Throwback Thursday

Let’s go back to: Disneyland's Main Street Electrical Parade
To those of us who were Disneyland regulars, the parade was simply known as The Electrical Parade and for those 80s and 90s kids, it's not just a parade, it's a part of our childhood.  Disneyland's Main Street Electrical Parade debuted on June 17, 1972 and ran until November 25, 1996.  On July 3, 2001, the parade made a triumphant return to Disney's California Adventure park where it ran for nine more years until April 18, 2010.  In between that time, the parade found temporary homes at Tokyo Disney and the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida where it is still currently running.  The parade is made up of floats and costumes that are covered in thousands of electronically controlled lights and, most recognizably, a soundtrack unlike any other. 

Why it means something to you or to our podcast: The Main Street Electrical Parade is so much more than just a nighttime show for us.  It's a part of our childhood, a reminder of the nights we spent at Disneyland with our parents.  For me, it's a reminder of the times my mom and dad used to bring my big sister and I to the park together and as a child whose parents divorced by the time I was 5, this parade reminds me of times where my family enjoyed the parade all together.  Just hearing the iconic music can bring all of us back to a simpler time when all we wanted was a wave from our favorite Disney character and to watch the parade maybe one more time.  Saying goodbye to it back in 2001 was one of the saddest things for Disneyland lovers.  I was even there for the very last run at 11:30 PM on April 18, 2010.  A lot of Disney lovers had hoped that Disneyland would bring back the beloved parade for the 60th anniversary, but on May 22, 2015, they premiered an equally spectacular Paint the Night Parade which originated at Disneyland Hong Kong.  You know from our previous posts that we are both huge fans of the new parade, but it will never replace Disneyland's Main Street Electrical Parade in our hearts.

Where can you find it now?: The Electrical Parade can still be seen in the Magic Kingdom at 9:00 PM each night, but if you don't want to travel all the way to Orlando, you'll have to relive it through YouTube videos like the one right here.  You can also check out its successor, the Paint the Night Parade which runs every night at Disneyland at 8:50 PM and 10:45 PM as a part of Disneyland's 60th Diamond Anniversary.

-- Kelly Lee