Party Gras Parade was the daytime parade of Disneyland from January-November 1990 to represent the park's "35 Years of Magic" celebrations. The parade celebrated the 35th Anniversary in style by paying tribute to carnivals such as Mardi Gras, with it's most memorable addition being giant 40-feet cold air balloons of Mickey Mouse and his other Sensational Six friends.
A version of the Party Gras Parade was also held at Tokyo Disneyland for the park's 8th Anniversary celebrations. The parade wasn't the same as the Californian version, as the balloons were remade especially for this version and rearranged in different orders. Roger Rabbit wasn't even included as a balloon in this version. The parade lasted longer in Tokyo, lasting from April 1991 until April 1993 except for when special events were held at the park (eg, Christmas).
Disneyland Version[]
Party Gras Parade and Jungle Book Pre-parade, Disneyland
Pre-Parade[]
A pre-parade featuring characters such as Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, The Three Little Pigs, The Big Bad Wolf, Alice, Pinocchio, Geppetto, Penguin Waiters, Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, Br'er Bear and Eeyore appears prior to the parade heading into the scene, and is lead by a chosen band fitting to the theme. The amount of characters featured depends on the day.
Mickey's Unit[]
The parade begins with a stage-styled staircase float decorated with confetti and purple streamers, all while the parade's name appears on top. Mickey Mouse and Pluto take the stage as they dance their best jigs. Connecting the float is the parade's trademark highlight, a large Sorcerer Mickey balloon, depicting the big cheese about to prepare a magical party spell. This is followed up with a large Donald Duck balloon, where the duck prepares to party as he gets his usual blue outfit covered in confetti and streamers, and swaps his usual sailor's hat for a party hat. The last float connecting it together is another stage staircase float, this time featuring King Leonidas, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
Goofy's Unit[]
Goofy's unit celebrates Comedia carnivals. The unit features two jester minifloats pulled by performers, each surrounding a large pullfloat of a Jester. Using special puppetry, he can lip-sync to the lyrics of the Party Gras song. The unit's staircase stage float features Goofy taking stage, while two Hippos appear on the side. Connecting it all is the biggest laugh of the parade - the giant balloon of Goofy, as he swaps his usual orange shirt and black vest for something much more Hawaiian.
Pluto's Unit[]
Pluto's unit represents underwater carnivals. It begins with a staircase stage float connected to the Goofy balloon from the previous unit, which features Tick-Tock the Crocodile and Chip and Dale. Two crab pullfloats surround a large fish pullfloat ridden on by the newest Disney star at the time, Ariel. The main staircase stage float features Donald Duck and Daisy Duck, and surrounding them above is a giant drum-sitting balloon of Pluto.
Minnie's Unit[]
The last unit begins with another staircase stage float connected to the Pluto balloon, featuring Panchito Pistoles and José Carioca. Two pullfloats representing pineapples surround a float of a colorful eagle, with none other than Minnie Mouse riding high. The last of the main Staircase Stage floats soon rolls onto the scene, with Perla and Suzy riding at front. Connecting together this time is a large balloon of Minnie Mouse, who adorns a fruit suit. The last of the giant balloons to roll onto the scene is of Roger Rabbit. The parade ends with the last staircase stage float identical to that of the very first float in the parade, featuring the parade's logo. This is ridden on by Roger Rabbit and Tigger.
Show Mode[]
Three times throughout the route, the floats would stop and engage within it's "show mode". The performers and characters would begin to dance along with the music and party. The finale saw the Donald, Goofy and Pluto balloons rotate and spin, and it ended with a final blast of confetti and streamers over the rooftops of Main Street, U.S.A. to end off the party (although this wasn't always featured).
Tokyo Disneyland Version[]
Party Gras Parade `91(High-resolution)
Comedia Unit[]
Donald, Daisy, and Scrooge start off the parade on a character float with the parade's title on the top. This is then followed by the Donald Duck balloon, wearing a party hat and starry suit sitting on a drum. Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum, the Queen of Hearts, and the King of Hearts all stand on the balloon float.
A jester head float being pulled by performers follows on to the next character float with Goofy as the host and a huge jester (similar to the one at Disneyland, but it is static), and then followed by the Goofy balloon, wearing a starry T-Shirt and a party hat, The float is ridden by several performers, alongside Dumbo.
Aquatic Unit[]
The Aquatic Unit is the largest out of all the units in the parade. It starts off with various performers in giant shell and fish costumes and then is followed by a band, and then a hand-pulled crab float. Mickey's character float follows, hosted by Mickey and many performers. This is then followed by the huge Mickey Mouse balloon, (which is, in fact, the same and original design that was going to be used in the American version but was scrapped in favor of Sorcerer Mickey) wearing a colorful collared shirt and sitting on a drum, with the float full of penguins from Mary Poppins. Flounder and Sebastian follow the Mermaid float, featuring an assortment of mermaids, with Ariel sitting in the giant clam. Following on is a character float with just performers on, due to it still being themed as an underwater carnival.
Tropical Unit[]
This unit starts off with the Pluto balloon itself, otherwise identical to the Disneyland version, but is wearing a flower lei. This float is big enough to hold Pluto himself and several performers.
Following on is a fruit cart being pulled by performers, and then the character float with Minnie as the host and is themed as a giant pineapple, and then followed by the Minnie Mouse balloon, identical to the Disneyland version, but a little different. The float features some Ostriches from Fantasia on the front and The Three Little Pigs on the back. The Parade ends with a character float featuring Chip, Dale, some performers, and the Hippos from Fantasia.
Show Mode[]
As with the Disneyland version, the Tokyo Disneyland version also has a show mode. The parade stops four times throughout the route, and with that all five balloons begin to rotate and spin and various Disney songs are played.
After being replaced[]
After the parade ended, the balloon floats were placed in storage. They were soon relocated to the Magic Kingdom and were reused for the 20th Anniversary Surprise Celebration Parade the following year, and remained in use until 1994.
The float bases for this parade were reused for Celebration USA!.
Gallery (Disneyland)[]
Trivia[]
- Mickey's Balloon is disprotinate from his actual Sorcerer appearance, as his cloak is a blue/purple color instead of it's usual red.
- The Party Gras Parade appears in "The Character Parade" in the 1990 Disney's Sing Along Songs home video, Disneyland Fun, but the footage for the parade is actually from the music video. Extra footage of the Party Gras Parade's music video can be seen on YouTube.[1]
- The giant balloons were filled with cold air, and reached heights of up to 45 feet.
References[]
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