News New Parade: Magic Happens

[TTA94]

Even though I’m not in love with the soundtrack I still wouldn’t mind having to listen to lol .

 

[Rich T]

Can someone point me to a video without the yelling? I tried to watch a video on twitter, but the WOOOOOOOOOOs ruined it for me.

Opening day performances are bound to be full of friends and family cheering the performers. There’ll soon be videos posted with the parade in a more “normal” setting.

Granted, the WOOOOOOs might be replaced by snorin—- Sorry. Bad me.

 

[Communicora]

I found a video pleasantly free of yass queens so I was able to watch it through.

The person who noted the opening's similarity with The Hunger Games Capitol citizens and Caesar Flickerman more specifically is spot on.

Moana's segment is my favorite. The float's effects look a little odd in the daylight, but the dancers and the cute hei hei float make up for it. I also think the Tiana float is really pretty.

The main soundtrack is meh. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd just as soon listen to that come on everybody put your ears on song.

Overall I think Festival of Fantasy is a better parade, but I'd pause and watch this if I happened upon it.

 

[Coaster Lover]

It's a fun parade... but as far as domestic day time parades... Festival of Fantasy is still my favorite...

 

[Olliehernanadez0917]

There a rumor that there another float but it’s hasn’t Ben reveal yet and i think it tinkerbell and the friends float or it could be a new classic float

 

[RescueTheDay]

There a rumor that there another float but it’s hasn’t Ben reveal yet and i think it tinkerbell and the friends float or it could be a new classic float

That would be a false rumor.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

Watched the parade on YouTube. and I got to say that THAT was not what I was expecting.

It wasn't that good. I am kind of disappointed in Disney.

Now, my reasoning behind these opinions:

1) Floats
Imaginative in design, I'll give them that.

2) Colors
The mix is interesting with the blues and purples (oddly enough my favorite mix of sparkly playdough colors when I was a kid)

3 & 4) Style & Music
What on Earth happened here?
The 80s called and said they want their style and mix tape back.

I get it. It's artsy. I like art. But this? It's like someone took several buckets of paint and tossed them onto a canvas and said it was fine.

Now, I really really appreciate Festival of Fantasy for what it is. I mean seriously, what happened?

I mean they look like they are waiting for Eiffel 65 to drop his next Blue track.

(Please don't hate. Just my thoughts.)

 

[Phroobar]

Magic Happens casting call.

 

[Communicora]

Magic Happens casting call.

 

[KBLovedDisney]

or get Ruby

 

[Phroobar]

or get Ruby

Tragic Happens Fabulously!!!

 

[MisterPenguin]

Magic Happens casting call.

After seeing the video of Magic Happens, I must say that it's the best Drag Parade in all of the greater L.A. area!!

Certainly beats Festival of Fantasy's small nod to drag...

 

[MisterPenguin]

I was confused by the Sword in the Stone float. At least this increases my hope of one day there being a Darby O'Gill and the Little People float!

 

[NateD1226]

At the parks right now. Gonna try to get on Soarin over California and watch the 6:00 showing!

 

[Disney Analyst]

I think they may have had an issue with Moana at the 1PM parade yesterday, as just saw it on a live stream and looks great, bright, and vibrant at 3:30.

 

[Disney Analyst]

Livestream -

 

[themeparkchat]

I think they may have had an issue with Moana at the 1PM parade yesterday, as just saw it on a live stream and looks great, bright, and vibrant at 3:30.

Livestream -

I saw the 1pm parade yesterday and saw the beginning of the 5pm by accident when I re-entered Disneyland. Based on that video, the float had the issue during both showings. But nice to see what it's supposed to look like! I already thought it was the best float of the parade Cool!

I was a fan of the parade. As someone who didn't grow up in the 80s, only having seen Captain EO (doesn't the theme of Magic Happens remind you of that?) in its last run, I'm always down for more 80s style stuff at Disney.

 

[Jeremy Geertsema]

It really would be nice if they’d release these soundtracks - especially that main song.

 

[themeparkchat]

It really would be nice if they’d release these soundtracks - especially that main song.

There's a live performance from D23 on Youtube. It's pretty close.

 

[TP2000]

Thoughts upon a quick view on a phone - so I can't speak for anything that is "better in person": As a designer, this parade has the same issues for me that Fest Of Fantasy has - there doesn't seem to be a controlling design language for the overall look. I loved that Soundsational had ONE thematic language. The idea of paper art was carried through very consistently - even reinterpreting elements from the said movies into that style - it tied perfectly into the subtle idea of "sheet music" that is the foundation for all music. The music varied from unit to unit, but remained consistent in tempo and tone throughout - actually building to a finale that felt like the logical capstone of the entire parade. I felt there was also better pacing of large unit - small unit alternating through the whole parade. This seems just...there. Sounds like many of the effects read better at dark, so I can't speak to that. The parade of wackiness that kicks it off is fairly fresh and inventive, but then the "ribbons of magic" (their words not mine) of the first float end there. To me any of these floats could have come from any parade and been dropped in - even the finale doesn't tie it together stylistically - either visually or musically. Its like a different parade joined in at the end and just rolled along.

It's "nice" - seems labored at the end, and doesn't do anything "new" in my book once the opening unit passes by.

Wow, fantastic insight! Thank you for sharing. I have no design talents at all, I'm currently struggling with a glue gun and a bag of hazelnuts for @Curious Constance and her Rise Before Dawn altar, but what you said makes a lot of sense suddenly from a design perspective.

Why can’t the U.S. parks ever get parades as grand, imaginative and detailed as the Tokyo Disneyland parades?

Because Burbank and TDA knows we will willingly accept mediocrity and will show up anyway. It's mostly our fault.

UGH - I wanted to love this...… I like the floats, the onstage characters, the inclusion of Merlin and Arthur - and the dancers look great - BUT - this parade feels disjointed and confusing to me. The song is all over the place with no real driving "theme." UGH I just hate this.....

The first two floats are cool, and then it goes downhill quickly. It seems to get cheaper and cheaper as the parade goes along. And the music is just bland and pithy and not memorable.

And, I fully expect the staffing levels on this parade to dwindle quickly once they get it launched. I expect those groups of 10 dancers to become 6 dancers, and the groups of 8 flag girls to become 4 flag girls, the 10 hula guys become 6 hula guys, etc., etc. This was just Opening Month staffing levels to get everyone onboard with their parts, and then the staffing cuts will kick in.

After all, Coronavirus is going to kill many of us here by Easter, and Bob Jr. is slashing budgets to get ready.

It's one note auto tuned millennial pop. It's not good music.

And yet they made such a big deal about this Todrick Hall fellow and how brilliant he was. Really? Something tells me Todrick is laughing all the way to the bank, just after he pays off the loan for his latest Autotune machine.

In happier news, the Sherman Brothers and their legacy have nothing to worry about from Todrick and his Millenial Army.