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Festival of Fantasy Parade
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Park

Magic Kingdom

Designer

Steve Davison

Attraction type

Parade

Theme

New Fantasyland

Opened

March 9, 2014

Closing

March 12, 2020

Replaced

Celebrate A Dreams Come True Parade

Replaced by

Friendship in the Imagination

Disney's Festival of Fantasy Parade is performed daily in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, debuting on March 9, 2014[1][2] as a part of bringing the stories of New Fantasyland throughout the park. The parade celebrates the festival from Disney's films.

The parade takes two floats and themes from Tokyo Disneyland's former daytime parade named Jubilation!, which ran until early 2013, at which point it was replaced by Happiness is Here Parade.

This parade ran until 2021, when it was replaced by the Friendship in the Imagination.

Development and History[]

Disney's Festival of Fantasy Parade presents these stories through a spectacle fleet of fantastical floats. The parade reflects the hard, creative work of Parade Designer Richard Improta, Creative Director Steven Davison and Managing Producer Kris Bunner. Many others have contributed to the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. Mark Hammond, whose previous work includes Disney California Adventure’s World of Color and Hong Kong Disneyland’s Flights of Fantasy Parade, designed the musical score. Mirena Rada, who has previously worked on projects for Disneyland Resort, Tokyo Disney Resort, and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, designed the costumes.

On February 10, 2014, Walt Disney World rolled out the red carpet to show off the latest elaborate costume creations for their upcoming Festival of Fantasy parade, debuting next month. With a backdrop of three of the new giant-sized floats, Disney sent parade performers walking the "catwalk" backstage behind the Magic Kingdom to unveil costumes inspired by films.[3]

On May 11, 2018, the Maleficent dragon float burst into flames as it was breathing fire while the parade passed through Liberty Square. The fire was soon put out and there were no injuries, but the float's head was completely destroyed.

The following day, the Gazebo float seen in various other parades (like the Rainy Day Cavalcade) featuring Aurora and Prince Phillip replaced the Maleficent float. It was revealed that the Maleficent float is returning to the parade on January 25th 2019, with some new colouring and non-flammable materials.

On March 12, 2020, Festival of Fantasy Parade had its final performance, due to COVID-19 outbreak to impacting on Florida.

On October 27, 2020, Since Walt Disney World reopened, after being temporarily closed during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Walt Disney World announced that all recent entertainment shows are laid off, such as Citizens of Hollywood at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor at Magic Kingdom, due to a dispute between the Template:WikipediaLink and Walt Disney World.

Parade Units[]

  • Princess Garden: This pageantry of princesses celebrates Disney royalty. Cinderella, Tiana, and Belle accompanied by their respective princes, ride in a garden of topiaries with woodland creatures, birds, and more. Cinderella’s dress playfully twirls like a turntable, while Swan Court couples lead the 50-foot-long majestic float, capped off with a special appearance by Anna and Elsa. This float was recycled from Tokyo Disneyland's former daytime parade Jubilation!
  • Tangled Unit: Based on the 2010 animated film. A massive long ship on the high seas showcases Flynn Rider and Rapunzel in search of adventure and another Best. Day. Ever! Rapunzel’s iconic tresses weave throughout this 36-foot-long float decked out with swaying pendulums carrying dastardly thugs.
  • The Little Mermaid Unit: Based on the 1989 animated film. Ariel and her friends sit atop a colorfully kinetic seashell music box that boasts an enchanting musical jubilee. There’s no shortage of whimsy on this Under the Sea float with conga dancing fish kicking up their fins and bubbles galore. Shimmering fabrics and intricately designed costumes for the Lion Fish, Coral Fish, Seashell, and Sea Horse performers are runway-inspired.
  • Peter Pan Unit: Based on the 1953 animated film. Straight from Neverland come Peter Pan and Wendy Darling soaring high aboard the famous Jolly Roger pirate ship complete with smoke effects and special surprises. A rainbow arch shines over Skull Rock and Tinker Bell nestled among giant flowers, while Captain Hook takes center stage on a swinging anchor. "Newsies-inspired" Lost Boys kick up their heels to high-energy choreography, with Tick-Tock the Crocodile from Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade in pursuit.
  • Brave Unit: Based on the 2012 Disney and Pixar film. Celtic couples and a vessel shaped like an enormous bagpipe announce the arrival of Merida perched high on her majestic crown. Scottish dancers step to melodies of the Great Highlands in celebration.
  • Sleeping Beauty Unit: Based on the 1959 animated film. The heroic Prince Phillip battles a Steampunk-inspired Dragon as the wicked Maleficent. This float stretches 53 feet in length and 26 feet tall with a prickly spinning wheel dead center of the float. With fiery eyes and glowing effects the spectacular dragon was built on an articulating chassis allowing the float to bend and flex as it moves along the parade route – a first for Disney parades. This float was designed in a partnership with Tony Award-winner Michael Curry. There’s Prince Phillip, thorn-inspired stilt performers, dramatic raven dancers, plus the three good fairies, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather glide along the parade route. The Dragon float has a twin at Disneyland Park (Paris)'s daytime parade Disney Stars on Parade.[4] The float was damaged on May 11, 2018 due to an accidental technical fault.
  • Finale & Mickey’s Airship: The parade culminates with a 90-foot-long magical caravan of characters featuring Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Dumbo, and Alice in Wonderland. Pluto and more in a splashy carnival of color. There’s Pegasus horses, Ostriches, Hippos, Elephants, and Alligators from Fantasia, also the sassy Bubble Girls with cotton-candy-like hair celebrating Storybook Circus in New Fantasyland. This float was recycled from Tokyo Disneyland's former daytime parade Jubilation! Sporting zany new costumes Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse sit sky high in Mickey’s Airship — a giant hot air balloon that rounds out.

Show facts[]

  • Theme song: "Festival of Fantasy"
  • Other songs featured:
    • OPENING / PRINCESSES UNIT
      • "Beauty and the Beast" / "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" / "For the First Time in Forever" & "Let It Go" (replaced "Once Upon a Dream" since May 1, 2014)
    • TANGLED UNIT
      • "I've Got a Dream" / "When Will My Life Begin"
    • THE LITTLE MERMAID UNIT
      • "Kiss the Girl" / "Part of that World" / "Under the Sea"
    • PETER PAN UNIT
      • "A Pirate's Life" / "You Can Fly!" / "The Elegant Captain Hook" / "The Second Star to the Right" / "Following the Leader"
    • BRAVE UNIT
      • "Remember to Smile" / "Fate and Destiny" / "Touch the Sky"
    • SLEEPING BEAUTY UNIT
      • "A Cottage in the Woods"  / "Battle With the Forces of Evil" / "Hail to the Princess Aurora" / "Once Upon a Dream"
    • FINALE UNIT
      • "Mickey Mouse Club March" / "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" / "When You Wish Upon a Star" / "I've Got No Strings" / "Whistle While You Work" / "When I See an Elephant Fly"

Gallery[]

See also[]

References[]

Template:Magic Kingdom

Template:Beauty and the Beast Template:Cinderella Template:The Princess and the Frog Template:Frozen Template:Tangled Template:The Little Mermaid Template:Peter Pan Template:Brave Template:Sleeping Beauty Template:Snow White Template:Pinocchio Template:Fantasia Template:Dumbo Template:Alice in Wonderland

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