Disneyland has always done a nice job with their parades. If you want a good view, you will want to find a spot on the curb somewhere on Main Street a couple hours before the parade starts. The Disney Parade is a nice break from walking around the park. It also gives you a chance to see many of the Disney characters all in one setting. The Main Street Electrical Parade is a night time parade that features live performers and floats that are covered in over 600,000 electronically controlled LED lights. There have been many versions of this parade and it is seasonal. When Disneyland isn't running the electrical parade, they still have the late afternoon parade complete with floats, live performances and Disney characters. I'm a big parade guy and enjoy the ones here because they are short and Disneyland does a good job with organizing them. But sometimes I will use this time to go ride some rides because the lines are shorter. read more

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As a kid coming to Disneyland, I have always loved the electrical parade. This time, I wanted my kids to enjoy the newer electrical parade, Paint The Night. It was still fun and magical. Loving the Pixar add ins. My daughter loved watching it including to see her favorite princess, Rapunzel. Looking forward to more electrical parades in the future.! read more

A classic night time spectacular at Disneyland! I find myself more in love with the merchandise than the actually parade as I find it very monotonous. With that said, I still recommend everyone see it at least once as the lighted characters are truly unique. When you plan your next Disneyland trip, be sure to keep an eye out for this parade. read more

The Main Street Electrical Parade - Merch 2023 - Festivals Near Me - Anaheim, California

Classic parade returns to Disneyland for another brief run, celebrating their 50th anniversary. Show retired in 1996, brought back, retired again August 2017, brought back again in 2019 before Disneyland closed down 13 months due to the pandemic in March 2020. Two shows , one at 845pm, and another at 1045pm on this Wednesday, graduation night, when the park closes at midnight. Two hours before the show, the ropes cordon off the boundaries where people stake out their spots sitting on towels and blankets. We flew in , and the only towels and blankets we had were nonexpendable hotel items. We walked a mile from our timeshare, arriving at 6pm, finding a spot behind some occupied baby carriages parked on the very end of the Main Street on the round island about next to the train station. Good place to stay as we can stay seated until the parade starts, and everyone will expect us to stand up to see over the carriages. Train station packed with people with a bird's eye view of the parade route. Next to us are a set of benches two deep roped off with the reserved sign, apparently only open to people who win the seating lottery. The parade starts at 8:45 at "It's A Small World", one half a mile away, and takes 20 minutes to reach the end of Main Street, all along the way lights blacked out, except for the lights at the stores. There are about 25 floats, each lighted up with hundreds, maybe thousands of colorful lights with hidden speakers blaring out the Disney theme music. The first float announces the 50th anniversary of the parade. Floats include Cinderella carriage, Allison in Wonderland mushroom, Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs, Peter Pan and the pirate ship, Treasure Island galleon, among others. The last float, at 925pm, is 118 feet long, seven sections, has characters from Disney classics, including 'Jungle Book' and 'Aladdin' to 'Coco' and 'Raya and the Last Dragon' and 'Encanto'. I saw this parade in 1985 with my ex and son when he was 7, and again 2004 with my newly wedded wife, both times newly married. Today in 2022, I'm seeing it for a third time, this time not newly remarried! read more

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Just under 5 years ago this parade ended... again! Thankfully, Disney brought it out again to celebrate its' 50th Anniversary! I love this lit parade! The nostalgic music along with the familiar turtle, snail, bee, caterpillar (?), Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Pinocchio, Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Peter Pan, and Elliot. My favorite is seeing Dopey and the other dwarfs as well as watching Cinderella's Step-Sisters, Drizella & Anastasia's antics! There is a change up in the last floats of the parade. Although I loved the Patriotic ending of the prior rendition of the parade, I suppose the new ending is better for the children since there are many characters from movies incorporated in it. Some of those characters are: Encanto, The Jungle Book, Raya and the Last Dragon, The Princess and the Frog, Coco, and Mulan. It is inspired by "It's A Small World". Not sure how long this parade will be running, but be sure to grab a park reservation and stay for the 8:45 PM or 10:45 PM viewing! ____________________________________ Previous Review dated 12-25-2017 3-16-17: Hurry! There's only a few days left before the parade fades away... AGAIN! August 20th is your last day for this time around! This is such a nostalgic parade, if you remember it from back in the day! I remember watching this parade with my children when they were pretty young. We came for the very last 5 days of the parade before it faded away on Sept 25, 1996. I can't believe it's been 20 years! When the parade came to an end, the light bulbs were sold to anyone who wanted to buy them. When they brought to life the newer version of the parade, they installed LED Bulbs in the floats. I'm not sure which lights I prefer, but change can be good! What has stayed the same is the theme song... or the song that most of us think of when we discuss the Main Street Electrical Parade! It is called, "Baroque Hoedown". The soundtrack has been rearranged quite a few times for various Disney Parks. It certainly has a unique sound and when you hear it, it will make everything else fade away and you will have happy feelings! Well, at least it makes me happy! There's a lot of detail that goes into any Disney parade and this one is no exception! I read that there are 22 floats with 600,000 lights, 80 performers in costumes. 12-25-17: This was in my drafts and I forgot to post it from March 2017. This parade is no longer running here at the Disneyland Theme Park. The last run was on August 20, 2017. I absolutely loved this parade and all the nostalgia connotated with it in my life. read more

