The Legacy of Walt Disney’s Christmas Parade

Toy soldiers marching through the street, gingerbread men dancing all around and Christmas joy being shown for all to see. All of these describe a Walt Disney World tradition that people look forward to and have the chance to experience throughout every Christmas season.

Ever since 1971, Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida has celebrated the Christmas season by having an annual Christmas parade. This parade features some of the world’s favorite Disney characters and special guests that will put anyone in the Christmas spirit.

After looking at pictures from the 1971 Christmas parade, which was called “Fantasy on Parade” at the time, there seemed to be a number of similarities that have not changed since that day.

Toy soldiers have been a huge part of Disney’s Christmas parade since the first parade in 1971. The toy soldiers that opened the parade and the toy soldiers that are still going today have had very little changes done to them throughout the years. The toy soldiers that appeared in Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade this past Christmas season appear as exact replicas of the toy soldiers that marched the streets in 1971.

Along with the toy soldiers, the parade also incorporates some of Disney’s most classic characters. Characters such as Peter Pan, Tigger and Pinocchio join along in the magical march through The Magic Kingdom to spread Christmas joy to all of the Guests.

Another similarity of the 1971 Christmas parade compared to today’s Christmas parade is the Mickey and Minnie Mouse float. Ever since the beginning, Mickey and Minnie have shared their own float in the Christmastime parade at the Magic Kingdom. The beloved couple make their way throughout Magic Kingdom, spreading joy and seasons greetings to Guests of all ages.

Two of the main ways that Disney has changed their Christmas parade in the past 45 years has been through their characters and floats.

Throughout the years, there have been new Disney characters added to the parade. Some of these new characters being Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf from the recent hit movie, Frozen. Even though Disney has added brand new characters to the mix, they consistently continue to involve the classic and beloved characters that will always be close to our hearts.

Another aspect of the parade that has changed over the years has been the floats. Last year’s 2015 Christmas parade had a bakery float that spread the scent of baked goods and candy all throughout the Magic Kingdom. They also added a beautiful crystal float with different princesses aboard such as Ariel, Belle and Jasmine.

At the very end of the parade, a very special guest from the North Pole joins the other Disney characters in welcoming the Christmas season. Santa Claus has served as the grand finale of the Walt Disney World Christmas parade ever since it’s debut in 1971.

Whether it be the marching toy soldiers, the many Disney characters roaming the streets or seeing Santa Claus himself, the Walt Disney World Christmas Parades have allowed guests of all ages to be filled with the spirit of Christmas and create magical memories that will last a lifetime.

What’s your favorite part of the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade? What do you think will be some new additions to this year’s parade? Comment below and let me know!

The History of It’s A Small World

Traveling around the world and experiencing different cultures in just ten minutes is something that is only possible with one ride at Walt Disney World. “It’s A Small World“is a classic Disney World attraction that been around for over 50 years.

The 1964 New York World’s Fair was the first to see the brand new ride, “Children of the World,” which would later be the ride known as “It’s A Small World.”According to an article by Genevieve Brown entitled It’s a Small World: 9 Little-Known Facts, they never thought that the ride would actually last after the World’s Fair was over (Brown, “It’s a Small World: 9 Little-Known Facts“).

The article states that the composer of the song used throughout the ride, Richard Sherman, stated:

“We thought, ‘Well, when the World’s Fair is over, that will be the end of it. For two years, they’ll have this thing.’ We never dreamed it would have the ‘legs’ as they call it, the distance that it’s run,” said Sherman.

But that was not the case. After the fair was over, the ride was moved to Disneyland in California to make its premiere in the park on May 28, 1966. “It’s A Small World” was the perfect addition to the park, causing so many to fall in love with the ride itself. For many, once the ride was added to Disneyland, it was like adding the final piece of a puzzle to make it perfect and complete.

It’s A Small World went on to be one of the most well-known rides at Disneyland and later was one of the few first rides to premiere at Disney World on opening day in 1971. To this day, people look at It’s A Small World as one of their favorite classic rides at Disney and the happiest cruise that ever sailed the seven seas!

Growing up, It’s A Small World was one of those rides that always came into my mind when I thought of Disney World. From its exotic landscape and fun dancing characters, to its theme song that left me singing the same lines all day long, this ride always left me smiling. It’s A Small World has earned a special place in hearts all around the world, allowing so many to come together and say “it’s a small world after all!”

 

Sources used in this blog: http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/disneys-small-world-facts/story?id=22990670

The History of the Osborne Family Lights

This past Christmas season, the world said a special goodbye to a Walt Disney World spectacle. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights celebrated it’s 20th and final year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Since 1995, The Osborne Lights have amazed guests all around the world and it all started with one girl.

Jennings Osborne was a successful microbiologist that was born in 1943. In 1980, he and his wife, Mitzi Osborne, had their first and only daughter, Allison Brianne. Jennings, being the successful business man he was, usually was away from home and busy with work, but one Christmas changed all of that for him.

On Allison’s 6th Christmas in 1986, she asked her dad for something that was not a normal or trendy thing for kids to ask for. This being to spend time together with her dad and hang up Christmas lights in the front of their house.

When Allison said this, it caused Jennings Osborne to realize the time that he had been missing with his young daughter and his wife. Because of this, he decided to go out and buy over 1,000 Christmas lights to hang up with his daughter that year.

In an article entitled Secret History of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, Jim Korkis states that “it became a tradition and Jennings kept adding more and more lights. However, his home was located on one of the busiest streets in Little Rock and, as the fame of this display spread, it resulted in severe traffic problems as visitors clogged the street to experience the illuminated spectacle” (Korkis).

Because of this publicity, the Osborne’s lights started to become an issue for some people. In 1994, after accumulating over 3 million lights, the Arkansas Supreme court ruled that the Osborne’s lights be taken down immediately.

After this occurred, the vice president of Walt Disney World at the time decided to give Jennings Osborne a call about the lights. After 9 years of using the Osborne family’s front yards as their display piece, the Osborne family decided to donate all of the lights they had to Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL.

Combined, this entire showcase that the Osborne family had created up to this point included over 3 million lights, 100 angels, two working carousels, a 70-foot-tall Christmas tree, and a train conducted by Mickey Mouse. The entire display made it Disney on November 4th, 1995 and from there, the team of Disney’s Imagineers began to put up the lights.

By the end of November, the Walt Disney World had set up all of the lights and prepared them for the upcoming Christmas season. Everyone who came to see these lights were amazed at the spectacle and from that point on, The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights began growing in the Streets of America at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As of this past Christmas season, the Osborne Lights had accumulated over 5 million total lights!

The lights have allowed so many around the world to experience a showcase like never before for just over 20 years. Though it is sad to see the lights go, the legacy of The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights will live on forever.

Sources used in the blog: https://www.mouseplanet.com/11210/Secret_History_of_the_Osborne_Family_Spectacle_of_Dancing_Lights