45th Anniversary Parade - a disappointment

We're trying something new here! To see the parade and the comments I've added, just scroll to the right. This isn't an HTML error - it's a way for you to see the parade as I saw it, "rolling" [so to say] by.  There are twenty four photos and four short MPEGS for you to view!

What a let down this new parade is!

Basically, it's a rather dull procession of Disney characters with what has to be the strangest choice of parade music ever, Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March. [Eisner himself supposedly insisted on it.]

To give credit where credit is properly due, the performers do their very best to entertain the crowd. They should be commended.

But they have been defeated at every turn in this parade, not only from the music, but from the very poor chorography, to the rather remote float designs that keep many of the characters up and away from the crowds.

Even the way-too-small scale of the individual units makes this a non-event. 

One of our group noted at the end "no one applauded." And when you think about it, this parade really does leave you without any kind of big Disney ending.

For Mulan, that was OK, you had the lovely view of the illuminated moon at the end to remember, and it was more of a piece to the movie to go that route.

But when you are talking about a parade that is supposed to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of that special place called Disneyland, well, it's just not right.

There are rumors going around that if enough complaints are heard from the public, that a new soundtrack will be dropped in. 

Judging from the comments I overheard [a CM was asking people what they thought of the parade at the exit to the park, they weren't too kind...], 

...I have a feeling that it won't be too much longer from now that something will be changed here.

As the parade now stands, I would NOT recommend you spend any of your limited time at the park watching it.

As with Animazement, [another weak entertainment offering] if you've seen everything else at the park already, and would like a break, then by all means sit down and take it in, at least it's not a total disaster like Light Magic was.

But if you only have one day at the magic kingdom, your time will be much better utilized jumping into the shorter lines for your favorite attractions that the parade will help create.

Too bad, after Mulan I thought they finally figured it all out.

To see the complete parade, be sure to scroll to the right, clicking on selected photos will bring up short MPEG videos of the parade that you can see on your computer -->

Donald and Daisy Duck lead the parade, after an audio introduction that is almost impossible to understand. Note the use of visitors [in the funny hats] as part of the parade.

Click on the photo above for a quick MPEG video of the parade opening.

The Blue Fairy from Pinocchio returns to lead the parade - one of the prettiest floats.

These delightful ballerinas herald the Princess float, they had the only "real" choreography in the whole parade, and came off quite gracefully.

Here come the Princesses [Snow White, Aurora, Cinderella] - a nice idea to see them all together, but the way the unit was built, it's almost impossible to get good photos of them.

They sure got that Rose Parade wave down, don't they?

It's a shame they have to be way up on a float like that - too bad they can't walk along the parade route greeting all the little girls, now THAT would be something special for them.

Click on the photo above for a quick MPEG video of them waving to the assembled masses.

The purses the dwarfs have are supposed to represent clouds, as well as their shoes.  I understand they are to be normally throwing confetti out of the bags.  

Of course with the threat of rain that day, they canceled that, due to the messy clean up it might entail.

They look, well... kind of foofy - don't they?  Grumpy especially...

A sea urchin / jellyfish type of creature announces the arrival of Princess Ariel [The Little Mermaid].

Apparently she doesn't have to swan-pool like her fellow Princesses did...

Ariel under glass I guess.  With a rather goosed looking Flounder.

One mother near me while I was taking the photos was trying to reassure her little one that Flounder was NOT dead, he was just resting.

It was probably a lovely concept, but why put Ariel behind glass?  Do you know how many flash pictures will NOT come out due to the reflections?

On the second parade that day, [returning back to small world mall] the rain and what appeared to be a breakdown in the ventilation for this bubble ended up with a fogged window.

I wonder if you picked this up and shook it, if glitter would float around?  ;)

The dancing mushrooms from the original Fantasia make a quick appearance in what has to be one of the better costumes in the parade.

Click on the photo above for a short MPEG video of their dance.

Again a tribute to the Nutcracker Suite segment of the original Fantasia - the dancing flowers / thistles.

When Fantasia 2000 ends its IMAX run, it will then open in regular theaters come this April.  One of the hooks to get folks to go see it will be the return of the Nutcracker segment to the film, with an introduction by Yo Yo Ma.

It was not included in the IMAX edition of the film due to how bad the segment looked all blown up to that size.

A further detail of the wonderful Nutcracker costuming.

Belle [sans Beast - hmm... come to think of it, none of the royal boyfriends are seen anywhere in this parade] appears on this Rose parade wannabe unit, apparently pulled by butterflies.

One of the lovely ladies with us commented on her dress...

...it doesn't seem to be from any particular scene or movie.

Maybe she finally went shopping?

Lovely lady though.

After the third batch of visitors danced along in the parade we began to wonder if the whole idea was a cost saving move.  

After all, what better way to fill in a parade than with unpaid help, right?   [And yes, they got to keep the hats.]

But as a customer I would much rather see professionals doing this, and not my Aunt Martha.  I can see her prance around the house any old day...

One of the weirdest units was the Lion King one.  Simba was a remote controlled puppet - and they didn't seem to have the routine down to work him properly yet.

Those are giraffes by the way, not horses.

Simba just looked like he was drugged or something - and the cart concept didn't quite fit anything from any of the movies.

By the way, this unit was supposed to be followed by a Hercules unit - but the director of the parade changed his mind a few days ago, wanted it out, and pink slipped the entire crew.

How nice.

Yes, a sad moment in Disney history.  Baloo and King Louie have been reduced to leading a conga line [to Pomp and Circumstance no less] in Tutus.

Too Too much.

Tarzan and Terk [I guess Jane was too expensive] make their appearance - gotta sell those videos and DVDs you know.

The flamingos from Fantasia 2000 make their appearance - these costumes were a lot of fun.

Click on the photo above for a quick MPEG video of their dance.

The flamingos have wonderful roll around eyes, seen in this detail shot.

The music makes it seem a lot longer than it really is, but this short parade is finally over when the whales show up.

This is a still life float, there is no movement in this unit at all.

No, for the finale that isn't supposed to be Eisner's salary they are sitting on - it's supposed to be a golden cloud.

Favorite comment from the crowd: "I know they make a lot of money from us, but do they have to flaunt it so much?"

Mickey: "Hey Pluto, one good thing about being a character, our smiles are molded onto our heads."

Pluto: "I guess this is much better than leading lives of quiet desperation then."

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