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6-25-22 Find yourself a seat at the curb or stand behind to watch the dazzling and joyous sights and sounds of the Electeical Parade. So happy they brought it back. If you have COVID phobia like me keep your mask on cuz you'll be surrounded and practically shoulder to shoulder with others without masks. You'll see Tinkerbell, Peter Pan plus Pete's Dragon, Cinderella and more. It's remarkable how many little ones are up around 11 p.m. to enjoy the parade. After the parade most families head out of the park. We followed suit as Doc called for a Lyft. Twice we had huge vehicles at nite that cost more. One driver shared Jennifer Aniston and a sports celebrity rode in her car. read more

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This is the first parade that I have seen. I absolutely love it. Loved the lights that is the parade. The first time I saw it was back in 2004. Hoping to see it again when I go to Disneyland. Will be keeping an eye out for when it be Disneyland again. read more

I reserved in advanced for the Plaza Inn plus Electrical Parade deal. I got to see the Disney's Electrical Parade for the last time. This was hard to reserve! I consider myself lucky! Sad part is... I found out there is an app that can notify you when a reservation is available for and you would have to grab it as soon as it comes up. There is a fee but it's not Disney that is running the app. Its a third party. Well I'm glad I saw it. I organized my Disneyland trip based on the reservation. Great seats. Good food from the Plaza Inn Chicken and all the fixing. Just disappointed that the spots for the reservation are being picked up by apps. It's not illegal, just sad if you didn't know. read more

I've been watching this parade since I was young... although it "retired" in 1996, Disney has brought it back, for a limited time, a couple of times since then. The parade really is a magical Disneyland experience. The lights, the music, the characters. It is happiness. My favorite is the ginormous Elliot, whom I believe doesn't get enough credit in the Disney world. So adorable! Watching it again in 2019, not much has changed, but we agreed that it seems brighter and more fantastic than the original. Maybe it is a bulb change? Regardless, we were mesmerized like little kids as we watched and danced to the recognizable music. Should the parade return again, I highly recommend making a date to visit the Park so you can enjoy the heartwarming stream of lights flowing in front of you down Main Street! Grab a seat at least 30 minutes prior to the parade though... Simply stunning, thank you Disney for bringing back a piece of our childhood to warm our summertime souls. CHEERS!! read more

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This is one awesome parade here at the Disneyland! Another one of those bucket list things. This parade is not always the same every year. They do make different themes, so don't just go see it ones and forget it. You just have to go every year like I do. I love this electrical parade!! Yes I do recommend it and yes, you need to experience it!! read more

O V E R A L L: 9/10 P R O S: Nostalgic AF. They added new floats I didn't see from last year. C O N S: Finding a good spot for the show. M U S T T R Y: Aim to start looking for a spot 30-40 mins before the show near the end of Main Street. Bring a blanket to mark your turf. G R U B Alot of restaurants and cart vendors all around Main Street to grab a quick bite while waiting for the show to start. S E R V I C E A cast member named Marc kept us company before the show and played Disney Trivia with a big group of us. He really helped make the time pass quickly. He gave Disney stickers, pins, and buttons as prizes for the winners. Some of the trivia questions were pretty difficult but overall it made the whole Disney experience very enjoyable..keep an eye out for these awesome cast members! A T M O S P H E R E If you find a nice little curb on the end of main st, it'll serve you well. After all the walking and line standing a simple little curb to call your own is bliss. Beware the encroachers that slowly eat away are your real estate/personal space from behind. Also watch your belongings (purses, bags, or gift bags) just in case. B O N U S S T U F F (Noted: from my Fantasmic review) Schedule wise: aim for watching the first Electrical Parade listed with a spot near the end of Main St, then Fireworks over Sleeping Beauty Castle(make sure to leave like 5 mins earlier before the end), then grab you fav spot to watch the Fantasmic show. If you do this, on the way out of the park you will also catch the beginning of the next Electrical Parade coming from Main Street. Win, win, win, win situation. :D read more

