SHOWS AND PARADES
Fantasmic is an evening live action show that takes place on the Rivers of America. It is a wonderful show with many of the Disney characters, animation on a screen made of jets of water, and fireworks. It can be too intense for very young children, but for all others it is a very enjoyable. Daily, there are two parades along the route between Main Street, U.S.A. and "it's a small world." At 9:25 nightly, Disneyland puts on its famous fireworks show. There are many other shows at Disneyland as well.
CHARACTERS
Disney characters, who greet visitors, interact with children, and pose for photos, can be found wandering the park. Some characters have specific areas where they are scheduled to appear, but also can be found wandering as well. One reason Mickey's Toontown was created was so that there would be a place for Mickey Mouse to always be available to greet guests in his own house.
Periodically through recent decades (and most recently during the summers of 2005 and 2006), Mickey Mouse has climbed the Matterhorn attraction several times a day with the support of his friends Minnie, Goofy, and some Disneyland guests. Other mountain climbers could also be seen on the Matterhorn from time to time. As of Spring 2007, Mickey and his "toon" friends no longer climb the Matterhorn but the climbing program continues.
DAILY CEREMONIES
Every evening at dusk, there is a flag ceremony to lower the American Flag for the day.
THE DISNEYLAND BAND
The Disneyland Band, which has been part of the park since its opening, plays the role of the Town Band on Main Street, U.S.A. It also breaks out into smaller groups like the Main Street Strawhatters, the Hook and Ladder Co., and the Pearly Band in Fantasyland.
FANTASMIC!
Fantasmic! is a popular multimedia nighttime show hosted by Mickey Mouse which debuted in 1992. The presentation is made at the Laffite's Tavern end of Pirate's Lair at Tom Sawyer Island and uses the Rivers of America as part of the stage. It uses Frontierland and New Orleans Square as the spectator arena.
It consists of synchronized lighting and special effects, with floating barges, the Mark Twain Riverboat, the Sailing Ship Columbia, fountains, lasers, fireworks, thirty-foot-tall "mist screens" upon which animated scenes are projected, and an automated forty-five foot fire-breathing dragon.
FIREWORKS
Remember...Dreams Come True fireworks show at night. Elaborate fireworks shows synchronized with Disney songs and often an appearance by Peter Pan's character Tinker Bell. Recent presentations have become more elaborate, featuring new pyrotechnics, launch techniques and story lines. In 2004, Disneyland introduced a new air launch pyrotechnics system, reducing ground level smoke and noise and decreasing negative environmental impacts. At the time the technology debuted, Disney announced it would donate the patents to a non-profit organization.
1958-1999 Fantasy in the Sky
2000-2003 Believe... There's Magic in the Stars
2004-2005 Imagine... A Fantasy in the Sky
2005-Present Remember... Dreams Come True
During the Holiday Season, there is a special fireworks presentation called, Believe... In Holiday Magic which has been running since 2000 to present, except a short hiatus in 2005.
THE GOLDEN HORSESHOE REVUE
The Golden Horseshoe Saloon offers a live stage show with a frontier or old-west feel. The Golden Horseshoe Revue is an old-west Vaudeville type of show starring Slue Foot (or Sluefoot) Sue and Pecos Bill. It ran until the mid-1980s, when it was replaced by a similar show starring Lily Langtree (or Miss Lily) and Sam the Bartender. Most recently, Billy Hill and the Hillbillies have played their guitars and banjos in a bluegrass-and-comedy show. Additionally, in front of the Golden Horsehose Saloon, The Laughing Stock Co. enacts small humorous skits with an old-west theme.
PARADES
Disneyland has always had parades that have marched down Main Street. There are several daytime and nighttime parades that celebrate Disney films or seasonal holidays with characters, music, and large floats. One of the most popular parades was the Main Street Electrical Parade (now at Disney's California Adventure as the Disney's Electrical Parade). Debuting in May 2005 as part of the Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams is presented, celebrating several of the classic Disney stories including The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Alice in Wonderland, and Pinocchio. During the holiday season, Disneyland presents "A Christmas Fantasy" parade.
TOMORROWLAND TERRACE
The Tomorrowland Terrace is a stage in Tomorrowland. It is a two story stage where the lower stage rises from below with dramatic effect. It was popular in the 1960s with music performers of the day. Over the years, it was eventually replaced with Club Buzz, a Buzz Lightyear themed stage and show featuring the space character from the Toy Story movies. In 2006, it was restored to the Tomorrowland Terrace with the same style and design as the original. It is now home to the Jedi Training Academy interactive stage show where children are chosen as Jedi padawan and taught how to use a Lightsaber. Each child then has the opportunity to face either Darth Vader or Darth Maul. Recently, local bands have returned to play in the evenings, just as Tomorrowland Terrace hosted in the 1960s.
OTHER PERFORMERS
Various other unscheduled street performers play and sing throughout the park, including:
The various Main Street Piano Player play at Corner Cafe, also known as "Coke Corner" on Main Street;
The Dapper Dans barbershop quartet often sings on Main Street;
The Firehouse Five Plus Two was originally a band comprised of WED Imagineers can be found on Main Street. The Firehouse Five began at the peak of the California revival of traditional jazz - owing as much to vaudeville as it does to New Orleans jazz, it invoked the spirit of America's early popular music;
Various bands in New Orleans Square, often with a jazz influence;
A band of pirates that sing and play with the theme of the Pirates of the Caribbean;
A STOMP like group performs using trashcans in Tomorrowland;
Merlin, appears in Fantasyland several times a day to help some lucky child pull the sword from an anvil and stone; and
Alice in Wonderland characters staging a wacky game of "Musical Chairs" either at "Coke Corner" or the porch of the Plaza Inn daily.
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