Chapter 29
Magic Kingdom Parades – 1970’s   posted 8/26/19

Magic Kingdom Parades
 
Walt Disney World is a full experience with entertainment and nothing better represents that then the Magic Kingdom Parades. The Magic Kingdom Parades are a fabulous display of Disney’s theatrics, music and dance. Since opening day in 1971, it has been a tradition in the Magic Kingdom.
 
During the early "character parades" they were simpler and featured Mickey Mouse leading the Walt Disney World Band, followed by a group of Disney characters, performers, dancers and musicians. As the years went on, the parades became more elaborate with gorgeous floats, magnificent costumes and jazzy synchronized music along the parade route.
 
The spectacular Magic Kingdom Parades became the focal point of the day, with at least two parades daily, Morning, Afternoon and sometimes Evening.
Picture
Courtesy of: Time Life. Com
Magic Kingdom Parades of the 1970's
Parade Route
Picture
Parade Route for current mid-day and/or evening Parades
The Magic Kingdom mid-day and evening parades either start from the Town Square and end at Frontierland or begin at Frontierland and end at the Town Square.
Below is a list of the parades that have made their way down Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom over the years!
 
Because in the nearly 50 years since opening day there have been many parades and reasons for celebrations, there are a lot of parades to cover over those years. So, they have been divided into several Chapters, in order to provide more photos and details.
List of Parades of the Magic Kingdom:
 
In this Chapter 29 – we’ll visit the Magic Kingdom Parades that started in the 1970’s
  • Grand Opening Day Parade October 25, 1971
  • Character Parade October 1971 - December 1971
  • Christmas Parade 1971 - present
  • Character Parade (Pooh for President) 1972
  • Happy Easter Parade Easter only 1972 – 1998
  • Character Parade 1973-1974
  • Character Cavalcades 1974-1975, 1977-1978
  • America on Parade June 1975 - September 1976
  • Mickey Mouse Club Parade September 1976 - June 1977
  • Main Street Electrical Parade 1977–1991, 1999–2001, 2010–2016
  • Mickey's 50th Birthday Parade November 1978 - December 1978
  • Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade/ Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade Christmas only 1978 – present
  • Dumbo's Circus Parade January 1979 - December 1979
Chapter 30 - Magic Kingdom parades that started in the 1980’s
  • Pinocchio Parade January 1980 - June 1980
  • Tencennial Parade October 1981 - September 1982
  • Mickey Mouse Character Parade October 1982 - May 1984
  • Donald's 50th Birthday Parade May 1984 - December 1984
  • Mickey's Street Party January 1985 - November 1986
  • 15 Years of Magic October 1986 - September 1987
  • Spirit of America September 1987 - November 1988
  • Mickey's All-American Birthday Parade November 1988 - November 1989
  • Disney Character Hit Parade October 1989 - September 1991
 
Chapter 31 - Magic Kingdom parades that started in the 1990’s
  • SpectroMagic 1991 - 1999, 2001 - 2010
  • 20th Anniversary Surprise Celebration Parade September 1991 - December 1992
  • Surprise Celebration Parade January 1992 - June 1994
  • Mickey's Christmas Cavalcade 1993/1994 – 2006
  • Mickey Mania June 1994 - September 1996
  • Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary "Remember the Magic" Parade October 1996 – January 1998
  • Magical Moments Parade February 1998 - September 2001
  • Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Parade/ Mickey's Boo to You Parade 1997- present
 
Chapter 32 - Magic Kingdom parades that started in the 2000’s
  • Share a Dream Come True Parade October 2001 - August 2006
  • Main Street Trolley Parade February 2003 – present
  • Disney Dreams Come True Parade August 2006 - January 2009
  • Disney's Enchanted Adventures 2007-2009
  • Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade January 2009 - January 2014
  • Move It! Shake It! Dance and Play it! Street Party February 12, 2009 – present
  • Festival of Fantasy Parade March 2014 - present
  • Rainy Day Character Cavalcade
 
Then in Chapter 33 – the `Magic Kingdom Christmas Parades from 1971 to present will be described.
  • Christmas Parades in the Magic Kingdom 1971-present
And now a pictorial tour through years and the Parade memory lane.

