VIDEO: “Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade” Has Emotional Farewell After 5 Years Running

WDWNT on February 18, 2014

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Yesterday, the Magic Kingdom presented the final performance of the long-running “Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade” as they prepare to debut the new Festival of Fantasy Parade starting in March. While not one of the most beloved parades ever (as it was the 2nd overlay of a parade that debuted in 2001), the performers, guests who loved the parade, and many cast members who were both on-and-off duty had an emotional farewell as the procession pulled through the gates on Main Street for the last time yesterday afternoon. We were camped at the very end of the parade route to capture the historic moment in video for you. Our apologies as the video is a little shaky at times, but there was so much going on with many characters and performers saying goodbye to the parade. Regardless, we hope you enjoy:

Two More Floats Previewed for “Festival of Fantasy” Parade, “Celebrate a Dream Come True” Ends in January 2014

WDWNT on October 29, 2013

Walt Disney World announced a new daytime parade for the Magic Kingdom several months ago, but today they are previewing two more floats from the parade:

JEP695438SMALLAriel will sit on a large music box float to the tunes of Under the Sea

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Merida from Brave and her bear-brothers will travel with a troupe of Scottish dancers and this giant bagpipe

Also announced for the parade thus far is a Princess Royal Court Garden Float, the previously previewed Mickey and Minnie hot-air balloon, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider on a longship, and the Nerverland unit with Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Wendy, and Tinker Bell. The Sleeping Beauty, Dumbo, and Pinocchio units in the parade have still not been previewed to date. Festival of Fantasy is scheduled to debut at the Magic Kingdom in early 2014.

Also announced is that the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade will return after Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade for 4 final performances January 1st-4th, 2014. Until Festival of Fantasy premieres a few weeks later, there will be no 3PM parade at the Magic Kingdom, just the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party and Main Street Electrical Parade.

Tom Corless’ 4/16-4/26/13 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on June 4, 2013

I recently visited the Walt Disney World Resort (just last week) and I have a ton of newsworthy photos to share with you, so let’s take a look at all of the changes happening around the resort right now:

They got a new banner, too bad they only have a few months left…

They added some “blood” red carpet in the queue at the Haunted Mansion… sorry, it’s dark in there

The backside of the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train appears to closely resemble the rock-work on Under the Sea

After a month, it appears the construction of the third bus loop at the Magic Kingdom is still in the early stages

I see you Grand Floridian Villas…

Over at Animal Kingdom, banners are still up for the 15th anniversary

We can already see posts for a marquee going up where the new Festival of the Lion King entrance will be in Africa

The Anandapur Ice Cream Truck is gone, so you can only get soft-serve at Camp Minnie-Mickey right now

With Planes coming out this August, there are some character planes clothes for kids coming out

I particularly like the Dumbo jumbo jet…

Taking a look at the Villas at the Grand Floridian from the Polynesian Beach

The trademark red roof is starting to appear

Monsters University merchandise can be found everywhere

More Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

A few weeks ago, the Gaston’s mug was updated with new artwork featuring Gaston and LeFou

Sorry for the blurry pic, but you get the idea

More MU stuff in Mouse Gear

Some new Villains watches have come out

Scar and Chernabog

Queen of Hearts and Maleficent

Scar

The Monsters University display recently added some gargoyles despite the fact that the event is ending soon

Some banners describing the film were also put up

Touch-point entry was finally installed at International Gateway

There are now Mickey and Minnie handset phones for mobile phones for sale

Mickey and Minnie mini-speakers for sale

I tired the chili cone queso at Downtown Disney… it’s the same as Cars Land…

The Droid Factory has now opened inside Once Upon a Toy

The four stations really help out with lines

Some new magnets for sale

The Boardwalk Bakery re-opened on Friday at Disney’s Boardwalk

It looks a lot different

You should probably wear a shirt to the bakery…

The expanded kitchen added some pre-made sandwiches to the menu

They also have soup

Mmmmmm

MMMMMMMMMM

FastPass testing for Fantasmic! going on now

The American Idol Experience store now sells Star Wars stuff… Yes…

They added a seafood platter to the menu at the ABC Commissary…. Yum?

The oscars are back at the Magic of Disney Animation from filming for Saving Mr. Banks the last several months

Cool new baseball cap

Tom Corless’ 8/23-8/29/12 WDW Photo Report

WDWNT on December 21, 2012

I visited the Walt Disney World Resort last week covering all four of the theme parks and I have plenty of newsworthy pictures to share, so let’s take a look at what’s happening around the Vacation Kingdom:

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The Rainforest Cafe sign inside Animal Kingdom is still missing

Beastly Bazaar is closed to become a character meet and greet experience this Fall

Wreck-It Ralph has taken over the display at the exit of the Magic of Disney Animation show

Vannelope is voiced by Sarah Silverman

That cake looks so real…

The game Fix-It Felix is inspired by games such as Rampage and Donkey Kong

Ralph even started as a monster just like one you would find in Rampage

Niceland is the city in the game

Ralph and Felix

Hero’s Duty might end up being the darkest looking scenes in any Disney animated film ever…

Hero’s Duty is inspired by games such as Gears of War and Halo

Voiced by Jane Lynch

Sugar Rush is inspired by games such as Mario Kart

Looks like a possible villain to me…

They were painting the next Ink and Paint Cell to be released while I was there

A Hatbox Ghost big figure has been released

There’s also a new Stitch figure

For the first time in ages, the decorations in The Studio Store do not represent a single new film!

