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Nostalgia reigns: Main Street Electrical Parade to remain at Walt Disney World indefinitely
The Main Street Electrical Parade, which was slated to end its run at the Magic Kingdom on Aug. 14, will continue at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom indefinitely.
The Disney Parks blog says the Main Street Electrical Parade has gotten high ratings from guests since it returned in June. Disney executives call it "an overwhelming success."
It has been a Disney classic since 1972, but it hasn't been seen at the Magic Kingdom since 2001. I remember watching from atop my dad's shoulders in the 1980s, waving at the Disney characters as they rolled by. So, I was excited to share the Main Street Electrical Parade with my daughter this year.
Nostalgia like mine is apparently driving a lot of the parade's popularity. I have talked with numerous Walt Disney World guests this summer who traveled to Orlando to pass the parade tradition on to their children.
Even many Disney employees have been excited to share the parade with a new generation.
Disney Ambassador Clay Shoemaker remembers first watching the Main Street Electrical Parade when he was 6 years old.
"I can remember seeing the lights coming closer and closer, and then Cinderella waved at me," Shoemaker said. "You would've thought I was the only child in the park."
This summer, Shoemaker waved at Cinderella with his 2-year-old daughter by his side.
The parade, with its 23 floats, 80 performers and more than 500,000 lights, is an undertaking "bigger than any rock concert," according to Forrest Bahruth, show director.
But there's a pervasive belief among the Disney employees I talked with that the parade is more than the production.
"Underneath it all, it's steel and copper and computers. Cold and heartless. But it's more than that. It's emotion and character and life," said Marc Hurst, the parade's technical director.
Bahruth even describes that parade with that "M" word you hear so often at Walt Disney World: magic.
"When we're out there in town square and that gate opens...music, magic, memories."
The Main Street Electrical Parade is performed nightly in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
The parade, with its 23 floats, 80 performers and more than 500,000 lights, is an undertaking "bigger than any rock concert," according to Forrest Bahruth, show director.
But there's a pervasive belief among the Disney employees I talked with that the parade is more than the production.
"Underneath it all, it's steel and copper and computers. Cold and heartless. But it's more than that. It's emotion and character and life," said Marc Hurst, the parade's technical director.
Bahruth even describes that parade with that "M" word you hear so often at Walt Disney World: magic.
"When we're out there in town square and that gate opens...music, magic, memories."
The Main Street Electrical Parade is performed nightly in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.
Filed under: North America, United States
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
PhilD5WTKO Jul 31st 2010 6:18AM
Im confused, you stated in the article that it hasn't been seen since 2001, and that it returned in June? I was in WDW in october of 2002 and saw the SpectroMagic Parade then, and yes it was called SpectroMagic then, and I was there again this past May of 2010 and had my 6 yr old on my shoulders watching the SpectroMagic Parade down Main Street USA in WDW. I am glad the Walt Disney Company is keeping the parade, but please re-check your dates to make the article a little more accurate.
Alleson Jul 31st 2010 7:32AM
The spectromagic parade, and the electrical parade are two entirely different parades. The electric parade did stop in 2001. I was one of those 80's kids that was sad to see it go.
Mich3lle Jul 31st 2010 7:51AM
Actually Main Steet Electrical parade is very different from Spectromagic. Different floats and music, this parade came back from Califorina after returning there almost 10 years ago.
ParadeLover Jul 31st 2010 7:54AM
Phil -
The SpectroMagic parade is completely different than the MSEP. They have different floats and light displays. (I know, because I have worked for Disney doing parade audience control on Main Street for nearly 5 years and have worked both parades.)
The Main Street Electrical Parade at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, originally ran from 1977 to 1991. It was replaced by a similar parade called SpectroMagic, which ran from 1991 to 1999 and then reopened 2001-2010. In 1992, the electrical parade from the Magic Kingdom went to Parc Disneyland at Disneyland Paris and ran there until 2003. SpectroMagic took a hiatus in May/June 2010 for the Summer Nighttastic! promotion that Disney was/is doing in California and Florida. That was when the MSEP was re-introduced.
The article is misleading in that they have 2001 as the original end date of the MSEP, but it really left in 1991. Thus making way for the SpectroMagic parade you recall so fondly. The MSEP left Main Street USA in Orlando to travel the world and ultimately debut at California Adventure at Disneyland in California (but ended it's run there in April 2010).
bruce Jul 31st 2010 8:32AM
Hi, the spectromagic parade is a different parade although it too
had lights. The Mainstreet Electric was their original parade with
different themes, floats and songs. It went to Europe for awhile &
made it's trip to thier other theme parks and now it's back! Hope
this helps the confusion.
A Serious Rabbit Jul 31st 2010 8:20AM
I'm so happy they are KEEPING the Parade. I'm almost 70 years old and I look forward to taking my family, grands too to 'see the Mouse'. I admit the cost of everything has gone up, but Disney is one of the real places,I FEEL, I get my money's worth.