It all started with the Magic Kingdom’s Opening Day Dedication Character Parade in 1971
 
Grand Opening Day Dedication Character Parade October 25, 1971
Magic Kingdom opened its gates to guests on October 1, 1971, however the official grand opening and dedication took place on October 25, 1971. The dedication plaque was read aloud by Roy O. Disney with Mickey Mouse at his side. Roy O. Disney said “May Walt Disney World bring joy and inspiration and new knowledge to all who come to this happy place … a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn together.”
 
The official opening of Magic Kingdom was a Magical event, and it started with the opening ceremony which lead to one of the major highlights, the park’s official Dedication Parade.
The parade kicked off with a fabulous marching band dressed in red and white uniforms playing “The Mickey Mouse Club March,” while Mickey Mouse beat on an over-sized drum.
Following Mickey was an impressive cast of famous popular Disney characters, these included: Goofy, The Three Little Pigs, Dumbo, Queen of Hearts and White Rabbit, Thumper and Flower, Gepetto and Honest John, Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs and the Queen, the Aristocats, and Winnie the Pooh, Heffalumps and friends.
 Picture
A fleet of marching toy soldiers followed, trailed by waltzing alligators and hippos from “Fantasia.”
One of the distinguishing points of the parade was when the Herald Trumpeters of the United States Army Band lined the top of the buildings on Main Street, U.S.A., and signaled the arrival of a 1,076-member marching band. The line of marching musicians, directed by “The Music Man” composer Meredith Willson, stretched from the park’s main entrance all the way to Cinderella Castle and played “76 Trombones.” A massive choir then appeared on the castle stage to join the band in singing “When You Wish Upon A Star.”
During the last verse, larger-than-life drums that lined the parade route were opened to release 50,000 multicolored balloons. It must have been an amazingly magical sight!
Click on Photos to enlarge
Video showing the opening day parade:
Sources:
Character Parade 1971, 1973-74

The legacy of having parades at Magic Kingdom goes back to opened day in October 1, 1971.
 
Let’s take a look at the very first parade at Magic Kingdom Park. It was called the “Character Parade” and ran from October 1 – December 9, 1971.
The Magic Kingdom’s first parades were simple in execution. They didn’t feature the huge floats, but included as a combination of Disney characters, musicians and antique cars.
The parade proceeded in the following order:
  • Of course, Mickey Mouse kicked off the parade, leading a red uniformed Walt Disney World band.
  • The dwarfs from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” followed, carrying balloons.
  • Minnie appeared next, riding in a yellow antique cars with the Dapper Dans. (more about the Dapper Dans – see Chapter 7)
  • Other characters who would made an appearance may have included: Dumbo; Walrus from “Alice In Wonderland”; Thumper and Flower from “Bambi”; Baloo and King Louie from “The Jungle Book”; and Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs.
Video of Character Parade 1971:
click on photos to enlarge
Sources:
Disney World’s First Christmas 1971
At the Magic Kingdom Disney has celebrated the holidays with a Christmas Parade since its opening in 1971.
 
During that first Christmas, the Magic Kingdom was decorated from top to bottom. As guests entered Town Square, they saw a 50-foot-tall Christmas tree covered in 1200 lights and 1000 ornaments.
 
Each window on Main Street USA was lit, and there were hundreds of wreaths and thousands of flowers – poinsettias, snapdragons, and pansies.
And as Disney tradition, the Magic Kingdom began their holiday season with a parade that started on December 20th. It ran every day until January 2nd and was complete with marching toy soldiers, dancing reindeer, school marching bands, and 50 of Disney’s famous characters, and of course Santa Claus as well.
 
