topic Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade in Community Chat

Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

KathyPet — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 05:23:27 GMT

I am going to WDW with DD, SIL and 3 yr old GS on 10/15. I just read that the parade is being discontinued as of 10/9. I am so disappointed. I was so looking forward to seeing the expression on my grandson's face when they lower the lights on Main Street to almost complete darkness and the crowd gets quiet. Then you hear the sounds of the familiar entrancing music and then finally the first float all lit up turns the corner and heads toward you. It was truly a magical experience. It was just about my favorite thing at Disney.

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 05:30:00 GMT

Never been there .... did they say why they were discontinuing it?

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

itiswhatitis — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 06:04:52 GMT

@KathyPet wrote:
I am going to WDW with DD, SIL and 3 yr old GS on 10/15. I just read that the parade is being discontinued as of 10/9. I am so disappointed. I was so looking forward to seeing the expression on my grandson's face when they lower the lights on Main Street to almost complete darkness and the crowd gets quiet. Then you hear the sounds of the familiar entrancing music and then finally the first float all lit up turns the corner and heads toward you. It was truly a magical experience. It was just about my favorite thing at Disney.

~~You should research this more. They're not doing away with the parades. They are taking it away from the pass to enter or something like that. Always, always verify things for yourself.~~

~~I hope you feel better knowing your grandson can still see the parade. You just need to find out what the new procedure is.~~

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

sunshine45 — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 05:46:32 GMT

Disney Parks will pull the plug on the event this October, with the final Main Street Electric Parade coming Oct. 9. After that, it will head west for “a limited-time encore engagement” at Disneyland in California, according to a statement from Disney Parks.

The parade debuted in 1972, and continued on at Disney’s Magic Kingdom in Florida in various iterations from the late 1970s until 1991, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The parade made another run there from 1999 to 2001 before returning again in 2010.

The parade also has been featured at Disneyland, though not since 1996.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2016/08/11/walt-disney-world-pulling-plug-famed-electrical-parade/88558248/

The Main Street Electrical Parade, Magic Kingdom Park’s long-running nighttime parade, will officially end its historic run at Walt Disney World Resort on October 9 and then head to Disneyland Resort for a limited-time encore engagement. We wanted you to be among the first to know while there’s still time to plan a trip to Walt Disney World Resort to enjoy the magic and nostalgia of the parade one last time.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/08/main-street-electrical-parade-ends-run-at-walt-disney-world-on-october-9-heads-to-disneyland-resort-for-a-limited-time/

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

AKgirl2 — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 05:48:08 GMT

Wow, big B&M stores closing, restaurants, now no more Disney parade? So sad, it's a spectacular light and sound parade especially for children to see...I enjoy it just as much! I'm sure Disney won't disappoint your grandson, and seeing the joy in your grandson's face will makeup for the parade. :~D

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

colliegirls — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 05:50:57 GMT

@itiswhatitis wrote:
@KathyPet wrote:
I am going to WDW with DD, SIL and 3 yr old GS on 10/15. I just read that the parade is being discontinued as of 10/9. I am so disappointed. I was so looking forward to seeing the expression on my grandson's face when they lower the lights on Main Street to almost complete darkness and the crowd gets quiet. Then you hear the sounds of the familiar entrancing music and then finally the first float all lit up turns the corner and heads toward you. It was truly a magical experience. It was just about my favorite thing at Disney.
You should research this more. They're not doing away with the parades. They are taking it away from the pass to enter or something like that. Always, always verify things for yourself.

I hope you feel better knowing your grandson can still see the parade. You just need to find out what the new procedure is.

KathyPet is correct.

Their parades are magical.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/experience/america/theme-parks/2016/08/11/walt-disney-world-pulling-plug-famed-electrical-parade/88558248/

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

itiswhatitis — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 06:02:28 GMT

@sunshine45, thank you. I read where they were taking it off the "FastPass" only.

I stand corrected here.

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

itiswhatitis — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 06:03:47 GMT

@KathyPet wrote:
I am going to WDW with DD, SIL and 3 yr old GS on 10/15. I just read that the parade is being discontinued as of 10/9. I am so disappointed. I was so looking forward to seeing the expression on my grandson's face when they lower the lights on Main Street to almost complete darkness and the crowd gets quiet. Then you hear the sounds of the familiar entrancing music and then finally the first float all lit up turns the corner and heads toward you. It was truly a magical experience. It was just about my favorite thing at Disney.

