 | Overall Rating: 3 StarsLadies and gentlemen, boys and girls! The Main Street Electrical Parade is a Disneyland original and classic since its premiere in the 1970s. After a stint across the globe it's come home for a limited time - although there have been a few changes along the way. UPDATED - 3 Aug 2019 |
Atmosphere: 4 Stars
Nighttime parades have their own magic! Once the lights turn out along Main Street, USA and the music starts then everything is perfectly ready for a "pageant of nighttime magic and imagination". With the surrounding lights out and little else but the floats providing a beautiful glow, there's a reason nighttime parades like this one are so popular and have lasted at the park for so long.
Entertainment Quality: 3 Stars
The floats of the Main Street Electrical Parade are iconic to say the least from Peter Pan's pirate ship to the Dwarfs' mine to Elliott himself! Everything builds up to the patriotic finale the parade is known for. Although the show is over 40 years old the floats have been well taken care of and even refurbished and restored to their original glamour for their return to Disneyland Park.
Of course no discussion of the MSEP would be complete without bringing up the music. Baroque Hoedown has become synonymous with Disneyland and it's probably one of the main things guests look forward to with each performance. However, this is where things get complicated. Once the parade reached the Magic Kingdom in Florida the soundtrack was remastered and redone. The tunes are nearly the same but there is something missing in the new rendition that doesn't quite live up to the old. Don't believe me? Compare the original to the current. This is were it loses a star in my book.
Of course no discussion of the MSEP would be complete without bringing up the music. Baroque Hoedown has become synonymous with Disneyland and it's probably one of the main things guests look forward to with each performance. However, this is where things get complicated. Once the parade reached the Magic Kingdom in Florida the soundtrack was remastered and redone. The tunes are nearly the same but there is something missing in the new rendition that doesn't quite live up to the old. Don't believe me? Compare the original to the current. This is were it loses a star in my book.
Time Commitment: 3 Stars
Like any parade, the Main Street Electrical Parade lasts about 15 - 20 minutes. However, since this is a limited-time engagement, the crowds will tend to build up quicker than normal which means you may have to arrive slightly earlier than usual to get a good spot. You can generally find a good seat for any parade, even one like this, by arriving 20-30 minutes early. The parade route stretches from "it's a small world" down Main Street and wraps around Town Square so there's typically not an issue finding a spot. Overall, though, a great entertainment experience worth the wait!