The toy soldiers have been part of Disney World’s Christmas parade since the beginning!
Santa Claus joined the parade and also appeared in the park.
 
Because the Christmas Parades have become so rich of a tradition at the Magic Kingdom since 1971, we are dedicating an entire Chapter to the Christmas Parades.
Sources:
Character Parade (Pooh for President) October 1972
 
Winnie the Pooh original campaign run for President was in 1968. His first stump was part of a Disneyland entertainment experience called “On Stage U.S.A.” Pooh first appeared in the Disney animated short Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree in 1966. In 1968 another animated short, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, was released, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short.
In 1972, Pooh’s campaign for Presidency went all out in Disneyland, there was a stage show and on Main Street, U.S.A. a parade celebrated Pooh’s presidential run.
In October 1972, at a convention held at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Pooh threw his hat into the race and was nominated to run for president on the Children's Party ticket. The Magic Kingdom celebrated “Pooh for President” by adding a patriotic-themed float for Winnie the Pooh to the afternoon Parade. It was followed by his press secretary Tigger, campaign manager Eeyore, and a fife and drum corp.
As part of the festivities, the delegates nominated Pooh for President of the United States in the forecourt of Cinderella Castle.
 
Two days after the Walt Disney World event, from his West Coast Campaign Headquarters at Disneyland,
Pooh announced his platform and campaign strategy.
For the 1972 campaign, drawings were held by Sears, Roebuck and Co. and stores across the nation selected delegates from each of the 50 states to be sent with their families to Walt Disney World.
 
As part of the campaign promotion, Sears had a huge sales of exclusive Disney Winnie the Pooh merchandise. The Sears exclusive Winnie the Pooh for President merchandise, like a plush figure, which proved to be very popular.
Among Pooh’s policy platforms was a promise to put “hunny in every pot.” According to reports, he also “stressed his battle to ‘lick’ the high price of ice cream cones.” Hot fudge sundaes every Monday and banning spankings rounded out his proposals.
Pooh ran once again in 1976, and this time he had his own campaign theme song. “Winnie the Pooh for President,” written by songwriter Larry Groce. Pooh’s 1976 bid was no more successful than his earlier outings, although his campaign song was nominated for a Grammy for Best Recording for Children.
 
Pooh’s final presidential campaign was in 1980, when Pooh for President Days was held one last time at Disneyland in October.
References:
Happy Easter Parade Easter only 1972 – 1999, as a pre-parade 1990-present
Since 1972 the Magic Kingdom celebrated Easter with a festive Parade. The Happy Easter Parades dancers in colorful costumes, characters in the Easter Sunday best, Marching Bands and the Easter Bunny.
 
In 1985, the first of many televised Magic Kingdom Easter Parades were aired on ABC. Only in 1986, the Walt Disney World Easter Parade appeared as part of The CBS Easter Parade, which switched between the Walt Disney World parade and the Easter Parade in New York City. Then in 1987, it returned to ABC with the telecasts continued until 1999.

In 1987 Walt Disney World reintroduces the Walt Disney World Happy Easter Parade. Only this time, Disney went all the way by televising the entire parade on ABC. This was a first for Disney and this was the beginning of several years of Magical Easter Sundays. Walt Disney World made Easter memories around the world from Australia to US troops serving around the globe. Walt Disney World was proud to share Easter with the world. In the Magic Kingdom they established Easter with character Meet and Greets with the famous bunny, a special parade and so much more.

In 2000, Walt Disney World discontinued an actual Happy Easter parade and replace it with a smaller Easter pre-parade on Easter.
On Easter Sunday, the special pre-parade makes its way down Main Street, U.S.A., it now features Mr. & Mrs. Easter Bunny, Daisy, Duck, Thumper, Ms. Bunny, White Rabbit, Yellow Rabbit, Clara Cluck, Hippos, Ostriches, Dancing Chicks rare Disney Characters and the Azalea Trail Maids from Mobile, Alabama.
click on photos to enlarge
References:
Character Cavalcades 1974-1975, 1977-1978
In 1974, Disney introducing the park’s first new and expanded parade with the launch of “Cavalcade of Characters.”

