Watching the Boo To You Parade in Frontierland vs. Main Street USA

If you were to ask me what’s the one must-do thing at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, I’d have to reply, Mickey’s Boo To You Parade! Your next question would probably be: where should we watch it? Then we’d have to have a conversation. While there is one arguably better place to see the Halloween parade, the viewing location requires a little more effort. We’d also need to discuss when you would watch the parade. The parade is offered twice nightly at each Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party.

Below, we’ll preview a few photos and a video of viewing locations for Mickey’s Boo To You Parade. We’ll examine the pros and cons of watching the parade from Frontierland vs. Main Street USA, parade times, and what to expect.

Mickey’s Boo To You Parade is held each party evening at 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. You must purchase a separate ticket to attend the party and see the parade. (Note that it might not be completely dark during the 8:15 p.m parade. Many of the photos below remain from last year’s parade when it was photographed after the sun set. In previous years, the parade was held at 9:15 p.m. Disney changed the schedule this year to help accommodate guests with younger children.)

Like the other parades at Magic Kingdom, Boo To You steps off in Frontierland next to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. It then travels to Liberty Square, where it turns toward Cinderella Castle. At the castle, the parade circles three-quarters of the way through the hub and straightens to make its final path down Main Street, USA. At the end of Main Street USA, the parade circles Town Square and departs backstage near the fire station.

Before the parade, the Headless Horseman rides through the entire parade route. This usually happens about 10 minutes before the parade begins. Due to the nature of the ride, it is not a guaranteed performance. But it would be rare not to see him. For many, it’s a highlight of the evening.

The parade begins with a walking troupe of characters. Many of the characters will wave or acknowledge guests in the crowds. So it’s important if you have little ones to get a spot ahead of time. If you plan to watch from Frontierland, we recommend securing a spot 30-45 minutes before the first parade. You’ll have a little more flexibility on timing if you wait to watch the second parade. For the record, Mickey’s Boo To You Parade is approximately 21 minutes long.

However, we always recommend watching the first parade when possible. Yes, it typically is more crowded. But if it were to rain or you were exhausted by the end of the evening, you’d have gotten the parade out of the way early. The parade is one of the party’s major events, and you wouldn’t want to feel guilty or sad that you missed it.

The benefits of watching the parade in Frontierland are that the crowd is a little more relaxed (think wide, open spaces), and you’ll not have to invest nearly as much time before and after the parade. Since the parade comes through this area first, you can continue with your evening after it passes.

You’ll still be waiting for it if you’re on Main Street. At this point, one could easily argue that the benefits of watching the parade from Frontierland are far greater than those of Main Street USA. But…

I would beg to differ. You see, the Main Street viewing location is magical. It gives you all the feels. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that watching the parade from this area is the kind of thing that solidifies your purchase of the expensive party ticket. However, just like that ticket purchase, watching the parade from Main Street USA is an investment, only it’s an investment of your time.

Another benefit of watching the parade from Main Street USA is that you’re privy to a pre-parade featuring Max Goof and a troupe of dancers. This special offering happens between the Headless Horseman’s ride and the first float of the Boo To You Parade. I like to think of it as “a bonus” for those who take the time out of their evening to watch the parade from this location.

You can probably tell from the photos that most guests on the front row remain seated during the parade. Then, guests form a second and sometimes third row behind them. Since the walkways must remain open behind them, it’s a reasonably tight space that gets reserved quickly. Those sitting on the front row typically reserve their viewing location an hour or more before the parade. Remember, it takes the parade about 20 minutes to reach Main Street. So they are going to have a much lengthier wait.

We’ve usually been able to get a second or third-row spot about 45 minutes ahead of the parade. However, it is a bit of a gamble because someone on the front row could decide to stand up. Of course, you could still see the parade, but it might not be ideal if you’re trying to take photos or a video.

Here is a video with clips of the Boo To You Parade from both viewing locations. It begins with Main Street USA, and toward the end, it features clips from Frontierland.

Overall, it’s hard to go wrong with either location. Depending on your touring plan for the party, there isn’t a right or wrong answer. But I think you’ll have a unique experience if you take the time and effort to watch the parade from Main Street, USA.

For more on Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, you might like:

• 2024 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide
• Character Meet-and-Greets at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
• Meet Jack Skellington and Sally at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
• Character List for Mickey’s Boo To You Parade
• Halloween Party Food List for 2024

In the Comments

Now that we’ve compared watching Mickey’s Boo To You Parade from Frontierland vs. Main Street USA, I have one final question for you. Which viewing location do you prefer? Let us know below in the comments.