The Great Disney World Controversies: Afternoon Nap or Afternoon Parade?

By Dave Shute

(This is the first entry in a new series on Disney World Controversies.)

AFTERNOON PARADES OR AFTERNOON NAPS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD?

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Teal. Enjoy the ride as we delve into the great Disney controversies, large and small.

I’m working on revising my itineraries, for a couple of reasons:

• To incorporate the Fantasyland Expansion and a few other more minor changes at Disney World
• To simplify them a bit, and
• To do a little better job at targeting lower crowd days.

While doing so, I’m going back to and testing first principles.  The itineraries are designed to show “all the best” of Walt Disney World in one eight night trip.

So what’s not the best?  What can be left out?  Can I leave out the afternoon parades?

The afternoon parades are a much-loved part of first family visits to Walt Disney World, and a tradition on return visits for many.

On the other hand, they absorb a lot of time that could be spent seeing other stuff–usually less crowded during the periods before and during the parades–or taking naps, swimming or otherwise relaxing without lines or schedules.

Moreover…the Disney World afternoon parades are kind of lame.

THE AFTERNOON PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

There’s currently three afternoon parades at Disney World

• The Magic Kingdom: Celebrate a Dream Come True, usually at 3p
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade, at 3p
• Disney’ Animal Kingdom: Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade, at 3.45p

Because of their timing–and the fact that on busier days you ought to get a viewing spot early–these parades mess with one of the best ways to tour Disney World–show up before the parks open, tour in the morning before the peak crowds build, avoid the heat and lines by taking the afternoon off, and returning in the cool of the evening.

Moreover, they just aren’t that great.  The parade at the Hollywood Studios was wonderful until its best bits were cut a year or so ago.  The Animal Kingdom parade is a favorite of some, but the near-identity of many of its rickshaw floats makes it dull to others.  The parade at the Magic Kingdom is ok, but not as good as some past versions.

So what to do?  Wait in a good spot, and watch the parades? Or skip the parades, and either

• Hop on some rides that will be less crowded because so many people are waiting for or viewing the parades? Or
• Take the afternoon off?

Repeat visitors who have seen the parades have it easy, as they can plan their afternoons with full knowledge of what they’ll be missing if they skip the parades.

It’s trickier for first-timers who may never return.  To see the best of Disney World, do you have to see these afternoon parades?

I’ll be noodling over this issue while re-working the itineraries. 

The Magic Kingdom parade will almost certainly stay in, since, though it’s just OK, it’s a key part of the park’s pageantry and family memories.

I’m not so sure about the other two, however.  I’m not gonna take them out entirely, but they may go on the list of rides that can be skipped, and be treated in the itineraries as optional…

What do you think?  Are all these afternoon parades an essential part of the best of Walt Disney World, or are some of them skippable?

MORE GREAT DISNEY CONTROVERSIES FROM MAGICAL BLOGORAIL TEAL

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The Disney FAITHful.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail loop should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

• 1st Stop ~  yourfirstvisit.net
• 2nd Stop ~  The Disney FAITHful
• 3rd Stop ~  Disney-Lovin’ Spectrum Mom
• 4th Stop ~ Delightfully Disney
• Final Stop ~ The World of Deej

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