  • Mickey kicked off the “Cavalcade” traveling on foot down Main Street, U.S.A.,
  • Followed by Alice, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, and Walrus from “Alice In Wonderland.”
  • Donald Duck rode on a Main Street’s antique fire engine,
  • While Goofy and Pluto followed along, with balloons in hand.
  • The Dwarfs from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” followed in a line, with Snow White appearing on a small wishing well-themed float.
  • Casey Jr. train chugged in next with King Richard the lion (“Robin Hood”) playing a pipe   organ and Minnie waving from the caboose.
  • Other friends from the 1973-release “Robin Hood” – Prince John, Sheriff of Nottingham and Friar Tuck – followed behind.
  • Captain Hook rode in on a mini pirate ship, which resembled the attraction vehicle at Peter Pan’s Flight.
  • Winnie the Pooh and his friends came next, followed by a giant “Hunny Pot” float.
  • Little Toot, the tugboat character from the 1940 short “Little Toot”, who appeared in the form of a mini float.
The “Cavalcade of Characters” parade briefly ended in 1975 to make way for “America On Parade” which would celebrate the United States bicentennial and returned in 1977-1978, with a few enhancements. These included two additional floats for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, an appearance by Herbie the Love Bug, and the addition of Elliott from the newly released “Pete’s Dragon” film.
A “Mickey Mouse Club” section was also added, featuring two oversized red drums, dancers with flags, and Mickey Mouse waving from atop of a float.
 
Sources:
America on Parade June 1975 - September 1976
In 1976, a TV Special "Walt Disney's America on Parade" aired, showing the parade and presented by Red Skelton.
America on Parade celebrated America's bicentennial at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. This parade was the park’s largest daily procession yet, featuring more than 150 performers and 50 floats, which that represented key achievements in America's history, like the invention of the car, the first airplane flight and the moon landing, as well as, cultural aspects like picnics in the park.
 
The parade ran from June 1975 until September 1976.
 
Mickey, Donald and Goofy led the parade atop a Spirit of ‘76 float and a few Disney characters made appearances towards the end representing American films and television.
 
A series of 8-foot-tall characters, each representing historical figures such as Christopher Columbus, Betsy Ross and Benjamin Franklin, followed along on floats that recreated their achievements in American history. The finale of the parade included a Celebration of Independence float that featured Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam.

The Sherman Brothers wrote a special song “The Glorious Fourth” for the parade.
Click on Photos to enlarge.
Note:  Don Dorsey consulted for Disney in 1975, when he created a unique new musical sound for the Bicentennial pageant “America on Parade.” He did so by combining the sounds of synthesizers with those of antique carrousel organs.
As a result of Don’s coordination and timing work, Disney began development on a computer system to handle the float tracking and audio coordination tasks. The first “Mickey Track” control system was completed and implemented in 1980 with software designed by Don Dorsey.

Videos of the Parade:
Reference:
Mickey Mouse Club Parade September 1976 - June 1977
Following the popular “America On Parade” bicentennial celebration, Disney took inspiration from the long-time favorite TV show for creativity for a follow-up parade. The result was the “Mickey Mouse Club Parade.”
 
The parade debuted in September 1976, and brought the joy of the “Mickey Mouse Club” to the streets of the Magic Kingdom.


With favorite Disney characters, some holding balloons, marched along to a new recording of the “Mickey Mouse Club March,”
The Parade also included Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Big Bad Wolf and the Three Little Pigs.
Multi-colored larger-than-life Mouse Ear hats traveled down the parade route. These fit the parade’s bright color scheme, appearing in blues, pinks, oranges and greens.
Click on Photos to enlarge
 All of this led the way for the Big Cheese, Mickey Mouse, himself, who rode atop a huge drum and was the final float of the Parade.
The parade ran until June 1977.


