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Way back machine - DCA's Eureka! parade & initial offerings
- Thread starter Phroobar
- Start date
TP2000
Well-Known Member
It was a bit high concept, especially for the time, but it was a fun parade! Very colorful and unique, although I think a few of the cultural references like the Watts Towers may have gone over most out-of-towners heads. Aside from the circa 2000 fashions and hairdos on the surfing float, it holds up remarkably well 23 years later.
But it was unique and custom made, so of course it had to be cut.
Also notable, Eureka had 90 different dancers/performers/stuntmen in that one parade.
By comparison, 2024's Better Together parade in DCA has 58 dancers/performers. A 36% reduction in staffing and showmanship.
Say what you will about DCA circa 2001 (and I've said a lot!), but at least they had a normal parade budget back then.
But it was unique and custom made, so of course it had to be cut.
Also notable, Eureka had 90 different dancers/performers/stuntmen in that one parade.
By comparison, 2024's Better Together parade in DCA has 58 dancers/performers. A 36% reduction in staffing and showmanship.
Say what you will about DCA circa 2001 (and I've said a lot!), but at least they had a normal parade budget back then.
Has anyone found a video of Lights Camera Chaos? I found the sound track to it but not the video. I'm also looking for the Goofy Beach Blast show which I think was mostly Goofy making jokes in swimwear. It seems that original DCA has been wiped from the collective internet mind. Maybe that is a good thing.
The parade reminded me of something that Epcot would run. Even the Luminaria fireworks water show was like a small version of Epcot's fireworks show with the barges showing guest's drawings. Too bad the smoke stayed in one place because of how enclosed the area is.
Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
Wow!
That was terrific, thanks for sharing this here.
I never knew about this parade until now.
Love the floats, and some of the costumes are gorgeously done.
The highlight however has to be this:
I totally lost it when I saw the ‘walking’ Golden Gate Bridge!
Runner up has to be the ‘walking’ Chinese Food Box with someone dressed up as a fortune cookie running around him…
I am not making this up.
Only at the original DCA would this fly…!
Fortune Cookie….!
I love this parade!
Where has this been all my life up until now…??!
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TP2000
Well-Known Member
Wow!
That was terrific, thanks for sharing this here.
I never knew about this parade until now.
Love the floats, and some of the costumes are gorgeously done.
The highlight however has to be this:
I totally lost it when I saw the ‘walking’ Golden Gate Bridge!
View attachment 806531
Runner up has to be the ‘walking’ Chinese Food Box with someone dressed up as a fortune cookie running around him…
View attachment 806532
I am not making this up.
Only at the original DCA would this fly…!
View attachment 806533
Fortune Cookie….!
View attachment 806534
I love this parade!
Where has this been all my life up until now…??!
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I remember back in '01 on the creaky online forums of the day, the bridge, the Chinese take out box, and the fortune cookie were a fan favorite! Even the DCA critics had to admit that was hilarious, and perfectly done. In fact, when I first saw the title to this thread that's the visual that I immediately thought of; the Chinese segment of Eureka. Bravo TDA!
TP2000
Well-Known Member
I can top that. Last month there was a giant tour bus in the Ralph's Fresh Fare parking lot over the hill by the freeway, and there were at least 50 teenage Chinese exchange students in matching purple jackets inside the supermarket loading up on snacks and soda pops. When I came out to my car there was a gaggle of Chinese boys sitting on the curb eating American candy and I smiled and said "Nee How!" to them. They busted up laughing, they wanted their picture taken with me, and I shook all their hands.
I'm a goodwill ambassador!
It was. But back then we didn't know that it was "grand". We just thought it was a parade, because that's how Disney used to do all their parades.
Our expectations have been lowered dramatically by TDA and TDO in the past 10 years. What's really sad is that some of the younger folks here don't even know it, as these new lowered expectations are all they've known from Disney.
Paint the Night was the best nighttime parade they ever did. It should have completely replaced the MSEP but Disney got cheap while running it.
PiratesMansion
Well-Known Member
Isn't the new Pixar Fest parade gone now? I was under the impression it was only for the duration of the event.
I think it just ended this week?
CaptinEO
Well-Known Member
Hahaha! I'm sure that made their day!I can top that. Last month there was a giant tour bus in the Ralph's Fresh Fare parking lot over the hill by the freeway, and there were at least 50 teenage Chinese exchange students in matching purple jackets inside the supermarket loading up on snacks and soda pops. When I came out to my car there was a gaggle of Chinese boys sitting on the curb eating American candy and I smiled and said "Nee How!" to them. They busted up laughing, they wanted their picture taken with me, and I shook all their hands.
I'm a goodwill ambassador!
That is definitely a shame how much they have fallen. That Pixar Parade in California Adventure looks so cheap. Even the Disney yearly parades of the 90s had massive floats.It was. But back then we didn't know that it was "grand". We just thought it was a parade, because that's how Disney used to do all their parades.
Our expectations have been lowered dramatically by TDA and TDO in the past 10 years. What's really sad is that some of the younger folks here don't even know it, as these new lowered expectations are all they've known from Disney.