Parade disappointment?

[cherrymarzipan]

Several people have mentioned recently that the parade was a disappointment and I just wondered why this was. Is it that it is relatively short? Has no stops? Re-uses many of the old floats? The music just repeats throughout? Nothing can match up to the DOUD?

Or is it simply eclipsed by Dreams?

Personally I love the tune and I think the whirling fairies and wizards are great. I like having the Blue Fairy as a character and the prince and princess carriages are something different. I also like the iridescent colourings on the floats but overall I don't feel like queueing an hour to see it. Why?

What do others think is lacking?

 

[HappyPanda]

Is it that it is relatively short? Has no stops? Re-uses many of the old floats? The music just repeats throughout? Nothing can match up to the DOUD?

All of the above!

Admitadly, we didn't have a very good spot for the parade so missed out on a lot of the ground action.

But I just found it didn't have the magic of a Disney parade. Especially as there were no stops and that the one piece of music was just looped throughout. It felt to me like a very rushed job and definitely not something that is worthy of an anniversary year.

I've always found that the parade is a crucial part of the Disney experience for us, but this year we saw it once and never felt the inclination to see it again.

Maybe when we go back in March, I'll give it another chance. Perhaps I just caught it on a bad day!

 

[Vala]

For me they reuse way too many of the old floats, but I wouldn't call it a disappointment. True, that song on constant repeat does get stuck to your head - even DBF was humming it in the end.

For an anniversary year I would also have expected more, but I was not disappointed.

 

[DLPDreams]

I agree with the points you made. There is not so much interaction between the characters and the public (I'm sensing a theme here!).

When we saw OUAD on our previous trips, every time it brought a tear to my eye. It didn't feel rushed etc either. I unfortunately don't have any parades previous to that to compare it to though.

MOP (the new acronym!) just doesn't cut it. I think they could have had a few more words in the song for a start - although I agree it is a catchy tune.

I too felt it was rushed - it is disappointing to me as they advertised it as a 'new' parade when frankly it is a rehash of the old with a few new bits thrown in....

Having said that, I still did like watching it and so did my daughters, but I left feeling something was lacking???!

Also, fwiw, I don't think Dreams detracted from it (in my mind) as they are totally different things - bit like comparing the Enchanted fireworks and OUAD parade...

 

[Ms Poppins]

I thought it was good enough, and I too liked the spinning fairies on the ground. I really like the song and find myself singing it randomly at times

It was certainly use of the previous years floats, and for that I think they score a bit low as they could have done a complete new set, especially as it's the 20th.

I may be the only one here not to have 'loved' OUAD parade. I didn't think the music was very good.

Nothing will compare the 'old days' of Dancing a Catchy Rhythm' song, which was also on a loop and made me smile so much I loved the scale of the floats in the parade, Cinderella's coach, Mary Poppins on the chimney tops and the massive Beast with Belle twirling around up high

 

[HappyPanda]

Nothing will compare the 'old days' of Dancing a Catchy Rhythm' song, which was also on a loop and made me smile so much

Dancing a Catchy Rhythm, is THE best parade music imo! I still have it on CD!

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Hmm, perhaps it is just that there are some great floats like Alice, Toy Story and the Lion King/Jungle Book but we are all too used to them now and want to be wowed with something completely different and equally stunning. I think Disney probably just didn’t have the money for this so shuffling some around and re-painting them was the next best thing. I know the first time I watched MOP (love that!), after getting caught up in the catchy music I was surprised when Mickey and Minnie went by and I realised that was all there was. Haven’t actually counted the floats but it does seem short.

I’ve loved all the parades and our first one was the Carnaval des Fous in 1997!

Also, fwiw, I don't think Dreams detracted from it (in my mind) as they are totally different things - bit like comparing the Enchanted fireworks and OUAD parade (just hoping the rumours about them scrapping the latter aren't true as if they bring out something inferior I think I'll ).

DLPDreams, what are these rumours? Not axing Dreams??? No no no!!!

BTW, am I mistaken in the acronym for the last parade? I thought it was Disney's Once Upon (a) Dream - DOUD not OUAD?

 

[MummyMinnie]

We enjoyed it and were in no way disappointed. I just feel that we have seen the parade so many times now :yes: that its not something we feel we need to keep watching. Even on previous trips we only watch it the once to say we've seen it but then use the opportunity to go on the rides whilst everybody else is watching the parade.

Would be interesting to hear peoples views that have been for the first time to Disney, and what they think of the parade? I think they'll really love it.

 

[A Small World]

I may be the only one here not to have 'loved' OUAD parade. I didn't think the music was very good.

Nothing will compare the 'old days' of Dancing a Catchy Rhythm' song, which was also on a loop and made me smile so much I loved the scale of the floats in the parade, Cinderella's coach, Mary Poppins on the chimney tops and the massive Beast with Belle twirling around up high

I also loved Dancing a Catchy Rhythm - the song and the parade. It was the first DLP parade I saw and then the following yr OUAD had just started.
I remember commenting at the time about being disappointed with OUAD - there seemed to be big gaps of nothing between the floats and I was never that keen on some of the floats. The music didnt always seem to fit the floats. Saying that I did watch it over and over again.

