It’s finally starting to feel like summer around the Disneyland Resort, yes I know it’s August, but crowds finally returned this past weekend to see the “limited” return of a multigenerational parade juggernaut. We also have a bunch of Halloween News as well as updates from around the parks. Lots to see today . . .
Veteran Parade Returns
The return of the Electrical Parade to Disneyland was met with HUGE crowds for twice nightly showings all weekend long. Whether you miss Paint the Night and think that it should have been the summer offering or feel that the Main Street Electrical Parade is the best of Disney nostalgia, it worked a magical charm on the Resort this past weekend. Now, will it be enough electro-synth-magnetic mojo to keep the crowds coming until Deluxe passes are unblocked on the 19th of this month?
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Disneyland proudly presents our spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination in thousands of sparkling lights and electro-synthe-magnetic musical sounds. The Main Street Electrical Parade!”
Alice Unit:
Cinderella Unit:
Peter Pan Unit:
Snow White Unit:
Pinocchio Unit:
Elliot Unit
Celebrate America Unit:
Live Stream:
While it’s nice that the Main Street Electrical Parade has returned, it does show its age. This parade has traversed Disney Parks around the world for almost 50 years and feels like it needs something new to keep it relevant.
I loved the parade when I was younger, but it just falls a bit flat for me after seeing Paint the Night. Plus, the version of the Electrical Parade that has returned is truncated with many missing floats: The Blue Fairy, Pinocchio cigar float, the entire Dumbo section. To modernize, I’d like to see a new float or two that features the characters and films that kids today are familiar with. . . OR they could just bring back Paint the Night!
But it dawned on me how unique the weekend was. It’s been quite some time since Disneyland had Fantasmic, Fireworks, AND a nighttime parade all in one night. It was amazing to have so many different options.
The Electrical Parade is set to run until September 30th (the last day for the park’s fiscal year), which is an incredibly short run. But it’s quite possible it could be delayed if demand stays strong.
Electrical Parade Merchandise and Food
A small selection of merchandise has been created for the Electrical Parade at Disneyland.
Candy Palace
Disneyland’s main candy shop offers a “Main Street Electrical Parade” Crispy Treat, Caterpillar Marshmallow Wand, Lady Bug Cake Pop, and a Snail Cake Pop.
Carnation Café
This table service restaurant on Main Street offers up a Raspberry Lemonade Shake as well as a Spicy Chicken Sandwich inspired by the return of Disneyland’s classic parade.
The Electric sriracha chicken sandwich is pretty good if you like a little kick to your food.
Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor
Many of you will be very happy to see the return of Fantasia Ice Cream (a blend of cherry, pistachio, and banana ice cream featuring chipped pistachios and cherries). You’ll also be able to get a Fantasia Waffle Bowl Sundae. We’d like Fantasia Ice Cream to stay, what about you?
Jolly Holiday Bakery Café
Lady Bug Macaron, Pineapple Coconut Parfait, & Cheshire Cat Linzer Cookie.
Refreshment Corner (or Coke Corner to many of you)
Firefly Hot Dog (that’s a hot dog topped with chili, shredded cheese, fried corn chips and jalapeños), Firefly Chips (similar, but without the dog), and Chili Mac Bread Bowl.
Plaza Inn
“Main Street Electrical Parade” Cake (colorful vanilla sponge cake with cream cheese frosting, mixed berry marmalade, cream cheese frosting, sprinkles and chocolate decoration). This one sells out fast, so be sure to go early to snag a slice, and let us know how it is.
Various Carts Throughout the Parade Route
“Main Street Electrical Parade” Popcorn Bucket will be arriving later this month (refillable for $1.50 on day of purchase with valid receipt)
See The Electrical Parade In Person
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Oggi Boogie’s Halloween Bash News
Our lucky leader, Dusty Sage, got to preview a lot of the Halloween offerings last week, including a preview of the new World of Color: Villainous.
Here’s the line Up for the Oogie Boogie’s Bash:
- World of Color: Villainous
Dusty got to preview an early cut of the new show and felt that it was the long-awaited evolution of the fountain show, trading unconnected clips for an actual storyline.
While Dusty thought the show may be a bit scary for the young ones at times, it is also uplifting and ends on an emotional high. Villainous is hauntingly beautiful, features the villains you know and love, and is filled with music. It’s certainly going to be a highlight of Halloween for many guests, though ONLY available on Oogie Boogie party nights.
- Frightfully Fun Parade
Returning this year is the Frightfully Fun Parade, though it is moving from Disneyland to DCA for party nights. The longer Parade Route will make it easier for everyone to find a good spot.
- Villains Grove
Redwood Creek is going to become a much darker and more Halloween themed lair for Disney’s most dastardly villains this Halloween. The area will be transformed into “Villains Grove,” and will feature themed areas not unlike a haunted house, with special lighting, music, projections. . . and the villains of course!