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Timeless classic! This iconic nighttime parade never gets old no matter how many times I've watched it. The last time I visited the park was in 2006 and the parade was in Disney California Adventure then. We did not see it since we only had a one-day pass to Disneyland at the time. I've watched it once or twice more on past visits over the years prior to this month. My visit this July 4th holiday may have been the last time I'll get to see it since the parade will only be around until this summer before it fades away on August 20 this year, 2017. Guests of the park are actually lucky because originally the parade was planned to run only through June 18, 2017 but was extended for a limited-time engagement until August so visitors will be able to enjoy its nostalgic magic this summer. Yay! Not sure what attraction will replace it, if any. The parade was scheduled to begin at 8:45p but already people were securing their spots beginning at 6:00p! Wow! Anyway, a cast of beloved Disney Characters including Goofy, driving a steaming locomotive that pulls Mickey and Minnie aboard a gigantic bass drum were the first ones in the parade. Just behind Mickey and Minnie were more fanciful electrifying floats carrying Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio, Captain Hook, and Smee, Cinderella, Fairy godmother, and the two step sisters: Anastasia and Drizella, cast of Pete's Dragon characters, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and Tinkerbell. It ends with a salute to America featuring dancers in patriotic dress and a majestic bald eagle fashioned from brilliant golden lights making it a pre-July 4th holiday celebration! Glad I was here for this last time before it was scheduled to end its run. Review #0773 read more

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It's back! 50 year anniversary! Highlight is the sound and light show projection on the castle and the coordinated fireworks at the end. Really wonderful, and inspiring. We're now at fifth generation to experience Disneyland - each in a very different way. To keep up with the enormous changes in technology, futurology, preservation of classical and modern storytelling, physical thrills, and plain old fun sights, sounds, and tastes is really quite a challenge! The park would be vastly elevated by a hundred more live characters (from recognizable Buzz & Woody onwards through our diverse modern heroes and heroines of Mulan, Frozen, Coco, inside Out, Encanto etc.) to fill the gap between the fixed assets that take longer term planning and investment. read more

We enjoyed the parade, but probably won't camp out on Main Street for two hours to see it again. You can only watch in certain areas, so you gotta get there about 1.5-2 hours before it starts. But really, that's the only down side. We didn't see too many mascots wondering around during the day, especially not the really popular characters like Cinderella or Tinker Bell, so this gives you the chance to see a whole bunch of the really popular ones. Then when it's over the fireworks over Sleeping Beauty's castle start right away, so you're ready for that right away. Now the fireworks are DEFINITELY a must see while you're there, so be sure to choose to see the parade on a day that they're doing the fireworks!! (Also on a day that's not too windy as it was too windy one of the days to do fireworks while we were there and they canceled it). read more

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There's something so nostalgic about this beautiful parade. I remember seeing it with my family as a kid. The parade's absence definitely made me miss it more, and I'm so glad it's finally back! We recently brought our friends from out-of-state to Disneyland. We came here for the evening, but we spent the 8:45 showing on one of the rides. When the 10:45 showing came around, we were ready. We found the perfect spot along the parade route to see the parade and take lots of photos! This parade is just as great as it was when I was a kid. This time around I was so glad to enjoy the parade with my son and our friends. It made for a wonderfully memorable evening! read more

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"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Disneyland proudly presents our spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination in thousands of sparkling lights and electro-synthe-magnetic musical sounds. The Main Street Electrical Parade!"(synthesized music) The ORIGINAL Main Street Electrical Parade is finally back home at Disneyland and I couldn't be happier. This parade first debuted in 1972 and was an intricate part of Disneyland and no visit was complete without seeing this parade. I grew up going to Disneyland and one of my fondest childhood memories was seeing this parade and it was my favorite. I just loved the bright lights, the floats (especially those turtles with the glasses lol) and of course that music. Unfortunately after operating for 24 years it ended it's run but did somehow end up at Disney's California Adventure in 2001 but it was not the same. Honestly I felt like my childhood was ruined at the time when they got rid of the parade and moved it to California Adventure years later (a park that I absolutely despised at the time). Now fast forward 21 years and The Main Street Electrical Parade is back and it comes as such a surprise!! While people were a bit upset that Paint The Night was being replaced by this parade I was happy I mean after all there would be no Paint The Night without MSEP. The parade is just as I remembered as a kid, the announcement of the parade and the lights going out always gives me chills. They have almost all of the same floats minus the lion float which I was a bit disappointed by but my all time favorite float Elliot is back blowing steam and doing tricks with Pete to guide him. This parade is just magical and it brought me back to my childhood indeed, I just was in such amazement and couldn't stop moving from the music. I absolutely love this parade and I'm glad it's back through the summer and I highly recommend those that have that childhood attachment to it like me and many others to go see it ASAP before it goes away in the summer. read more

