Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom cast members were told earlier this week and yesterday Disney made it official, Disney’s Electrical Parade will be dimming its lights one last time on October 9th at the Magic Kingdom. After that it will return to Disneyland as the Main Street Electrical Parade for a limited time engagement as a final farewell.
Twenty years ago I sat on the curb on Main Street to say my final goodbyes to the Main Street Electrical Parade (MSEP). It was a great night and yes, I even bought the collectible ‘glowing away forever’ merchandise (including the infamous lightbulb). With a night to sleep on the news, I’ve reconciled my mixed emotions and am happy that a new generation will be able to see the parade in its original milieu.
Paint The Night will continue at Disneyland with some limited performances as well, but when the new night parade goes down for maintenance after the holiday season, the MSEP will be there to step in. Expect MSEP to make its first appearance at Disneyland in early 2017. There’s still no long-term announcement for whether Paint the Night will stay at Disneyland or move to another Disney park (most likely the Magic Kingdom) in 2017.
MSEP has been performing at the Magic Kingdom since 2010. It was supposed to be a limited run, but when the Spectromagic floats were discovered to beyond repair, the old parade was extended.
Having already been through one Main Street Electrical Parade farewell season, I can only hope the crowds aren’t as crazy at the Magic Kingdom. I won’t be buying any commemorative merchandise this time. And I am hoping that the Magic Kingdom gets a new parade that showcases the latest technologies.
I am glad it’s coming back to Disneyland and not CA Adventure, will make a big difference. Last time it came back at CA Adventure , the ambience was just not the same.
We were at Disneyland for the final weekend of the Main Street Electrical Parade and the crowds were terrible! We literally could not walk thru the mass of people to get out of the park. Cast members escorted us to the backstage area to exit. We also bought some commemorative items – one of them being the VHS tape of the parade. Now if I only had a VCR to play it on. I will have to look into having it converted to DVD.
Thank goodness. My wife and I never liked that parade and the music that went with it. Wish they would do a new parade at Animal Kingdom. Always loved that one.
I’ve loved the music from MSEP since I was a kid back in the 80’s. I’ll be sad to see it go, but I am very curious to see the replacements.
NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love the Electric Light parade and it has been the most wonderful way to end the evening each year when we go.
So first they take away Osborne Lights…now this…..I hope there is something decent in the evening to look forward to later this year…..other than walls…walls and more walls like last year.
What a shame!!! The parade was something to look forward to since the Osborne lights disappeared. I hope Disney continues the summertime nighttime shows at Animal Kingdom and the Studios through the fall and winter. You don’t pay any less in the fall and winter, you just get less.
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