“Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade” debuted 10 years ago — March 9, 2014 — at Magic Kingdom, so in honor of the milestone, let’s take a photo journey through this “wondrous and wonderful” procession.
Festival of Fantasy Pre-Show Announcement
“Hear ye, hear ye, royal guests from near and far: Welcome to the Magic Kingdom! You are warmly invited to join Mickey Mouse and his Fantasyland friends for a magical celebration in the streets. Dreams will come true, hearts will soar, and you will become a part of the magic, for the time has come to take your places and prepare to welcome the wondrous and wonderful “Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade”!
Princess Garden
Belle and Beast lead the parade upon a three-part Princess Garden float featuring royal Disney friends.
Tenants of the Princess Garden: Belle, Beast, Prince Charming, Cinderella, Prince Naveen, Princess Tiana, Anna, and Elsa.Pops of bright colors and vibrant hues invite guests to “Join the celebration!”A group of dancers known as the Swan Court waltzed in front of the opening float upon the parade’s debut. When the procession returned in 2022 following the pandemic hiatus, the Swan Court was absent, as were many non-character dancers throughout “Festival of Fantasy.”
The Snuggly Duckling from “Tangled”
On a float resembling a ship, Rapunzel stands (frying pan at the ready) while Flynn Rider and ruffians of the Snuggly Duckling pub swing on giant axes.Details abound on the “Tangled” float: Pascal the chameleon at the head of the ship, Maximus the horse riding upon one of the axes, a wanted poster for Flynn Rider (they just can’t get his nose right), and Rapunzel’s hair draped across the entire float.
Under the Sea from “The Little Mermaid”
Ariel, with a lime-green tail and aqua flippers, sits atop a clamshell. She’s surrounded by the “hot crustacean band” of her underwater kingdom, but her thoughts wander above the surface, to the human world. See if you can spot Sebastian and Flounder.
Never Land from “Peter Pan”
“Away we go, yo ho!” Skull Rock and a pirate ship sailing on rainbow waters mark the arrival of Peter Pan, Wendy Darling, and the Never Land crew.The boy who never grew up and the most magical place on Earth.
“Think of Christmas, think of snow. Think of sleigh bells, off you go!”
Merida from “Brave” is joined by her three brothers (transformed into bears, and presented as Audio-Animatronics figures) and a troupe of kilt-wearing dancers. Details are present throughout, from the target Merida shot perfectly to the pies her brothers chase after … not to mention the float itself being a giant bagpipe.
Disney removed the “Brave” unit from “Festival of Fantasy” when the parade returned following its pandemic hiatus.
Fire-Breathing Maleficent Dragon from “Sleeping Beauty”
As is tradition, Maleficent was not invited to the party and is quite upset. Prince Phillip, guided by Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather, face off against the mistress of evil from the ground below.
Festival of Fantasy Finale
Mickey, Goofy, Minnie, Daisy, Pluto, and Donald — known as Disney’s “Sensational Six” — bid guests farewell in a two-float finale unit that also features sculpted characters from “Fantasia” and “Dumbo.”Occasionally, Mickey and the gang wear their traditional outfits during “Festival of Fantasy” instead of their specialty parade costumes.Classic characters from Disney’s early years dance in the street during the parade’s finale. Dopey sits atop Sneezy’s shoulders, just as he does during “The Silly Song” in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
“Festival of Fantasy” Through the Years
“Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade” replaced the long-recycled, often-renamed “Share A Dream Come True Parade,” which debuted in 2001 and featured giant snow globes as its floats. Over time, the parade changed its name and music twice, but retained its floats, becoming “Disney Dreams Come True Parade” in 2006 and “Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade” in 2009. Disney retired the parade in early 2014.
Final Celebrate A Dream Come True Parade at the Magic Kingdom
Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade costume fashion show - Plus 3 floats for Magic Kingdom
Though you’d never know it by watching the parade, “Festival of Fantasy” has an intricate backstory — and it stars Sarah Hyland from “Modern Family.” Disney created a video sharing this backstory and included it as a bonus feature on the “Sleeping Beauty Diamond Edition” Blu-ray. Two minutes of it are still live on Disney.com.
We leave you with this, a video of the debut performance of “Festival of Fantasy,” recorded March 9, 2014, and featured on our Attractions Magazine YouTube channel:
Full Festival of Fantasy Parade at Disney's Magic Kingdom - Debut