POLL: Can we forgive Disneyland?

[Hoku]

So DLR isn't sure what to do with the Electrical Parade when they get it back next year. They spent a ton of money on national advertising when it left Disneyland. People came in droves and spent tons of money on videos, light bulbs and other paraphernalia of the vanishing parade.

The ending of the parade was a huge deal. It was intensely popular and people wanted to invest in the history. Well.....what if it came back? What if, after all this hullabaloo, the "Main Street Electric Light Parade" came back to Main Street?? Would we be happy to have it back or should it stay away "forever"?

I would love to bring it back, and have created this poll in hopes of finding I'm not the only one that can "forgive Disneyland".

 

[cp11]

I would have to answer it twice, I was not crazy about it, but my daughter loves it. So I'm almost at the no, opinion stage . . . LOL

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I love it and was happy to see in on Main Street in WDW. I don't remember a big to-do before it left. It played at Christmas as usual and at that point it was going away until summer "like usual", but I think it was a big surprise to everyone that it went to WDW. It's not like they had a "see it while you can" push, though many suspected that the schedule would change due to WOC debuting.

 

[merfsko]

I answered "Yes!" but I'll be honest with my ulterior motives. And that is, being a WDW vet and former ICPer, to me SpectroMagic feels at home to me at WDW (and I'm hoping they start it up again), and ELP feels like it belong at DLR. Ironically, the first time I saw ELP was at WDW way back when, but I still feel like it belongs "to" DLR (possibly because the first time I *remember* seeing ELP was at Disneyland )

So that was my long-winded way of saying, forgive and forget!

 

[ArchOwl]

Well, first of all we don't know that the DLR doesn't know what to do with the Electrical Parade. After all, this is just rumor/speculation on the part of Al Lutz. Someone could know exactly what they want to do with it.

Secondly, I don't remember that DLR ever made a big deal about the parade never coming back. As far as I remember, they said it was moving to FL for awhile. Not that it would never been seen here again, but more like "it is going to be gone for awhile, see it before it leaves" kind of a thing. I don't remember a huge push, but there were some ads, if I remember correctly.

I seriously doubt that they would destroy it. It is iconic Disneyland. Even if they don't know what to do with it for awhile, they can store it. I don't think even the Al Lutz article hinted at destroying it.

So I wouldn't worry too much about it at this point. I mean it is a great problem to have, right? "What do we do with all this entertainment that people love?". A "problem" many companies would love to have!

 

[Hoku]

I love it and was happy to see in on Main Street in WDW. I don't remember a big to-do before it left. It played at Christmas as usual and at that point it was going away until summer "like usual", but I think it was a big surprise to everyone that it went to WDW. It's not like they had a "see it while you can" push, though many suspected that the schedule would change due to WOC debuting.

When it left Disneyland, yes, there was a HUGE "to do". You might be remembering when it left DCA. It left Disneyland and, shortly after, went to DCA before it went to WDW. I doubt they'd make a big deal of it again after the first one.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

When the Electrical Parade was about to leave Disneyland the first time there was a huge announcement. People lined up for the last views of the parade. And people bought the parade light-bulbs as a souvenir. I think they went for $25 (someone I know bought one). Then the parade ended up in WDW.

When DCA just wasn't bringing in the people they brought the parade to DCA, and it was gladly welcomed. I remember the excitement in the crowd.

This last time, they took the parade from DCA to WDW - many of us figured due to WOC and the construction walls, etc., with little fanfare.

I always hoped they'd bring it back, and I'd like to see it brought home to Disneyland, the original Magic Kingdom.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

When it left Disneyland, yes, there was a HUGE "to do". You might be remembering when it left DCA. It left Disneyland and, shortly after, went to DCA before it went to WDW. I doubt they'd make a big deal of it again after the first one.

Got it. I thought you meant when it went to WDW.

 

[kaffinito]

While I was very glad to see the Main Street Electrical Parade again, I will be glad when it's gone and Spectromagic comes back to WDW. So I have no opinion on the matter.

 

[spacemermaid]

I would LOVE to see the Electrical Parade back on Main Street! Though it was nice seeing it in CA after all the years it was gone, to me it didn't really fit in there. There was just something about being surrounded by all the turn-of-the-century architecture, with all its popcorn lighting, and then watching all the floats lit up & coming down the street...