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*in electronic synthesizer voice* Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Disneyland proudly presents our spectacular festival pageant of night time magic and imagination. In thousands of sparkling lights, and electro-synthe-magnetic musical sounds... The Main Street Electrical Parade! *cue Baroque Hoedown* Finally... the Main Street Electrical Parade HAS COME BACK... to Disneyland! (Sorry for channeling the Rock, but I couldn't help myself!) Getting its start in the 70s, this is probably the longest running parade in Disneyland's history, at one point in the 80s playing in Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Tokyo Disneyland. Although the Blue Fairy and calliope floats have been taken out (why...?), it's still a blast seeing the floats decked out in all those incandescent light bulbs. My favorites would have to be Cinderella's coach, Alice in Wonderland, and of course, Pete and Elliot the dragon. The showstopper of course would have to be the 118-foot long flag float honoring America... but after hearing a girl describe it as a big piece of bacon, you can't unsee that image! If you're a fan of the Main Street Electrical Parade and want to relive your younger days - or introduce the younger generation to what the parade is - get to Disneyland soon, since the parade's final run ends on June 18th! read more

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Love it!! So awesome that it's back at Disneyland until August 20, 2017 (it got extended from the original end date of June!)! I remember watching this parade when I was younger when I went to Disneyland for the first time with my cousins, and even still have a VHS recording of it. I didn't get to watch it again in person after that until I went to Disney World 2 years ago. I never thought I'd be able to watch it again in person, so I was ECSTATIC to hear that it was coming back to Disneyland, but only for a limited time (January 2017 - August 2017)! I'm no longer a passholder (due to the price hike), so I was so happy to have had the opportunity to watch this amazing parade again one day 2 months ago! We watched the 8:30pm showing (it was super crowded, though!), towards the beginning of the parade route by It's a Small World. I really enjoyed the parade there! I've always watched parades near the end of the route, or towards the middle, but being at the beginning was actually pretty cool. Great views! The parade is a little over 20 minutes long. The lights on each of the floats are amazing! So many lights! Overall, I'd HIGHLY recommend watching this parade while it's still here at Disneyland! It's probably my favorite Disney parade, not only because of the music, but because of the floats! Remember: Last day is August 20, 2017! read more

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I could probably start and end this review with two words: IT'S BACK! Of course, this was in contrast to the slogan "glowing away forever" which was used in 1996 before the parade was packed off to the Magic Kingdom. Rohlinism: Disney can take any black and white term and make it relative! The Main Street Electrical Parade opened on Main Street USA on June 17, 1972, but it was by no means a smooth debut. Disney discovered the float designer was behind schedule just two months before the deadline and Disney hired welders, electricians, and other workers to assemble the floats and hand-tint / install 500,000 bulbs in the backstage area of Disneyland. The first rehearsal was an utter failure with one float crashing into a building on Main Street and cast members costumes shooting off sparks. When Disney announced the parade was closing after 24 years, certified light bulbs from the parade were sold to collectors and in 1997 Light Magic appeared in the Disneyland. It disappeared almost as fast and the Light Magic parade was considered a complete bust! The Electric Parade was refurbished and started nightly shows at Magic Kingdom in May of 1999. Disney originally planned on bringing The Main Street Electrical Parade back to Disneyland in 2001, but poor attendance figures at Disney's California Adventure caused a change in plans and on July 2, 2001 Disney debuted Disney's Electrical Parade in California Adventure. Disney's Electric Parade ended its run at California Adventure on April 18, 2010 and once again found its way to the Magic Kingdom. On October 9, 2016, Disney ended its "open-ended" run at Magic Kingdom in preparation for its limited return to Disneyland. The parade started with the Blue Fairy float and included a large drum pulled by the Casey Jr. Engine, Cinderella, a Chinese dragon, and a circus calliope. In 2009, Disney announced a Tinker Bell float which eventually replaced the Blue Fairy float and Disney started experimenting with new LED pixie dust effects on the major floats. Today, the Tinker Bell float has moved back to the Peter Pan unit and Casey Jr. now leads the parade. The current format of the parade: Casey Jr. Train ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-main-street-electrical-parade-anaheim?select=968waprjZ4_HMfIC6Pj1SQ ) Alice in Wonderland ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-main-street-electrical-parade-anaheim?select=YuVveQ1vdxD8L2_E7cj4nw ) ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-main-street-electrical-parade-anaheim?select_video=nQbqBzG5PQZJgSoVt5-CUg ) ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-main-street-electrical-parade-anaheim?select_video=JskY7WqQT4Oa6O8cdtlefg ) Cinderella ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-main-street-electrical-parade-anaheim?select=V9Ee5O39jHvw0Qh_2sgRBQ ) ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-main-street-electrical-parade-anaheim?select=eacG7rBSh93M1ReUqg_t4w ) ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-main-street-electrical-parade-anaheim?select=2UVvT4ShPIVzwkPxG03qjA ) Peter Pan ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-main-street-electrical-parade-anaheim?select=dACYGyNTZgDyJ1v1vf7yhg ) Snow White ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-main-street-electrical-parade-anaheim?select=fs6KEpCG4cPr6FMZXQ-pFA ) Pinocchio Pete's Dragon ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-main-street-electrical-parade-anaheim?select_video=dzBE9JyGXRhH40QSSj5OWA ) To Honor America ( https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-main-street-electrical-parade-anaheim?select=1I5nRpMk2jKuYlflV78GBw ) Disney employs radio-activated triggers which allows the audience in a specific zone to hear the float's music through the audio system. Zones are between 70 to 100 feet and this system guaranteed each person watching the parade would see and hear the same show no matter where he / she is standing on the route. The musical theme for the parade is called "Baroque Hoedown" and was created in 1967 by Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley. The parade is 20 minutes long and starts at It's A Small World and probably takes about 10 minutes for the first float to make it to the end of Main Street USA. The 10:00PM parade reverses starting on Main Street USA and ending at It's A Small World. The first thing any first time visitor to the park should know is if you want to see an event like this parade, you need to camp out hours in advance. The better half and I arrived at the park around 6:00PM and immediately started looking for a place to watch parade. Once we located a curb spot, Laina headed off to grab us a couple of corndogs for dinner while I held our spot in the growing sea of humanity and waited for my stepdaughter Erica to join us. Everyone has their personal preferences, but in my opinion this is one of the few attractions in the park that is well worth the time investment even if you are only visiting the park for one day. I am so happy Disney has brought the Main Street Electrical Parade back home, even if it is for a limited engagement! read more

