When Southern California Disney fans (like me) heard the news, back in August, about the Main Street Electrical Parade returning “home” to Disneyland Park for its encore performance at the start of 2017, we were all beyond ecstatic!
Although the “Paint the Night” parade is also a big fan favorite at Disneyland, there are so many Disney lovers that deeply cherish the Main Street Electrical Parade and have longed for it to return since it “glowed away” from Disneyland on November 25, 1996. 
The older generations of Disney fans remember this classic nighttime parade because we saw it during its originally run down Main Street, U.S.A. inside Disneyland, in its original “home”. Others have either seen in another Disney Park or have possibly just been told about it from their parents. Whatever the case, the little kid in me comes out as soon as I hear the first synthesized tune of “Baroque Hoedown” start to play the theme song for Main Street Electrical Parade. When I watched the TV spot for its return, my eyes immediately welled up with happy tears. Watch it here:
I was so honored to be invited to attend a very special preview and premiere of the parade, the night before it was scheduled to start the official limited time run of its encore performance on January 20, 2017. (It will only be here through June 18, 2017).
It was a magical night and for some reason, the Southern California rain, which had been pouring for a couple of days, suddenly halted for a few hours so that the 9 p.m. parade could take place. I had a case of the giggles as I sat on the curb in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A., with some of my friends, waiting for it to start. 
Before long, the parade lights lit up nice and brightly, and we could see the front of the Main Street Electrical Parade making its way towards us in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A.. (It began all the way down by “It’s a Small World“.)
The iconic floats illuminated the parade route and were led by the train that Goofy’s driving. Minnie and Mickey Mouse are also aboard this train greeting guests, all along the parade route. The train is pulling the drum which has a lit up text that says “Disneyland Presents Main Street Electrical Parade”. 
It gave me all the feels to see it say “Disneyland” again, as the last time I had the pleasure of watching this parade, it was at Walt Disney World.
The Main Street Electrical Parade includes 22 floats in all, which is 10 more than the original parade which only included 12. You’ll find characters in the parade from 7 different Disney films including “Alice in Wonderland”, “Cinderella”, “Peter Pan”, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, “Pinocchio”, “Dumbo”, and “Pete’s Dragon”.
In addition to the floats, there are about 80 parade performers, some of which are adorned in lighted costumes. There are also 27 beloved Disney characters that perform as part of this parade including Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Cinderella, Tinker Bell, Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and more!
It’s such a great time to plan a visit to the Disneyland Resort now, especially with the limited-time return of the Main Street Electrical Parade. If you haven’t seen the SoCal Resident Discounted Ticket offer, it allows you to purchase park tickets at amazing prices, for a limited time. For more information about these tickets, go here.
The Main Street Electrical Parade’s stay at Disneyland is only for a limited time so be sure to get there to see it (at least once) before June 18th! Do you have childhood memories of this special parade? Share with me in the comments. I hope to see you in the Parks!
This is such a great offer and just in time to enjoy the upcoming 
Here are some of the important details relating to the 3-Day SoCal Resident Promotional Ticket with Magic Morning offer:
Accompanied by treasured Disney tunes interwoven with the distinctive “Baroque Hoedown”
A whimsical train pulls a giant drum unit that proclaims “Disneyland Presents … Main Street Electrical Parade” in bright lights.
Some of the parade’s most impressive scenes are the 23-foot-tall Clock Tower looming over Cinderella’s Ball, attended by elegant ballroom dancers in costumes covered with lights; and the 108-foot-long finale unit, a red-white-and-blue tribute to America. Elliot, the smoke-breathing, 2 tail-wagging “Pete’s Dragon,” weighs more than 5,600 pounds and is 16 feet tall, more than 10 feet wide and 38 feet long. Guests will need to keep an eye out for Elliot, who disappears from time to time along the route. 
The Main Street Electrical Parade was performed more than 3,600 times for more than 75
Guests who wish to be among the first to welcome the parade back to Disneyland may
Now through January 8, guests at the Resort will find many different experiences and offerings. Although it’s possible to see it all in one day, I recommend purchasing a 2-day Park Hopper (or more days) so you can take your time because there’s a lot to see and do. 
Here’s my own personal guide to the Holidays at Disneyland Resort.
Festival of Holidays
With so many little food and drink themed houses set up in the Festive Foods Marketplace, it’s a foodie’s holiday dream come true! If you’ve ever been to the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot, it may remind you of that. It’s so much fun to go “house to house” and sample different beers, wines and savory & sweet treats! Check out the Complete Guide to Festive Eats 
Another fun part about the Festival of Holidays are the craft tables set up around the park. Kids can sit and spend time learning about different traditional holidays celebrated around the world and make a craft, card, or ornament to take home with them.
Entertainment during Festival of Holidays
The popular Disney ¡Viva Navidad! is sure to wow you as it also returns as part of the fun at Festival of Holidays.
There”ll also be a wonderful finale to celebrate Three Kings Day (Dia de los Reyes).The special festivities for Three Kings Day will run Jan. 5-8, 2017, including music and storytelling in Paradise Garden. Treats for this holiday will include traditional Rosca de Reyes bread.
Meet Elena of Avalor
Santa at Redwood Creek Trails 
When you enter the area, a Cast Member will give you a fun guide to help you find Santa and join in on some fun Elf Games.
“World of Color—Season of Light”
At the top of Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll find twinkling lights, festive holiday garland and nearly 1,800 ornaments decorate the soaring Christmas tree in Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A.. It’s an ideal place for guests to begin their holiday traditions. The Christmas tree becomes an enchanting place for guests to take their holiday photos, up close or with all 60 feet of the shimmering tree.
The classic Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle brightens the park nightly with magical snowfall moments along Main Street, U.S.A., concluding with “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks and its stirring snowfall finale.
Specially Transformed-for-the-Holidays Attractions 
Guests at Disneyland Park can enjoy the one-of-a-kind transformations that create “it’s a small world” Holiday, Jingle Cruise and Haunted Mansion Holiday. Now celebrating its 20th holiday season, “it’s a small world” Holiday has added some “Hidden 20s” for guests to discover on their voyage.
“It’s a Christmas Fantasy” Parade
Santa, who makes a jolly appearance in the parade, also will be found welcoming guests at his special location in Critter Country while he visits Disneyland.
There’s so much to see and do during Holidays at the Disneyland Resort and it’s a perfect time to create new family memories together! For more information, please visit 
A very special thank you to Disneyland Resort for hosting our family for a festive day in the parks
Holidays at the Disneyland Resort is a time many guests celebrate as an annual tradition,
At Disneyland Park will enjoy the one-of-a-kind transformations that create “it’s a small world” Holiday, Jingle Cruise and Haunted Mansion Holiday. Now celebrating its 20th holiday season, “it’s a small world” Holiday has added some “Hidden 20s” for guests to discover on their voyage.
Haunted Mansion becomes Haunted Mansion Holiday, with Jack Skellington
Jungle Cruise is transformed into Jingle Cruise, as the jungle skippers gather
There’s so much to see and do during Holidays at the Disneyland Resort and it’s a perfect time to create new family memories together! For more information, please visit 
The walk route is filled with Disney magic, including entertainment and the world-famous characters and gives you the opportunity to experience the magic of being in the Parks before they’re open to regular guests. 
As the largest and most unique single fundraising pediatric walk event in the nation, last year’s walk raised more than $2.5 million dollars for the hospital’s KidsCare Fund bringing the quarter-century total to over $26 million. Now in its 26th year, the 2016 walk promises to be extra “spooktacular” as it occurs on Halloween weekend this year and will be packed with fun for the whole family! 
With your help, this goal can definitely by made and hopefully surpassed! There are a few different ways that YOU can help! First of all, you, yourself, can participate in the CHOC Walk. (
CHOC Walk participants also have the opportunity to attend the 2nd annual CHOC Walk Ambassadors’ Luau, the afternoon before the walk, on Saturday, October 29 at at the Disneyland® Hotel’s Adventure Lawn. The luau is hosted by CHOC Walk Ambassadors, past and present, as a way to raise additional funds for the CHOC Walk in the Park and celebrate the courage and strength that they, and thousands of other CHOC patients and families, have shown during their medical journeys. 
