Festival of Fantasy

            Last month, a new parade, the Festival of Fantasy, debuted at Magic Kingdom, and I was lucky enough to see it!  This parade is a huge improvement over the Celebrate a Dream Come True parade that recently retired.  The music, costumes, and floats in the Festival of Fantasy parade show creativity as well as a strong attention to detail.  Each float tells a different story, and the floats also have many moving parts that contribute to the overall kinetic feeling of this entertainment offering.  For example, the Tangled float looks like a huge ship, and Flynn Rider swings back and forth on the float during the entire parade.  One of the most impressive sections of the parade is the giant steampunk dragon that breaths fire.  It is an artistic masterpiece, and the fact that it breathes fire is amazing and quite exciting. The Peter Pan float is also well done; it is very tall, and the cannons that are attached to the pirate ship actually fire every few minutes.

            Not only are the floats intricate, the costumes are also bright and colorful. Every float includes the major characters related to the movie or franchise represented, but between each section, there are various dancers to represent more minor characters or just background from these movies.  Every costume looks like it was made specifically to reflect as much sunlight as possible.  I enjoyed the dancing sections between the floats much more during this parade than I have during previous parades. 

            With regard to the performers in the Festival of Fantasy, all I can say is, “Wow!” These folks looked excited and happy from the moment the parade started until the moment the parade ended.  No one ever looked tired or miserable or uncomfortable.  Everyone performed in a way that can only be described as magical.  This is important, because even though all of the floats are beautiful and interactive, the characters and performers really drive the action of this parade.  I truly enjoyed the high energy of every part of the entire spectacle.  I have only seen the parade once, but I want to see it many more times so that I can really examine all of the details.  This new entertainment option is such an excellent addition to the Magic Kingdom, and it really helps to celebrate the focus on New Fantasyland as it nears its completion.  This parade also matches the grand scope and scale of the Magic Kingdom in Florida.  If you are at Walt Disney World in the near future, make sure to see the Festival of Fantasy; you will not be disappointed.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

Carousel of Progress: A Hidden Gem

            With the anniversary of the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair on the horizon, I thought that I should make a visit to one of the attractions that debuted at this event.  Everyone seems to know that It’s a Small World was a brand new attraction during the World’s Fair, but people sometimes forget about the Carousel of Progress.  This attraction truly is a hidden gem that can be found amidst the hustle and bustle of a crowded Magic Kingdom. Usually, there is a very short wait to experience this stage show, and you get to enter an air conditioned building as well as enjoy wonderful music that was written by the Sherman brothers in order to promote General Electric, which was the original sponsor of this attraction when it was in its infancy.  This music includes the original theme song called “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” as well as another song that played for several years, which is called, “Now is the Time.”  Both songs promote an optimistic outlook on life, and they are both quite catchy. 

            In addition to watching the show inside of the theater, guests are also treated to a look at Walt Disney’s creative process.  Before guests board the attraction, they can view Walt working with the Sherman brothers in order to create the music for the attraction.  I love watching this original video of Walt doing what he really enjoyed: being creative and having fun with his work. 

If you have never experienced the Carousel of Progress, the basic idea of the attraction involves the audience following members of a family as they grow and change throughout the 20^th century.  Every scene is filled with period specific props as well as references to what was going on in the world during the time period in which the scene is set.  Each scene takes place during a different holiday including Valentine’s Day, Halloween, Christmas, and the 4^th of July. The overarching theme of the attraction is that times and things may change, but the bonds that we have created with our families remain the same no matter the decade.  This attraction brims with positivity and optimism, and you can’t help but feel a little more hopeful when you re-enter Tomorrowland. 

I love the Carousel of Progress so much that we dressed as the husband and wife for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this past year!  So, if you are looking to escape all of the crowds in the Magic Kingdom, take a spin on the rotating theater that houses the Carousel of Progress, which can only be found at Walt Disney World.  It is amazing to think that this attraction started its life in New York, then went to Disneyland, and finally ended up in Walt Disney World.  People of all ages can enjoy this show, and you will definitely learn something about history as well as the value of family.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!