Welcome

[Mike]

Welcome - Phil Collins

I took this picture last week.

•Gateway to Dreams: Peter Pan inside a golden train with Tinkerbell sitting on top of it with the backdrop of the unit as the Main Street train station. Merlin from The Sword in the Stone (substitute - seems to be filling in very often for the Fairy Godmother), The Fairy Godmother of Cinderella, the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio and Flora, Fauna & Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty dance around this unit.

•Dream of Enchantment: Themed to the ballroom from Beauty and the Beast, Belle and Beast dance and an Audio-Animatronic Lumiere sings. Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, and Chip entertain the crowd as well while spoon, fork, knife, salt & pepper shaker, and plate dancers perform around the unit. This was Jerry Orbach's last time supplying the voice of Lumiere. Orbach died in December 2004 after he recorded the dialogue for the parade.

The Pinocchio float in Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams

•Dream of Laughter: Pinocchio and toys from Gepetto's workshop dance around a giant Gepetto who is controlling the Can-Can and Dutch dancing puppets from the movie. Hanging behind the unit are Russian Puppets on bungee cords. The part of the unit that they hang on raises up during the show stop to allow the Russian Puppets to perform amazing bungee tricks. Other toys include two bell ringers, two ballroom dancers attached to female doll counterparts, a toy drummer, and Bo Peep. Other characters include Foulfellow, Gideon, Jiminy Cricket sitting atop a toy block and Cleo swimming around in her fish bowl.

•Dream of Another World: Ariel sits on top of a giant sea shell, with Part of Your World and Under the Sea playing in the background. Bubbles float around Ariel. This unit also features Audio-Animatronics Sebastian and Flounder. Before the unit are dancers decorated like stylized waves, blue and white pearl dancers, and light-colored 'fish kites'. When the Parade returned in 2007 the water on Ariel's shell was replaced by clear plastic tubes

•A giant Ursula puppet/balloon makes potions and cackles to "Poor Unfortunate Souls" while Flotsam and Jetsam lurk around. Black Pearl dancers perform for the audience as well.

•Dream of Imagination: A Giant Trampoline themed to Alice in Wonderland's Mad Tea Party, carrying a live-action Mad Hatter and Alice. A giant animatronic Caterpillar sits on the back of the unit above the Cheshire Cat. The Queen of Hearts, White Rabbit, Tweedle Dee and Dum (occasionally), a pair of Royal Marching Cards, and four 'jumping' flowers entertain the crowd. The Cards climb atop the trampoline during the show stop to perform incredible acrobatics.

•Dream of Adventure: Simba atop Pride Rock from The Lion King with Zazu, a live-action Timon, Pumbaa, and Nala. Various costumed animals surround the unit, such as a zebra, giraffe, antelope, chimpanzee, and a rhino On the back of the unit are two Bird performers. During the show stop, that part of the unit raises up and the Birds perform an amazing Spanish Web routine.

•Dreams Come True: Lastly, Mickey and Minnie as King and Queen on Sleeping Beauty Castle with other Disney royalty, including Princess Aurora, Snow White, and Cinderella. Attendants Chip 'n' Dale, Goofy, Pluto, and Donald also perform on and around this unit along with the seven dwarfs.

•Show length: Approximately 35 minutes with 3 show stops

•Show Stop Song: "Welcome" from Disney's Brother Bear, composed by Phil Collins.

•Pre-Parade/Grand Marshall Song: "The Happiest Place on Earth"

•Show Times and Information: Generally 3:30pm (Small World to Main Street) and 6:30pm (Main Street to Small World). During off seasons, there is generally only one parade at 7:00pm that will go from Small World to Main Street. On hotter days, there are times where there will be only two show stops and reduced choreography.

•Each unit has a hidden Mickey on them.

•The original (May 2005 - October 2006) opening recording was voiced by award-winning actress Julie Andrews. It has since been replaced to coincide with the "Year of a Million Dreams."

•The parade's theme song "Welcome" from Brother Bear was written by Phil Collins, the parade version has slightly different lyrics and is performed by an ensemble. The song is featured on the "Gateway to Dreams" float and "Dreams Come True" float as well as the Show Stop

•There is a similarly titled parade at Tokyo Disneyland called Disney's Dreams on Parade which started in January 2003 and is currently being performed as Disney's Dreams on Parade Movin' On. While there may be similar-looking units, this parade contains a different soundtrack and theme.

•Starting in the Spring through the Summer of 2007, the Princes (Prince from Snow White, Prince Charming, Prince Phillip) were absent from the parade.

•The original design for the Ariel unit had Ariel on a swing in the front of the unit and Sebastian on top.

•In an early draft of the parade, Aladdin, Jasmine, and Daisy Duck were to appear alongside Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip, Dale, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Aurora, Prince Phillip, Snow White, and The Prince.

•The original show stop was about three minutes long and was cut down to two and half minutes for pacing.

•The song which is played, being used as the background for the Pre-Parade (The Grand Marshal) is titled, "At the Happiest Place On Earth."

[Mike]

Here is another reference/

http://www.allearsnet.com/dlr/tp/dl/wdpod.htm