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March 7, 2014

Disney's Festival of Fantasy Debuts Sunday
 
Quick update today. More of a reminder, really. If you want to be one of the first to catch Disney's Festival of Fantasy Parade, be on Main Street, USA at 3pm Sunday.
 As I have mentioned before this is the grandest parade in the Magic Kingdom in decades, and the first totally new parade there in 12+ years.

 In addition to that elaborate, fire-breathing, 53-foot-long Maleficent Dragon float. look for 8 other floats and 100 performers.Some of those performers will be on swings, pendulums and stilts.

Here is Disney's full description of the 7 units in the parade.

Princess Garden - This pageantry of princesses celebrates Disney royalty. Cinderella, Tiana and Belle accompanied by their respective princes, ride in a garden of topiaries with woodland creatures, birds and more. Cinderella's dress playfully twirls like a turntable, while Swan Court couples lead the 50-foot-long majestic float, capped off with a special appearance by Anna and Elsa from Disney's hit animated feature, "Frozen."

Tangled - A massive long ship on the high seas showcases Flynn Rider and Rapunzel in search of adventure and another Best. Day. Ever! Rapunzel's iconic tresses weave throughout this 36-foot-long float decked out with swaying pendulums carrying dastardly thugs.

Little Mermaid - Ariel and her friends sit atop a colorfully kinetic seashell music box that boasts an enchanting musical jubilee. There's no shortage of whimsy on this Under the Sea float with conga dancing fish kicking up their fins and bubbles galore. Shimmering fabrics and intricately designed costumes for the Lion Fish, Coral Fish, Seashell and Sea Horse performers are runway-inspired.

Peter Pan - Straight from Never Land come Peter Pan and Wendy soaring high aboard the famous Jolly Roger pirate ship complete with smoke effects and special surprises. A rainbow arch shines over Skull Rock and Tinker Bell nestled among giant flowers, while Captain Hook takes center stage on a swinging anchor. "Newsies-inspired" Lost Boys kick up their heels to high-energy choreography.


Brave - Celtic couples and a vessel shaped like an enormous bagpipe announce the arrival of Merida perched high on her majestic crown. Scottish dancers step to melodies of the Great Highlands in celebration of the popular Disney*Pixar film, "Brave."

Sleeping Beauty - The heroic Prince Phillip battles a Steampunk-inspired Dragon as the wicked Maleficent. This float stretches 53 feet in length and 26 feet tall with a prickly spinning wheel dead center of the float. With fiery eyes and glowing effects the spectacular dragon was built on an articulating chassis allowing the float to bend and flex as it moves along the parade route - a first for Disney parades. This float was designed in a partnership with Tony Award-winner Michael Curry. There's Prince Phillip, thorn-inspired stilt performers, dramatic raven dancers, plus the three good fairies, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather glide along the parade route.

Finale and Mickey's Airship - The parade culminates with a 90-foot-long magical caravan of characters featuring Pinocchio, Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the Mad Hatter, Pluto and more in a splashy carnival of color. There's Pegasus horses, dancing hippos and sassy Bubble Girls with cotton-candy-like hair celebrating Storybook Circus in New Fantasyland. Sporting zany new costumes Mickey and Minnie Mouse sit sky high in Mickey's Airship - a giant hot air balloon that rounds out Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade.


Again, Festival of Fantasy debuts March 9th at 3pm. Look for it pretty much every day after that.

And remember this is the first full weekend for this year's Edition of the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. Disney Debut Sunday. Vern Yip of HGTV's "Design Star" is featured at the Designers Stage presentations in the festival center through the weekend.
 
Here's a  link to what's new, including the featured dishes at the 11 "Outdoor Kitchens."


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