I stand corrected with regard to my first response to you. I thought I had heard and read about them changing the passes people buy.

@sunshine45, has clearly and definitively clarified for you and "me."

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

Nataliesgramma — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 09:49:40 GMT

@KathyPet We are going down the beginning of November with the daughter, son in law and 4 yr old granddaughter. I, too am disappointed.

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

truffle — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 10:42:40 GMT

After the death of the child who was attacked by the alligator I think any parade Disney World sponsors is inappropriate. There are still alligators on their property and I think it is not possible to get rid of them being that Disney World was built on swampland.

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

Marianne1 — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 11:12:03 GMT

KathyPet,

I understand your disappointment, it is a great parade (one of my husband's favorites, only the Epcot illuminations show is "better" according to him)

We are going in September, so we will get one more time to see it.

I do have some info that you may or may not like: We are taking the Pirates and Pals dessert cruise to see the fireworks. While on the cruise, there is a lighted boat show that we should be able to see.

I am hoping that the new Rivers of Light show at Animal Kingdom is up and running by our visit. I love Animal Kingdom and having the park open at night is something I can't wait to see!

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

KathyPet — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 11:52:48 GMT

Since we are going in October Animal Kingdom is back to its regular operating hours and not open in the evening for the nighttime Safari. However friends were there in June and did the daytime Safari and said there were plenty of animals to be seen during the daytime hours. I would have liked to have seen the Rivers of Light show but that is also only available when the park is open late.

I will check out the dessert cruise in lieu of the Electrical Parade.

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

Say Nay — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 11:57:03 GMT

I can't imagine a trip to Disney without seeing the parade. At least they will be continuing it at DL.

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

GSPgirl — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 11:57:44 GMT

I remember when they stopped it at Disneyland for awhile. I wonder if they pull it and then bring it back to make it more special? We always stayed for the parade and then drove home. We loved 90 minutes from the park.

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

Marianne1 — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 12:13:30 GMT

The hours at the parks have been changing as the time gets closer (if that made any sense)

Disney has been extending the Animal Kingdom hours-- keep checking as your trip gets closer.

I am not sure if you are aware, but the Disboards are a good source for the "latest" info as it happens.

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

KathyPet — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 12:46:41 GMT

The news release said the parade would be brought to Disneyland in 2017 for a "limited engagement run" but after that who knows?

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

willdob3 — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 13:10:44 GMT

I'm sorry to hear this. Disney did not state why? That is strange.

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

WSfan — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 17:22:07 GMT

Was discussing Disney World trips with several friends yesterday evening. One has been there with her grandkids recently. I and my other friend will have years to go before going there with grandchildren, as they are too young to enjoy or remember this destination yet. Have not been to WDW is 17 years, but it certainly doesn not sound like a relaxing vacation by any stretch of the imagination now. Rushing here and there, getting up early to order fast passes (they did not stay on Disney proper), have to be at certain venues at certian times, etc. Sounds exhausting and most likely will not be able to see everything you may want to. Guess my husband and I will have to take a trip down there to scout things out and do a lot of research before taking grandchildren there in the years to come...and then things will change again.

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

Burnsite — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 17:32:22 GMT

They stopped the original parade c. 1985 for all live-action events. (The parade is all mechanical.) People love it and mourned it, so they then returned it c. 2000 for a limited run at 11 at night at peak times.

Cute theme song to that parade. It's on my alarm clock, so I still get to hear it.

I did like the parade a lot, but they only brought it back around park closing, times I was there, and I never saw it again--I am no night owl.

I miss the Osborne Lights during the holidays The original, through the houses on the back lot of the movie park, was imo the best thing they ever had, and they stopped it and finally sold it elsewhere. _That_ was magical.

If you are staying in or around the Magic Kingdom, if it is still happening (I think it still is), take your grandchild to King Neptune's pageant, which is an electronic boat parade around the lagoon near Magic Kingdom (I have seen it from the Contemporary), later in the evening but with something of the charm of the Electrical Light Parade.

Re: Disney World discontinuing Main St Electrical Parade

Poodlepet2 — Sat, 13 Aug 2016 17:36:02 GMT

Truffle, what happened to the child was terrible, but alligators are all over Florida and there is no getting rid of them: every Floridian lives with them. Where Disney built the resort had nothing to do with gators and Disney regularly police all of their waterways-manmade or natural-using licensed professionals.

Poodlepet2