============================================================================ The following is a effort by David Tomita and Don Bertino to document the attractions at Disneyland - the Original (tm). As each attraction is typed in, it will be posted and stored at http://www.calweb.com/~bertino or ftp.calweb.com /users/b/bertino Any comments/additions/corrections would be welcomed. =========================================================================== Many thanks to David Tomita for originally typing this up, and Darin May (dmay@netscape.com) for adding all the great inside details (his comments are all indented) Disneyland's Main Street Electrical Parade Script/Details Spoiler Warning: This is an attempt to describe the whole parade. ***** DISNEYLAND'S MAIN STREET ELECTRICAL PARADE SCRIPT/DETAILS * FACTS * SCRIPT * SUGGESTIONS FOR VIEWING (mine anyway) FACTS ATTRACTION DURATION: About 23 minutes (from hearing opening fanfare to viewing last float). PARADE ROUTE: First parade travels from east gate near It's a Small World down Main St. exiting on east gate after circling counter-clockwise around Town Square. The second parade is in the reverse direction. First "Step-off" was from "Small World Step-Off" and the Town Square gate is known as "Egg House" (There was a restaraunt there which used to serve breakfast). SOUNDTRACK: Most complete version available is the one included on the FANTASMIC! soundtrack (14:17 minutes) and includes the opening spoken introduction.. This CD is identified as 52001. There is also a version on the "Official Album. Disneyland. Walt Disney World" that is 4:30 minutes. The first recording I ever saw was this small picture disc record (played on a turntable). There are also versions available on the "Music of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and EPCOT Center" soundtrack and "The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song" (the 3 CD box set) but I haven't listened to them. The catchy tune is called "Baroque Hoedown" and was written by Jean- Jacques Perry /ASCAP and Gershon Kingsley/ASCAP. In the parade description I have used capitals to designate the sections as listed on the Fantasmic! soundtrack. And in brackets I have indicated the melodies as given in the Fantasmic! soundtrack along with composer/affiliation. Don Dorsey arranged the music except for the "To Honor America" section at the end of the parade which was arranged by Jim Christensen and perforemd by Jim Christensen & Paul Beaver. ??? Anyone want to add some details about some behind the scenes stuff. How do they power all the lights? Wet-cell 12 volt batteries. What's it like to be a CM on the parade? Any stories to be told? Well, the "Court Dancers" wear motorcycle-ish batteries under their costumes (men wear one in the back or front [depending on the fit] and the women one on each hip) you can imagine what happens when wires short. Once Cinderella's dress shorted and started to burn (we hadn't stepped-off from Small World yet), and she bolted out of the dress (and the pumpkin) in record time. SCRIPT [brackets = soundtrack] *** = toddler warning --GAP IN PARADE-- times when you cross the parade route at designated locations. OPENING AND ANNOUNCEMENT (Lights dim around parade route just before start.) [Soundtrack: "Electric Fanfare", Don Dorsey/ASCAP] Synthesized-like voice says, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Disneyland proudly presents our spectacular pagaent of nighttime magic and imagination in thousands of sparkling lights and electrosynthomagnetic musical sounds. The Main Street Electrical Parade!" ["Fanfare of Lights", Don Dorsey/ASCAP] (Main Street Electrical Parade soundtrack begins.) BLUE FAIRY ["Baroque Hoedown", Jean-Jacques Perry/ASCAP and Gershon Kingsley/ASCAP] A tall Blue Fairy leads the parade (blond woman is the top half). Six attendants are holding up her train on poles. The men are known as "Royal Pages" or just "Pages". The long dress train has been replaced with two pages holing a crossbar of a short train. Casey Jr. Train Immediately follows with Goofy in the engine cab. Casey is pulling a float with a big drum that alternates between saying "Main Street Electrical Parade" and "Disneyland Presents" (this year the "Disneyland Presents" is in blue lights). Minnie Mouse, in a red dress with white polka dots, is at the front base of the drum and Mickey Mouse, in a tux, is on the rear top of the drum. --GAP IN PARADE-- Alice in WONDERLAND ["Alice in Wonderland", Sammy Fain/ASCAP and Bob Hilliard/ASCAP; "All In The Golden Afternoon", Sammy Fain/ASCAP and Bob Hilliard/ASCAP; "The Unbirthday Song", Mack David/ASCAP, Jerry Livingston/ASCAP, and Al Hoffman/ASCAP] A spinning green/red bumblebee with flashing stinger and a spinning blue/green spectacled tortoise crazily move about and purposely getting very to close to guests (***this can frighten some toddlers***). Next is a blue topped mushroom with a butterfly on top and a red ladybug at the base. A spinning, head-nodding blue/green snail follows. Then a green mushroom with Alice in a blue dress on top waving with the Chesire Cat at the base blinking on and off leaving only a smile. Alice is saying, "Why, hello everybody. What? How did I get so small and sitting upon this mushroom? Well, that's an interesting story. I was sitting on this river bank with my cat, Deena (sp?) listening to my sister, who..." The White Rabbit with a red blinking heart and a lit cookie prances around the float. A spinning, head-nodding yellow snail and a spinning yellow/green bumbleebee with flashing stinger follow Alice. A red mushroom with a waterpipe smoking caterpillar atop is next with a green bug at the rear base. (The Caterpillar is saying something all the while) Taking up the rear is a spinning turtle with a hat and a long green millipede. Generic term for spinning bugs/turtles is "Whirly-bugs". They are battery powered hydraulic pumps on wheels. Real fun to drive. It's very funny when the snails inch up to a group of Japanese guests. When the snail bows, so do the guests -- it turns into dueling bows. (A couple years ago there use to be a large caterpillar float from which dance-around butterflies use to emerge from the covered segments) You may be thinking of the Alice unit from the old Very Merry Christmas Parade or Fantasy on Parade. That unit has no lights. --GAP IN PARADE-- CINDERELLA'S BALL ["Cinderella", Mack David/ASCAP, Jerry Livingston/ASCAP, and Al Hoffman/ASCAP] Four dancing mice "pull" Cinderella's pumpkin carriage. A coachman drives while Cinderella, in a purple gown and lit tiara, sits inside. The Fairy Godmother waving her magic wand rides on the outside rear. Four couples dance under a canopy held by six non-lit post holders. A float with Prince Charming and the glass slipper, a fountain in the middle and the two evil step-sisters yelling and fighting in the back. Followed by a matching set of four couples dancing under a canopy held by six non-lit post holders. A big blue Big Ben float shows us it is midnight. Terms: "Court Dancers" and "Canopy Carriers". This year (the last) there are only six couples (three on each side of the "Staircase" float. The canopy used to be very heavy (was steel), now it's mostly fiberglass and aluminium. --GAP IN PARADE -- PETER PAN & PIRATE SHIP ["You Can Fly", Sammy Fain/ASCAP and Sammy Cahn/ASCAP, The Elegant Captain Hook, Following The Leader] Captain Hook's ship with Peter Pan and Capt. Hook fighting on deck. Tinker Bell (just lights) circles the mast. Mr. Smee in a spinning row boat follows the ship. You forgot the driver "pirate" behind the ship's wheel -- yes, he is actually driving. -- GAP IN PARADE -- DUMBO'S CIRCUS [C"asey Jr.", Ned Washington/ASCAP and Frank Churchill/ASCAP; "Entry Of The Gladiators". Fucik/P.D.] A large green hippo with blinking eyes pulls a calliope with a king lion (not TLK, maybe from Robin Hood) inside playing the keyboard. Bingo. It's KL from RH (Prince John) Followed by 2-ring circus float with Dumbo waving a feather at the front and a clown/magician with magic hat performing in the rear. Next float: a lit bear with a honey pot on his head (not Pooh) walks on barrels while spinning rings on limbs. It's Brer Bear. Next is another 2-ring circus float with a clown magician performing a magic trick (2 covers) and a juggling clown. "Boob Clown" (no joke). Followed by a pink elephant with blue collar (Dumbo's mom?) holding an umbrella while giving himself a shower. -- GAP IN PARADE -- DWARF MINE ["It's Mine", Don Dorsey/ASCAP; "Heigh Ho", Frank Churchill/ASCAP and Larry Morey/ASCAP] Dopey is driving a four car mine train loaded with jewels. Snow White walks around with Doc, Grumpy and Bashful (I think) who have lighted helmets and carry lanterns. Next are three pick-ax wielding dwarves (Sneezy, Happy, Sleepy (?)) working a jewelled mine float. Snow white was added several years ago wearing her trademark dress with lights. -- GAP IN PARADE -- PINOCCHIO AT PLEASURE ISLAND ["I've Got No Strings", New Washington/ASCAP; "Over The Waves", Modest Mussorgsky/P.D.] Boy head float with Pleasure Island elements. A pair of half-boy/half- donkey characters walk around the float. Next is another Pleasure Island themed float (spinning 11 billiard ball and four cigar indians) with Pinocchio and Lampwick up front. -- GAP IN PARADE -- PETE'S DRAGON ["Boo Bop BopBop Bop (I Love You Too)", "Brazzle Dazzle Day", and "It's Not Easy" all by Al Hoffman/ASCAP and Al Kasha /ASCAP] One float with Pete on top of Elliot who puffs smoke from his nostrils and carries a lantern on his tail. ***the puffing smoke may frighten small children as Elliot sometimes shoots at the guests*** Pete is saying, "Hey Elliot, say something to all these people. Can you all understand dragon talk? I can, you can't. Elliot just wished all of you a razzle dazzle zing..." -- GAP IN PARADE -- TO HONOR AMERICA ["O Columbia the Gem of the Ocean" and "Yankee Dooble, the Stars and Stripes Forever, Traditional/P.D.; "Yankee Doodle"", Traditional/P.D.; " The Stars and Stripes Forever", Sousa/P.D. Long float of with red, white and blue and simulated fireworks. In back is american bald eagle. Bringing up the rear are all-American Girls who hold a rope while others start removing the crowd restraining ropes. In this final year, there a two rows flanking each side of the float "Patriotic Bacon" (you need to be viewing from above for this to make sense) wearing mini-skirts (God Bless America!) and tap dancing. --PARADE ENDS-- As soon as nine o'clock parade disappears, get ready to see Tinker Bell fly from the top of the Matterhorn to Sleeping Beauty's Castle. Immediately following that is fireworks show. *** Fireworks are loudest in ToonTown which can frighten small children *** If you want to avoid the loud explosions head into a store on Main Street or go into the waiting room for the Country Bear Jamboree. VIEWING/VIDEOTAPING SUGGESTIONS (e-mail me and I'll tell you my most comfy spot and a very good spot to videotape). The places I like for taping are places that give you long views of the parade as it approaches and as it leaves. Keep in mind the parade route (down from It's a Small World to Town Square and reverse the second showing). For example, right in front of the restrooms near Town Square. Or right near the flag pole at Town Square which gives you a view all the way up Main Street. Camcorder results are very good (you do not need lights) although some of the auto-focus systems may not work right in which case go to manual focus. Those with VHS-C (20 minute record time) will need to pause during the parade gap sections or you will need to change tapes during the parade.