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4) Main Street Electrical Parade – Magic Kingdom, 1977 – 1991, 1999 – 2001, 2010 – 2016
This spectacular nighttime parade was a hit on Main Street U.S.A. for a combined total of over 22 years. The Main Street Electrical Parade took place each night at Magic Kingdom and featured over 80 live performers covered in thousands of electronically-controlled lights synchronized to music that still resonates in the minds of Disney World fans today. A true technological marvel, the parade made use of over 11,000 LED lights worn on the dancers alone. Oh, to hear the vocoder’s words once more—the words that quieted a crowd of thousands and drew their attention to the spectacle before them: “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Disney World 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!” But alas, the parade made its final pilgrimage down Main Street on October 9, 2016.
The lights weren’t the only things that were in huge numbers. The Main Street Electrical Parade was one of the best places to see characters from all our favorite Disney films. Mickey and Minnie were there, as were Alice, the White Rabbit and the Caterpillar from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. Snow White, the Seven Dwarfs and Cinderella in her pumpkin coach were a huge part of the parade, as were Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Pinocchio and more. The amazing nighttime production also featured The Jolly Roger from Peter Pan, Cinderella’s Clock Tower and even the Seven Dwarfs’ Diamond Mine.
Just waiting along the parade route for the first float to file in front of you was thrilling, and what followed was an experience that no doubt remains in the memories of childhood for a lot of us. To say that we miss it is an understatement.
