Friday, May 16, 2014

Disney's Festival of Fantasy Parade, Part 1


Time for some long-overdue pics of WDW's new daytime parade, the Festival of Fantasy!

I should warn you: this is easily my favorite parade of all time, so I plan to cover it extensively. I'll have to break my photos into two or three posts - all for a fifteen minute parade! (But in my defense there's a lot to see, and they walk fast!)

So let's get to it!

After the obligatory Main Street Marching Band, the parade kicks off with some swan-themed court dancers:


The men have stylized swans on their hats and tunics, and the women's dresses have side swags of feathers leading up to a high swan-neck collar.
 

I'm amazed at how intricate the costumes are for what are essentially generic pre-show dancers. Talk about starting things off with a bang!

Behind the Swan Court Dancers come Beauty and the Beast, on the flower-bedecked Princess Garden Float:

(See the peacocks up top? Their tails turn into columns behind the couple, which you can see in my next photo.)

This float is incredible - which only makes sense when you learn it's a cast-off from Tokyo Disneyland, home of all the very best parades. The float is made up of three separate sections joined together like train cars:


Then, on the back two sections there are rotating platforms. Here you can see Cinderella just spinning into view, with Elsa and Anna taking their turn in the rear.

The back side of Cinderella's platform is a giant version or her pink ball gown, which I didn't get to see straight on. Instead, here she is with Prince Charming in front of a beautiful faux window:


 Tiana and Naveen share the rotating platform with the Frozen sisters:

I like how Ray the firefly is peeking out over Naveen's head on the right. Ha!

And Anna's expression is too cute here on the left:


The rotating floats pose a slight challenge for pictures, but they also keep it fun and interesting. It helps that everything is so high, too, so you're not as likely to get the crowds on the opposite side of the street in your photos.

Next comes the Tangled section, led by the tavern mime and some colorful dancing girls:

Like the Swan Dancers, these Tavern Maids are sporting some stunning costumes. The detail is incredible, and the colors & design bring back fond memories of my Lady Lovely Locks dolls.

 (Right?! Children of the 80s, represent!)

Seriously, look at all that color! I especially love the roses in the strappy boot leggings, the drop-lace petticoats, and how each skirt is a unique color combination.

The Maids are non-stop action, running, swirling, and leaping about:
They're like twirly lollipops. :)

Following them is one of the most detail-packed floats of the parade: The Snuggly Duckling Viking Ship:


This float is like an I Spy game for Tangled fans, and it's impossible to take it all in at once. (It's also too big to photograph when it's directly in front of you. Next time I'll have to bring a wide-angle lens!)

Look up and you'll see the famous paper lanterns trailing in the sky, plus the old man cupid. In the middle you'll find Flynn Rider and a few Viking thugs riding giant axes that swing like pendulums, while down on deck Rapunzel sings and waves to the crowd:

Look closer and you'll see Rapunzel's braid twined all over the float, along with tavern barrels, Flynn's Wanted poster, a goat, and... hey, do I spy a frying pan?

Here's a lucky/hilarious shot:


Yep, even Maximus the horse is onboard - and looking mighty displeased to be sharing a swing with Flynn. Heh.

Stay tuned for part 2, with sections from The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, and Brave! And here's a little preview, from the first time I saw the parade up on Main Street:


(I'm also playing around with a different photo editor and really boosting the colors. You like?)

 'Til next time!

*****
Ready for more? Here's Part 2 and Part 3!

32 comments:

  1. I like! Makes me want to go to the Magic Kingdom right now! Alas, I have to wait until my vacation in September.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am trying to convince my hubby that we NEED to go back... last time we were in the US my daughter was 3 (she is now 10) and I think that she will have forgotten so much that it would almost be cruel not to show it all to her again....

    ReplyDelete
  3. I haven't been to Disney since I was a child, and I would love to go back as an adult. Until then, I'll have to settle for living vicariously through you and your wonderful photos.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Those are beautiful photos, and make me miss Disney like crazy. Can't wait for the next installments!

    ReplyDelete
  5. We were *just* there! (April 28-May1) I had never been, so at age 45, it was a wonderful vacation. My 9-year old twins (Mini-Mal and Mini-Kaylee) were tall enough to go on every ride, and had a blast!

    We barely had the energy to do all the rides, and there was no way I could get my husband to stand around to watch the parade with his bad back (standing around is the hardest for him). The kids and I were pretty exhausted too. So THANK YOU for all of your wonderful pictures of the things we missed!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely pictures! I love the color and all the various angles so keep them coming.

    I also wanted to say I loved lady lovelylocks and remembering wearing little mutlicolored lady lovelylocks animal hair clips (with pink, blue, and yellow fake hair just like the picture) to school in kindergarten multiple times I'm sure because I wanted to be her. Happy Friday!

    ReplyDelete
  7. oh my daughter needs more pictures of Flynn. ;) Thanks so much for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. We are heading to Disney World in October and this is what I am most excited for!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Shelley in So. IllinoisMay 16, 2014 at 11:21 AM

    Your photos are always amazing, but the colors! The Colors! Just gorgeous!!!! I can't wait to see the rest!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow - gorgeous!!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  11. They do look like Lovely Lady Locks dolls!! Holy 80's flashback!! And as always fantastic photos!