References:
Main Street Electrical Parade 1977–1991, 1999–2001, 2010–2016
Main Street’s Electrical parade was a classic Magic Kingdom experience.
The Main Street Electrical Parade is an exceptionally high-tech parade is full of intense color and new-age, snappy music.
For an after dark entertainment event, this Parade outshines all others.
The Parade is led by Tinker Bell, waving her fairy dust over the crowd and parade route.
This is a show of unbelievable special effects and lights.
The floats and dancers literally glitter.
 
The floats and live performers covered in over 600,000 electronically controlled LED lights and a synchronized soundtrack. The music is classic and filled with computer synth notes and sounds.
Cinderella’s pumpkin shaped carriage in outrageous colors is an experience to see and believe.
The popular animated characters are featured in the Main Street Electrical Parade.
 
Also featured are Disney’s stories float such as: Alice in Wonderland, Pete’s Dragon, Big Ben -- London’s famous clock, the Little Train “that could” toots, toadstools, stars, bumblebees, snails and centipedes all twist, twirl, turn or fly in blazing colors and many, many more.

Music
The Main Street Electrical Parade's underlying theme song is entitled "Baroque Hoedown." The original version was created in 1967 by early synthesizer pioneers Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley.

It has become the underlying theme song of the parade for the next three decades at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris and is still in use today at its new home, Disney's California Adventure.
This parade definitely out-shined and out-shimmered all others.
Click on Photos to enlarge
Versions of the parade existed in five Disney parks worldwide:
  • Robert (Bob) Jani, Walt Disney Imagineer, is credited for the creation of the Main Street Electrical Parade and the Electrical Water Pageant.
  • The version at Disneyland Park in California's Disneyland Resort ran from 1972-1996, and again in 2017. The neighboring Disney California Adventure Park hosted the parade between 2001 and 2010.
  • Another version, at the Magic Kingdom in Florida's Walt Disney World Resort, ran between 1977–1991, 1999–2001, and 2010–2016.
  • The original Disneyland version of the parade ran at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom as "Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade" from June 2010 to October 2016.
  • The original Main Street Electrical Parade at Magic Kingdom, had the same name and layout. It ran from June 1977 to September 1991.
  • It was replaced by a similar parade called SpectroMagic, which ran from October 1991 to May 1999, reopened on April 2001, and ended on June 2010.
  • On April 12, 1992, the version from Magic Kingdom went to Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris and ran there until March 23, 2003.
  • In 2001, the Main Street Electrical Parade floats were sent back from Disneyland Paris to Disney California Adventure.
  • Disney's Electrical Parade at Disney California Adventure ended its run on April 18, 2010, and was sent to Magic Kingdom in 2010.
  • The parade ended its run at Magic Kingdom on October 9, 2016, in preparation for its limited-time return to Disneyland Park in California.

Videos:
                                  Beginning of Parade                                                                        End of Parade
The Main Street Electrical Parade was one of the most beloved and historically significant entertainment offerings in the history of the Disney theme parks. Baroque Hoedown had become one of the most recognizable songs. This parade has probably been seen by more people than any other parade
.
References:
Mickey's 50th Birthday Parade November 1978 - December 1978
On November 18, 1978, Mickey Mouse celebrated a very special occasion – his 50th birthday – with a new parade at Magic Kingdom Park.
The Main Street Philharmonic kicked off the birthday procession, surrounded by banners that read “Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse.”
The stars of Robin Hood led the procession, followed by Mickey's "Fab 5" pals and other animated personalities from movies as diverse as Peter Pan, Pinocchio and Winnie the Pooh.
The parade also featured some new faces, including Orville the Albatross from the 1977 release, “The Rescuers.
 
