Otis Singleton
The Main Street Electrical Parade is a beloved procession of Disney stories brought to life in shimmering coloured lights and bouncy, bubbly music. The parade first arrived at Disneyland Resort in 1972 and has since appeared at multiple Disney parks worldwide under various names. The parade has undergone several makeovers, with new lighting effects and technology, but has retained its signature Baroque Hoedown soundtrack and beloved floats like the Honor America finale display. While the parade has officially retired, it has returned to Disneyland on several occasions for limited engagements, with its most recent appearance in 2022.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Debut | June 17, 1972 |
| Creator | Robert Jani |
| Project Director | Ron Miziker |
| Theme Music | Baroque Hoedown |
| Composers | Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley |
| Original Location | Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, Southern California |
| Original Run | 1972-1996 |
| Number of Performances | 3,600 |
| Number of Guests | 75 million |
| Number of Lights | 500,000-600,000 |
| Distance Travelled | 900 miles |
| Last Appearance | April-September 2022 |
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What You'll Learn
The parade's history at Disney parks worldwide
Parades have been an integral part of Disney theme parks since Disneyland first opened in 1955. The idea behind the parades was to provide free entertainment for a large number of guests without the need for a stage. Walt Disney himself was influenced by parades like the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which sometimes featured Disney floats and contributions.
The Main Street Electrical Parade, created by Robert Jani and Ron Miziker, first arrived at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Southern California, in 1972. It featured glowing floats, beloved Disney characters, and the memorable "Baroque Hoedown" tune. Over the years, the parade has appeared at multiple Disney parks worldwide, including Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom in 1977, Tokyo Disney Resort's Tokyo Disneyland in 1985, and Disneyland Paris in 1992. The parade has undergone several name changes and iterations, such as "Disney's Electrical Parade" at Disney California Adventure Park in 2001, and has returned to Disneyland Resort multiple times for limited engagements.
The parade has a rich history at Disneyland Resort, with its glowing floats and Disney magic captivating guests for over five decades. In recent years, the parade has made a comeback at Disneyland Park, with its most recent appearance being from April to September 2022. Outside of Disneyland Resort, the parade has also had a presence at other Disney parks. For example, in 2010, the parade was featured at the Magic Kingdom as part of the Walt Disney World promotional package "Summer Nightastic!".
The Tokyo version of the parade, known as "Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade - DreamLights," debuted in 2001 with larger floats, over a million lights, and a new orchestral version of "Baroque Hoedown." The Disneyland Paris iteration of the parade, which began in 1992, has also been a trailblazer with its utilisation of drones in nighttime entertainment.
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The music and soundtrack
The Main Street Electrical Parade, a nighttime parade that first premiered at Disneyland in 1972, has become the longest-running parade in Disney history, performing at Disney Parks worldwide. The parade features floats and live performers adorned with over 600,000 electronically controlled LED lights. The original parade at Disneyland in California ran from 1972 to 1996 and returned for limited engagements in 2017, 2019, and 2022.
The parade's underlying theme song is called "Baroque Hoedown", which was originally created by early synthesizer pioneers Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley. It first appeared on their 1967 album "Kaleidoscopic Vibrations: Electronic Pop Music from Way Out". The original parade's soundtrack had the same themes as the current recording but was a different arrangement by Jim Christensen and Paul Beaver. Samples of both the original 1972 and 1977 compositions of "Baroque Hoedown" were used from 1975 to 1979 in the end credits of the Mexican comedy series "El Chapulín Colorado".
In 1977, an updated version of the parade's soundtrack was arranged by Jack Wagner and electronic music artist Don Dorsey, who added an opening fanfare, a spoken introduction announcement, and new music loops for some of the parade units. This updated soundtrack was used until January 2009. The current soundtracks for both the Main Street Electrical Parade and Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade: DreamLights were arranged, programmed, and performed by Gregory Smith. Smith also arranged the music for Disneyland's "Remember... Dreams Come True" and "Magical" fireworks spectaculars.
The original soundtrack was played solely on synthesizers, but the Tokyo Disneyland version uses an orchestra with adult and youth choirs in addition to harmonies and synthesizers. Dorsey used 11 synthesizers to create his arrangement of the soundtrack: Moog Model III, Mini-Moog, Steiner-Parker Synthacon, Oberheim 8-Voice, Sequential Circuits Prophet-5, Fender Rhodes Piano, New England Digital Synclavier II, Bode 7702 Vocoder, Roland MKS-80 Super Jupiter, Yamaha DX7, and Yamaha TX7.
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The floats and characters
The Main Street Electrical Parade is a beloved nighttime parade that first premiered at Disneyland in 1972 and has since become the longest-running parade in Disney history, performing at Disney Parks worldwide. Created by Robert Jani and project director Ron Miziker, the parade features floats and live performers covered in thousands of electronically controlled lights and a synchronised soundtrack triggered by radio control along key areas of the parade route.
