One of my favorite entertainment experiences at Disneyland are the Disneyland parades! These themed parades run year round often coordinating with the summer, holiday, and Halloween seasons. Disneyland parades feature state of the art floats, unique musical scores, and all your favorite Disney characters.
Trying to figure out when to line up? The least crowded viewing location? The best parade for your family? Our Disneyland parades guide has info on typical parade times, where to watch, and the current parade.
I visit Disneyland weekly and I have seen every single Disneyland parade on this list! Due to years and years of experience of watching parades with my family in Disneyland and California Adventure, we have the best tips on how to get the best spot and which parades you can expect during each time of the year!
This article has been checked for accuracy for 2025 and updated with all currently available information.
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Current Disneyland Parade Offered
Parade offerings typically change seasonally, so make sure to check Disney's official website for current offerings or keep this guide bookmarked to stay on top of all the new things coming to the Disneyland Resort.
There has not yet been a parade announced for the time between the end of the Christmas celebration at Disneyland and Disneyland's 70th Anniversary celebration this year in May. We are hoping that something is announced for this time or we get a calvacade during this time. You can see details on the Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration parades below.
Disneyland 70th Anniversary Parades
Disneyland is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2025, with the celebration starting on May 16, 2025 and running through the summer of 2026. As part of the celebration, two previous parades will be returning.
The fan-favorite Paint the Night parade will return to Disneyland and the new daytime parade “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” that debuted during Pixar Fest last year will return to Disney California Adventure. Disney shared that “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!” parade will temporarily pause for seasonal Halloween and holiday entertainment offerings and then resume.
You can read everything you need to know about the Disneyland 70th anniversary celebration here!
Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!
Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration takes place twice daily at California Adventure during Pixar Fest.
The showtimes for the parade on the calendar when this parade previously ran were 4PM and 6:30PM at California Adventure.
During the parade, you can expect to see Red Panda Mei and her friends rocking out to their favorite boy band 4*Town, Joe Gardner and 22, Luca, Alberto, and Giulia, and more. In the grand finale, guests can see Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, Miguel, Mike and Sulley, and Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear. This is a great mix of characters!
🎈Read our full review of this NEW Pixar parade!
Paint the Night Parade
The Paint the Night parade will be returning for Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration in 2025.
This special nighttime parade dazzles with a million sparkling lights and favorite Disney characters including Ariel, Belle, Tinkerbell, Woody and Buzz, Mike and Sulley, Peter Pan, and Rapunzel.
Paint the Night features more than a million LED lights, special effects, and more, featuring Disney and Pixar characters from several films including “Monsters, Inc.,” “Cars,” “Toy Story”, “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and more.
Best Disneyland Parade Viewing Spots
The first parade of the day at Disneyland will start at it's a small world and end at Main Street. For the second parade of the day it will start at Main Street and end at it's a small world. It can take the parade awhile to make this route so be prepared for a wait if you're at the opposite ends of the route.
Where should I watch the parade?
Our favorite viewing areas for the parades come from our own personal experience of viewing the parades at all different times of the year.
- Close to It's a Small World: This viewing location is typically less crowded and offers plenty of kiosks for your kids as they wait. As you make your way towards the ride, you'll see some shady spots perfect for a sunny day. There is also a raised platform which provides excellent views of the parade. There are restrooms and snack carts nearby making it a great place to save a seat with children.
- On the side of Alice in Wonderland: This is a choice spot because it's directly in front of drinking fountains and bathrooms. We also love it because at this point in the parade route, there isn't seating on the other side of the path. This means that performers can spend all their time focusing on your side so you'll get a great look at all your favorite characters!
- Near the Disneyland Hub: A couple of hours before the parade begins, cast members will put up ropes preventing guests from entering the parade route. These ropes will be taken down about an hour before parade time, so if you stay close to the hub and wait for the ropes to be taken down, you can find a great front-row seat without having to wait two hours. This is a pretty small area, so it isn't ideal for small children or big parties, but there is a lot to do on Main Street as you're waiting for the parade to begin.
- Near the Disneyland fire station: Similar to the trick above, if you hover in this location about 20 minutes before the parade starts cast members will rope off the area in front of the fire station making it a great place to grab a last minute front row spot.
California Adventure Parade Viewing
In California Adventure we recommend asking a Cast Member which direction the parade will be going as you make your plans. Additionally, don't be afraid to ask for clarification. Some spots along the route may seem like a good viewing area, when in all reality, it is a “No View” zone to allow for traffic. Double check so you don't get to parade time thinking you hit the jackpot, only to be asked to move.
- Near Goofy's Sky School: We like this viewing location because is one of the last to fill up, meaning that you line up later and still get to enjoy the parade. It still provides a good view of that area of the park, though, so there will be a lot for your children to look at while you wait.
- Any spot with a wall or curb: This is a more generic tip, but spots along the parade route with benches, curbs, or walls to lean against are pretty sparse. If you see an open spot like this regardless of where it is, we recommend you grab it!
- Along Hollywood Land: While this is the best spot for viewing convenience and comfort (lots of curbs and benches), it is also probably the first to fill up. If you don't mind sitting for a few hours, this is a great spot. But we wouldn't recommend looking here for a viewing space if it's only a half hour before the parade.
- Walkway to Pixar Pier: Short on time? The walkway to Pixar Pier (towards Lamplight Lounge) is blocked off about 15 minutes or so (it varies!) before the parade begins which opens up plenty of front-row parade viewing at the last minute. This is also just a great area to grab a spot if you don't want to commit to waiting awhile.
How Early Should I Line Up For Disneyland Parades?
If you want to get the best seat for a parade at Disneyland then you should plan ahead to get the best spot! You shouldn't arrive 20 minutes before it starts and expect to get front row seats. If you want the best viewing I recommend getting a spot at least one hour before the parade starts. If you want that good of a seat on Main Street, U.S.A then you should plan for 90 minutes prior especially during the busier times of year like the holidays.
Typically, guests will not be allowed to reserve seats until two hours before the parade starts. As soon as Cast Members allow this, you'll start to see families setting up blankets and reserving bench and curb spaces, which always go first.
If you want the best bench/curb space, we recommend getting to the spot 2.5 hours before the parade begins so you can reserve your spot as soon as Cast Members allow.
If you aren't as picky with your viewing location, you have about 1.5 – 2 hours after this to get a spot, using some of our tips above. Try to be in your spot a half hour before the parade begins. Once you hit this half hour mark, it is pretty rare to get a front-row view of the parade and if you see a spot, we recommend taking it immediately.
In our experience we've found that we can manage to get great front row spots over by it's a small world up to 60 minutes prior to the parade which is what I always recommend for the best experience! However, for the Disneyland Christmas parade, I have also been known to wait for a coveted Main Street viewing spot for more than two hours before the parade begins so it just depends on how dedicated you are!
Disneyland Parades Tips and Tricks
Here are some tried and true parade tips and etiquette to help you prepare for the best parade experience possible on your Disneyland vacation.
- Bring a blanket: Some people wouldn't want to carry this around all day, but it's a great way to add a little comfort so you aren't sitting on pavement while you wait. Blankets also naturally reserve a viewing space for you and your family, so you don't have to worry about other families crowding and losing some of your spots. People will get right in your space if you don't have it blocked off, we can always tell a huge different whenever we have a blanket vs the times we don't. You can also get portable blankets that wrap up to fit in your bag online! They won't serve as much of a cushion but they will help you block off your space.
- Pack a picnic: This requires a little planning ahead, but it's a great way to pass the time while waiting for a parade to start. If you pack a picnic, you can leave it in a reserved locker until you need it. Or if you're sitting by one of the parade viewing locations with snack carts you can grab some snacks to enjoy while you wait. This is a great way to kill time with small children and keep them happy while they wait.
- Pick a designated spot-reserver: Once your whole party has picked out a viewing location, you can leave one or two people to reserve the spot while you take the kids on a ride, to get a treat, or to look at the shops, depending on what is nearby. If you have a bigger party, it can be difficult for one person alone to maintain the space you'd like. A blanket could remedy this problem, again we can't stress enough how helpful a blanket can be in this situation!
- Don't put kids on shoulders: While shoulder-sitting ensures the best view for your child, it also ensures that someone behind you isn't getting a good view at all. Instead, just arrive early enough that your kids can see the parade without this or scope out one of our less-crowded area suggestions. You will likely get scolded by a cast member or other guests if you do this.
- Don't stand in a sitting zone: If everyone around you is sitting, don't stand! Different locations offer different types of viewing experiences.
- Be polite and patient: During peak times of the year parade watching can be a test of patience when it comes to packing in with other people like sardines for the best parade view. Be patient and understanding to the best of your ability, especially of those with small, wiggly children trying to keep them entertained before it starts. Again, bringing a blanket to mark your space will help you feel like you're not being closed on by other people.
Disneyland Parade Reserved Seating
The Plaza Inn Dining Package are available for the current Disneyland parade and reservations can be made up to 60 days in advance – this is the same policy used for all dining and other Disneyland dining packages.
Disneyland reserved seating dining packages are a nice way to guarantee a good parade spot without having to line up too early is to purchase a dining package. This is a great option if you're already planning on eating at the Plaza Inn. You still should arrive when the viewing area opens if you want to get a front-row seat in the parade viewing area! It's important to remember that you are paying for a meal at the restaurant and a separate voucher to a reserved viewing area – you don't view the parade while you're eating.
Here's a look at the food included in a recent Disneyland parade dining package.
Disneyland Plaza Inn Dining Package Details
- Daily
- Dining Time: 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
- Showtime: All Guests will receive a voucher for the day’s first performance of the Main Street Electrical Parade.
This dining package features a picnic-style meal. You can either eat inside or outside, and then there will be a reserved viewing area along the parade route for you to sit in after you're finished eating.
The below pricing reflects the Plaza Inn dining package pricing for A Christmas Fantasy Parade during the most recent Christmas celebration.
Price: $52 for adults 10 and up, $29 for children, and children 2 and under are free
Keep in mind that the parade viewing will be separate from the dining location, you'll be given a voucher with access for your parade viewing spot. To make reservations, book online.
California Adventure Parade Dining Packages
There is a Pixar Pals Dessert Package available for the Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration! includes reserved seating along the parade route at Sonoma Terrace.
The price for the offering during Pixar Fest was $69 per guest ages three and up. Guests ages 2 and younger are free but need to sit on the lap of an adult. Each ticket provides reserved seating for viewing at Sonoma Terrace, unlimited soft drinks and bottled water plus a specialty cocktail, and a dessert place of Pixar inspired desserts and cheese.
Guests can select a time for either the first or second parade of the day. The parade will start about 45 minutes after the start of your dining package reservation time.
Since California Adventure has such a long parade route, I don't think a dining package is necessary to get a good spot but it can be a fun experience to splurge and be seated during the parade. The Halloween parade during Oogie Boogie Bash also offers a dessert package with reserved viewing at California Adventure.
Disneyland Seasonal Parades
There are two parades that accompany both the Holiday season at the Disneyland Resort and the Halloween Season. Make sure to read our full guides to both seasons to get an idea of what to expect if you're visiting during this time!
A Christmas Fantasy
The parade showing during the holiday season is the Christmas Fantasy parade! This is one of my favorite Disneyland parades and my favorite place to watch it is on Main Street, U.S.A. with a view of the large Christmas tree in the background.
The parade, which takes place on Main Street, includes many favorite Disney characters as well as an appearance by Santa Claus himself. This whimsical, Christmas themed parade also includes reindeer, snowmen, and other holiday favorites along with festive music.
