Where at WDW can I eat lunch or dinner and look at a parade?

Question

Maybe it's a tall order; I don't know. I want to eat lunch (sit-down outside) at Magic Kingdom (MK preferred, othere major parks ok) and view a parade going by. What restaurants offer that? What is the parade timing? Just trying to maximize the disney experience that I'll be having with my 4-year old boy in mid-April. We'll be there for 4 days and will definitely hit Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom; not sure of other parks at the moment. Same question is applicable for dinner-type meals, if there are no parades during the day/at lunch time.

Answer 1

MAKE A RESERVATION AT TONY'S TOWN SQUARE IN MAGIC KINGDOM!!! either lunch or dinner, depending on which parade u want to see. lunch is a lot quieter there since it's around closing time for us(yes, us. i work there. but i don't go back until may). if u want to see the dreams come true parade, u want to check in at the restaurant around 245. the parade starts in frontierland and doesn't get down to main until around 320. so u will have plenty of time to order ur food, and enjoy ur dessert while watching the parade.

for dinner, i suggest u call (407)WDW-DINE as soon as possible because we get booked up pretty quickly. the best time for dinner AND a place to sit on the terrazzo is around 730...if the parade is at 9. we usually have a high demand for outside seating, so u want to check in early for ur reservation. people WILL sit out there and stay there if they have to. we can't do anything about it. be if we ARE full outside, we try to seat families by the window so they can see the parade throught the glass. it is very important to make a reservation for dinner because it gets booked up, and we stop taking walk-ins around 6-630.

if u do get to sit outside for dinner, the night time parade, SpectroMagic, starts in town square just across the street from the restaurant. it will make it's way around town square, then down main street, and down through liberty square/frontierland.

i hope u have a wonderful trip in disney world and i hope this has been a help :)

Answer 2

There are a few restaurants that are close to the parade routes, but I really don't suggest trying to eat and watch a parade at the same time -- I know you're trying to maximize your time, but I think you'll find that taking a break at mealtime will actually be your best bet.

Disney can zap the energy out of young and old alike, so resting up while getting a good meal is gonna be important. In fact, I bet that if you doubled-up the eating and parade watching, he'll zonk out sooner, thereby "missing out" on things that he would have been able to do had he gotten the time to rest during the meal.

Of course, one of my favorite memories from childhood visits to Disney is sitting on the side of the street, eating a hot dog and waiting for the parade to start! :-D

That being said, Tony's Town Square Restaurant (Main Street, Magic Kingdom) is a sit-down restaurant. The outside seating area is your best bet for parade watching, but, unfortunately, your view will be hindered by folks standing between the restaurant and the parade route. It can't hurt to request a table outside, but there's no guarantee you'll get it.

I honestly can't think of any other restaurants in any of the other theme parks that are close to the parade route.

Magic Kingdom has a day and evening parade most days. Animal Kingdom and MGM-Studios have daytime parades only.

Anywho, hope you all have an awesome trip! If you get a moment, check out http://www.intercot.com/ -- a wonderful message board devoted to all things Disney.

Answer 3

Unless it has changed, normally the Magic Kingdom's main parade is at 3pm. You can do a lunch at the Crystal Palace (It may be a character dining) about 1ish and then go out and get a great place to sit after eating OR you can go to the ice cream shop (I am sorry but I forget the name) that is at the end of the "street" main street usa (the name walk area when you walk in going toward the castle), grab a sundae and sit and watch the parade. Now I will say it (and I know I've probably mentioned it before in other posts on here) that there is the electic light boat parade. I think one of the best things to do is go over to dinner at the Wilderness Lodge or Chef Mickey's at Contemporary and then go watch that before/after dinner (depends on what time it's scheduled - reservation center can tell you). It's not so hot (the florida sun can be tough when you're not in the shade) and it's so pretty to see the lights glittering off the water. The music is lovely too! :)

Answer 4

This is not a place where you can eat but we just came back from Disney and at the Magic Kingdom, we watched the parade from the platform at the train station (at the enterance to the park), it was great and no one was around. There are benches and chairs to sit down, it was a great place to spend the evening viewing the parade and...we were the first folks to the buses at night!

Answer 5

The afternoon parade at the Magic Kingdom is at 3:00 pm.

There are a few more places where you can sit to eat and see the parade at the same time--ones that haven't been mentioned before.

Pecos Bill's in Frontierland--they are a counter service restaurant that serves burgers and the like.

Casey's Corner on Main Street--they serve hot dogs and fries and have outdoor seating, as well.

Tomorrowland Terrace--if you don't mind watching the parade from a distance. It's at the corner of Tomorrowland where it runs into Main Street. **Also a very good place to sit to watch the fireworks. (Tinkerbell flies right over you.)

Answer 6

There is a parade called Share a Dream Come True Parade. I do belive it is around lunch time. There are not manny places to eat and watch a parade in the MK. I rally cant think of a place to eat and watch the parade at the AK. Now I know this wasnt part of your question but if you want to watch the fireworks and have a good dinner. Go eat at the top of the Contemporary. The resturant is called California Grill. you caould watch Wishes and they play the soundtrack to the fireworks while they are going on. Its kinda cool. Hope I helped you with the question.

Answer 7

Tony's in Magic Kingdom is wonderful... Ask to be seated by a window. or on the verandah (they don't always serve outside). Tony's has great Italian specialties....Kids meals in Disney are great! My baby boy had sweet potatoes and peas and grilled chicken , pasta and a strawberry yogurt parfait. We loved our food there...we go every time we are in Disney World! Their food is wonderful, calzone, pasta....I want to go back now!!! Book your restaurants early (especially if trying for parade times) and if you can't book it... there are some hot dog type stands....but the crowds will be in your way.

Answer 8

unfortunately, you won't be able to sit and dine while watching the parade - the streets get lined with people and you can't see. we went back into the fort wilderness area and watched it from the beginning before it hit mainstreet & were able to take our food with us and we sat on the wall under the trees - it was rally nice and relaxing.