MSEP to end Oct. 9 - Parade moves to Disneyland for a "limited time"

[mom2rtk]

I know the 60th was a driving force to bringing a lot of people west to DLR for their first trip, but I think a lot of WDW regulars headed there just to see a new park because it was something new (to them) and WDW hasn't offered a ton of new experiences in the last 20 years.

I think DLR's strengths are WDW's weakness and vice-versa. I know we love DLR, we burn out at WDW.

We defected to the west in 2013. We're not the only ones I know of who got out of Dodge when FP+ came to town.

 

[WEDWDW]

OTPN seems to think there are no plans for another night Parade at MK-very strange.
http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2016/08/main-street-electrical-parade-heading.html#more

 

[mom2rtk]

The mouse giveth.

And the mouse taketh away.

This is really starting to look like the price of night entertainment at AK.

 

[maltdizzy]

We defected to the west in 2013. We're not the only ones I know of who got out of Dodge when FP+ came to town.

I'm pretty sure I've read your trip reports.

This month is our first trip to WDW since FP+ came about (we dodge it by months three years ago). What a major hassle, just seems to add a lot of extra worry that I hope will be for nothing.

I miss living in L.A.

 

[Jennasis]

Maybe they'll flip the bird to the Halloween and Christmas party folks and offer Boo-to-You and the Christmas parade all season long on non party nights. LOL!

 

[superlarz]

I'm pretty sure I've read your trip reports.

This month is our first trip to WDW since FP+ came about (we dodge it by months three years ago). What a major hassle, just seems to add a lot of extra worry that I hope will be for nothing.

I miss living in L.A.

I live in California, and can say that I love FP+. Hit animal Kingdom in the morning and then get to Magic Kingdom mid afternoon at go on the 3 attractions you want? Easy. I have been able to make many more FP reservations than I ever could using the paper system. Went to WDW around halloween last year and as soon as I used my first three FP, I was able to get a FP+ reservation for rides with windows starting within the next 5 minutes. Sure, planning 60 days in advance is crazy, but I have found the overall expereince to be awesome. I realize this isnt a popular opinion around these parts...I am about to make my third trip in the FP+ era and I hope they bring it out west.

That being said, I am going to WDW Oct 16 and bummed we wont be able to see the parade. PtN is in pretty rough shape after running every night for 18 months. There is usually some things not working on floats or costumes every night. The rumor I heard is PTN is staying at Disneyland, just getting refurbed until summer 2017. MSEP is going to run in the spring then be retired. The fact that Disney hasnt announce anything concrete probably means they dont have any definitive plans and will take a wait and see approach with how people react to the changes.

 

[anneboleyn]

Maybe they'll flip the bird to the Halloween and Christmas party folks and offer Boo-to-You and the Christmas parade all season long on non party nights. LOL!

I will set things on fire if this happens.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm pretty sure I've read your trip reports.

This month is our first trip to WDW since FP+ came about (we dodge it by months three years ago). What a major hassle, just seems to add a lot of extra worry that I hope will be for nothing.

I miss living in L.A.

I hope you have an awesome trip! We actually have been toying with swapping back to WDW this year. And honestly, the little bit of planning I did, trying to make all the pieces fit together, just made me cranky. I think we'll likely end up back at DLR. It just suits our style better.

 

[mom2rtk]

I will set things on fire if this happens.

And who could blame you?

 

[DisBuckMan]

I live in California, and can say that I love FP+. .

I don't live in California, or the west coast, but I went to WDW plenty of times under the paper fp system and never thought I'd like the new fp+. Boy, was I wrong.

We defected to the west in 2013. We're not the only ones I know of who got out of Dodge when FP+ came to town.

So, you never gave the fp+ system a chance?

We LOVE it, especially since they're now allowing you to make additional fp's via the app which allows you to see what's available and when. Much better than wandering all over the park to get a paper one.

 

[mom2rtk]

I don't live in California, or the west coast, but I went to WDW plenty of times under the paper fp system and never thought I'd like the new fp+. Boy, was I wrong.



So, you never gave the fp+ system a chance?

We LOVE it, especially since they're now allowing you to make additional fp's via the app which allows you to see what's available and when. Much better than wandering all over the park to get a paper one.

We tried it on a brief stop last summer. Still not a fan.

We like to reride headliners. We like starting each day with a blank slate. And we never wandered all over the park to get paper FPs. It worked for us. I'm glad they haven't changed the system in DLR yet, although I hear they might tinker with it soon.

 

[Jennasis]

I will set things on fire if this happens.

 

[fla4fun]

I am sorry to see it go. I saw it when it first ran at WDW back in the 70's and it's always been my favorite night parade. When it came back to MK this last time I went over and camped out in the perfect spot to video the parade four hours before the parade was to start. I got a really nice video for my trouble. I guess I will have to watch that when I get homesick for MSEP.

I never did warm up to Spectromagic. I always felt like it tried too hard and came up short. But there is some great technology out there to create something wonderful, if only Disney will make the effort.

 

[Alfredo68]

From the HUB. These are the questions that CM are expected to get and the answers they are supposed to give:

Main Street Electrical Parade heads to Disneyland Park for a limited engagement

The “spectacular festival pageant of nighttime magic and imagination,” the Main Street Electrical Parade, will be ending its historic run at Magic Kingdom Park and returning to Disneyland Park for a special, limited engagement.

