Parades are back at Walt Disney World with the return of the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom

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Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade returns March 9 2022

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Posted: Wednesday March 9, 2022 1:21pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World welcomed back large-scale parades today with the long-awaited return of the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade.

Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade returns March 9 2022

The parade features most of the original floats, including the fire-breathing steampunk Maleficent unit. The Brave unit is missing, with Merida now taking part int he Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade. It is also apparent that a number of performers between the floats are missing compared to the pre-pandemic version totaling approximately 40 performers.

Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade returns March 9 2022

Watch the video below for a look at the very first showing of the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade since the shutdown.

During the upcoming spring break period, the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade is performed twice per day, at 11:30am and 2:30pm. The second showing means that guests park hopping at 2pm will be able to catch the parade.

Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade returns March 9 2022

The parade steps off in Frontierland, passes through the hub, along Main Street U.S.A. to the train station, ending in Town Square.

Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade returns March 9 2022

See more pictures of the return of Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade.

Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade returns March 9 2022

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TTA9411 days ago

I’m sure they can grab some artist off Sirius XM BPM 🤣.

ToTBellHop11 days ago

Yeah I imagine he’d take their call. Maybe they could offer 3 nights performing at F&W to sweeten the deal. Not quite washed up enough for F&G.

𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖗9711 days ago

My dark horse pick here is Andy Grammer. He's faded enough into semi-obscurity to be affordable, probably.

jrhwdw11 days ago

Would be nice if The Whole MK Parade Department got TLC next year!!!!! Yes, I know it may not be at D23, but It Should Be, IMO!!!!!!!!!

ToTBellHop11 days ago

Not, it’s not. They don’t make things like that for MK and haven’t for years. The only question is: which B-rate pop star you kind of recognize will sing the theme song?

𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖗9712 days ago

Paint the Night was great at Disneyland, but it would feel really tired at MK. They deserve their own. If they're going to go through the operational hurdles of having a nighttime parade, they might as well do it right. They don't want another Harmonious. Obviously Paint the Night is NOT Harmonious, but if they don't do a good job with this, it's going to be very frustrating. I guess I'll take what we can get.

TTA9412 days ago

From what I’ve been gathering on here MK is basically getting PTN, or similar. Of course the question remains if it’s Disneylands, Hong Kong’s or WDWs own set of floats. Hopefully at least the latter and completely different floats.

𝕴𝖒𝖆𝖌𝖎𝖓𝖊𝖊𝖗9712 days ago

Not quite sure I understand this sentence. You mean the parade is NOT in line with the classic MK feel?

ToTBellHop12 days ago

I believe the parade is a go. So it would be on execution of future nighttime shows to be more in line with the classic MK feel many of us remember.

Comped12 days ago

Same as it has been for many, many, many, years...

Starship82412 days ago

Not sure if you can say, but if this is coming next year I would assume they're probably building the floats right now then?

TTA9412 days ago

Course correction on a parade? Or your mean where drones go next? Certainly hope they won’t change course on a parade in favor of a MK drone show.

PREMiERdrum12 days ago

Your point is on, I'll add that the new drone show does dip a bit into the more "classic" style compared to more recent efforts. This was done mostly to appeal to locals Disney die-hards, as the main goal was to increase foot traffic at DS to appease their high-paying tenants. However, if guest feedback (which they certainly be over-collecting) gave them the right signal, we could potentially see a course correction. As it stands though, the directive centers on a catchy, upbeat tune, dazzling visual presentation, and lots of characters.

TTA9412 days ago

Unfortunately from little bits here and there from the night parade thread it does seem like the general consensus is MK is not going to be getting a big grand nighttime parade and more something along the lines of a “party” type cavalcade or PTN in some way shape or form. If so FoF in its current form will fit in 🙄. At least that’s the impression I’m getting. For example this post: