I've been told that the four new parades developed for Walt's 100th B-day celebration will soft open on Sept 2nd and 3rd.
A big focus on the entertainment for the celebration will be the debut these four new parades, one for each of the parks. It's the first time parades will be running in all four parks.
Disney officials won't talk about the cost of the four new productions, saying it would be difficult to put an exact cost on each, because of the efficiencies of using chassis and other basic elements from older parades. "I would say most Disney parades, excluding the major nighttime parades, will fall in the $3.5 million to $7 million price range," said one industry consultant who works with Disney and asked not to be identified. "They get a great deal for what they invest."
More than 300 entertainers and 60 parade-unit drivers and support personnel will work the four parades daily. All four will incorporate the new "Suite of Dreams" music written especially for the 100 Years of Magic Celebration. The length of each will fall into the 20- to 25-minute range, Taylor said.
The new Magic Kingdom parade will feature Mickey Mouse and 100 Disney characters in the Share a Dream Come True parade, which highlights specific moments from the early days of Mickey Mouse cartoons to the new animated Disney characters. The vignettes are featured inside giant snow globes with live Disney characters inside.
The popular Tapestry of Nations parade that ran for the Millennium Celebration in Epcot has been transformed into the Tapestry of Dreams parade, celebrating children, dreams and the legacy of Walt Disney.
Disney's Animal Kingdom is getting its first parade, a colorful, interactive street party that features Disney characters on expedition. "There's a menagerie of abstract animals that come alive in bright colors," Taylor said. "The colors really make things stand out and are very vibrant, against the green backgrounds of the park."
Disney Stars and Motor Cars in the studio's park features a bevy of characters that will participate in what is being called a celebrity cavalcade.
"Historically, parades have been very good for the Disney parks," said Peter Bloustein, president of PEB & Associates of Windermere, Fla. Before forming his own company, Bloustein worked for Walt Disney World for 16 years, the last few years as director of entertainment. A parade lover himself, Bloustein said parades are an effective way to entertain, to keep people in the park, and are less expensive than other new attractions.
However, he said that adding four parades "is not the most appropriate or the most creative way" to celebrate Walt's life. "But it is a less expensive way to get a great deal of attention and to bring people into the parks," Bloustein said. "Traditionally, if a park promotes and markets a parade as an attraction, it can easily add 10%-15% in attendance."
The parades, depending on guest feedback, may be extended beyond the official celebration, but no decisions will be made until later. Gary Buchanan, a WDW publicist, said that the parades were "created specifically for the upcoming 100 Years of Magic Celebration and we'll listen closely to our guests before the determination is made whether to continue them."
ON STAGE
Two stage shows will also premiere in honor of the celebration. "Cinderella's Surprise Celebration" (a working title at this point) will replace the long running "Kids of the Kingdom Show" in front of the Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom.
"It's being staged as a huge party at the castle and will star 24 characters and will take place six or seven times a day," Taylor said. "It will end with a big character greeting in the hub in front of the castle."
A big focus on the entertainment for the celebration will be the debut these four new parades, one for each of the parks. It's the first time parades will be running in all four parks.
Disney officials won't talk about the cost of the four new productions, saying it would be difficult to put an exact cost on each, because of the efficiencies of using chassis and other basic elements from older parades. "I would say most Disney parades, excluding the major nighttime parades, will fall in the $3.5 million to $7 million price range," said one industry consultant who works with Disney and asked not to be identified. "They get a great deal for what they invest."
More than 300 entertainers and 60 parade-unit drivers and support personnel will work the four parades daily. All four will incorporate the new "Suite of Dreams" music written especially for the 100 Years of Magic Celebration. The length of each will fall into the 20- to 25-minute range, Taylor said.
The new Magic Kingdom parade will feature Mickey Mouse and 100 Disney characters in the Share a Dream Come True parade, which highlights specific moments from the early days of Mickey Mouse cartoons to the new animated Disney characters. The vignettes are featured inside giant snow globes with live Disney characters inside.
The popular Tapestry of Nations parade that ran for the Millennium Celebration in Epcot has been transformed into the Tapestry of Dreams parade, celebrating children, dreams and the legacy of Walt Disney.
Disney's Animal Kingdom is getting its first parade, a colorful, interactive street party that features Disney characters on expedition. "There's a menagerie of abstract animals that come alive in bright colors," Taylor said. "The colors really make things stand out and are very vibrant, against the green backgrounds of the park."
Disney Stars and Motor Cars in the studio's park features a bevy of characters that will participate in what is being called a celebrity cavalcade.
"Historically, parades have been very good for the Disney parks," said Peter Bloustein, president of PEB & Associates of Windermere, Fla. Before forming his own company, Bloustein worked for Walt Disney World for 16 years, the last few years as director of entertainment. A parade lover himself, Bloustein said parades are an effective way to entertain, to keep people in the park, and are less expensive than other new attractions.
However, he said that adding four parades "is not the most appropriate or the most creative way" to celebrate Walt's life. "But it is a less expensive way to get a great deal of attention and to bring people into the parks," Bloustein said. "Traditionally, if a park promotes and markets a parade as an attraction, it can easily add 10%-15% in attendance."
The parades, depending on guest feedback, may be extended beyond the official celebration, but no decisions will be made until later. Gary Buchanan, a WDW publicist, said that the parades were "created specifically for the upcoming 100 Years of Magic Celebration and we'll listen closely to our guests before the determination is made whether to continue them."
ON STAGE
Two stage shows will also premiere in honor of the celebration. "Cinderella's Surprise Celebration" (a working title at this point) will replace the long running "Kids of the Kingdom Show" in front of the Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom.
"It's being staged as a huge party at the castle and will star 24 characters and will take place six or seven times a day," Taylor said. "It will end with a big character greeting in the hub in front of the castle."