This special Polynesian-themed event for the whole family will be the perfect way to celebrate the day before the CHOC Walk. The event will feature activities for attendees of all ages, including: special photographs with Disney® characters; tattoos by Kaman’s Art Shoppe; Ambassadors’ silent auction; delicious luau-inspired dinner; authentic Polynesian entertainment with special appearances by Tupua Productions, Loa Greyson, Jerome Grey, Halau Hula Lani Ola and “Auntie” and an exciting finale featuring world-famous Polynesian fire dancers! Guests will also enjoy a dash of Disney magic with a special visit from artist Jimmy Mulligan. This year’s master of ceremony will be KTLA’s Henry DiCarlo. To purchase tickets for the luau, visit 
Today I’m sharing 10 things you should check out while you’re at Disneyland Resort during Halloween Time!
Since the majority of the Halloween Time fun is inside Disneyland Park, that’s where we actually spent our day. You should definitely take a photo in front of the giant Mickey Mouse Pumpkin, which is located in Town Square. 
As you skip down Main Street, you’ll see the Main Street Pumpkin Festival. where you’ll find so many adorable and unique, hand-carved jack-o-lanterns. They’re up on the rooftops, inside store windows, and hidden in places you’d never expect. You should definitely find the “Elvis” jack-o-lantern. It’s my favorite one this year!
At the end of Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll find the Partners Statue, featuring Walt and Mickey Mouse. Right now, it’s so festive as it’s surrounded by jack-o-lanterns carved with characters in them. Each one is themed to represent a different “land”. I just love the one with Woody on it!
During Halloween Time, you can find several of the characters dressed in their spooktacular Halloween attire. Don’t forget to grab some pics with them and utilize the Resort’s PhotoPass services. The PhotoPass Photographers have ability to capture your magical memories perfectly and they make for great keepsakes of your trip.
I highly recommend grabbing a FASTPASS® early in the day for Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. It’s located in Tomorrowland and doing so will allow you to have at least one ride secured for the day on one of the most popular attractions.
Over in Frontierland, just next to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, you’ll find a special area set up as a tribute to “Dia de los Muertos“. Although this traditional festive celebration for the “Day of the Dead” isn’t something “Halloween” and is more of a celebration honoring those loved ones who have passed away, the Resort includes “Zocalo Park” in the Halloween Time features in Disneyland Park since it’s celebrated immediately after Halloween. The area is absolutely beautiful to visit. . 
The special area has a beautiful display of some cultural art, “calacas” or skeletons, authentic decor, and even face painting. (free of charge.) You can also enjoy special seasonal food offerings at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante.
Another extra popular attraction this time of year is Haunted Mansion Holiday featuring “A Nightmare Before Christmas”. It’s one of the specially transformed attractions during Halloween Time. (It actually stays up through Christmas as well for obvious reasons). 
There are so many special Halloween Time treats and food offerings this time of year, that it would be impossible to try them all. Well, at least to try them all in just one visit. 
The different collectable popcorn buckets that you’ll find at different locations throughout the Parks are one of the more popular keepsakes, as are the travel mugs.
The Jolly Holiday Bakery is a great place to find a bunch of different sweets, as are several other places at the Resort. For a complete list of Halloween Time food offerings, check out what the Disney Parks Blog says
I think the only thing we didn’t really get to conquer was a ride on The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror over in Disney’s California Adventure. I’m dying to ride on it after dark because they offer “Late Check-Out”, an experience guests have never experienced before and a must-do before The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror approaches its final check-out date on January 2, 2017! Late Check-Out is a chance to venture beyond the fifth dimension into complete darkness! It entails free-falling in the attraction’s haunted elevator shaft with all the lights out! You should definitely try to experience this before it goes away forever! 
All of the previous Halloween Time offerings can be experienced during regular park operating hours. The 10th thing I highly suggest you check out though is 
What’s New This Year for Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort?
Spooky Halloween Traditions at Disneyland Park
Mickey’s Halloween Party