The Three Little Pigs and Big Bad Wolf also made their appearances.
The parade that followed featured a series of floats depicting wrapped gift boxes, candles, plenty of balloons, party hats, a larger-than-life birthday cards and a 50th birthday cake.
The Big Cheese, Mickey Mouse brought up the rear of the parade atop a giant birthday package float, where he could see and be seen by all his fans.
 The parade was held in his honor at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World during that year and there was a TV special that aired on November 19, 1978 called Mickey's 50.
 
A recording was released by former Monkee’s Davy Jones in honor of Mickey's 50th birthday.  It was written by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschorn, the same folks who wrote the Universe of Energy song.  But the song wasn’t used in the parade.

Sources:
Video:
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade/ Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade Christmas only 1978 – present
As we’ve stated above, the Christmas Parades have become so rich of a tradition at the Magic Kingdom since 1971, that we are dedicating an entire Chapter to the Christmas Parades.
Dumbo's Circus Parade January 1979 - December 1979
In the animated 1941 film “Dumbo,” there’s a scene in which the circus comes to town in a big way – by parading through the streets and offering a glimpse at what awaited would-be customers in the big top Circus Tent. In the scene, the procession includes exotic camels, colorful clowns, Dumbo and more.
 
From January 2 through December 21, 1979, Walt Disney brought this vision to life at Magic Kingdom Park with the Dumbo’s Circus Parade.
There were various clowns wore Masks, who performed tricks or rode unicycles.  There was also a two person camel costume that featured a comical rider.  
 
Bongo and Lulubelle bear appeared and rode a set of connected bicycles.
The train, Casey Jr.,  from Dumbo, rolled down the parade path, with Winnie the Pooh waving from the caboose.
 A clown firehouse featured Dumbo looking out of the window brought the Parade rear. The building was on flames, with Firefighter clowns marching around the float. For certain occasions, actual circus performers appeared on the floats juggling or walking a tightrope.
The Parade included assorted Disney characters such as Smee, Captain Hook and Br'er Bear
 
Other characters that appeared in the parade included Pooh and Tigger, Chip and Dale, and Wilby Daniels as his alter ego the Shaggy Dog!  The film "The Shaggy D.A." starring Dean Jones had been released in December of 1976.
A large three-ring circus float followed with Mickey Mouse dressed as the ringmaster, Minnie Mouse as a lovely aerialist, Donald as a snake charmer and Goofy as a circus weightlifter.
Elements of this parade and the floats were recycled from previous parades and would continue to be used in future parades as well.  The Casey Jr. train and engineer may go back as far as the early 1970s and were used until at least 1988. 
Reference:
There were some wonderful and remarkable Parades at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World during the 1970’s. And the Magic Kingdom only just got started. The early Imagineers tried to take each new Parade to the next level, and very much succeeded.
This Magic continued on into the 1980's, with ever expanding and more detailed Parades.
We'll view these Parades and more in our upcoming Chapters.
Afterword:
WDWMousing.com is designed to be a tour of Walt Disney World through photos. We have been to Walt Disney World countless times over the past 25 years and accumulated a magnitude of photos in that time. This website is an intention to combine two of our favorite pastimes, Walt Disney World and photography, and provide an insightful pictorial tour.
While doing so, we've done an extensive research of the internet and literary sources for background information on each area and attraction. The information is available, but most bits and pieces are scattered all over. WDWMousing doesn't intend to rewrite the stories, legends or data, but to try and collect it into one location with references and links to the original articles and authors, giving rightful credit. We've stumbled through quite a bit of misinformation, most of which came to life by fans because the origins were lost, forgotten or no one seems to remember. Over the past 25 years we've also lost most of the great Imagineers that helped develop, design and build the original concepts of Walt Disney World. So we believe it's extremely important to make sure that their efforts, intentions, details and creativity in making this Happiest Place on Earth isn't lost.
So we ask for feedback, insights, and suggestions.

Thanks,
WDWMousing

    We would definitely like to hear from you.
    Let us know what your thoughts, suggestions, ideas, and absolutely, if we've missed anything.