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It's back the original night time parade for a limited time till June 18, 2017. My childhood favorite parade the Main Street Electrical Parade fills the night at Disneyland with floats filled with colorful light bulbs that light up the paths they come down on with the catchy tune having you dancing and bopping you around. This is a must see if you have never seen it before. For those who have seen it can re live it and for the older generation it will definitely bring back those childhood memories seeing it. I could go on and on and raved about this parade but I'll spare you on that lol. I'm so glad they brought it back for a while. I can guarantee the music alone will forever stay with you. read more

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My 1800th review is going to be about this wonderful parade. I haven't been to Disneyland in a while, and I think even when I did, the parade was retired. Last month, I was able to see it again, and it brought back so many memories. My parents had the annual passes for us back in the day, when they were less than a hundred dollars (I wish!!), and even though I was tiny, I still remember sitting on the curbside, waiting for the parade to start, and then sitting on my dad's shoulders, watching the parade pass. There were a few new installations, but it was almost exactly the same as I remember it being decades ago. I could almost feel my (now deceased dad) next to me, and I started tearing up during the show. Even though it was sad, it was still a nice recollection, and I'm glad I was able to watch it one more time. read more

Ah, the remnants of a childhood filled lovingly with weekends at Disneyland. The parade has changed little from what I remember as a kid. It is still filled with lovely lights, dancing characters, spectacular floats and, of course, Mickey. The parade route is long, starting in Fantasyland and working its way to Main Street by the park entrance. There's really not a bad seat along the roadway because the floats are raised so even the littlest of folks can see. Most people sit, but beware that there are a few folks who will stand and obstruct the view of others (you know who you are). Try to be courteous to others. Download the Disneyland app to find parade times and put this in your schedule as a must see, especially if you have little ones. read more

I grew up watching the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland since the 1980's. It made its very 1st appearance on June 17th, 1972; and I was sad to see it retire from Disneyland back on November 25th, 1996. Although since Disney's California Adventures was not doing well when it initially opened in 2001, they brought this parade back from retirement to DCA on July 3rd, 2001 to try and attract more people into this park. They eventually closed this parade altogether in California back on April 18th, 2010; but it made its trip to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom as "Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade" on June 5th, 2010. On October 9th, 2016; it closed in preparation for a limited-time run to return back to Disneyland, which started on January 20th, 2017. It's scheduled to continue playing until August 20th, 2017. I've always enjoyed the Main Street Electrical Parade and it's still one of the best night-parades out there. It is outdated in its references to their Disney films, but the visuals & music will always be memorable. It doesn't matter how old you are, you will always enjoy this parade, especially if you grew up watching this as a kid. It really brought back a lot of nostalgic feelings, emotions & memories. I guess no matter how many times Disney decides to retire this parade.., it always seems to reappear at one of their other theme parks. read more

