Parades from the Past - Walt Disney World's 15th Anniversary Parade

1986 marked the 15th anniversary of Walt Disney World. To celebrate, a new parade in the Magic Kingdom was introduced. The parade featured roller skaters, some funky break dancing inspired moves... all very 1980's! There were even some great lyrics suck as "You're looking good, you're looking fine, you're looking just like Frankenstein."

Overall, this parade was a fun, classic 1980’s Walt Disney World parade… fun with great music.

Parades from the Past - Party Gras Parade

The year was 1990 and Disneyland was celebrating 35 years of magic. The 35th anniversary of Disneyland was marked with a Party Gras parade. The Latin music and larger than life floats made this an occasion to remember. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see this parade in person (my first trip to Disneyland wasn't until 15 years later for the 50th anniversary).

Thanks to YouTube, this great parade lives on.

Rememer When?

During Walt Disney World's 15th anniversary in 1996 every guest would get a ticket upon entering the either the Magic Kingdom or EPCOT Center from the Dream Machine for a chance to win a car (one given away per day) or some other prize?

Walt Disney World's Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

Gone, but not forgotten, Mr. Toad's wild ride lives on thanks to YouTube. Although the last ride to "nowhere inparticular" took place on September 7, 1998 (at WDW at least; the ride still lives on at Disneyland), I still remember it like it was yesterday.

EPCOT Center - 25 Years Later - EPCOT '94

Back in 1994, EPCOT Center, as it was then known, was renamed EPCOT '94 and then EPCOT '95 the following year. The idea was to give the park a World's Fair type name to make it seem more relevant or new (at least the marketing folks at Disney thought they needed to give EPCOT Center an image boost; however, in my opinion Epcot was and still is relevant and new). However, it soon became clear the renaming the park each year was going to be too difficult. Changing the signs, brochures, merchandise, etc. was all to much, so in 1996 the park became just Epcot.

Here's a clip from a new show at Epcot '94, Epcot94 Presents Splashtacular

Remember When?

The tickets at Walt Disney World had date stamps and you had to have your hand stamped if you wanted to re-enter the park (and then it was stamped with ink that was only visable under black light)?

Parades from the Past - Mickey's Street Party

The first parade I remember seeing at Walt Disney World was in 1984. It was Mickey's Street Party and it was fantastic. I had seen other parades at the Magic Kingdom before but was too young to remember any of them. After looking online for a clip of this parade for years, I finally came across two clips on YouTube.

It seems just like yesterday yet it seams so dated. The 80's clothes and hairstyles seem so foreign. And the great synthesized 80's music is dated but great! I think this is one of, if not the best, Disney parade song. I wish they did parades like this still.

In case you didn’t catch it in 1984, here it is again for you!