This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade. Although the televised event has undergone some changes since its debut, it has remained an annual tradition since 1983. Parades and Disney go hand in hand, and the bar has been set high at the Parks over the years. That being said, fans haven’t always been thrilled with the actual Christmas Day Parade itself, feeling it’s a bit too commercial and the parade floats haven’t been updated in years.
To others, it’s not so much about the content. It’s more about having something familiar and family friendly on as the backdrop to Christmas morning. Whether you love it or hate it, the show must go on! Allow us to fill you in on the details of this year’s holiday extravaganza. But first, let’s take a quick look at the event’s origins.
History of Disney’s Christmas Day Parade
Holiday Time at Disneyland
Recently, we shared about Holiday Time at Disneyland, a presentation hosted by Walt Disney himself. Although the television show aired a few days before Christmas, on December 23, 1962, it would inspire what was to come in later years. Along with a tour of Disneyland, the Christmas Parade and Candlelight Procession were featured. For more about this enchanting special, check out our recent article!
Walt Disney’s Holiday Traditions & Home Videos Revealed in Christmas Special
Parade Progression Over the Years
1980’s Highlights
Disney’s Christmas Day Parade has gone by many different names throughout its history. In 1983, it began as Walt Disney World’s Very Merry Christmas Parade. Airing on Christmas day on ABC, the television show was hosted by Joan Lunden and Mike Douglas. The following year (1984) Bruce Jenner and Regis Philbin joined Lunden in hosting. In 1985 and 1986, Ben Vereen co hosted with Lunden and Philbin.
1990’s Highlights
The first parade to be taped at night occurred in 1999. In 2000, the parade was not televised, but in 2001, it made a comeback, with hosts, Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa.
Early 2000’s Highlights
From 2002 to 2008, it became known as the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade. In 2009, it was shortened to Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. In celebration of Frozen (2013), it was called the Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration in 2014. The following year (2015) it was the Disney Parks Unforgettable Christmas Celebration. Then, in 2016, it transitioned into the Disney Parks’ Magical Christmas Celebration.
2018 to Today
Finally, in 2018 it became the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade. Wow, that’s a lot of changes over its 40 year history! Chances are, if you’ve been a long time Disney Parks fan and Park-goer, you’ve seen a filming or two around Disneyland or Disney World. It’s always exciting to catch the event in progress. Check out Disney’s preparations for 2013 below.
How To Watch the 2023 Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade
You can catch the 2023 holiday television special on ABC, Christmas Day, Monday December 25, 2023. It airs at 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. PST/10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EST. Christmas can be a bit of a whirlwind, so I suggest taping it if you can. Then, you can re- watch it during the day at your leisure. If you miss it, not to worry, you can always stream it the following day on Disney+ or Hulu.
2023 Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade Lineup
If you watched 2023’s “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration” you already got a sneak peek at the Christmas Day Parade. Some of the same performers return to entertain from locations at Disney World, Disneyland and even Aulani. Hosted again this year by Derek and Julianne Hough (Dancing with the Stars), country music artist Mickey Guyton and “The Golden Bachelor” host, Jesse Palmer will join the siblings as co hosts.
Disney’s 2023 Christmas Day Parade was filmed largely at Walt Disney World Resort. Here’s a rundown of the musical performances that will be featured:
- Derek Hough and Julianne Hough – “Good Morning” and “Deck the Halls” Medley
- Chrissy Metz – “Silver Bells”
- The Smashing Pumpkins – “Evergreen” (A new, original holiday song!)
- Iam Tongi – “Mele Kalikimaka”
- The Broadway and North American Tour Cast of Disney’s “Aladdin” – “Friend Like Me”
- Meg Donnelly – “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)”
The Smashing Pumpkins may seem like an unexpected choice, but if you watched “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration”, the lead singer shares that he’s a massive Disney fan! This list is quite short compared with November’s special, but as always, I’m sure we can expect some touching stories and surprise segments in between as well.
While it may ring true that some of the content in Disney’s Christmas Day Parade feels forced (for lack of a better word), for many it still remains a beloved holiday tradition. My family enjoys having it on in the background ever year, as we go about our day, cooking and spending time together. So, what about you? Is this something you’ll have on as well. Do you feel like Disney’s Christmas Day Parade is still magical at 40?
Let’s Hear From You!
Do you enjoy the “Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade”? What changes would you like to see in the television special? Let us know in the comments below!
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