NEWS: Enhanced Maleficent Float Returns to Magic Kingdom Parade After Fire

Last May many were shocked to learn that the fabulous Maleficent parade float caught fire. Thankfully, no injuries were reported as a result of the blaze. The parade was promptly closed and Maleficent was ushered back to the Cast Member Only area. (See footage of the fire below). We’re pleased to report that Maleficent is returning to the Magic Kingdom Festival of Fantasy parade today! Catch all the details below.

Here are all the details on the return of the Maleficent float from Disney:

In a signature style befitting one of the most iconic Disney villains, Maleficent makes her triumphant return to Disney’s Festival of Fantasy parade today at the Magic Kingdom. And the big rumor is that she’s had some work done – although she would never admit it.

Still sporting her classic Steampunk style, Maleficent returns in full dragon form, complete with enhanced safety features to keep her in check.

Also making their return to the parade are Prince Phillip; the Fairies Flora, Fauna and Merryweather; and the mischievous “Ravens” who fly around Maleficent just waiting to do her bidding.

Maleficent brings all of her villainy back to the Disney’s Festival of Fantasy parade – just one part of the daily spectacular where enchanting stories and characters from Fantasyland come to life for Magic Kingdom guests.

The fanciful tribute to Fantasyland highlights several new and classic Disney and Pixar stories on a grand scale. There are nearly 100 performers – on stilts, swings and flying rigs – donning vibrant costumes in this lively mini-Broadway cavalcade soaring to new heights on Main Street, U.S.A.

The parade features beloved characters from favorite Disney stories – both newer treasures like “Tangled” and “Frozen” to classics like “Peter Pan” “Cinderella” and – of course – Maleficent’s story “Sleeping Beauty.”

Disney Festival of Fantasy parade is part of a new generation of parades for Disney Parks featuring never-before-used technology on eye-popping floats adorned with Disney characters from more than a dozen fairytales. Set to an all-new musical score, the dazzling parade floats soar up to three stories tall with spirited performers donning dramatic costumes crafted at ten different design houses across the country.

Want to celebrate Maleficent’s Return? Here are some ways to do just that!

Food and Beverage

At Storybook Treats in Fantasyland, guests will find a familiar concoction, themed to our returning villain – lime soft-serve in a black waffle cone, topped with purple sugar and chocolate horns. One of the most beloved sweet sensations from Halloween season, the “Maleficent” cone will make its debut today – but beware, it’s only available for a limited time (while supplies last).

Merchandise

Guests of Disney Parks also can find that perfect Maleficent-themed souvenir to celebrate her return. From T-shirts to earrings, jewelry, and even Maleficent socks, guests can deck themselves out in Maleficent Couture from head to toe – available at “Sir Mickey’s” and “The Emporium” at Magic Kingdom.

Disney Ears, featuring her iconic horns, can be found at millinery shops like “Le Chapeau” at Magic Kingdom and “Celebrity 5 and 10” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests can also take home pins, ornaments and other mementos from their favorite villainess.

Disney Springs also offers a veritable feast for the shopper with guests finding couture with “Disney Style” offering an array of souvenirs; ornaments at Disney’s Days of Christmas shop and pins at Disney’s pin traders. And, of course, ShopDisney.com is another great place to find items featuring favorite characters.

Video courtesy: Jacob Easley

https://twitter.com/MartinMJ22/status/995023055855464452

We’ll be posting photos of the enhanced float as soon as we have some. If you happen to catch the parade today, please send us your photos and video.

RELATED ARTICLE: 8 Facts and Secrets about the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

by Christy Caby

The Festival of Fantasy parade at the Magic Kingdom is one of the most impressive parades that you will ever see.  Fortunately, the parade occurs every day, but due to its popularity the FastPass+ spots are gone quickly and people begin lining up early to get good spots to view the parade.  This is one you definitely don’t want to miss, so make sure it is on your agenda.  Whether you have seen it or not, here are facts and secrets that you may not have realized:

8 – It takes lots of cast members to run the parade.

It is over 100, actually!  It seems like a LOT of cast members, but there are all important.  They work hard to make this an extremely magical moment for all guests.

7 – How many floats are there?

There are actually 9 total floats that make up the parade.  Across these 9 floats and the walking cast, more than a dozen classic Disney movie favorites are represented.

6 – A large amount of characters are represented.

There is a very likely chance that you will see many of your absolute favorite characters while you enjoy this amazing parade.  You will actually get to see around 40 beloved characters either live or in sculptural form.

5 – The Princess Garden float is HUGE!

The Princess Garden Float is an impressive 50+ feet long.  On the float you will likely also see big favorites like Belle and Beast, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Anna and Elsa, and Princess Tiana and Naveen.  Not only that, but the way the ride is constructed you get to see each of them with great views because they rotate so that you get views of all of them!  So no worries about which side of the street to stand on!  You will get to see them all!

4 – Mickey’s Airship float is the tallest float in the parade.

This float towers over the crowd with the top of the float reaching 32 feet high. It’s extremely impressive in person, and so detailed.  It is designed to look like a huge hot air balloon with characters from Fantasia sculpted around the base, and Mickey and Minnie ride in the basket under the balloon and greet all of the smiling guests along the streets.  This is the finale of the parade, and nothing is better than getting to wave at Mickey!

This just blows my mind.  They actually digitally drew and sculpted various pieces and costume components.  These digital files were then used to become and tangible reality through 3D printing.  One example of one thing that was 3D printed are the headpieces that the clam shell dancers with the Little Mermaid float wear.  Impressive, right?  It will definitely give you a larger appreciation for the details when you are watching the parade!

2 – What about that dragon?

The Maleficent dragon float is one of the most impressive and most talked about floats.  It is 53 feet long and 26 feet tall, and super impressive.  Disney actually employed a Tony Award-winning designer, Michael Curry, to help with the design that was used to develop this steampunk rendition of Maleficent as a dragon. Even better, the dragon is in fact a fire-breathing dragon, for a perfect effect to bring the magic to life right before your eyes.

1 – The costumes are as elaborate to make as they appear.

Disney spared no expense or detail in creating each and every one of the costumes that are worn in the parade by the characters and by the various dancers.  They even had custom fabrics designed and created exclusively for these costumes, so don’t expect to find many of these prints in the stores.  For most of the dancers, it took as much as 30 years of fabric just to make one costume.  Can you imagine the time it would take to cut and make all the pieces, let alone the regular care for these costumers?  If you just look at Minnie’s dress and hat, the 95 dots on her costume were cut out, individually decorated and bedazzled, and then each one was then sewn on individually.  What work and detail!!!