Dun digga dun dun! Dun diddaliddalidda, dun duddaluddalidda duddaluddaduddaludda... yeah, you know all the words, just like me... and you've enjoyed those thousands upon thousands of twinkling lights cleverly designed to look like various Disney creations and characters. Of course I'm talking about the Main Street Electrical Parade, a spectacle of showmanship, pageantry, childhood innocence, and the wonders of battery power. As a kid, we used to stake out a spot on Main Street near Carnation to watch this thing go by, and that helium-inspired baroque tune would get inextricably interwoven with my dreams and human interactions for weeks afterwards. Still, when it went away, it was sort of a symbol of a forgotten time in my life, an allegory of youth that being a Disneyland Dad now doesn't often afford me. All that to say, seeing the parade go by, holding my 8 year old in my lap and watching his otherwise cool-guy exterior melt in the twilight while he smiled, toe-tapped, and waved at the characters (all while we laughed like a couple of boys at all the pretty Disney dancers strutting their $13 an hour)was beyond memorable. My youngest son, just turned three, literally took off his shirt, yelled something about being a hot mess (thanks for that, cousin Sarah) and danced like no one was looking. Of course, we all were (see video clip.) Anyway, catch it while it's here. Last time they canceled the parade, they sold off all the light bulbs as mementos... guess the joke was on us, huh? Just have found a few backup boxes of twinkle bulbs... have a magical day! read more

This was one of my all time favorite parades as I was growing up, so I was over the moon when they had brought it back and then was able to see it before it left for good about two weeks ago. I was a bit sad that some of the floats were missing from the original and replaced by other new floats. But overall it was like how I remembered it as a kid. I just love the song for the parade and just the pretty lights and characters you get to see as they mane their way up or down main street. My favorite floats are the turtle with the little hat on and the ones holding the 7 dwarves because it made me laugh seeing Sleepy actually falling asleep while mining. I like the character interactions you can get with some of the characters who talk like Alice and Pete with his dragon Elliot. I'm sad to see it go again, but it will always remain a classic in my Disneyland journey :) read more

The Main Street Electrical Parade is back home at Disneyland until June 18th. Check out the nostalgic Disney magic that is the MSEP. Follow along as Goofy and his friends lead the train of light-studded floats down Main Street USA. Note that it says Disneyland Presents on the float whereas it's different when the parade is shown elsewhere in the world. For a limited time to celebrate the return of MSEP, there are secret menu items available at certain restaurants in Disneyland. Here are the locations and menu items: Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor Secret "Fantasia" Ice Cream Whoopie Pie Sandwich $4.39 Secret Floats $4.99 Refreshment Corner Secret MSEP Firefly chili and corn chips topped with shredded cheese $3.49 Secret MSEP chili mac bread bowl $10.99 Galactic Grill Secret Galactic Burger brioche bun, hamburger patty, cheddar cheese, American cheese, French fries, burger sauce. Plaza Inn Secret Fried chicken and Mickey Mouse mini waffles Stage Door Cafe Secret Mozzarella sticks with French fries Check out the treats while taking in the parade. You'll never get that Baroque Hoedown out of your head. read more

So amazing that they brought the electrical parade back and are keeping it throughout summer 17. The 8:45 show time starts from it's a small world and makes its way down Main Street to end at the Disneyland entrance. This is the first showing of the night so it is extremely crowded. People start camping out and saving spots as early as 6pm. Best thing to do is to enjoy your evening and catch the second showtime and watch it at 10:45 because by then it will definitely not be as crowded and you won't have a hard time getting a spot to watch it from. All parents will small children will be leaving by then and the lines for rides are much shorter between 7:30-9:30 because everyone is saving spots for the parade/watching it. The 10:45 showtime starts from Main Street so grab a spot on Main Street right in front of the Refreshment corner. You will have excellent views and once the parade ends (11:20ish pm) you will be away from the crowds, and already on Main Street/near the exit to leave or do last minute shopping on Main Street! Grab some coffee at the refreshment corner or a cream cheese pretzel or some popcorn and enjoy!!!! read more

Went to Disneyland Sunday solely to see the parade. Piece of advice find a spot early. I thought getting a half hour early to the parade was enough. Wrong!!! Get there at least an hour before anyways all was well found a nice spot in Main Street above where you wait for the train which is closed now for the 10:30 show. Same show as I remember but different generation enjoying it. It's cool to see old characters you don't see often like Peter Pan, Petes dragon, Snow White and the 7 dwarfs, Alice in wonderland. If you like Christmas lights you'll love this parade. read more

