Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

Parades and Fireworks

Tuesday January 18, 2016                                                                             Most Recent Posts:
Fort Wilderness Campground                                                                       
It’s a MAGIC Kingdom
Walt Disney World                                                                                        Through Epcot to Beaches and Cream
Orlando, Florida



If you haven’t seen the post about our morning and early afternoon at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom you can find it at the first link at the top.  This one will make more sense if you’ve read it. 


First, in answer to yesterday’s question about Mouse Ears, my readers know me pretty well.  Yessiree it would be the Winnie the Pooh Ears.

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Now back to the MAGIC Kingdom.
It’s now mid afternoon, 3:00 to be exact and the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade begins with dancers leading the floats of the various princesses.

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Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and her prince.

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Mulan and what’s his name.  :-)

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The floats and the costumes are just fantastic but then what would you expect, it’s Disney.

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The Little Mermaid

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Captain Hook and his ship which seems to be carrying Peter and Wendy. 
They are followed by Smee and the ticking Crocodile.  We can hear the ticking.

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Some of the characters I’m not familiar with but I wonder how in the world the person inside moved this guy down the street.

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These guys look pretty ominous for Disney but I guess this must  be Pixar. 
The dragon certainly isn’t as cuddly as Puff or as helpful as Elliot.

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But breathing fire is way cool!
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For something a little more sedate here come the White Rabbit, Alice and the Mad Hatter  although there is that hooka pipe in Alice in Wonderland.  But I perhaps that would make one really sedate.



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I want this costume for my next halloween party.



The 7 dwarfs chaperone Snow White although for dwarfs they certainly look bigger than she is.




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And where would Pinocchio be without Jiminy Cricket?
I always thought “let your conscience be your guide” was one of the best pieces of advice in any movie.
Can you see the bubbles??

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This is actually only a small sampling of this fantastic parade.  Nothing but smiles in the audience.
What a happy time.
We’re ready for dinner now and take the People Mover over to Future World.  

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The People Mover is a favorite of Nancy and Bill’s youngest granddaughter Samantha so this picture is for her and all the other Nancy and Bill fans.
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The Starlight Cafe is their choice of eatery tonight and I snag us a fairly secluded table in the back overlooking the DJ on the main floor.   Check him out..
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We’re walking back over to get a spot for the electric light parade when we find out Bill has never ridden the Fantasyland Carousel.  We’ll fix that right away.

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A native of south Florida and the tropical offshore islands, the soft, light weight and easily carved wood of gumbo limbo was used for making carousel horses before the advent of molded plastics.


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The riders wait to mount their steeds.

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Trick riders.
Boys will be boys no matter how old they are.




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Nancy catches a kiss on the carousel.

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After the carousel we try to walk back through the castle to enjoy the simply astounding frescoes on the walls but we should have known they’d have it blocked off for the parade.





I walk up to the rope and take this picture  to remind myself for another visit.
Not that I haven’t seen them before, but they are so gorgeous once is never enough.


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We walk around the castle and take up a spot right on the corner in front of the castle.  The parade should be coming right toward us.



And it does.
Looks like the little engine that could is moving around the circle toward us.
Such anticipation. 
I think this is probably everyone’s favorite of the many parades at Disney World.



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Goofey is the engineer and the yellow lights dancing all around the floats are Tinkerbell.

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Here come Alice and the Cheshire Cat.

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Followed by Cinderella.

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The prince is still trying to find the one to fit the slipper.

The clock striking twelve follows them.
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With the slipper shining brightly on the pillow, the ugly step sister attempts to persuade the prince it will fit her.

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Guess she’s not having much success shoving her foot in his face.
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Yo HO, Yo HO, A pirate’s life for me!
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That would be Captain Hook to the left, Peter Pan in the Middle and one of the crew on the right steering the boat.

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And of course, Tinkerbell

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The canon fires as they pass us by.  Thank goodness no one is hurt.

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Smee rows as fast as he can but he cannot catch up to the Pirate Ship.



The Seven Dwarfs mine train is filled with jewels.

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Here's my kind of dragon, one with wings. 
This really is fantasyland if those little wings will fly this size dragon.








And there is lucky Pete riding high on his dragon friend Elliot.
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The final float is  To Honor America with the American Flag and giant sparklers .
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It’s complete with marching Revolutionary War soldiers.

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At the end is a brilliant golden eagle.

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I snap this picture of our companions just before the fireworks start. 
I’m amazed you can see them with no flash.





And if all the rides and shows and parades aren’t enough,
here come the fireworks as the castle changes colors.
What a spectacle!


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All over now. Time to go home.
What a great show!
What a great day!
It’s a MAGIC KINGDOM!!



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THE END

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19 comments:

  1. Love this! You four are just big kids :-).

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  2. When I see all that goes into this place all I can think of is what would future archaeologists come to for a conclusion if they dug it up? Can you imagine what their thoughts would be on the society that "lived" here? Amusing to see the least! Cute Pooh ears.

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  3. Haha, I knew you would choose the Pooh ears! I definitely think you should get them. That light show is magical -- I remember it from our visit many years ago. The carousel with the carved animals is wonderful, too.

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  4. Night is certainly very magical. Yes, should you need new ears pooh ears. The way to go!! Again , your sharing makes me feel as though I'm there. Thanks

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  5. Your night shots really capture the magic. I love a parade and Disney characters have always been my favorite.

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  6. I've always wondered where they store all of the fabulous costumes and props after parades?

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  7. Yes, those dwarfs have been eating too much and morphed into over-sized. Or maybe Snow White got into some of Alice's shrinking potion? Great pictures and character review. I did not catch all of them as they passed until you pointed them out!

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  8. The fireworks do make for quite a spectacle!

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  9. The trip to the Magic Kingdom is worthwhile just to see the parades. The light parade is amazing! Great photos of the parades:)

    You guys were having soooo much fun!! The joy was all over your face with those radiant smiles. What fun being kids again:)

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  10. Great pictures of the parades and fireworks. Makes me want to go back to Disney.

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  11. The new Fantasy Parade is wonderful!! However the Electrical Parade will always be our favorite:o)) It really is a Magical Place!!!

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  12. My favorite ride in any park is the carousel, especially if you get to grab a brass ring. Your pictures of the electric parade brought back memories of high school and going to Disneyland and seeing that. Thanks for the tour!

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  13. What an impressive parade - before and after dark - so many lights and characters - the castle looks beautiful at night for sure. Love the carousel pictues! Let the good times roll :)

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  14. Once again thank you Sherry, I may have been both at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom but never had stayed long enough to enjoy the fireworks and the parade. Great Pictures of those boys still being boys!
    Love the pic of the castle in the brightened by the fireworks. I really felt I was there enjoying the fun and entertainment with you.

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  15. It's great to be a kid...... forever... and no better place to be a kid than at Disneyland. Love all the smiles.... and of course, the lights! Keep enjoying... and playing. Pics are great.... makes me want to go again.

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  16. Had to go back and enjoy all the fun several times - what marvelous pics you got. Li Shang is Mulan's hunky Captain :-) So much goes into their parades and entertainment and architecture and landscaping and art - days can be enjoyed there without ever standing in a line for a ride! The cannon firing and fireworks shots are brilliant - I feel like I'm right there with you.

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  17. Just catching up on your blog, what a fun time you had at Disney. Haven't been since '96 but whenever we find our selves planning a FL winter Disney will be part of it. Thanks for some really great photos.

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