Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade is 50….

and so am I…Yep. That’s me in the stroller in 1974.

Disneyland has brought back the Main Street Electrical Parade to celebrate its 50th Birthday. I have a very special relationship with this parade. Not only is it the same age as I am but it was the very first parade that I saw in person when my parents took me to Disneyland for the very first time in August 1974. My siblings had all been to Disneyland many times so why my indoctrination into the House of Mouse waited until I was 2 is beyond me. I took to Disneyland like a fish to water. I was a California girl – born & raised – so it meant I was fortunate to have frequent visits to the Magic Kingdom. We may have lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, but my parents never left me wanting for the sights and sounds of Main Street U.S.A. I grew up on the Disneyland Railroad. It’s a Small World was the soundtrack to my early childhood. Mickey Mouse was one of my very first friends. So the Main Street Electrical Parade and I grew up TOGETHER.

I had the album. Just the first few notes of the music alone would send me into a tizzy of excitement. The parade was simply – MAGICAL. And my very favorite part of the parade was the King Leonidas.

Who?

You know… the king from Bedknobs and Broomsticks? King Leonidas! Unless you are a child of the 60s/70s/80s you have no idea who I am talking about. But trust me. Once that music started, the anticipation waiting for King Leonidas was palpable. A favorite for parade goers, he was greeted with cheers. He was always the star of the parade… that is until the last couple of times that Disneyland brought the fan favorite back to Main Street and axed the King and his jam from the parade.

King-Leonidas-Main-Street-Electrical-Parade

See King Leonidas in Action:

When I heard that Disneyland was bringing the Main Street Electrical Parade back for its 50th birthday, I was really hopeful we’d see it in ALL its glory. I mean, if you’re going to bring back a classic, BRING IT BACK. Right? Sure it’s ok to add new stuff to it. The new stuff is great. After all, Walt did say, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” But just as I feared, not only was the American Flag grand finale replaced but King Leonidas is absent as well. The clowns are gone too but let’s be real…ew, clowns! King Leonidas, though…

via GIPHY

See the Full 2022 Version of the Main Street Electrical Parade

I watched the 2022 version of the parade from my living room. I held back tears, if I’m being honest. I wasn’t expecting such a reaction but there I was flooded with memories of my parents (who are no longer with me) and remembering how it felt all those years ago as a little girl watching this parade and waiting for the arrival of King Leonidas. Of course, I kinda had a feeling that he’d be gone. The music was not quite the same, the magical synthesized rhythms have been nearly muted in favor of a mix of Disney film soundtracks and percussion. I guess it’s to make it feel more modern? The thing is, the Disneyland Main Street Electrical Parade and its music were always ahead of their time.

Now, this all may sound negative. It really isn’t. I was surprised by how seeing the lights and hearing the start of the parade made me feel. I loved seeing the characters – the dancing mice from Cinderella, the waving dwarves from Snow White, Peter Pan & Captain Hook battling it out on the ship – all familiar and beloved. I’m a little disappointed in the finale. While it looks beautiful, for sure, going from all the live action characters to inanimate statues of more recent Disney characters was kind of a let down. But I will refrain from full judgement until I get to see it in person. If Disney is looking for suggestions, however… may I humbly suggest the return of King Leonidas! Let the next generation get to experience his awesomeness!!

Disneyland’s Main Street Electrical Parade is 50….

See King Leonidas in Action:

See the Full 2022 Version of the Main Street Electrical Parade

Throwing it Back to 1974…