It's 1972. Laser light shows and audiovisual spectaculars are just about to start blowing audiences' minds. Electronic arrangements of classical music are a thing thanks to Switched-On Bach. And Disneyland decides to roll both of those ideas into its first nighttime parade.
Now, after a two-decade absence, the Main Street Electrical Parade will once again return to Disneyland. The old-school illuminated parade—in thousands of sparkling lights and electro-synthe-magnetic musical sounds—will once again roll down Main Street, U.S.A. in 2017 for a limited-time run.
That means that Paint the Night, the astounding high-tech 60th anniversary parade currently running at Disneyland, will cease nightly performances starting September 5, aside from occasional evenings during the holidays. After that, the parade will take a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida.
Technically, it's only been six years since Southern California parkgoers have been able to see the Main Street Electrical Parade—it ran through California Adventure from 2001 to 2010—but it last marched through its Disneyland home in 1996. In recent years, it's been on vacation at Walt Disney World.
In a separate announcement, Disneyland released plans for its Eastern Gateway project. An additional 6,800-space parking garage—which is smaller than the existing Mickey & Friends structure—is set to open in 2018, complete with an elevated pedestrian bridge over Harbor Boulevard. The plans also include a relocated transportation hub for buses, taxis, bicycles and resort shuttles.
Photograph: Courtesy Disney
Though Disney has yet to announce an opening date for the under-construction Star Wars land, we can only assume the new garage will open in time to accommodate all of the aspiring Jedi set to visit the park.
In the meantime, we'll leave you with the Main Street Electric Parade's fantastically cheesy, vocoder and Moog-filled soundtrack entitled "Baroque Hoedown."