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If nostalgia drives reviews, then this review is pure nostalgia. The last time I remember seeing the Main Street electrical parade I think I was 8 years old. Disneyland seemed so much grander then and the castle was HUGE... but time and perspective set in as well as reality and those grand illusions look more like studio backlot sets. However, my yearning for those fond memories hasn't waned and I often try to recapture some of that feeling whenever I can. Such is the case with the Main Street electrical parade. The sound of the theme music made my heart race and I was transported to a time when, as a kid, my biggest worry was what was going to be served at the school cafeteria for lunch the next day. I couldn't wait to catch my first glimpse of the train bespectacled in lights with steam rising from the smoke stack and the all too familIar bass drum emblazoned with the Main Street electrical parade script. My one year old, whom I was holding, wasn't quite sure what to make of dad's excitement until he saw the twinkling lights and heard the synthesized music. If his eyes weren't wide enough, you'd think he found a new way to let more light into his retinas... Watching his amazement, and that if my other two kids, was spectacular in and of itself. I was both a proud parent and an 8 year old with his little siblings at the same time. It was just awesome. The parade itself features the aforementioned lights and music, but also characters and floats from some of Disney's most iconic films: Peter Pan, Snow White, Cinderella and Alice in wonderland just to name a few. It wouldn't be an 80's based technology parade without some type of malfunction. I remember when some of the light bulbs didn't work when I was a kid; likewise, an access door flew open on one of the snails and a Disney worker had to rig it shut... priceless... The crowd was excited and eager with no sense of rudeness save for some young kids who tried to push their way on to my son's stroller for a seat. Yes, there's a wait and we got our spot almost 3 hours before the parade. But that worked out just fine as my two older ones went with mom to some rides and Mickey's theatre while my one year old tried to nap, unsuccessfully, in his stroller. We had an impromptu picnic on the sidewalk lining the parade route with fried chicken, biscuits, veggies and potatoes from the Plaza Inn along with some popcorn and ice cream, so the whole wait thing was a non-issue. We met other fans of the parade sitting along next to us and we all reminisced about the last time we saw it. I can honestly say that I wasn't disappointed, old technology and all. As to who was more excited, my kids or me? Well, that remains to be debated. But there's no doubt the excitement from almost 30 year's ago remains and the nostalgia from yesterday just arrived...but be sure to catch it before it leaves in June and becomes a fond, distant memory...again. read more

My favorite memory of Disneyland as a child was the Main Street Electrical Parade. So when I heard it was coming back to Disneyland for a limited time, I had to go see it! As soon as you hear that signature synthesized music you're instantly brought back! The nostalgia brings an instant smile to your face. The twinkling lights are just as magical as I remember. The 10:30 show was much less crowded than the 8:30 showing as most people with small children are gone by then. I'll be back again before the parade leaves for good in June. read more

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It's finally back after 20 years!! As soon as the lights dim & you hear that electronic voice say " Ladies & Gentleman Boys & Girls," your heart races for that longtime song coming down Main Street. Every one cheers because you hear & see those electrical lights getting closer. Disney always does it right. The premier was an 80's TBT Dance party. Music from the 80's was blasting on Main Street. People were dressed in very colorful eye-catching wardrobe. Because it was a special event we received a light up electrical parade lanyard, took pictures on the red carpet & after the parade some of parade turtles & Pete's Dragon was brought out to take pictures by all free by a photographer to download. Majority of the restaurants, attractions and souvenir stores were closed. As the park was a private party for us the earlier guests were out by 6pm. With the event for the parade time went by so fast there's nothing else we had time for. It was most definitely worth it. read more

The Main Street Electrical Parade - Festivals Near Me - Anaheim, California

A summer must. Takes me back to when I was a kid sitting on Main Street with my mom watching the show. It may not be the most extravagant show but it's so worth the nost read more

I just so happened to catch this parade while waiting in line to get into "it's a small world". The line was weaving back and forth as the wait time stretched up on 80 mins and then the cast members slowly started ushering people to one side of the walkway of the other in anticipation for this extravaganza. I had not caught any of the parades because I was too busy trying to get to all the rides and suddenly at just the right moment the gates to the behind the scenes area opened and the BASS dropped. Unh tiss uhn tiss unh tiss womp womp womp wommmmmmmmmmp! Tinkerbell comes flying around in circles on a float with dancers all around lit up grooving to the music. Then a whole slough of floats come edging their way out with all the characters we all love and I mean can we talk about the amount of lights?!?! Holy cow! I guess they save power with LEDs but there had to have been like 10 million lights just on the big Mac truck from CARS. There was a huge Little Mermaid float and Monsters Inc and several characters from CARS and of course Mickey doing magic all the way up to the front entrance of the park. It was soooo amazing! It was literally LIT! I didn't get to see the whole thing as the line moved up but if I ever go back I will definitely plan better around the parades. read more

The Main Street Electrical Parade - Festivals Near Me - Anaheim, California

So visited Disneyland with my wife just too see what the big deal was about this electrical parade and I must say that it was amazing! I couldn't believe that a parade that was as old that it was was still this entertaining. Even though you can tell the music was from many many years ago it just goes well with the electrical floats and the lights are in sync with it making the whole parade that much better! If you haven't seen this parade yet you have to get down here for they say that it will be gone after June or July I believe. But definitely worth seeing and the kids love the lights and music! Have fun everyone!! read more