Ive not seen the new parade but photos of it havent made me want to rush to see it

 

[jothp]

We really loved the floating fairies too and thought it was a really clever effect. I think we missed the show stops because it made the parade very short. We watched the parade from a window seat in Walts and I put in my notes that the last float went past at 7.22 (I made a note because someone was asking a couple of weeks ago), considering that it would have taken a while after 7 for the first parade to arrive that is not very long at all. Also the most interaction we got was a quick wave, last time we watched OUAD the characters were coming to the ropes giving high fives or ruffling hair etc but we saw nothing like that.

 

[markpsych]

I also loved Dancing a Catchy Rhythm - the song and the parade. It was the first DLP parade I saw and then the following yr OUAD had just started.

Snap

 

[tennisfan]

I have been fortunate to see several different parades but the latest one just leaves me feeling flat. Its a lot shorter, I do like the music but I can't really put my finger on what it is that makes it bad. Possible the focus on Princesses, which I admit not a massive fan on, before they have used loads of different characters.

I think Disney have been lazy on this parade, they bought in a new one for the 15th Anniversary why not bring in a completely new idea for the 20th? I do think Disney have dropped the ball this time round.

My fave has to be the first one I saw & that was Dancin a Catchy Rhythm one, it was simple but it worked.

The only thing I disliked about the OUAD parade is that again Disney got lazy for the Christmas parade & used the OUAD parade & stuck Father Christmas at the end. Before then they had a great tune & the parade was a true Christmas one including real reindeer, I for one would love to see the true parade back now.

 

[scampbunny]

We really loved the floating fairies too and thought it was a really clever effect. I think we missed the show stops because it made the parade very short. We watched the parade from a window seat in Walts and I put in my notes that the last float went past at 7.22 (I made a note because someone was asking a couple of weeks ago), considering that it would have taken a while after 7 for the first parade to arrive that is not very long at all. Also the most interaction we got was a quick wave, last time we watched OUAD the characters were coming to the ropes giving high fives or ruffling hair etc but we saw nothing like that.

jo - we watched it by iasw and there was lots of interaction with the characters coming over - not all characters, but quite a few (espec the pirates - have a rather good close up lol) and the fairies definately did alot of interacting.... maybe it was *** less ppl up there??

 

[jothp]

We watched just outside pizzeria belle notte. We had a great view as the floats turned the corner from down the side of IASW but no interaction at all. Perhaps it was just different CMs?

 

[DLPDreams]

Sorry Cherry - will edit my post - had originally used Fantillusion as an example (but deleted it and used OUAD instead) and it was that I was talking about them axing (rumours). I will be sad if it goes....

 

[DLPdaft]

Several people have mentioned recently that the parade was a disappointment and I just wondered why this was. Is it that it is relatively short? Has no stops? Re-uses many of the old floats? The music just repeats throughout? Nothing can match up to the DOUD?

Or is it simply eclipsed by Dreams?

Personally I love the tune and I think the whirling fairies and wizards are great. I like having the Blue Fairy as a character and the prince and princess carriages are something different. I also like the iridescent colourings on the floats but overall I don't feel like queueing an hour to see it. Why?

What do others think is lacking?

well to be honest I wouldn't queue for an hour to see any parade, I never did that with OUAD nor the one in 2007 before it changed over .

I don't mind the parade, love the hoovering fairies and magicians , like the refurbed floats, the princess carriages are beautiful, could do without Duffy on it to be honest, but thats a minor point I will gloss over.

The music is sadly completely forgettable, in my opinion. The hair on the back of my neck still stands on end when I hear the opening bars of "Just like we dreamed it", and "Dancin a catchy rhythm" gets into your brain like Animagique does . We watched the parade twice this week, and I can barely recall the tune at all!

 

[ukool]

I loved the princess floats, but was shocked how many old floats are still being used. It was my first trip thier in 5 years and was surprised how mnany floats were still being used.

LOVE the song though

 

[cherrymarzipan]

Sorry Cherry - will edit my post - had originally used Fantillusion as an example (but deleted it and used OUAD instead) and it was that I was talking about them axing (rumours). I will be sad if it goes....

Phew... thanks for the edit! Not that I would want to lose Fantillusion - another one that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when the music starts. It would have to be something pretty amazing to replace it.

 

[zavandor]

I'm not a big parade fan, but I really loved this one! I prefere it over the WDW and Disneyland parades. And Alice's float is my all time favorite.
But I had not seen the previous parade so all floats were new for me. This is the first parade I have ever seen twice.

 

[tinks_1989]

Im really glad Rapunzel, Flynn and Duffy have been added Im not impressed that Belle and the Beast and Pluto have gone