Welcome to the Minions of Key West How to get the most out of Fantasy Fest 1). Finish your costumes early First, check the costume dress code requirements and guidelines page, and download a copy of your Release Forms. There are more events during Fantasy Fest than just the parade, including the big 3, Zombie Ride, Headdress Ball, and the Masquerade March. If you are making costumes for each event you will want to begin work on them ridiculously early, because things ALWAYS get hectic in the days leading up to the parade. You want your costumes finished, tested, and re-tested, to make sure it won’t break. Something on it will inevitably break anyway, but at least if you show due diligence you can de-disaster its consequences. See the Costume Page for more detailed information on costumes and dress code requirements, guidelines and supplies. 2). Arrive Early There are always a multitude of last minute tasks that need tending before the parade. It’s recommended you arrive at the line up area at least 1 hour before the parade starts, to fix anything that goes wrong, meet your fellow crewmates, take some pictures, have a few drinks, and soak up as much of the festive atmosphere as possible, because once the parade starts, it all goes by really quickly. (Click to enlarge) 3). Bathroom Breaks Some floats have bathrooms on board. Ours usually do not. The porta-pottys at the line up area are the last bathroom stops along the parade route. If you are a bit squeamish about using one, you might want to bring some of your own tissue paper or hand sanitizer. It is also recommended to not drink "beer" or other high-bulk low-alcohol content beverage immediately prior to or during the parade, including anything else that will make you have to use the bathroom every 5 minutes. We recommend a low-bulk high octane beverage and usually just fill up a water bottle full of Vodka, Tequila or Rum, which lasts pretty much all night and can be shared (do shots) with the crew and friends along the parade route. 4). Don't bring any luggage Don't get stuck dragging yours or someone else's luggage around with you for the whole night. You will want your hands free to throw beads, and enjoy a drink or two. There is no storage space on the float. Aside from drinks and beads, don't bring anything to the float you are not willing to carry yourself or leave behind at the line up area once the parade begins. Don't bring anything that can't be replaced if lost. (Things can get lost easily during Fantasy Fest, car keys, cell phones, cameras, your spouse). In general we only have room on the float for beads and 1 large cooler, which we stock with ice and a small supply of beer, wine, soft drinks, bottled water, plus any donated drinks brought by the crew. We try to keep the float as clean and litter free as possible especially when approaching the Media Stand and Judges Stand. Anything left on the float, back packs, coolers, cups, trash, etc, will be removed. If you'd like to donate cold drinks to the float, it should be brought in a disposable Styrofoam cooler that can be discarded when empty. That way, you wont have to drag your expensive Coleman around for the rest of the night or leave it at the line up area. If you want to donate beads to the float they can be delivered to the build site where they will be labeled with your name on the boxes, (so you know which ones are yours) loaded on the float and transported to the line up area. Otherwise you can deliver them to the line up area, but you will have to drive there and carry them to the float yourself. Beads can be rather heavy, and it can be difficult getting in and out of the lineup area on the day of the parade, which is why we recommend the first method. We usually provide food, (at least 2 or 3 deli trays of sandwiches, fruit and cheese platter) a small supply of beer, wine, bottled water, and a starter supply (at least 2 or 3 cases) of beads, throws, toys and party favors. We also try and provide paper towels, hand sanitizer, a cosmetics mirror, basic emergency repair tools and flash lights. If you have any special needs, requests, or just have a question please contact us as soon as possible so that we may assist you. 5). PARKING Traffic around Duval street will become grid locked near the start of the parade. Duval street will be closed to traffic up to United Street. Please be advised, it can be difficult to get in or out of the line up area in the time leading up to the start of the parade. Permission to enter and park in the line up area is limited and cannot be guaranteed. Unless you need the use of a vehicle at the line up area, it is suggested to simply walk or take a taxi. That way you wont have to return to the line up area after the parade (another long walk) to get your car. We sometimes take the scooter to 801, park, then walk to the float. That way our ride home is centrally located and we don't have to walk all the way back to the line up area. 6). AFTER PARTY It has been observed that immediately following the parade, everyone has a tendency to disperse in all directions. If however you would like to remain with the crew and enjoy the company of your fellow Minions for the rest of the evening we have designated "Kwest" liquors 705 Duval, to be the default meet-up location after the parade. Mainly because it's centrally located and it's cheaper, quicker and easier to get drinks there than at any of the bars on Duval street. 7). STATE of Mind Your enjoyment of Fantasy Fest can be greatly influenced by what you bring with you to the party. Attitude. Don’t expect too much, but don’t expect too little either. We have had members do the parade once, and never hear from them again. We have had people get off the float at the end of the parade with tears in their eyes saying they had the best time of their lives and didn't want it to end. If you arrive late, your costume breaks, you lose your wallet, bring too much junk and have to lug it around all night, get your foot run over by the float, get too drunk, become separated from your friends, get lost, start a fight, puke on a cop, get arrested by the police, wake up the next morning in jail with a category 13 hangover, have to walk all the way back to your hotel from Stock Island only to discover your car has been towed... then yes, you will probably NOT have a good time at Fantasy Fest. If however you come expecting warm nights of lights, color, costumes and laughter, music, making new friends, drinks, dance, sing, enter a contest, have lots of pictures taken, steal a kiss, give away some beads, and maybe even fall in love... then YES you will probably enjoy Fantasy Fest. Happy Fantasy Fest, and may all your fantasies come true.