Not having grown up in Southern Cali, I never heard of the Electrical Parade. But when I heard it was returning after a long absence and reading nostalgic memories from other fans, I decided that it was a must see before it ends midyear! We saw people getting in line pretty early. With two hours to go before the show we found a perfect spot where no one was waiting yet and we got to sit right in front with no one blocking or distracting our view! And it was worth the wait! I loved the 80's sound effects and digital music! The floats were cute and fun!! I recommend any Disney fan to catch this parade before it ends! read more

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I can't believe they brought this parade BACK! I absolutely love it and it reminds me so much of my childhood! I was super impressed with it and wow have times changes. Now I feel it's all LED lights instead of the good ole fashion bulb, but all in all a wonderful addition ! I wish they would keep it around longer then their extended date of august 20th! read more

The Gorilla says: "I love Disneyland. But this parade is dated. It should be retired." --I've been coming here for 40 years, and my family and I are current passholders. I saw the parade as a kid, and couldn't remember if I liked it. Upon seeing it as an adult, I remember that I didn't. The music is dated, and the floats look worn. Especially on the heels of "Paint the Night," which is truly epic. (We've seen that parade nearly 100 times during its run here at Disneyland, and would gladly see it again.) The closing float for the Electrical Parade is . . . awkward, to be generous. It must have some social relevance to the early to mid-70s that is lost today. Of the parades currently running in Anaheim, the Electrical Parade ranks a distant third of the three. Mickey's Soundsational Parade in Disneyland had us more excited with its opening music, before we even saw any floats. And it had us singing along until its end. The Pixar Play Parade in California Adventures is a very close second, with just a slightly less catch song. I say all of this as very good Disney Parade attendees: we like good seats, sing a long, and get LOTS of interaction from Parade performers (for a family of three.) I can't wait until the Electrical Parade is gone in August. I hope Paint the Night comes back. Or Soundational gets a nighttime running. For now, when the Electrical Parade starts, we go looking for fun in other parts of the park. read more

brings back memories my mom brought me when I was a child so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to bring my kids we had a great time. read more

The Main Street Electrical Parade - waiting for the parade to start - Festivals Near Me - Anaheim, California

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NEVER AGAIN!!!! I've been an annual pass member for more than 6 years now. I've seen the electrical parade since the early to mid 90s and my family was very excited that it has returned. I even took my 2 year old nephew to see it last Thursday since it was very impactful for my children when they were younger. My children who are now grown adults have always longed to see it since they have always had fun memories of watching this parade. We actually had 3 copies of the VHS tape from 20 years ago and until this day they still watch it. Which now leads to my complaint and displeasure with today's event. I took my whole family to watch today's parade and we sat curb side right in from of the Lincoln Theater. As usual we arrive around 5:30 since the 6:45 parade gets packed up. During the period of waiting we were approached by two cast members advising us that we have to keep out feels close to the curb and make sure not to stretch it. 10 minutes prior to the parade starting. A cast member named Marc told everyone in our area that we had to stand up during the duration of the parade. I normally would comply. But this seems like something that they decided on in the spur of the moment. I then told them that if they notified us earlier we would've moved since I have back issues and can't stand for a long time. I asked for the lead cast member and the manager. I both voiced out to them that I was here last Thursday and the same section was not advised to stand up. Both couldn't answer my question and by the reaction in their faces they didn't anticipate someone knowing that. They never apologized nor did they even show any compassion. I'm quite sure there are parents out there that can sympathize. When your kids are grown and have their own lives it's really hard schedule and plan family time. Thank you very much Disneyland for ruining an evening that my family have we've been looking forward to for a month now. read more

My all time favorite Disney parade! Seen this parade since I was little, and we never get bored of it! It's just a classic! I know it's supposed to fade away in August 20th which makes me and tons of people sad. Disneyland should keep it on and off ! It's very popular! I love the music, from the introduction to the end. The Electrical parade is the reason why we went this July to Disneyland otherwise we never go because it's hot and crowded. I hope they bring back this parade at least starting in the spring time to summer, than take it off until next spring and summer! The only thing we miss from watching this parade this past Sunday was the circus of Dumbo was missing and the fun lion playing the organ(the king from Robin Hood ) . Also missed the blue fairy from Pinocchio! They added a new float of tinker bell which was nice but we missed the original floats they removed. Also because the circus floats were removed we noticed the music was changed a little. It would be nice if they brought back dumbo and the circus original floats and music. Over all it was magical but don't get rid of It permanently! The future kids and tourists need to experience this parade! If you haven't seen this parade go see it! Hopefully it'll come back after August 20th . read more