- DescenDance
The DescenDance area will be led by the crew from the Isle of the Lost, and the songs from the Descendants movies will lay down the beat in Hollywood Land. But this “party” also has a lot of show elements as well and will be entertaining for those who watch as well as those who dance along.
- Mickey’s Trick & Treat
Debuting on the Disney Jr. Dance Party Stage, this new Halloween show features Mickey and pals as they conduct their own Halloween Party.
- Immersive Treat Trails:
This year, Disney is going all out with the treat trails. We know about two of them so far: Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland and Oogie Boogie Themed trails.
You can read about the rest of the details of Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort below:
Oogie Boogie’s Villainous Halloween Bash at the Disneyland Resort
MiceChat is having a Halloween Party opening night meet-up:
MiceChat Disneyland Resort Halloween Party Meet-Up September 17th
We’ll be making opening night of Oogie’s party (Tuesday, September 17th) extra special with an official MiceChat Meetup. We’ll trick or treat, catch the new World of Color, enjoy the parade, and live it up with the villains throughout the night. Don’t miss out on purchasing tickets to the Oogie Boogie Bash before they’re sold out (there’s a pass holder discount available), it’ll haunt you for sure.
You can find out more information about our upcoming meets and events and meet-up locations by adding your name to our event list here:
Fuel Rod Watch
Did you jump on the Fuel Rod craze? Buy their little phone charger once and you get a lifetime of FREE refills. Or so they claim on their machines.
Unfortunately, the company has recently changed its business model and has begun charging for refills at locations outside of the Disneyland Resort. While Fuel Rod hasn’t started charging for the Disneyland locations (likely contractual), using the product outside the resort now costs $1 or more ($3 per swap at Universal Orlando). The user comments on their Facebook page have been scathing.
Will you keep using Fuel Rod if they start charging at Disney?
Hub Construction
Over the last couple of weeks, more and more of these green boxes have been popping up around the spokes of the hub. There are now 12 of these green boxes. Our best guess is this is for a hub lighting project, but we’re keeping an eye on it.
Adventureland Bridge
Construction work is occurring just behind the pathway on the Adventureland Bridge. This is likely to finish up work on the Adventureland Sign that was installed at the start of Summer.
Storybook Land’s New Bird
Over at Storybook Land Canal Boat queue, a new little pelican statue has been installed atop a parade route speaker box.
Star Wars Land Update:
At Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, the entrance display sign for what will eventually become the Fastpass Entrance has been updated from “Flight Crews Wanted” to “Ohnaka Transport Solutions,” the name of Hondo’s Company.
We have also been noticing the display sign for Docking Bay 7 has been having issues.
Space Mountain Queue Construction
There’s an odd project at Space Mountain, the upstairs inside queue has construction walls around it.
Truth in Advertising
As we switched parks, we noticed some outdated information in California Adventure. First off, on the Entertainment Guide for DCA, the Tale of the Lion King has not been updated to reflect that the show no longer features dancers. “. . . in a unique story-theater style with live music and dance that celebrates the spirit of Africa.”
In Blue Sky Cellar, some of the information panels still refer to the debut of Paint the Night parade “This summer.” If only that were true. But the real issue is here is . . . why does Blue Sky Cellar still promote the year-old Pixar Pier? Disney has so many other projects in the works they could feature here.
Marvel Land Construction
It’s that time of the article where we look at the Marvel Land construction progress. Hopefully, we’ll get the land’s real name at D23 Expo in a few weeks. Shall we start taking bets on how many colons, dashes and exclamation marks will be in the title?
As we get a bird’s-eye view, you can see all the new buildings popping up on the site. In the last few weeks, a new steel structure has appeared near the Guardians of the Galaxy’s side of the construction site.
The connecting area between Marvel Land and Cars Land is still a large dirt pile.
Back on the ground, we can see that new structure over the construction fence near Tower.
Redwood Creek Construction
Work continues on Ahwahnee Camp Circle, most likely prepping for Villains Grove for Oogie Boogie’s Bash. This week can see a bunch of high-end entertainment equipment showing up the worksite.
Salt & Straw August Menu
Salt & Straw has rolled out their August ice cream menu.
Carrot Cake Batter, Carmel Corn on the Cob, and Tomato & Strawberry Sorbet. Anything catch your fancy?
Mickey & Friends Parking Structure and Downtown Disney Bridge Construction
Work continues on the tram plaza as cement planters are being formed between the trees.
The new wheelchair ramp is also under construction on the tram unload area.
Vertical supports are going up for the new Mickey and Friends elevators as well.
Since the bridge isn’t open yet, the ground level gate by the Pixar Pals parking has been opened on the street side so guests can access the tram loading area.
Looking at the bridge, railings with perforated metal below are being installed now.
This and That
We’ve assembled some bonus images in the slideshow below, including sunset shots and fireworks:
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That’s it for this week. Are you going to make a special trip to see the Main Street Electrical Parade while it’s still here? Bets on names for Marvel Land? Do you have plans to visit Oogie Boogie’s Halloween Party? Please let us know below.
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