There comes a time when I have to recognize another blogger for having a better talent in certain areas than I do, and for the new Festival of Fantasy Parade, I had to do just that. You see, I had the opportunity to attend the press event for the new Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom parade on Monday March 10, 2014. I was thrilled to get the invite and couldn’t wait to attend. Upon learning the invites were only good for one person and no one else could attend with me, I started to worry how I would capture photo and video of this spectacular new Disney parade. After thinking about it, and realizing that getting a good quality video to share with our readers before photos was more important, I realized I wasn’t the woman for the job. So my good friend John Saccheri, who runs Pandavision, hadn’t received an invite, and I knew in my heart of hearts, that he needed to be the one to capture the parade for you all to see.
John is an amazing videographer with an outstanding talent in film editing and I knew that in order to get the best video to our readers, he would need to attend this event. Thankfully, he was able to go and willing to do an article for us with his video. John, not only attended the press event for us, but he also visited Magic Kingdom on two other occasions this week, just so he could film the new Festival of Fantasy parade from three different angles. Yes THREE angles! Then he went home and put in HOURS of editing time just so he could produce the BEST video of the all New Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom.
So without Further Ado –
John’s ( Big Fat Panda ) Write Up:
As I have gotten older, I have learned that my expectations are sometimes too high for new Theme Park attractions. This was not the case for the new Festival Of Fantasy Parade that made it’s way down Main Street USA for the first time on March 9, 2014.
It was everything I had hoped it would be, and then some. It wasn’t just the sheer size of the floats, which are larger than anything you have seen at Disney World. It wasn’t just the costumes, which were more elaborate and outrageous than ever before. It wasn’t just the music, the bopped along like a fairytale Disco track. No, it was all of these things put together that made this parade the best I have seen here in Florida.
Photo by Matt Stroshane, courtesy Walt Disney World Resort © Disney. All Rights Reserved
The cavalcade features characters and floats from films such as “Brave”, “Tangled” and “Frozen”. Many of the floats have so many details, you will notice new things on your second and third viewing. Animatronics abound at every turn, such as the bears from “Brave” and even Dumbo.
The absolute highlight of the parade was HER. Maleficent in Dragon form who looks down at the audience so menacingly, you might miss her steampunk themeing. Every now and then she lifts her head up and fire roars out of her mouth leaving the audience gasping in delight of this visual stunner.
Check out my multi angle Pandavision videos on this spectacular new show.
The Seven Float Lineup:
The Princess Garden – This pageantry of princesses celebrates Disney royalty. Cinderella, Tiana and Belle accompanied by their respective princes, ride in a garden of topiaries with woodland creatures, birds and more. Cinderella’s dress playfully twirls like a turntable, while Swan Court couples lead the 50-foot-long majestic float, capped off with a special appearance by Anna and Elsa from Disney’s hit animated feature, “Frozen.”
Tangled – A massive long ship on the high seas showcases Flynn Rider and Rapunzel in search of adventure and another Best. Day. Ever! Rapunzel’s iconic tresses weave throughout this 36-foot-long float decked out with swaying pendulums carrying dastardly thugs.
The Little Mermaid – Ariel and her friends sit atop a colorfully kinetic seashell music box that boasts an enchanting musical jubilee. There’s no shortage of whimsy on this Under the Sea float with conga dancing fish kicking up their fins and bubbles galore. Shimmering fabrics and intricately designed costumes for the Lion Fish, Coral Fish, Seashell and Sea Horse performers are runway-inspired.
Peter Pan – Straight from Never Land come Peter Pan and Wendy soaring high aboard the famous Jolly Roger pirate ship complete with smoke effects and special surprises. A rainbow arch shines over Skull Rock and Tinker Bell nestled among giant flowers, while Captain Hook takes center stage on a swinging anchor. “Newsies-inspired” Lost Boys kick up their heels to high-energy choreography.
Brave – Celtic couples and a vessel shaped like an enormous bagpipe announce the arrival of Merida perched high on her majestic crown. Scottish dancers step to melodies of the Great Highlands in celebration of the popular Disney*Pixar film, “Brave.”
Sleeping Beauty – The heroic Prince Phillip battles a Steampunk-inspired Dragon as the wicked Maleficent. This float stretches 53 feet in length and 26 feet tall with a prickly spinning wheel dead center of the float. With fiery eyes and glowing effects the spectacular dragon was built on an articulating chassis allowing the float to bend and flex as it moves along the parade route – a first for Disney parades. This float was designed in a partnership with Tony Award-winner Michael Curry. There’s Prince Phillip, thorn-inspired stilt performers, dramatic raven dancers, plus the three good fairies, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather glide along the parade route.
Finale and Mickey’s Airship – The parade culminates with a 90-foot-long magical caravan of characters featuring Pinocchio, Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the Mad Hatter, Pluto and more in a splashy carnival of color. There’s Pegasus horses, dancing hippos and sassy Bubble Girls with cotton-candy-like hair celebrating Storybook Circus in New Fantasyland. Sporting zany new costumes Mickey and Minnie Mouse sit sky high in Mickey’s Airship — a giant hot air balloon that rounds out Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade.
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