First Photos: Main Street Electrical Parade Returns to Disneyland!

After an extended absence, the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade returned to the Disneyland Resort on Friday, August 2, for a limited run.

The Main Street Electrical Parade returns to Disneyland!

The nighttime entertainment offering once again filled the park with half a million lights, some of our favorite Disney characters, and the “electro-syntho-magnetic sounds” of Baroque Hoedown!

AllEars.net Blogger Jeanine Yamanaka was there to welcome the parade back and she shared lots of lovely photos with us, which we’re in turn sharing with you, along with some fun facts about the parade.

Minnie Mouse in the Main Street Electrical Parade

This iconic pageant of illuminated floats dates to June 17, 1972, when it first debuted at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., and became an instant hit. It later appeared at Disney Parks around the world, including Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. The parade entertained guests at Disneyland until it “glowed away” on Nov. 25, 1996. Most recently, the after-dark parade ran for a limited time at Disneyland in 2017. Prior to that, it illuminated Disney California Adventure from 2001-2010.

Dopey features in the Main Street Electrical Parade

 

There are roughly 600,000 lights sparkling in the parade’s nighttime journey from Small World Mall in Fantasyland to Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A.

Alice in Wonderland’s famous mushroom

 

The parade now has 22 floats, nearly double the number of floats from the parade’s debut (12) in 1972.

Cinderella in her illuminated coach

 

Seven classic films are represented in the parade: “Alice in Wonderland,” “Cinderella,” “Peter Pan,” “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Pinocchio,” “Dumbo” and “Pete’s Dragon.”

Goofy drives the train in the Main Street Electrical Parade

 

In addition, 27 beloved Disney characters perform throughout the show including Goofy, Mickey Mouse, Cinderella, Captain Hook and Tinker Bell.

Royal Court Dancers in the Main Street Electrical Parade

There are about 80 parade performers, including 10 To Honor America patriots, 16 royal court dancers and, of course, the Seven Dwarfs.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the Main Street Electrical Parade

 

At 5,600 pounds, 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.

Main Street Electrical Parade returns to Disneyland

 

Captain Hook in the Main Street Electrical Parade

 

To Honor America float in the Main Street Electrical Parade

 

At 118 feet long, the To Honor America float is the longest float in the parade. It was added in 1979 after the success of the bicentennial tribute “America on Parade.”

The Main Street Electical Parade will continue its limited time run through September 30, 2019.

Do you have plans to visit Disneyland during the Main Street Electrical Parade’s run? Is this your favorite Disney parade? Let us know in comments!

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Debra Martin Koma wrote about food, travel and lifestyle issues for a number of local and national publications before she fell in love with Walt Disney World on her first visit — when she was 34! She's returned to her Laughing Place more times than she can count in the ensuing years, and enthusiastically shares her passion with readers of AllEars.Net and AllEars®. Deb also co-authored (along with Deb Wills) PassPorter's Open Mouse for Walt Disney World and the Disney Cruise Line, a travel guide designed for all travelers to Walt Disney World who may require special attention, from special diets to mobility issues.

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