It will be such a Joy to see my grands eyes light up.when we go again , SOON
Lee Jul 31st 2010 8:40AM
That is so sad ! I loved the Spectromagic Parade, The Main Street Electrical Parade should remain at it's true home Disneyland ,Califormia , I remember seeing it as a kid back in 1972 I was dissappointed when they retired it in the late 80's ,Disney said it was going to Disneyland Paris, but it made a stop in New York City as The Hercules Electrical Parade to celebrate Disney' Hercules movie, it also stopped in Walt Disney World, supposedly that was it,but Disneyland didn't have a solid night-time parade, the Hercules and Mulan Parades [ as good as they were] didn't have that night-time glitz,and Light-Magic a streetacular was a complete Flop !
wHEN Disney's California Adventure opened they brought back the Main Street Electrical Parade , but Disneyland was celebrating either it's 45th or 50th anniverssary and they had an anniversary parade so the electrical parade was moved to Disney's California Adventure Park renamed Disney's Electrical Parade, as good as it was eveyone would say why isn't the parade playing in Disneyland ?
obviously Disney wanted people to Frequent California Adventure. The Main Street Electrical Parade should play in Disneyland Park and the Spectro Magic Parade should play in Walt Disney World , it makes people want to visit BOTH Parks, they should each have their own home - town parade , thats what makes each park unique, both parades are Excellant ! or maybe certain times of the year or summer months they could switch, now there's an idea
Joe Papierz Jr Jul 31st 2010 9:53AM
Wow. I'm amazed to see so many would be historians leaving comments. If there was a parade when you went to Disney World or Disney Land and you enjoyed it does it matter what it was called? or when it was first known by that name? Stop your silly nit picking and just enjoy the experience. And let others enjoy it in peace, too.
gina Jul 31st 2010 12:43PM
Bravo, bravo, bravo!!! Well said!!! AT LAST!!! A voice of reason on these ridiculous message boards.
Dan Jul 31st 2010 10:43AM
I'm just glad to hear the Main Street Electric Parade is still available for people to see. I saw it the first time when I was 16 in 1974 and was amazed how everything was coordinated-announcing its arrival, the music, etc.- as it came towards me. I'm 52 and can't wait to see it again!
Nancy Jul 31st 2010 2:25PM
Disney ,Disney, What you won't do for a dollar.The Electric parade was what we went to the park in California for.That is it's home. Why if you have too don't you make another,for other places. It's not that u are not worth millions. We among many others buy year passes for Disneyland and won't be doing it any more.Why go when no Electric parade.You ruined it all, no more magic experiences there. Blah, and i speak for hundreds of fans.By the way we were avid pin traders also.
Nancy Jul 31st 2010 11:03AM
You are soooooo sooooooooo right on that one. Electeric parade belongs where it originated. Home in Disneyland !!!!!!!!
ddm Jul 31st 2010 11:43AM
Disney. Why don't you also have the electrical parade at Disneyland. The plans must be lying around somewhere. This parade is the best that Disney has ever came up with. It is truly magical.
Betty Jul 31st 2010 11:57AM
I love the parades no matter what they're called, but the VERY best parade ever at WDW was the Tapestry of Dreams, then the Tapestry of Nations parade at Epcot. I don't remember what year or years it was there but we saw it twice and I can still see almost all of it in my mind's eye. The music from that parade - and what wonderful music - is still played as you exit Epcot after the fireworks each night - at least it was so when we were last there three years ago, that's the parade Disney should bring back, best parade I've ever seen - anywhere.
Jody Rope Jul 31st 2010 11:59AM
The parades are nightmares which block large areas of the grounds in order to control the crowds at exit times. They are repetitious, tedious, hot and annoying to most people, who just want to LEAVE and get to their cars or motels and can't.
CROWD CONTROL.
pam Jul 31st 2010 11:59AM
Good for Disney, something in the USA needs to remain normal.
Richard Ott Jul 31st 2010 12:05PM
I think Jean Jacques & Perrey couldn't be more proud of this.
This group originated "Barbeque Hoedown", which in turn
ended up as the main theme to Disney's Electrical Parade,
only remixed several times. I was never properly introduced
to their music, but I was into Disney as a kid, nevertheless,
and now, more than ever, I can hardly wait to go back and
see it all over again. Maybe, while I'm at Walt Disney World,
someone will provide me with a copy of Jean Jacques &
Perrey's Greatest Hits on CD. Walt and Roy Disney, you've
made me the happiest kid I've ever been in my entire life!
Michael Jul 31st 2010 1:46PM
We need historians to tell the story right, The Main Street Electrical Parade was a FLORIDA tradition at Walt Disney WORLD, not that crappy Disneyland in California that can never get any bigger, its trapped in int's lttle small space, all you Californians, Come to Walt Disney World for once and see a REAL Park that gets bigger & Bigger. I started going in 1976 w/the A-B-C-D- & E tickets, remember those?? The Main Street Electrical Parade was the icing on the cake to a Great Day!! Hated to see it leave in 1991, but glad to see it return and stay, that Spectra whatever wasn't worth my time!! Walt Disney World in Kissimmee, not Orlando, is the biggest and Best Amusement park in the WORLD, and no one will ever top it!!!
joan Jul 31st 2010 2:09PM
When we took our visitors to Disneyland the evening wasn't complete until they saw Tinkerbell fly across the park and saw the Electrical Parade. It was a sad day when I watched one of the last performances of the MSEP in Anaheim. Unfortunately Disney sold a lot of the lights from the parade to people collecting memorborilia. It most definately should stay in Anaheim's main park and be a nightly occurance. It would also help the economy since they employ so many people to operate the vehicles and marh and dance in the parade. It's not that Disney isn't making money since it costs almost 100.00 to go to the park and all the money they make on the consessions.
Carole Jul 31st 2010 2:20PM
Michael : Sorry to burst your sorry *## bubble but U are wrong. Electric parade is a Disneyland original.And as far as our crappy old Disney in California we love it and you can keep your Flordia with all its crime and perverts running around. No thanks.Bigger is not allways better so they tell me. Get a life and find out what is really crappy "Comments like yours" !!!!