The Hong Kong version premiered on September 11, 2014, as part of the park's 9th anniversary expansion. The California version debuted at Disneyland on May 22, 2015, as part of the park's 60th anniversary Diamond Celebration.[3][4] The parade is a spiritual successor to the long-running Main Street Electrical Parade, which has appeared at numerous Disney parks (except Hong Kong Disneyland) in several different incarnations since June 17, 1972. On January 25, 2020, Hong Kong Disneyland‘s version of the parade ran its final performance due to the COVID-19 outbreak's impact on China. On October 11, 2024, the California version was announced to be returning soon, likely in 2025 for Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration.[5][6]
Hong Kong Disneyland
Disney Paint the Night Parade (Chinese: 迪士尼光影匯, Jyutping: dik6 si6 nei4 gwong1 ying2 wooi6) premiered at Hong Kong Disneyland on October 1, 2014.[7] This is the first time Walt Disney Parks and Resorts created a fully LED parade,[7] and features seven original floats containing over 740,000 individual lights.[7]
The Hong Kong version of the parade uses a newly arranged version of the Main Street Electrical Parade's theme song, "Baroque Hoedown," alongside a Cantonese arrangement of Owl City's "When Can I See You Again?" from Wreck-It Ralph. In the original version of the Hong Kong version of the parade, there was a show stop in which the performers were able to interact with the interactive LED Paintbrushes sold to audience members. The show stop used an original song in Cantonese and English called "Paint the Night". The show stop was discontinued in November 2015.
The interactive "Mickey Mouse Paintbrushes," which guests can purchase in the park, allow them to interact with the performers by changing the colors of their costumes when the brushes are activated.[7] Wearable merchandise items include the "Mickey Glow Mitt" and "Minnie Glow Bow," which change colors throughout the show[7] through the use of RFID-enabled technology.[7]
Units
The Hong Kong version contains the following parade units:
The Little Mermaid float at Disneyland, California in 2015.
The Paint the Night Parade (or Paint the Night Electrical Parade, as it is titled within the show) opened May 22, 2015, as part of Disneyland's Diamond Celebration,[3][4] in commemoration of its 60th anniversary.[8] This version of the parade utilizes over 1.5 million LED lights,[3][4] special effects,[9] and features 76 performers.[10] The California version of the parade was inspired by the Main Street Electrical Parade. It had a opening announcement similar to that used in the Main Street Electrical Parade.[4] It is Disneyland's first all LED parade.[3][11] The parade lasts approximately 17 minutes.[1] During the Diamond Celebration, the entire 24-hour event was streamed live via internet by the Disneyland Resort, including the premiere of Paint the Night parade on May 22, 2015.[12] Like the Hong Kong version, the parade jointly features arrangements of Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley's "Baroque Hoedown" and Owl City's "When Can I See You Again?". This version, now in English, features new lyrics for the parade along with vocals and arrangement from Adam Young of Owl City.[13]
At Disneyland Park in California, Paint the Night made its last regular performance on September 5, 2016, and returned as a seasonal offering for the 2016 holiday season.[14] The original Main Street Electrical Parade returned to Disneyland Park on January 19, 2017 for a limited-time run.[15] The parade returned in a modified form at Disney California Adventure from April 12, 2018 through November 7, 2018. Portions of the Little Mermaid float were too tall to clear the Red Car Trolley's overhead wires, while the Frozen float was retired altogether.[16][17] A new float themed around Disney•Pixar’s The Incredibles[18] joined the parade for the grand opening of Pixar Pier on June 23[19] and for the release of Incredibles 2 which hit theaters on June 15.
Almost six years later on October 11, 2024, Disneyland announced on its Instagram that Paint the Night would finally make its grand return to the resort, likely in 2025 for the Disneyland Resort's 70th anniversary celebration.[5]
Units
The Disneyland version of the parade includes four floats not seen in the Hong Kong version, and also moves continuously down the parade route, with no show stops.[20]
The Disneyland version contains the following parade units:[21]
Incredibles Unit in the Paint the Night Parade at Disney California Adventure Park 2018
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