Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade (previously known as Share a Dream Come True Parade in 2001 and Disney Dreams Come True Parade in 2006) was the daytime parade at the Magic Kingdom park in the Walt Disney World.
“Hello everyone and welcome. This is Julie Andrews and I'd like to tell you a story. In 1901, a little boy named Walt Disney was born and a dream began. The dream of imagination that today, 100 years later, has touched every one of our lives. I once had the privilege to know the dreamer, Walt Disney. His imagination inspired and built his dreams into reality for all of us to share and he made them practically perfect in every way. Today we celebrate and share the legacy of Walt Disney filled with pixie dust, princesses, fairy tales, and fantasies and above all the magic of dreams. (children's chorus sings Sharing a Dream Come True. A child enthusiastically announces) And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, the Magic Kingdom proudly presents the Share a Dream Come True Parade.”
The Share a Dream Come True Parade was one of two main attractions at the Magic Kingdom during the 100 Years of Magic Celebration, the other being the Cinderella's Surprise Celebration stage show. The parade was shown daily, and featured unique snow globe-style floats which, during show stops, would fill up with Pixie Dust to simulate a snow effect.
By April 2004, following an incident that led to the death of a cast member (mentioned below), the show stops were removed entirely alongside the Princess unit, being replaced with the park's long-lived Castle staircase float.
Show Mode
During the 100 Years of Magic celebrations, the floats would stop at certain points along the route. Each float had a separate music score which consisted of the 'We Share a Dream Come True' theme, as well as music from each of the movies represented on the floats. Several special effects were used, such as confetti and moving parts on the floats, e.g., a rotating carousel rising inside the Peter Pan float. The show stops were originally around 4 minutes long, but were soon shortened to around 2 minutes, mostly cutting out character dialogue.
Disney Dreams Come True Parade
From August 2006 - January 2009, the parade became the Disney Dreams Come True Parade, tying into the Year of a Million Dreams celebration held at the park. While the parade was the same as before, it did see some cosmetic changes; namely that the snow globes were removed from the floats, and the Princesses float was reinserted, appearing after the Peter Pan float and before the castle float, which now closed the parade with Fab Five characters on it, all of who wore their Year of a Million Dreams outfits and occasionally their normal park outfits. A new soundtrack, previously used for Disney's Dreams On Parade: Moving On at Tokyo Disneyland, was added.
Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade
From January 2009, the parade was known as the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade, this time tying into the What Will You Celebrate? campaign. Most changes were seen with Mickey's float and the Castle float, which now had a large party feel. Many of the characters on the street were replaced with generic dancers. Show Stops also returned for this incarnation, until being removed in October 2009.
During the Share show stop, the globe fills with and park guests fill the streets to the "Mickey Mouse Club March".
In the Celebrate parade, Mickey's float was refurbished with an extensive party theme, making it appear as though a present exploded on it. All of the Mickey Mouse statues were removed, but Minnie Mouse joined him on the float. In August 2009, Chip, Dale and Pluto were added as street characters, moving off the castle float. In August 2010, Donald Duck, Goofy, Lilo, Stitch, Woody, and Jessie were all added as well, moving away from the same unit.
Wish Upon a Star
Based on the 1940 animated film Pinocchio and the 1937 animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, this unit represents the messages that Walt Disney's earliest animated films convey. It is led off by the Donkey boys and Honest John and Gideon. Pinocchio stands atop the platform/snowglobe, with his father Geppetto, the Blue Fairy (2001-2005), and Jiminy Cricket (2005-2014) beneath him. On the back of his wooden-looking float/snowglobe Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs follow along.
During the Share showstop, the globe fills with snow and park guests fill the streets to songs from the two films.
In the Celebrate version, all of the Seven Dwarfs except Dopey were cut, as were Foulfellow and Gideon, and the donkey boys. Foulfellow and Gideon returned in August 2009, and Geppetto was brought onto the street.
In the original float, Aladdin sat inside a snow globe, but when it became Dreams Come True, his carpet now floats over the city of Agrabah.
The Celebrate parade added Bert to the back of the float with Mary Poppins. In August 2009, Winnie the Pooh was removed and his location was covered, and Genie, Jafar (originally in the villains unit), and Abu were added as street characters.
Face Your Darkest Fears (2001-2009)
Focusing on the Disney Villains, the unit is exactly as what the title implies. With a very grim, evil-feeling nature; the float has the Evil Queen atop the float. Down beneath her is a selection of villains which changes now and then, including the likes of Cruella De Vil, Maleficent, Jafar, and Ursula. Chernabog rests its arms on (originally) the snowglobe top or the current arch. Instead of the snowglobe, the Queen was given an arch and a bookcase filled with Evil Spells. Originally, this unit was preceded by Wendy Darling and the Lost Boys, but was later replaced with Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, and their pirates. Governor Ratcliffe and Frollo have also appeared in this unit.
The float saw no change when it became Celebrate, and was removed entirely by August 2009; although it can still be seen in Mickey's Boo-to-You Halloween Parade. Many of the characters on this float were then moved to the street.