Nice to see the original intended decorations back for once

Banners for Finding Nemo 3D up

The LEgend of Jack Sparrow building was painted blue

Walls are now up near the front of the building

The menu has been drastically changed at Backlot Express

BUFFALO CHICKEN BREAST NUGGETS! AHHHHHHH!

Next-Gen FASTPASS preparations already made at American Idol

Moving over to Epcot, work continues on the new Disney Vacation Club booth near Canada

A strange wall has popped up in the queue for Journey Into Imagination

Possibly FASTPASS related?

The Kim Possible sign-up areas in Innoventions have been completely removed

While passing by on the monorail we could see that the new parking lot for the Grand Floridian DVC wing is almost complete

Moving on to the Magic Kingdom, the park is ready for Halloween

There is a new banner at the beginning of Celebrate a Dream Come True

I’m not sure when it happened, but Mickey and Minnie are in normal clothing on their float

The Junioe Jungle Boats outside of the Jungle Cruise have reportedly been closed permanently

Next-gen FASTPASS ready to go at the Jungle Cruise

Same at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Meanwhile, some rather drastic queue modifications have been made at Pirates of the Caribbean

There is now a point where the two queues meet

Work continues on the former Fantasyland Skyway site, soon to be home to a new walkway and restrooms

Thought this was an interesting shot as it gives you an idea of where the Mine Train will be as you walk into Fantasyland

Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Train construction

The Castle Walls are nearing completion

Some work being done on the roof of Mickey’s Philharmagic

Most of the Snow White facade is now gone in preparation for Princess Fairytale Hall

Grass continues to be installed on the roof of Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

The signage has been installed on Big Top Souvenirs in Storybook Circus

I LOVE the popcorn lights…

FOOD!

Some new Space Mountain shirts are available

Moving back to Fantasyland, the lights were on inside the Castle Walls

Lights were on in the Beauty and the Beast area as well

They were testing lighting on the turrets of the Castle Walls as well

The Mickey-O-Lanterns are much brighter and actually flicker this year

Magic Kingdom Testing FASTPASS for Parades

WDWNT on October 21, 2011

You read correctly: FASTPASS service will be tested for the Magic Kingdom’s afternoon parade over the next few weeks. Don’t worry, you won’t need a FASTPASS to see the parade, it really just lets you into a prime viewing area somewhere in the Hub in front of Cinderella Castle. The location will change a few times over the test period as Disney looks to see where it would be best situated. Also changing will be the number of guests per day Disney hands the Fastpasses to, just to see what the right or wrong number of guests to let in might be.

The parade FASTPASS will be distributed starting early in the day at the Magic Kingdom by Cast Members presenting them as “Magical Moments” (Think Year of a Million Dreams prizes). The return time on the FASTPASS will be for between 10-30 minutes prior to the parade reaching the hub, around a 20 minute window.

If there was a more popular new parade or a nighttime parade running, you can see how this service may be quite valuable. Guests would have more time to enjoy the park while their viewing space is reserved. They would then only have to show up a few minutes before the to claim their space along the street. It will be very interesting to see how this works out…

The test is currently scheduled to take place October 23rd through November 12. Stay tuned to WDW News Today for more information as it becomes available.

What Time is the 3:00 Parade? 12:00 & 3:30…

WDWNT on July 9, 2011

In a rather strange turn of events, the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade will be operating a bit off-schedule from July 18th-July 31st. You can catch the parade twice a day at the Magic Kingdom during this period at 12:00PM & 3:30PM.

As for the reasoning behind this, we have heard several different things. First, the Magic Kingdom is looking to see the impact this has on wait times for attractions around the park. If it distributes guests in a pleasant way, then we may never see a parade at 3:00PM again. Either twice a day performances or these new times may become the norm for parades.

Other rumors persist that this is in preparation for changes connected with a new parade coming in early 2012. Some Magic Kingdom cast members have been informed that the current parade will get another overlay/music change before the year is over and will then be finally replaced next year. Again, this should all be taken as a rumor for now.

Stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information becomes available on this breaking story.

UPDATE: The entertainment schedule for a few other Magic Kingdom offerings will also be affected during this period –

On normal operating days, the Main Street Trolley Show will be presented at 9:15AM, 10:45AM, 1:05PM, & 2:20PM. On EMH morning days (Tuesday & Thursdays), a Trolley Show is added at 8:20AM.

The “Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It! Street Party” will be performing on a new schedule as well, with performances at 10:00AM, 5:30PM, & 7:00PM. Again, these changes are only in effect for July 18-31, 2011.

“Thunderbirds Are Go!” at the Magic Kingdom

WDWNT on October 27, 2010

In honor of Air Force Week in Central Florida, on October 26, the United States Air Force Thunderbird jets flew over Magic Kingdom, with some United States Air Force dignitaries being honored during “Celebrate a Dream Come True” parade. WDWNT Reporter Banks Lee was there and captured the event in video: