Forever Magical
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The summer of 1996 was declared the Farewell Season of the Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland. Throughout the summer the crowds to see the Parade were large and, at times, nearly intolerable. Since the Parade had been around since 1972 many remembered it as a part of their trips to Disneyland and wanted to relive it once more before, as the ad put it, “it glows away forever.”

The final public performance of the Main Street Electrical Parade occurred November 25, 1996.

During the final evenings of the Main Street Electrical Parade people gathered to say farewell. The parade had been a part of Disneyland nighttime entertainment since 1972 and the numbers of people waiting to see it had dwindled. We didn’t have to get to Main Street as early to get a prime seat on the curb. However once the see it before “it glows away forever” ad campaign started the crowds grew and grew. Some of the nights leading up to the final performance the park had to be closed to additional guests. It would often take quite a bit of time to leave the parking lot if you left along with the crowd after the parade.

I will always remember the many summers I spent waiting for the parade. Our routine was to go to the lockers and get our jackets and sweatshirts and parade waiting equipment about 2 or 3 hours before parade time. Mom would get a seat on the curb by a hitching post, which she would use as a backrest for the next few hours. We would spread the blanket along the curb and I would sit at its other end. This would mark our family territory. My father and my siblings would continue to play around the park. Usually they would go on the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean. I’d leave mom for just a bit to pick up toffee for us to enjoy while they were gone. Mom would read a novelization of the latest movie or do a crossword puzzle. Well that is what she would set out to do. We usually ended up chatting with the people around us. Or watched the people walking by. We wondered how the lady with the 3 inch heels and the ultra mini skirt got onto any of the rides without exposing herself and enjoyed seeing the various ways families organized themselves to keep from getting lost such as all wearing really bright colored shirts or carrying an umbrella.

I loved the moment when Main Street would go dark and the Baroque Hoedown would begin. The twinkling lights and unforgettable some would say annoying melody ignited the air. The Blue Fairy led the parade. I must admit it took me years to realize it wasn’t Sleeping Beauty in her blue ball gown. The wand and wings should’ve given it away but I guess the Pinocchio segment being later in the parade threw me. Leaning out of the train’s engine was the madcap driver Goofy waving and swaying in time with the music. Mickey and Minnie rode on the drum float which Goofy pulled behind him. The sides would show illuminated signs saying “Disneyland Presents” and “Main Street Electrical Parade”

While I enjoyed the entire parade I had certain favorite and not so favorite moments. I loved the turtle, bumblebee and snail. Their ability to spin and spin and stop on a dime provided an element of uncertainty.The snail and turtle were able to bow their heads at the audience in recognition and  each unit made its own little noises.

Back in the late 80’s Disney used to put on a symphony concert at the Hollywood Bowl. It featured orchestrations of Disney melodies for a symphony orchestra and full choir. During a performance of the Baroque Hoedown they actually brought out one of these cute little MSEP critters to twirl on the stage. Boy, do I miss those concerts - but I digress.

Whenever the snail would pause in front of us I would want to reach out and pet it. I can recall cheering to try and get Dopey or Cinderella to give me a wave. I also loved Elliot the dragon. Mostly I enjoyed seeing him “disappear”. This was accomplished by turning off all the lights that illuminated the large dragon’s body. It was a pretty effective trick. I also got a big kick out of the large pink elephant. But the portion of the parade that I looked forward to the most was Peter Pan. Not because of the floats or the characters but because of the music. Back then the Disney Channel would run these little Backstage: Disneyland fillers. Once they took us behind the scenes of the Main Street Electrical Parade. They explained how the music was created and layered. There is a bass line that plays along with the Peter Pan float that will forever been burned into my consciousness. Following the leader was then layered over that line. Thanks to seeing that special I felt like it was a part of the parade few knew. I would wait and wait to hear it and I would strain to listen to it as that float disappeared out of sight.