As Long as There is Imagination Left in the World
The former finale unit, then the fifth one, and later the fourth one, this unit represents the message that Walt Disney's dream will never be complete. The float depicts a large crystal castle with a carousel of Disney characters, with a snowglobe on top. Peter Pan is the main host of the unit, and tags along with Minnie Mouse, Goofy, and Donald Duck. Preceiding the unit on foot are Chip and Dale, Pluto, Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, Br'er Fox, Br'er Bear, Rafiki, Baloo, and Meeko. For a brief period in 2003, Daisy Duck, Lilo and Stitch also appeared as street characters. Sometimes, the characters on the float itself might vary, with one performance having Max Goof in place of Donald.
In April 2004, Minnie, Donald and Goofy moved to the street and Wendy Darling took their place. The Sensational Six characters were removed entirely when it became DDCT.
When the parade became Celebrate, Alice and The Mad Hatter joined Peter and Wendy on the float. In August 2009, Captain Hook and Mr. Smee (originally in the villains unit) were added as street characters.
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes/Happily Ever After
This unit at one point was the fifth unit in the parade. The multi-tiered float featured Cinderella, Prince Charming, and Fairy Godmother on the first float, Belle and Beast on the second, and Ariel and Prince Eric on the third. Each float had a piece of scenery to evoke images of the movie. Bridesmaids appeared on the street.
In April 2004, all the floats except Cinderella's were removed after a cast member was killed underneath the float. The princesses were moved to the castle float to make up for it.
When the parade became Celebrate, the bridesmaids and characters were replaced by generic dancers, but in June 2009, Perla and Suzy, along with Lady Tremaine, Anastasia Tremaine, and Drizella Tremaine, were added as street characters. In August 2010, all the floats, aside from Cinderella's, were removed entirely with the Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid characters moving to the Castle float once again. Cinderella's float also saw a makeover with a heavy blue feel.
Once Upon a Dream/A Kingdom of Dreams/Celebrate Today
Depicting a large staircase rendition of Cinderella Castle, this "infamous" float has been used since the 1984 Fantasy on Parade. The float was reinstated in April 2004 following the orpomentioned accident, and housed characters from Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Sleeping Beauty including Ariel, Prince Eric, Belle, Beast, Aurora, Prince Phillip and Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. It was still led by some of the bridesmaids, but were scaled back.
During the DDCT makeover, as the original princess float was reinstated, the Castle float featured the Sensational Six characters; namely Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Pluto, Chip and Dale. During the very end of the parade's run in December 2008-January 2009, Mickey also appeared on this float as his float was being refurbished.
For Celebrate!, the float saw the addition of Mickey balloons, as well as various cloud and castle decor. Goofy, Donald, Chip, Dale and Pluto initially rode on the float; but in August 2009 Pluto, Chip, and Dale became street characters in the opening unit and were replaced with Baloo and King Louie, while Woody, Jessie, Lilo Pelekai, and Stitch were added as street characters. In August 2010, with the removal of the princess float; all of the existing characters were moved out and became street characters in the opening unit as well; and Ariel, Eric, Belle, Beast, Aurora and Phillip were reinstated. Tiana and Prince Naveen were also added to the float.
Unit Layout
Time Period
1st unit
2nd unit
3rd unit
4th unit
5th unit
6th unit
7th unit
8th unit
October 2001-April 2004
Title Float
It Was All Started by a Mouse
Wish Upon a Star
A Hundred Thousand Dreams to See
Face Your Darkest Fears
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
As Long as There is Imagination Left in the World
April 2004-2006
Title Float
It Was All Started by a Mouse
Wish Upon a Star
A Hundred Thousand Dreams to See
Face Your Darkest Fears
As Long as There is Imagination Left in the World
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella portion)
Once Upon a Dream
August 2006-January 2009
Title Float
It Was All Started by a Mouse
Wish Upon a Star
A Hundred Thousand Dreams to See
Face Your Darkest Fears
As Long as There is Imagination Left in the World
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
A Kingdom of Dreams
January - August 2009
Title Banner and Grand Marshal Car
Celebrate Today! (Mickey and Minnie)
Wish Upon a Star
A Hundred Thousand Dreams to See
Face Your Darkest Fears
As Long as There is Imagination Left in the World
Happily Ever After
Celebrate Today! (Castle)
August 2009-August 2010
Title Banner and Grand Marshal Car
Celebrate Today! (Mickey and Minnie)
Wish Upon a Star
A Hundred Thousand Dreams to See
As Long as There is Imagination Left in the World
Happily Ever After
Celebrate Today! (Castle)
August 2010-January 2014
Grand Marshal Car and Title Banner
Celebrate Today! (Mickey and Minnie)
Wish Upon a Star
A Hundred Thousand Dreams to See
As Long as There is Imagination Left in the World
Happily Ever After (Cinderella)
Celebrate Today!/A Kingdom of Dreams (Castle)
Music
All the music in the show was recorded in London by members of the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra[1] conducted by David T. Clydesdale, and was composed by Gavin Greenaway. It consisted of the main theme called "Fantasy", as well as the Share a Dream Come True theme used for the 100 Years of Magic celebration. All audio is controlled through DTMF tones transmitted by RF signals from the antennas on Cinderella Castle to each unit. Each unit has its own audio themed to the unit, with the main parade theme played on the zone speakers. All the music from this parade can be found on the Magic in the Streets: Parade Memories CD. This theme later become theme song of Imagine... A Fantasy in the Sky, the fireworks show at Disneyland from November 1, 2004 to April 30, 2005.
