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Another Major Change Comes to Festival Of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom

Maleficent festival of fantasy float
Credit: Jill Bivins

Magic Kingdom is the world’s most popular theme park, and its Festival of Fantasy Parade is one of the world’s most famous parades. Fans line up, sometimes hours, in advance to score the best seats in the house. The parade is a celebration of all things Disney. From impressive floats to favorite characters to exciting dance routines, this Parade has got it all. Despite several changes lately,  the parade remains a magical part of any Disney day!

Maleficent dragon fire fantasmic! disneyland

Credit: CNN

It recently lost a bit of its spark, though, following an accident at Disneyland Park. During a routine showing of Fantasmic! in California, the show’s animatronic Maleficent dragon caught fire. No one was injured, but it could have been a tragedy. As a precaution, Walt Disney World suspended the fire effect for the steampunk Maleficent float.

Disney world parade float

Credit: ABC News

Fans will remember this float also once caught fire. As it made its way down Main Street, the float lit ablaze in a terrifying (and dangerous) scene. Disney is, understandably, not eager to have a repeat performance, so the effect was shuttered following both incidents. Better safe than sorry.

Maleficent festival of fantasy float breathing fire

Credit: Jill Bivins

However, we recently discovered that she’s baaaaaaack! Maleficent is once again spitting her signature flames as she roars down the parade route. Fans were excited to see the dragon come back to life, and cheers were heard all around! We are happy to see Mal has her spark back.

You can see her yourself at Magic Kingdom during the Festival of Fantasy Parade, with showings at both 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm. The parade route rolls right through the middle of the park, which leaves many curious about where the best seats in the house are.

Maleficent festival of Fantasy parade float

Credit: Jill Bivins

Most people will crowd Main Street USA for their spot, but we have a different idea. Head to Frontierland. You’ll find fewer crowds, and since it’s the beginning of the parade route, you’ll get back to the action before the majority of the post-parade surge.

 

 

 

 

About Jill Bivins

Jill Bivins has been visiting Disney Parks since she was 2 years old and loves sharing her Disney adventures with the world. She likes to say Disney is in her blood and writing is in her bones — so any time she has the opportunity to combine these loves she is one happy camper! She has a deep abiding love for Epcot and as a die hard Star Wars fan has a serious love for Hollywood Studios as well. When she isn't exploring or writing about Disney Parks, Jill is homeschooling her 8 year old son, playing with her brand new baby son, or pretending to be a farmer on her family homestead (despite being unable to keep even a cactus alive). Find Jill on Instagram @minnieonmain.