Keeping in the tradition of the Main Street Electrical Parade, a past Disneyland favorite, this parade opens with a Blue Fairy, slightly redesigned than the MSEP one, and this time riding on clouds. The parade itself has very little story line, however there is a common theme of "Noah's Ark." In the recent release of Fantasia 2000, there was a Noah's Ark segment which starred Donald and Daisy Duck. Sure enough, Donald and Daisy are the first characters we in the parade after the Blue Fairy.
The Noah's Ark part of Fantasia 2000 was put to Elgar's famous Pomp and Circumstance Marches. (There is much more to this piece than what you usually hear at graduations!) Keeping with that theme, the 45 Years of Magic Parade is backed by Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance as a soundtrack. However, there are other elements of Fantasia 2000 in this parade. To the left, you see the Whale float. This comes from the segment of Fantasia 2000 based on Resphegi's Pines of Rome, in which these friendly whales take flight into the sky. Certainly a dramatic point in Fantasia 2000, and a fun element to be added into this parade.
Don't think that this parade is based solely on Fantasia 2000. All your favorite Disney characters are featured as well. Some walk by you in choreographed dance, and others are on their own floats, like Simba here from the Lion King, who is being pulled in his golden chariot by two golden giraffes. Other characters present include Donald and Daisy, Belle, Tarzan, Mickey, Goofy, Minnie, Pluto, and Chip and Dale, just to name a few. Perhaps one of the most fun elements of this parade is the audience participation. Prior to the show, families are chosen from the audience to go back stage, learn some quick choreography, get in costume and then participate in the parade with the other dancing characters. This makes this parade especially personable and entertaining. Should you want your family to participate, simply take a seat on the Hub on Main Street (the area where Walt's statue is) about an hour before the parade is to start and look very friendly.
This parade runs the usual parade route on Main Street. Starting from the staging area next to "It's a Small World" in Fantasyland, and continuing down Main Street for the first performance. For the second performance of the day, the parade runs back towards Small World from Main Steet (by the Train Station), back to the original staging area, ready for the next day's shows. It is suggested that you arrive about an hour to 45 minutes early to claim your spot on Main Street to view the parade from. Depending on the crowds in the park, you may need to arrive eariler.