Paint the Night Parade at Disneyland

By Jennifer Stuart

Paint the Night Parade returns to the Disneyland Resort.   This time, however, the popular parade will run through Disney California Adventure.  Read on for pictures of the parade, the parade route and what to expect.

Paint the Night Parade first debuted at Disneyland for the 60th Anniversary celebrations in 2015. It was an immediate fan favourite and packed in the crowds nightly.  It was always designed as a limited time offering, but given it's popularity many hoped that it would return at some point.  Fans were excited when Disney announced that Paint the Night Parade would return for the start of Pixar Fest on April 13, 2018.

This time the parade will run through Disney California Adventure as part of Pixar Fest. (This will also serve to transfer more of the nighttime crowd to DCA, as Disneyland already has Fantasmic and the fireworks show).  It's a natural choice to include it as part of Pixar Fest as it  features so many Pixar floats and segments. ​

Pixar favourites already included are: Toy Story, Monsters Inc. and Cars.  Look for a new float featuring the Incredibles (as a timely tie-in to the Incredibles 2 being released this summer). The float is scheduled to join the parade in June.

Disney princesses featured in the parade are Ariel, Belle, Rapunzel and Cinderella.   Other Disney classic characters in the parade are Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy.   If you are familiar with Paint the Night Parade from it's run in Disneyland for the 60th Anniversary celebrations, there are a few changes in store.   The biggest change is that there is no Frozen float.  Anna and Elsa do not appear in this parade anymore.  If you have read that they do you are reading an out-dated post.  (The Frozen float was too tall to fit under the Trolley lines on Buena Vista Street).  Another change is that the Ariel float had to have some alterations made so that it would fit under those lines. One of the back elements had to be taken off.  The result looks good to anyone who was not used to the older version. (which was a little more dramatic). 

It looks like the parade will run at 8:45pm and 10:45pm on most days. When there is only one parade scheduled, it will run at 8:45pm.  To check what time or times the parade is scheduled for the day you are visiting check the Disneyland Entertainment Schedulehere.  Just adjust the day to the date you are visiting.

Parades at DCA run from the area to the left of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, down Hollywood Blvd, past Carthay Circle, toward Cars Land, alongside Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, past Paradise Gardens and then end right after it passes Symphony Swings. If there is a second parade in a night this should be reversed for the second parade.

Guidelines for parades at Disneyland generally include:

• setting up (sitting down) to reserve a spot no more than 2 hours in advance of parade start time.  
• If the rope guidelines are not set up yet - ask a cast member if you are set up in an appropriate spot-- otherwise you may have to move when the ropes are set up.  Ie -- if you are blocking a walkway. 
• when you pick a spot it is accepted practice to use a blanket to reserve your spot and have the rest of your group join you  later.  You MUST have at least one person on the blanket at all times to hold the spot.  If you do not do this the policy is that cast members can move your unattendend blanket to the side and other people can then take your spot.
• carrying a bulky blanket through the park is a giant pain so we have replaced it with a matador blanket.  (We actually use it for so many things!) It is thin but it's a lot cleaner than the ground (even at Disney) and folds up into a tiny pocket made a LOT easier by the folding guidelines printed on it.

There are several dining packages that will guarantee you a spot in a reserved seating area to watch the parade.  This is similar to the packages that are offered for both Fantasmic! and World of Colour.  (And for the last time Paint the Night ran at Disneyland). The packages will be offered at both Carthay Circle Restaurant and Wine Country Trattoria.  Demand is expected to be high (especially at first) so if you plan on doing this make your reservations as soon as possible. Remember that both adults and children (3 and over) all need to have purchased the dining package to sit in the reserved seating section. 

​Carthay Circle Restaurant
Each Dining Package includes a full-service, 4-course dinner from the prix fixe menu plus one voucher for guaranteed seating at a reserved Paint the Night viewing area next to the restaurant.

• Dinner – starting at $99 for adults; $45 for children (ages 3 to 9) (taxes and tip not included)

The viewing area is currently right outside the restaurant.  In this area you will be given a seat. (similar to a directors chair and the front row is curbside. All dining times will watch the 8:45pm parade.

Wine Country Trattoria
 includes a full-service, 3-course lunch or dinner from the prix fixe menu plus one voucher to a Paint the Night reserved viewing area. 

• Lunch – starting at $38 for adults; $21 for children (ages 3 to 9) (taxes and tip not included) 
• Dinner – starting at $49 for adults; $25 for children (ages 3 to 9) (taxes and tip not included) 

All Paint the Night reserved viewing areas are separate from actual dining locations.  The seating sections currently are located right on the parade route on the west side of the street - across from where you get fastpasses for Radiator Springs Racers.  Both lunch and dinner reservations will watch the 8:45pm parade.  (reservations before 3:45 are considered lunch menu--after that time are dinner)  Note: there are no actual seats in these viewing sections-- you will be standing -- similar to general viewing for World of Colour)
​Clickhere to find out more information about dining packages.
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Insider Tip:  Even though you have a ticket for a reserved section we recommend getting there early for the better spots in the section.  Tickets will say to arrive 30 mins in advance of parade time-- we recommend an hour.   DO NOT lose your fastpass-viewing section ticket.  They cannot be replaced if lost.

This time there is also a Paint the Night Reception reserved seating package.  This is more similar to some of the dining offers at Walt Disney World.  Seating is at Sonoma Terrace which is removed from the actual parade but has the advantage of an elevated view of the parade route.

• $79 per person (tax and gratuity included).
• A charcuterie tray served with wine, beer, Coca-Cola or other non-alcoholic beverages—plus boxed truffles to enjoy later. Alcohol is served to Guests age 21 and older with valid ID.
• Reserved seating in the preferred viewing area (one seat provided for each Reception package purchased).
• Guests can check in 60 minutes prior to scheduled Paint the Night performance time.
• To book, call (714) 781-DINE or (714) 781-3463. Reservations accepted with a credit card guarantee. Cancellations received within 72 hours of event start will be charged full package price.

You will reserve a time depending on which parade you want to watch.  If you book the 8:00pm time you will stay and watch the 8:45pm parade, and if you book the 10:15pm dinning time you will watch the 10:45 pm parade.  ​The seating area is right on the parade route and every table has a view.  (Front row tables are regular tables and back row tables are a higher bar stool style table).
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Clickhere to find out more information
Check the  Disneyland Resort entertainment calendar for Paint the Night Parade performance times. You can also check the Disneyland app for performance times.  For more information on why we think you should download the Disneyland App before you go read our post here. 
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Photos by Kim Stuart and Jennifer Stuart

Questions? Comments?  We would love to hear from you.  Are you excited for the return of Paint the Night?