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I think one of the concerns with either location is the issue of people camping on the parade route well before it gets dark, either for the fireworks or WoC. If they bring the parade back to DL, do they cut back on the hub-centric effects which accompany the fireworks to discourage guests from staking out a spot before dark? On the other hand, is it better to delay the start of WoC until an hour or so after the parade passes by? I think these are the issues with which TDA is struggling. -- Suzanne

 

[mrswh]

Apparently I am quite ignorant because I never knew it was at DLR to begin with! We have seen it several times at DCA and loved it. We were sad that it disappeared (with very little fanfare, if I recall - suddenly it was just gone!), and I hope it comes back. I really would prefer it to be at DCA, but then, I prefer pretty much everything at DCA. <Ducking to avoid whatever is being thrown at me - rotten tomatoes maybe.> Parades at DLR are just so painful - too crowded, not enough space, blocks off too many routes to other things. Creates so many bottlenecks in other areas of the park. (Tomorrowland comes to mind.) When they had that parade that stopped, that was the worst! (In terms of creating bottlenecks around the park.) We have seen the Pixar Play Parade (missing that one too now that it's out of order due to construction) and the ELP at DCA many times and it's so nice - when the parade is over you get up and start walking . . . and you don't even have to moo. So can I vote for "no apology necessary, please bring the ELP back to DCA!"??

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I think one of the concerns with either location is the issue of people camping on the parade route well before it gets dark, either for the fireworks or WoC. If they bring the parade back to DL, do they cut back on the hub-centric effects which accompany the fireworks to discourage guests from staking out a spot before dark? On the other hand, is it better to delay the start of WoC until an hour or so after the parade passes by? I think these are the issues with which TDA is struggling. -- Suzanne

This was not an issue at all at WDW where the parade was an hour before the fireworks. I think it'd be less an issue at DL with a 8 pm parade, 9 pm Fantasmic!, and 9:30 fireworks.

 

[spiderdust]

As someone who grew up on the East Coast, wishing I could see the Electrical Parade yet knowing it was too far away, then moving to the West Coast only to have it go to WDW, then missing out on seeing it during the brief time it came to DCA -- I'd just like to have the chance to see the darn thing for once!

So I say bring it back!

 

[Minnie Loves Mickey]

I remember being so upset when the parade left Disneyland! Then the memories I had when I saw it at CA. I would love to see it come back. It is one of those things that I cry at when I see it because it brings so many good memories back of my Father who passed away many years ago.

 

[GrumpyGoat]

Saw it once at DCA and was unimpressed... The thing I remember most about that night is breaking a tooth on a frozen ice cream bite...

 

[KCmike]

After visiting the last few years a nightly parade was the only thing missing in my opinion. So yes! I would love to see MSEP back in Disneyland in the NIGHT!

 

[Disney Dreams]

So DLR isn't sure what to do with the Electrical Parade when they get it back next year. They spent a ton of money on national advertising when it left Disneyland. People came in droves and spent tons of money on videos, light bulbs and other paraphernalia of the vanishing parade.

The ending of the parade was a huge deal. It was intensely popular and people wanted to invest in the history. Well.....what if it came back? What if, after all this hullabaloo, the "Main Street Electric Light Parade" came back to Main Street?? Would we be happy to have it back or should it stay away "forever"?

I would love to bring it back, and have created this poll in hopes of finding I'm not the only one that can "forgive Disneyland".

I'm not sure where this concept of forgiving Disneyland comes from, or the idea that they don't know what to do with it, but the MSEP has been said to be returning to DLR from the moment it left.

Apparently I am quite ignorant because I never knew it was at DLR to begin with! ...

Not ignorant, just probably indicates your age. It used to be the Main Street Electrical Parade. Then when it moved to DCA it became Disney's Electrical Parade because, well, it wasn't on Main Street any more. Then it moved to WDW.

By the way, I own a lightbulb, from floats that were taken apart the FIRST time, when it was going away forever.

Favorite parade ever. The sooner it comes back, the better!

- Dreams

 

[lifeguardette]

Well, As one of those people that bought a light when they stopped the parade at DL and had lined up and braved the insane crowds to see it for a final time, I say BRING IT BACK. Yes, I did feel a little bit scammed when it was brought to DCA, but I love that parade and it deserves to be on DL!

 

[SuzanneSLO]

This was not an issue at all at WDW where the parade was an hour before the fireworks. I think it'd be less an issue at DL with a 8 pm parade, 9 pm Fantasmic!, and 9:30 fireworks.

While the hub at WDW is much larger than the one at DL, DL did run the ELP, Fantasmic! and fireworks for 4 summers from 1992 until 1996. I am guessing, however, that the parade started later than 8 pm, as I remember it being dark when it was performed. At that time, as well, the fireworks did not include special effects focused on the castle (I believe those started in 2005), so there was less crowding in the hub. --Suzanne