What’s happening, Disney?! Main Street, U.S.A. is closed in the Magic Kingdom, the Festival of Fantasy parade is canceled, and the park is completely sold out of Park Pass reservations. Something BIG is happening!
Holidays in Disney World
Well, there’s actually a perfectly reasonable explanation for it all. On November 9th, Disney’s ABC film crews were spotted in Magic Kingdom. Now that the holiday season is here, we know exactly what’s going on: ABC is filming for the annual Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade! Want to see what a sold-out park looks like on the first day of filming? Let’s take a look!
We arrived at Magic Kingdom bright and early and noticed that the My Disney Experience app stated, “There are no showtimes today” for the Festival of Fantasy parade. But don’t worry, something even BETTER will happen in its place.
©Disney
Additionally, our view of the Cinderella Castle looked different. The castle area was blocked by bushes, and there were large lights pointed towards the stage.
The Cinderella Castle looks different!
Here’s a closer peek at the stage. Hey, it looks like a crew of Cast Members was hard at work preparing the stage!
Film crew in Magic Kingdom
It really felt like we were getting a behind-the-scenes look at how the show is made!
How interesting!
Now, what exactly is Disney filming? Each year, Disney airs a special show on ABC to celebrate the holidays! In fact, the show is described as an “annual Christmas celebration with heartwarming stories, dazzling celebrity performances and of course, the Christmas Day Parade!” It’s our one chance to see the iconic Once Upon a Christmastime Parade on TV. On November 9th, Disney was filming a daytime performance of its Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Once Upon a Christmastime parade.
Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
Naturally, most people tried to stake out a spot on Main Street, U.S.A., before the parade, but Disney had other plans. Around noon, Cast Members started directing people away from Main Street. The area was reserved for Cast Members who registered for special parade viewing.
Crowds in The Emporium store
Main Street, U.S.A. was totally closed off to those without special parade access. Luckily, Frontierland and Liberty Square were open for anyone in the park to catch the parade. If you head over to Frontierland, you’ll have a great view of the parade; in fact, the parade starts next to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, so you’ll be among the first to see the show.
Frontierland parade viewing
We caught the show over in Liberty Square! Now, here’s something important to keep in mind. This year, Disney handled the filming differently. In the past, both Cast Members AND Magic Kingdom guests were able to watch the parade from Main Street. This year, Main Street was closed to only the crew and the Cast Members who signed up. Everyone else who wanted to watch the parade had to watch it along the route through Frontierland and Liberty Square, so it was SUPER crowded.
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
Our view was still pretty good, but as you can see, the area was packed with people.
Hi!
If you happen to be in Magic Kingdom during the ABC filming, be warned! The park will be crowded, and you’ll have to get a spot along the parade route well in advance. In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.
EVERYWHERE You Can Find Free Cookies and Hot Cocoa at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas PartyÂ
DON'T MISS A MOMENT
OF HOLIDAY MAGIC
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MORE Disney World Holiday INFO!
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Get All the Details About Disney Jollywood Nights
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Do you watch this parade on Christmas Day? Let us know in the comments!
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Is this temporary? Because I’m going there in a couple months, and it’ll be my birthday then. I don’t want any part of Magic Kingdom to be closed off.
I used to but not any more. I find it extremely boring now. Back in the day it was a wonderful show. But now they jump between Disneyland and Walt Disney World. There are young singers and groups that most adults have never heard of. They ruin Christmas carols and Christmas songs that have been around for years and years because they think it’s okay to rewrite the tune and/or the lyrics. Those songs are classics for a reason. The Annual Disney Christmas Parade on ABC television is no longer watched in my house. That annual tradition has died. I know things change, but sometimes that change is not a positive one.
Hi Jacob! It is a temporary closure.