Main Street USA: Main Street Electrical Parade

Many a parade passes down the various Main Streets at the Disney theme parks.  I will look at these different parades at varying points during my marathon crusade through everything Disney - usually when an element of them links to a film or area I am focussing on.

The Main Street Electrical Parade is a night time parade featuring a rather electronic soundtrack and many, many, many coloured lights adorning a selection of impressive floats.

It is performed at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom as well as having versions at Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland.

The first float of the parade is a train driven by Goofy.  The train pulls a large bass drum emblazoned with the parade's title with Minnie Mouse at the front and Mickey Mouse at the back.  This is followed by a free-moving tortoise and snail.  Due to his glasses, the tortoise is reminiscent of Toby Turtle from Robin Hood.

Next is a toadstool with a butterfly atop it and a ladybird sitting in front.  Behind this comes a free-moving bumblebee.  Behind the bumblebee walks the White Rabbit leading another toadstool float.  Atop this toadstool is Alice.  A grinning Cheshire Cat sits at the front.  Another toadstool behind carries the Caterpillar and at the back of his float is a fly-catching frog.

This is, confusingly, followed by a free-moving caterpillar (of the more familiar, green, many-legged variety) as well as another snail, bumblebee and tortoise (this one sporting a rather fetching hat).

The next float is a pumpkin carriage.  Cinderella sits inside while the Fairy Godmother rides the back waving her magic wand.  Guests from the Royal Ball dance behind, along with four mice.  Another float here carries Anastasia and Drusilla, prancing around and fighting between themselves at the Ball.

Behind all of this a clock tower strikes midnight.  Various courtiers also walk along with these floats, carrying a canopy over the guests at the ball.

Following the Cinderella section is a dazzling pirate ship on which Peter Pan and Captain Hook are battling with swords.  Behind them is Smee in a rowboat, carrying a treasure chest.

After Peter Pan we enter a world of fairies.  Winged magical fairies walk ahead of an extravagant flowery float carrying Tinker Bell herself.  The fairies do seem to resemble the colour schemes of those seen in the Tinker Bell films - such as Rosetta, Fawn and Silvermist - although I'm not sure if they are actually supposed to be those characters.

Next is Dopey riding the first in a train of mine carts, brimming with shiny jewels from the diamond mines.  With this walk Snow White and the other dwarves whilst a few dwarves stand on a float representing the diamond mine itself.

Following these floats is Pinocchio, accompanied by some half-transformed donkey boys who are dancing up a storm.  They are leading a large float of Pleasure Island itself replete with ferris wheel and helter skelter.

Pleasure Island is followed by a huge float of Pete's Dragon, with Pete riding his neck.  The dragon, Elliot, breathes plumes of smoke.

Behind Pete, the parade all goes a bit patriotic.  Soldiers (female) in tricorn hats march alongside an illuminated Stars and Stripes, a drum and a huge eagle all led by the legend - To Honor America.

This float closes the parade and, whilst I appreciate why it is included, as a Brit it's never something which is going to chime with me and seems ever so slightly out of place behind all the fantastical floats that have come before it.

The Main Street Electrical Parade is a spectacular event and one which can only serve to impress visitors with it's awesome sights.