    ReplyDelete
  12. This is the kind of stuff that makes me love Disney so much. I mean... it's DISNEY, so they could totally get away with just having their most popular characters march in a single file line waving at people and kids would still go berserk over it. But they don't. They pull out all the stops, they find new ways to top even themselves, and they put together a world-class show every single time. Love.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Every once in a while, I'll forward a particular post to my husband, usually having to do with WDW, as we went there last October. Here's what he had to say about today's:

    "Mind. Blown. Even 500% better than the last post. Pictures couldn't be better if she asked Disney to pose the staff in place with those expressions for 20 minutes while she analyzed every possible angle for the best picture. It’s insane to me that an amateur, for fun, snapping shots while a parade blasted by her at 30mph, could have pulled off ONE of those shots, let alone 19 marketing-worthy, magazine-quality pictures."

    Just thought I'd share. Keep doin' what you're doin', Jen. We love ya!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tell your hubby he's made me blush, Lisa! As long as I spend on these photos, it's a real honor to get such high praise. (And tell him I take about 500 shots per parade, so coming away with even 30 blog-worthy examples is a win!)

      Delete
  14. We went just a couple of weeks ago, and I loved this parade! It really was incredible! I think I have about 15 pictures of the dragon alone, I was so much in love with it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love these Disney posts! We went in 2011 when they were just starting the Fantasyland expansion, so we're very excited to be planning a trip back for Christmas this year. Can't wait to see all this, and my geeklings are very excited, too (15 and 11). Thanks for sharing these beautiful pictures!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Jen, I LOVE the Disney posts, so keep them coming! I grew up near Disney and spent many happy days there, so I'm always thrilled to read about, and see photos of, what everything looks like now. I haven't been to Disney in almost ten years now, so I would love to get back to the Magic Kingdom soon to experience all the new additions.

    Beautiful photography and gorgeous color enhancements. Can't wait to see the rest of the parade pics and also a post about the Pirate Treasure Hunts!

    KW

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love the colours in this whole parade! And just SO pretty the whole way through.

    ReplyDelete
  18. WOW! Your pics are AMAZING!! Clearly you've seen the parade a few times, judging by the various lands in which you've photographed it in!! I LOVE IT!!

    We were just there at the end of April and I "splurged" a fast pass on the parade seating.. a good choice, btw.. it put it right in front of the castle.. Good backdrop, not as great as I would have liked for pictures, but I'll manage! When we saw it, Rapunzel was wielding her frying pan every which way! It was hilarious and awesome!! Can't wait to see the rest.. (waiting to see what you got for Maleficent!!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ok.. so I'm probably wrong! HA! I thought you had pics from by Pecos Bill and then coming off the Liberty Square bridge into the Hub.. but on second viewing from a computer vs a phone, they're all right there in Frontierland as the parade first emerges!! The trees in the back threw me! LOL Either way, LOVE THEM ALL!!!!!!!!

      Delete
    2. I've only seen the parade twice, Stacia, but you're right that one or two of these were from a different location - up by the flag pole on Main Street. You'll see a couple more examples from that spot in my next posts, since the castle backdrop is pretty cool!

      Delete
  19. Are the guys somehow attached to the swinging axes? I know when I worked parade at Disney they were bonkers about safety and that seems pretty risky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think *everyone* on a float is strapped down with a heavy buckle in back, so they must be - but next time I'm going to look closer to see if I can figure out how! (Speaking of which, you can see both Prince Charming's wire and Anna's in my photos, if you embiggen 'em.)

      Delete
    2. I've consulted my pics and video and that's an excellent question!!! They're all hanging on to things around their wrist (you can see them in Jen's pics, there are ones above their heads and by their knees) and I watched the video we took and it looks like there's nothing else there! Hmm.. interesting! FYI, Rapunzel is attached via her hair.. lol.. cracked me up!

      Delete
  20. The company I work for built the Tangled float! It was so intense and it took about 6 months since when we got the float frames into the building. We also built the Little Mermaid float that was right after Tangled!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Oh I love it. The color the fun I'm drooling b over the pics lol

    ReplyDelete
  22. Jen, I've never been to disney and I've always wanted to go (time and money have been factors in not going). Seeing your pictures is wonderful and it feels like you're bringing the park to me. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Whatever you're using to boost the colors is awesome! I love how vivid everything is! My favorite photo was definitely the random Maximus photobomb. :D
    Thank you so much for sharing! You're so wonderful for taking the time to do this!

    ReplyDelete
  24. More! More!! I'm not even a Disneyphile, and I love these.

    ReplyDelete
  25. The parade is very different than the Princess parade in Anaheim. There was no Anna or Elsa and when the parade was done you could feel the slight disappointment of all the girls in the crowd or maybe that was just me being disappointed. :) I have a feeling they will add them for the summer.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks for helping us deprived Disneyland peeps fill in the gaps. These are gorgeous pics!!

    ReplyDelete

Please be respectful when commenting; dissenting opinions are great, but personal attacks or hateful remarks will be removed. Also, including a link? Then here's your html cheat sheet: <a href="LINK ADDRESS">YOUR TEXT</a>