How much longer does the Electrical Parade have?

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

I was watching some videos and thought wear and tear and loss of excitement was really catching up with it. The underliner was louder then the units making it kind of a snooze fest plus the crowd didn't really seem to much into the parade and I swear sound quality has something to do with that. Besides tuning up the units again and getting things up to par how many times are they going to be willing to do that. I have seen better sound quality with the beginning units in Spectromagic towards the end of its run.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Until at least August I hope. We've never seen MSEP - it's always been SpectroMagic running during our previous visits

 

[JoeCamel]

There is nothing in the pipeline to replace it so I would say a good while longer

 

[kap91]

I was watching some videos and thought wear and tear and loss of excitement was really catching up with it. The underliner was louder then the units making it kind of a snooze fest plus the crowd didn't really seem to much into the parade and I swear sound quality has something to do with that. Besides tuning up the units again and getting things up to par how many times are they going to be willing to do that. I have seen better sound quality with the beginning units in Spectromagic towards the end of its run.

I don't think you can really determine any of that from a video.

 

[Coaster Lover]

Disney seems keen on new parades/fireworks for major anniversaries... so, maybe Wishes 2.0 and a new parade for the 50th?

 

[xdan0920]

I was watching some videos and thought wear and tear and loss of excitement was really catching up with it. The underliner was louder then the units making it kind of a snooze fest plus the crowd didn't really seem to much into the parade and I swear sound quality has something to do with that. Besides tuning up the units again and getting things up to par how many times are they going to be willing to do that. I have seen better sound quality with the beginning units in Spectromagic towards the end of its run.

I actually agree. The parade is WAY past its prime. I'm biased against it to begin with, as I was a Spectro guy. But, it's time to put the old girl down and blow us away with something new.

 

[KLinder7]

Def not in the best shape anymore. Tuesday the catipillars face was not working but Saturday it was. Think it all depends on the day. I personally love the parade (big Elliot fan!) but there will be a time something new and fresh will come.

 

[Otterhead]

I was watching some videos and thought wear and tear and loss of excitement was really catching up with it. The underliner was louder then the units making it kind of a snooze fest plus the crowd didn't really seem to much into the parade and I swear sound quality has something to do with that.

Having just been there -- during the 'off season' -- the crowd was very much into it. People lined the street for a half hour in advance. I ate at the Crystal Palace and when the parade started, the restaurant emptied out with patrons wanting a look at the parade. All these years later and it's still magical.

 

[ULPO46]

True it may not be in shape but it more than likely is not on Disneys Checklist. At the moment they are upgrading ancient rides and lands one step at a time. Perhaps give or take half a decade to a decade there will be an updated version of the parade but it won't happen any time soon. Maybe some new floats but nothing new.

 

[ULPO46]

Having just been there -- during the 'off season' -- the crowd was very much into it. People lined the street for a half hour in advance. I ate at the Crystal Palace and when the parade started, the restaurant emptied out with patrons wanting a look at the parade. All these years later and it's still magical.

exactly, I have never seen the parade with the crowd not caring. Sometimes people will line up an hour in advance to get a good viewing area for the parade.

 

[JohnD]

There is nothing that indicates MSEP is going away any time soon.

 

[hth1917]

It will be a bittersweet day for me when the curtain finally comes down on MSEP. I have loved the parade since my childhood and still get a bit giddy at "Baroque Hoedown," but the floats have obviously seen much better days.

I doubt it's going anywhere soon, though.

 

[LaughingGravy]

View attachment 86621 Def not in the best shape anymore. Tuesday the catipillars face was not working but Saturday it was. Think it all depends on the day. I personally love the parade (big Elliot fan!) but there will be a time something new and fresh will come.

We're going with the HS Marching band during Spring Break. I wonder how many of those kids have no idea who Elliot is. Our kids, of course, do and love the movie, but I am pretty sure they are in the minority.

 

[CP_alum08]

I think you said it best with "loss of excitement". I think the entire show just seems old and outdated. I am not ashamed at my love for Spectro, but even going back and watching videos of both shows I honestly think Spectro hold up better.

And I thought we were getting this paint the night thing or whatever it's called? No?

 

[Fox&Hound]

Spectro was where it was at! MSEP is so a sad knock off of a once glorious night parade. I kind of feel bad for MSEP. Then, I get mad that Disney is not wowing us with something new. I looooove Disney, but sometimes I wish they would have a larger plan that says "every five years, new parade, every ten years, new night show or additions". When you go frequent (yes, I know that some are not as fortunate) it becomes stale to always see the same entertainment options. I think rides are different in that way. When it comes to parades and shows, it really comes down to being moved by visuals and once you have seen something a million times, it slowly starts to feel like a tired gimmick instead of an awe-inducing spectacle. Indiana Jones??? Seriously, this has gone on way too long. EPCOT's night show??? Way too long. Disney should be always changing and reinventing themselves. Even "small" changes are nice, such as, adding a new scene to "Mickey's Philharmagic" or bringing back retired costumed characters. Change the stage shows slightly. Get new costumes for B&B if you insist on running that show into the ground. Sorry, just venting.....

 

[marni1971]

Depends how much tape they have left after the Space Mountain micro-furb.

 

[ShoalFox]

I feel like Disney wouldn't make an entirely new parade, but just take MSEP and update it with newer floats.

 

[TP2000]

I feel like Disney wouldn't make an entirely new parade, but just take MSEP and update it with newer floats.

They already did that, with Anaheim's pocketbook, no less. The Electrical Parade was refurbished, majorly upgraded with LED lighting, and new floats were added in 2009 for its run during Disneyland Resort's first Summer Nightastic promotion.

Summer Nightastic was a summer promotion for Disneyland based on the all new upgrades for Fantasmic! (the new animatronic dragon was the headliner), with lesser upgrades to the Electrical Parade. Plus a new fireworks show and assorted dance parties and décor. It also got a catchy commercial jingle that blanketed the airwaves in Southern California in the summer of '09.

The jingle played up the ability to easily park-hop on those gorgeous starry summer nights that Southern California is famous for.



Summer Nightastic! was a hit in '09, and was copied by Walt Disney World in 2010. When Disney California Adventure began major park-wide construction work in 2010 for its $1.2 Billion makeover, the DCA parade route had to be closed and all DCA parades were put on hiatus for two years. The Electrical Parade, in its 2009 Summer Nightastic format, was shipped to WDW in the spring of 2010. The parade has been in Florida ever since.

I imagine because it got a major refurbishment and tech upgrade, plus a new Tinkerbell float, in 2009 at Disneyland, the Electrical Parade can be used by WDW through at least the end of this decade. If not into the 2020's.

A new night parade debuts at Disneyland in May; Paint The Night. If it's a huge hit, I could see WDW's Magic Kingdom Park getting a version of it later this decade.

 

[Chef Mickey]

I don't agree. I think this has actually aged pretty well and still captivates the audience quite well.

For me, something like the MSEP is timeless. Of course, it needs proper maintenance, but overall, it's been a solid performer that gets people, especially the kids, very excited.

Like everything these days, it has its maintenance issues, but it's way down the list of things that need improvement.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

I would love to see them make 2 different parades, ones that were designed to easily come apart in sections but verry durable for shipment. My choise being Spectromagic and the other a new Main Street Electrical Parade and swap out every 5- 10 years. It would keep it fresh for the audience and save them on making changes.