It is truly one of the most special parades offered at Disneyland. My favorite spot to watch this parade is on Main Street U.S.A. as it's traveling towards the castle because of the iconic backdrop of the beautiful Christmas tree in the background.
A Christmas Fantasy Parade is the holiday parade running at Disneyland! This classic holiday parade features floats with characters from favorite Disney films in their holiday best. While the parade has been running for years, there have been additions made to feature newer Disney characters like the princesses from Frozen.
Top highlights of the parade – the toy soldiers leading off, skating skiers and snowflakes, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their holiday best, and of course Santa Claus capping off the entire parade. The Christmas Fantasy parade is a key Disneyland Christmas celebration.
You cannot miss out on this parade if you visit Disneyland during Christmas!
Frightfully Fun Parade
This well-loved parade is featured every year around Halloween during the ticketed Halloween party Oogie Boogie Bash at California Adventure.
This spooky parade is led by the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow followed by Mickey and Minnie leading a cavalcade of characters and Disney villains.
Disneyland Parades Offered in the Past
It is common for the parade schedule to shift and change throughout the year. Below are parades that have run at Disneyland in the past and could potentially make a return. However, for some of these, their return is very unlikely!
Magic Happens
With a song written by Todrick Hall and performed by Jordan Fisher, the Magic Happens parade is incredible. The parade features a mixture of floats of classic and new Disney characters making it a great combination of Disney favorites.
The parade showcases characters from more recent Disney-Pixar releases like Moana, Coco, and Frozen II. In the grand finale, guests witness dreams coming true through scenes from more classic Disney films, including Sleeping Beauty, The Sword and the Stone, and Cinderella.
While the nine floats in Magic Happens are moving works of art, the standout among parade viewers has been the original music.
Each performance of the parade is put on by over 90 performers, including over two dozen Disney characters. The parade has nine unique floats and is performed to two original songs.
Main Street Electrical Parade
The Main Street Electrical Parade ran during the summer of 2022 and featured its own unique celebration along with the addition of brand new floats.
The Main Street Electrical Parade first debuted in the late 1970's and ran into the 90's while making a few returns over the past few years making it full of nostalgia for many guests. The parade features floats focused on classic Disney movies and live performers covered in over 600,000 electronically controlled LED lights and a synchronized soundtrack.
I think it is high likely we will see the return of the Main Street Electrical parade again in the future.
Mickey's Soundsational Parade
This popular parade was updated in 2019 in honor of Mickey's Get Your Ears On Celebration- with a new float added to the mix! Goofy leads the way while towing his larger-than-life pull-toy gift, followed by Chip, Dale and a giant cake baked especially for the celebration! This high energy parade comes with a great music set featuring well loved Disney favorites like Minnie, Pluto, Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Little Mermaid.
This parade hasn't been seen since 2019 so it's return is high unlikely although it was a fan favorite.
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Thanks for joining us for our Disneyland Parades Guide! Enjoy the show!
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Grandkids teens are coming for Easter want to come what is there f them to do. 13 and 16.
Check out our guide for teens for Disneyland and California Adventure to get some ideas! They might also love Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
We will be at Disney in August. Approximately what time(s) are the parades? I’m trying to do an itinerary and I’m not sure where to slot the parade(s) in. I saw a post that said usually at 3pm, but then I saw that they typically do 2 during the peak season. So wasn’t sure about those times?
Usually it’s at 3:30 and 6 but it can vary. Your best bet is to check the Disneyland entertainment calendar when it gets closer to your visit.
Thank you! I will. This gives me enough to plan around for now.
Hello,
It says the plaza dining gets reservation at the second showing of parade. Do you have any idea when the showings are? I have 2 kids 4 & 18 months so need to know as too late they will prob be exhausted. Do they ever reserve for first show at any restaurants? Thanks ????
Usually the second showing is at 6pm- I would check the Disneyland entertainment schedule for the most up to date information!
Hi there, if the parade is only happening once a day (5:30) then will it start by “It’s a small world”? Thanks.
Yes, on days when there is only one parade the performance will start by it’s a Small World.