying the parade. Is anything else across Walt Disney World Resort so quintessentially “Disney”?

But where’s the best parade spot? That answer may depend on what you’re looking for.

First Things First

As we begin, a few points of note:

• Parade route: All parades at Magic Kingdom begin in Frontierland and subsequently travel through Liberty Square and down Main Street, U.S.A. before concluding in Town Square. This is true even on days when there are multiple parade showtimes.
  
• Tips applicable for any parade: Most of the information in this story pertains to any type of “parade,” including the shorter cavalcades and the seasonal parades at the Halloween and Christmas parties.
  
• Performance times: The park’s signature daytime parade is currently “Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade.” Consult the My Disney Experience app for showtimes, as the age-old joke “What time does the 3:00 parade start?” isn’t always true these days.

For More Character Interaction

Characters aboard parade floats do a great job at waving to guests along the entire route, regardless of the viewer’s distance or angle from the float.

For high-fives and quick hugs from characters, though, you’ll need to stake out a front-row spot early. Generally speaking, curb spots fill up along the route at least 30 minutes prior to showtime (except for cavalcades, which many guests experience more spontaneously rather than wait around for).

You’ll increase your chances of character interaction by standing in an area that only permits guests to watch the parade on one side of the street. Since the other side is blocked off, the characters aren’t splitting their attention. Such areas include just across from the fenced seating area of Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café in Frontierland, as well as outside of Harmony Barber Shop in Town Square.

Characters also love waving to guests watching the parade from the Walt Disney World Railroad Station on Main Street, U.S.A. It’s the only spot along the parade route where guests are eye-level with the characters riding atop tall floats.

For a Short Wait

Standing in a fixed spot … outside … in Florida … for an extended period of time … is not most people’s idea of fun. Some families may be willing to stick it out in the sunshine for the sake of a prime parade viewing spot. Others may still want to see the parade, but don’t mind if their view is partially obstructed, or don’t want to take more time away from riding rides than they have to.

If you fall into the latter category, Frontierland is a smart choice. Though guests in Frontierland claim their spots well in advance of showtime, the math overall works in your favor because the parade starts closer to you, whereas everyone standing further along the route waits longer for the parade to reach them.

Town Square can sometimes be sparse (or at least, not thick with multiple rows of guests). Harmony Barber Shop, at the very end of the parade route in the corner of Town Square, is consistently still available for parade viewing up until the last minute. Inadvertently, though, navigating your way to this spot may require some strategy, as in order for your wait to truly be short, you’ll be walking toward this location as the parade is already in motion. The easiest passageway is from Adventureland: exiting the land near The Crystal Palace, entering Casey’s Corner, and walking the length of the Emporium (indoors) all the way down Main Street. You’ll emerge outside at your destination, just outside of Harmony Barber Shop.

Another last-minute spot? The Hub, the park’s central plaza in front of Cinderella Castle. While front-row curb spots definitely fill up fast, guests who don’t mind being further away from the action will find plenty of room to stand (and even move around to varying viewpoints) nearby the Partners statue. There’s something about the parade being 360 degrees around you — in the shadow of the castle, no less — that makes this spot particularly magical.

For Dynamic Photography

Magic Kingdom’s parades are excellent opportunities for photographers of all skill levels to practice their picture-snapping techniques.

For more dynamic photos, choose a “corner spot,” so to speak, anywhere along the parade route where the floats will travel directly toward you before making a turn. From this vantage point, you’ll see the floats and performers from multiple angles, and sometimes might even score layered views of multiple floats at once.

“Corner spots” providing especially nice depth can be found outside of The Diamond Horseshoe in Frontierland, the side of the Hub facing Liberty Square, and outside of Liberty Square Market (all three spots pictured sequentially below), as well as directly behind the Town Square flagpole, facing the castle. Avoid spots where, if you were to look directly across the street, the parade floats would only travel “horizontally” from your eyeline.

Remember to take height into account, too; these floats are tall! The Walt Disney World Railroad Station in Town Square also affords spectacular, elevated wide shots and eye-level closer shots of characters atop their floats.

Photographers may also want to note the lighting in any given area and choose their parade spot accordingly. While the main afternoon parade almost always happens in the middle of the day with direct sunlight everywhere, the cavalcades sometimes take place close to dusk, and, of course, the parades at after-hours parties take place after dark.

Lighting preferences are subjective; some photographers may prefer more exposure while others favor a muted look, and you’ll get completely different photos depending on where you’re standing. As an example of this study, notice the lighting differences between the pair of photos below, taken during the same performance of the same cavalcades, from the start and end of the parade route (with no short amount of brisk walking in between each shot!).

For a Classic Disney Feel

Nothing beats Main Street, U.S.A. for that postcard-perfect Disney ambience. It’s no wonder why the annual ABC Christmas Day parade chooses Main Street as its broadcast location. Inevitably, though, you’ll need to carve out about an hour of your day to secure a front-row parade spot on Main Street’s curb.

Parade Viewing for Guests with Disabilities

Disney reserves several parade viewing areas for guests with disabilities: near the Liberty Tree in Liberty Square, in front of the Partners statue in the Hub, and outside of the fire station in Town Square.

Magic Kingdom Parade Videos

Magic Kingdom has hosted many parades in its nearly 53-year history, from seasonal processions to one-time events (like Dara Reneé’s appearance in April 2024 as part of the annual Disney Dreamers Academy). Take a look through Magic Kingdom parade history in the videos below from our Attractions Magazine YouTube archive.

If you’re interested in visiting Walt Disney World Resort, we recommend Mouse Fan Travel for a free, no obligation quote and free help throughout your trip.