Cast Members and Guests are encouraged to come out to enjoy the “thousands of sparkling lights and electro-synthemagnetic musical sounds” one more time before the final performance on Oct. 9. Guests can also check out some of the park’s newest offerings like “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” and, starting Aug. 12, “Princess Elena Royal Welcome.”

After a delightful six years, we bid the Main Street Electrical Parade a fond farewell and look forward to the memories it will create for Disneyland Guests early next year.

Q1. Why is the Main Street Electrical Parade closing?

The Main Street Electrical Parade will be ending its historic run at Magic Kingdom Park and return to Disneyland Park for a special, limited engagement.

Q2. When will the parade be returning to Disneyland?

This limited engagement will begin early next year. We will share more on timing at a later date.

Q3. Is it going away forever/will the parade ever come back?

Right now, we’re looking forward to the memories the Main Street Electrical Parade will create for Disneyland Guests and have nothing more to share.

Q4. Are you replacing Main Street Electrical Parade with anything?

We continue to offer compelling nighttime entertainment, and are constantly adjusting our offerings.

Q5. Will “Paint the Night” from Disneyland Resort be coming in its place?

At this time, there are no plans to bring “Paint the Night” to Walt Disney World Resort. We look forward to sharing more about the future of “Paint the Night” soon.

Q6. Why are you taking Main Street Electrical Parade to Disneyland Resort when they already have Paint the Night?

Main Street Electrical Parade came to Florida in 2010 from the Disneyland Resort, so with this move, it’s returning for a special, limited engagement.

Q7. You have a history of swapping parades. Why isn’t Paint the Night coming to Walt Disney World?

It’s just not part of our plans at this time. We’re looking forward to the memories the Main Street Electrical Parade will create for Disneyland Guests.

Q8. When will DisneyWorld.com / My Disney Experience / OneSource reflect this change?

We are in the process of updating our online calendars.

Q9. What about Guests who may have already booked the Tony’s Town Square lunch package?

We will be contacting Guests who have booked the Tony’s Town Square lunch package and working with them for alternate arrangements.

The CM I spoke with today was still in shock and said they only found out about it last night. I was surprised she knew littler about it and it confirmed my suspicion that this was a last minute decision. Who knows why? The IDEAL business decision would have been to give people a year advance notice. Many people who might have waited to go to WDW might have booked an early vacation just to catch the parade once more. Many who planned their fall vacations early, like me, cannot change them at this point. Two months notice was a crappy thing for Disney to do. While the parade was not the main and only reason why I am going this October, it was definitely THE parade I wanted to catch again. I saw it in 1980 for the first time and not again until 2011. I never knew 2011 was going to be my last time seeing it. And while people talk a lot about Paint the Night, I watched some of it on YouTube and all I got from it was that is is a revamped version of the MSEP with a bit of the original music turned techno a la Britney Spears. Not tempting for me (sorry to anyone that loves it.....)

 

[Alfredo68]

I am sorry to see it go. I saw it when it first ran at WDW back in the 70's and it's always been my favorite night parade. When it came back to MK this last time I went over and camped out in the perfect spot to video the parade four hours before the parade was to start. I got a really nice video for my trouble. I guess I will have to watch that when I get homesick for MSEP.

I never did warm up to Spectromagic. I always felt like it tried too hard and came up short. But there is some great technology out there to create something wonderful, if only Disney will make the effort.

I am SOOO with you. I saw it in 1980 the first time, when I was 12, and I was in love. I did not see it again until 2011 and I was just as moved. Little did I know that would be it.... I am headed there late October, too late to see it again. Yet, until yesterday, it was high priority in my itinerary. Guess not any more.....

 

[Alfredo68]

Are you kidding me!
I have never seen MSEP and was looking forward to seeing it for the first time.
It's last day (which I'm sure would be so crowded!) is Oct 9th....The day we fly into Orlando!!
Don't know if I would be crazy enough to try to do this, since I will be getting up at 2AM to get to airport.
Would it be worth taking a "nap", make our Raglan Road dinner at 4:30 and go over to MK?
So frustrating, I didn't want to go to MK till anniversary day. Now we won't have any parade that night!

Ohhhhh...if you can, GO SEE IT! Take a nap and go. Trust me, you do not want to miss it. I know some humbugs out there that hate this parade, but thousands of us LOVE it (and have for decades)! And you will never know unless you experience it. And what an experience it is. I am going late October, so almost had a conniption when I woke up this AM to the news.......

 

[Alfredo68]

I hope they update their stupid online calendar...right now there is no parade scheduled for our magic kingdom night (September 15) and I can't imagine they aren't going to show it every night to give folks one last shot at seeing it before it goes.

I'm also annoyed, and not surprised that they announce a MAJOR attraction closure with jack squat to replace it.

They are not doing it every night, because they have the Mickey-Not-So-Scary-Halloween Party thing going on several times a week starting in September, which cuts into the MSEP time.

 

[Alfredo68]

Paint me disappointed. We love that parade

I'm a bit crushed.....

 

[Candycane83]

Maybe they'll flip the bird to the Halloween and Christmas party folks and offer Boo-to-You and the Christmas parade all season long on non party nights. LOL!

I would probably be willing to lose my $200 for 2 adult MVMCP tickets and cancel my entire trip just so they don't profit more from me.

 

[ArwenMarie]

They won't run the holiday parades more on non-party nights. If anything, they will add more parties. $$$$$