LPWire: Disney Parks Worldwide Celebrate 50 Years of Fun with 50,000 Roses and Flora From Around the World
Disney's "Most Magical Celebration On Earth" Feted With 2006 Rose Parade Float
Fit For A Princess
Disney Parks Worldwide Celebrate 50 Years of Fun with 50,000 Roses and Flora
From Around the World
With a theme of “It’s Magical�? for the 117th Rose
Parade in Pasadena, California, what could be more magical than five beautiful
Disney castles from around the world seeming to float down the parade route on a
pillow of clouds? “The Most Magical Celebration on Earth,�? the 2006 Rose Parade
float entry from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, depicted just such an enchanting
scene – the ongoing celebration of 50 years of Disney theme park magic around
the world (continuing throughout 2006).
Millions of Rose Parade viewers today saw the Disney float featuring a floral
depiction of each of the five iconic castles that stand as symbols of dreams,
wishes and magic at Disney parks in California, Florida, Japan, France and Hong
Kong. Soaring nearly 50 feet high and 150 feet long (the longest Rose Parade
entry this year). The float, which won the won the Craftsman Award for
Exceptional Showmanship and Dramatic Impact and was created by famed float
designers/builders Festival Arts featured the U.S. premiere of the newest Disney
song “One,�? written exclusively for the recent grand opening of Hong Kong
Disneyland.
“The Rose Parade is a wonderful way for us to highlight our ongoing celebration
of five decades of Disney theme park magic,�? states Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt
Disney Parks and Resort. “Our parks are magical experiences that offer
creatively unique entertainment that appeals to families the world over,
transcending geographic and cultural barriers to simply speak the international
language of fun – that’s pretty magical.�?
The float is composed of 50,000
roses (including the official Disneyland Rose), plus flower and plant material
indigenous to the home country of each park. Additional touches include a pixie
dust path created from white sparkled coconuts, castle walls made from
strawberry powder and clouds of white roses, irises, carnations and cattleya
orchids. The float stopped once along the parade route and presented a small
musical number featuring an energetic array of Disney characters and dancers.
The impressive Disney entry salutes an incredible 50-year legacy of fun but also
represents an equally exciting future characterized by the creative application
of new technologies and breakthrough innovations at Disney Parks around the
globe. New dreams and magic on the immediate horizon include soon-to-open Disney
attractions such as “Expedition Everest�? in Disney’s Animal Kingdom park at Walt
Disney World Resort, “Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!�? at Disney’s
California Adventure in California, “Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast�? at Disneyland
Paris and a 21st century version of “Autopia�? at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Since 1938 Disney has been a frequent presence in the world-famous Rose Parade.
The traditional visits of the Rose Bowl teams and the Rose Queen and her court
to Disneyland began in 1960 and continue today. Both Walt Disney and Mickey
Mouse have served as grand marshals of the parade (in 1966 and 2005
respectively). The 2005 Rose Parade featured the official unveiling of the
celebration saluting 50 years of Disney theme park magic, featuring a
spectacular kick-off show and parade entry.
--Posted January 3 2005
Source: Disneyland
Images (c) Disney