The parade's design used nickel-cadmium batteries, which the Disney movie studio had recently started using, and Italian-made miniature bulbs that Disneyland staff had seen in light displays along Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. The parade's original floats were constructed by Silvestri, a Chicago-based company responsible for the city's holiday displays.
The roster of floats in each iteration of the parade has gradually evolved over the years. The version of the parade that has appeared in Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom, and Disney's California Adventure has maintained a mostly unchanged lineup of parade units since the 1980s. As of 2022, these include the Casey Junior train from Dumbo carrying Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy, and subsequent floats based on Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Pete's Dragon, and It's a Small World, the latter of which features characters from multiple Disney properties.
The To Honor America float, added in 1979, is the longest float in the parade at 118 feet long. The massive Elliot float, added in 1977 for the release of Pete's Dragon, measures 16 feet tall, 10 feet wide, and 38 feet long. The parade has also included floats from Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade: DreamLights, which ran from 2001 to 2020 and featured unique floats that have never been replicated or relocated to any other Disney theme park.
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The original creators
The Main Street Electrical Parade, a nighttime parade, first premiered at Disneyland in 1972 and has since become the longest-running parade in Disney history, performing at Disney Parks worldwide. Created by Robert (Bob) Jani and project director Ron Miziker, the parade features floats and live performers covered in thousands of electronically-controlled lights.
Robert Jani was also the creator of the Electrical Water Pageant, which floats over the Seven Seas Lagoon and features both real and mythical sea creatures presented upon lighted barges. Inspired by the Electrical Water Pageant, Jani wanted to create an electrical parade on land for Disneyland.
The parade's design used nickel-cadmium batteries, which the Disney movie studio had recently started using, and Italian-made miniature bulbs that Disneyland staff had seen in light displays along Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. The parade's original floats were constructed by Silvestri, a Chicago-based company responsible for the city's holiday displays.
The parade's underlying theme song is called "Baroque Hoedown", created by early synthesizer pioneers Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley. The original version first appeared on their 1967 album "Kaleidoscopic Vibrations: Electronic Pop Music from Way Out". The parade's soundtrack has the same themes as the current recording but is a different arrangement by Jim Christensen and Paul Beaver. In 1977, an updated version was arranged by Jack Wagner and electronic music artist Don Dorsey, which was used until January 2009.
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The replacement parades
The Main Street Electrical Parade, which first debuted in 1972, has undergone several replacements and iterations over the years. Here is a detailed look at some of these replacements:
- Fantillusion: In 2003, the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland Paris came to an end and was replaced by Fantillusion. This nighttime parade had earlier replaced the Tokyo version of the Main Street Electrical Parade, which ran from 1985 to 1995. Fantillusion featured a unique blend of lights and illusions, creating a magical atmosphere on the streets of Disneyland Paris.
- Light Magic: In 1997, the Main Street Electrical Parade took a brief hiatus, and Disney introduced the Light Magic parade as its replacement. However, Light Magic failed to capture the imagination of audiences and was quickly cancelled. As a result, Disney brought back the Main Street Electrical Parade for a limited engagement in 1999, just in time for the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration.
- SpectroMagic: After the conclusion of the Main Street Electrical Parade's run at Magic Kingdom in 2001, Disney introduced SpectroMagic. This parade showcased dazzling displays of lights and special effects, offering a fresh take on the traditional parade experience.
- Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade - DreamLights: In 2001, the Tokyo version of the parade returned with a new name: Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade - DreamLights. This iteration featured larger floats, over 1 million lights, and a new orchestral arrangement of the beloved "Baroque Hoedown" melody.
- Paint the Night Parade: Following the retirement of the Main Street Electrical Parade, Disney introduced the Paint the Night Parade. This vibrant spectacle features LED floats, beloved Disney characters, and an electrifying soundtrack, creating a magical nighttime experience for guests of all ages.
- Disney Symphony of Colours: In 2024, Disneyland Park will introduce the Disney Symphony of Colours, an exciting new show that takes inspiration from the Main Street Electrical Parade. This show will feature drones illuminating the night sky with a burst of colours, lights, and projections, creating a unique and modern twist on the traditional parade.
These replacements and updates to the Main Street Electrical Parade showcase Disney's commitment to innovation and their desire to continuously delight guests with fresh and memorable experiences.
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Frequently asked questions
The Main Street Electrical Parade has been performed at various times since its debut in 1972. It has been performed at night, with glowing floats and Disney characters.
The parade has been held at different Disney Parks worldwide, including Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris.
The Main Street Electrical Parade first debuted at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, on June 17, 1972.
The parade has been held at various intervals over the years, with some years having multiple runs and others with none. It has returned to different Disney Parks at different times.
You can expect a dazzling nighttime spectacle with glowing floats, beloved Disney characters, and unforgettable music, such as the "Baroque Hoedown" tune. The parade has featured different themes over the years, with floats inspired by Disney movies and characters.
