Because of my daughter's sensory struggles, I knew that standing in the heat to wait for a prime spot to watch the parade simply wasn't an option. But I learned that Tony's Town Square Restaurant was right on the parade route. So, I booked us a reservation for an hour and a half before the parade was set to begin (realising that other people might have the same idea as us and camp out on the patio).
When we arrived for our reservation, I requested a seat on the patio (you can't request this ahead of time). We were told it would extend our wait by half an hour, which we were fine with — the lobby is air-conditioned and has a television playing Lady and the Tramp on a loop, so our kids were able to relax while we waited.
The result was perfect: the parade started just before we began our dessert, and my girl was able to watch the entire thing from a shaded, safe distance.
I've since learned that there are also designated areas to watch the parade for those with a DAS pass. I haven't tried this myself, so I can't speak to how good the options are, but I'm told if you tell a Disney cast member that you have a DAS pass and can't wait in the sun for a spot to see the parade, they'll escort you to a roped off area reserved for your enjoyment.
Image Source: Leah Campbell