8 Fun Facts About the Main Street Electrical Parade + Dining Packages with Reserved Parade Viewing

If you haven’t already heard the news, Main Street Electrical Parade has returned “home” to Disneyland after a 20 year hiatus. There’s nothing quite like taking in a performance of this oh-so-nostalgic parade in the place where it all started…Disneyland! The encore presentation of the parade at Disneyland is only for a limited time though and will run through Sunday, June 18.I had the honor of attending the premiere night of the parade and just sitting there on the curb, watching all of the twinkling, lighted floats go by, really brought out the little kid in me . There’s just something about the sound of the synthesized “Baroque Hoedown” played throughout Main Street, U.S.A. that will bring happy tears to your eyes, especially if you remember it from way back when! By the looks of the crowd lined up to watch it on the night I was there, it must hold special meaning for a ton of others as well!Here are 8 fun facts about the Main Street Electrical Parade: 

1. The Main Street Electrical Parade premiered in Disneyland back in 1972 and had its last performance in the park in November 1996. During its original, almost 25 year run, this parade was performed more than 3,600 times for more than 75 million guests. Although it did make a return appearance to Disneyland Resort inside Disney California Adventure Park from 2001 to 2010, it was a slightly different version. 
2. The original opening float of the Main Street Electrical Parade float was the whimsical train that pulls a giant drum. You’ll get all the feels when you see it roll down Main Street, U.S.A. again and lighting up to read, “Disneyland Presents…Main Street Electrical Parade” in bright lights! 
3. During the parade, guests can see some of their favorite Disney characters as their classic stories come to life along the parade route including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Cinderella, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell, Snow White, Pinocchio, and Alice in Wonderland.
4. The parade floats in this dazzling and colorful after-dark parade are covered with approximately half a million twinkling lights!
5. The Cinderella’s Ball” section of the parade is attended by elegant ballroom dancers who wear costumes covered in lights. The Clock Tower looming over Cinderella’s Ball is 18 1/2 feet tall. When you’re sitting along the curb on Main Street, U.S.A., watching the parade and you look up at it, it seems even taller than that, too!
6. The iconic “Elliot” float, which is the smoke-breathing dragon, also wags his tails. He weighs more than 5,600 pounds and stands 16 feet tall, 10 feet wide, and 38 feet long. The float also magically disappears from time to time throughout the parade. It’s just like the movie!
7. The popularity of the original Main Street Electrical Parade led to the creation of Electrical Parades at Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Walt Disney World Resort.
8. The finale of Main Street Electrical Parade includes a 118-foot-long unit which is a red, white, and blue, patriotic tribute to America.

Did you know there are Main Street Electrical Parade Dining packages made available to park guests? The packages include a 3-course prix fixe meal (starter, entrée and dessert) at the Blue Bayou Restaurant, which is an epic experience in itself, plus include admission into a reserved viewing area to watch a designated performance of the Main Street Electrical Parade.You get to experience to amazing offerings at Disneyland Park in one day! Reservations for these dining packages can be made online or by phone up to 60 days in advance.. For more information or to reserve yours, go here.

Have you had the opportunity to watch the Main Street Electrical Parade yet? If not, be sure to plan your visit before June 18!