You’ll be hard pressed to find a crazier spot in Disneyland than Main Street at parade time. If you try to get through this area during a show, good luck winding through tiny roped off pathways with people anxiously racing in both directions. But if you’re lucky, you’ll get to skip this altogether. Sometimes, when parades are happening, cast members open a hidden corridor behind the street, giving you a rare glimpse at a backstage area.
The Main Street Parade Corridor winds behind the west side of the street, from the fire station to Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe. Since this corridor is primarily used for guests exiting the park, we’ll start on the central hub side. To find the entrance, walk over to the back corner of the Jolly Holiday courtyard, next to the Refreshment Corner.
The first thing you’ll notice inside the corridor is a waterway. This is connected to the Jungle Cruise, which snakes around directly behind Main Street!
You might even see some parked boats.
On your left, opposite the water, you’ll see the back of Main Street’s shops. Disney added a few decorations here and there, since guests sometimes pass through the space. Most notably, look for ads for the Opera House and arcade.
For me, the most exciting thing to spot in the corridor is Walt’s terrace. Walt and Lillian had a tiny apartment above the fire station, with a back terrace for entertaining. Today you can see the terrace, which Lillian used to keep private with tons of vines and greenery, shielding even partial views from the street.
At the end of the Main Street Parade Corridor, you’ll make a sharp left turn and find yourself back on Main Street, just a short dash away from City Hall!
I’m often looking to escape the crowds during parade time, so this is something I’ll look out for. I’d especially love to see the back of the little apartment above the fire station.