Dreamlights

The nighttime electrical parade has long been a staple of Disney parks.  It all began at Disneyland, with the Main Street Electrical Parade, which in its current iteration for the 60th Anniversary has evolved into the Paint the Night Electrical Parade.  Paint the Night, of course, originated in Hong Kong  Meanwhile, over at Walt Disney World, there was Spectromagic, which both replaced and was replacyed by the Florida version of the Main Street Electrical Parade.

Tokyo Disneyland, however, might have the most spectacular, and definitely the most photogenic.  The Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights is just that: a dream of illumination.  And when I say that it might be the most beautiful, I mean it.  Even though Paint the Night is newer, fancier, and has more advanced technology, there is something dazzling in the detail and richness of Dreamlights.  And though Paint the Night definitely has the better theme (Dreamlights reuses the regular Main Street Electrical Parade refrains, which isn't bad--I just love the Paint the Night theme that much), Dreamlights is longer, has more characters, features more complex float designs, and generally demonstrates why the Japanese are superior to us in every way. 

The Blue Fairy ushers in the Tokyo Disneyland Dreamlights parade.

It's necessary, though.  The Japanese have a very high demand for shows--and high quality shows to boot.  There is a plethora of parades, stage shows, sideshows, and spectaculars at both parks, and they are all consistently packed. 

A luminous knight accompanies.

So when I showed up in The Hub to watch both this and Once Upon a Time, I figured the best way to shoot it would be with my trusty Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto lens.  And fortunately, I think the photos turned out rather well.  Take a look!

This was taken during Christmas, so it's technically the holiday version of the parade, which is mostly the same as the regular.

Just in case you weren't sure of the parade name, there it is!

Mickey and friends are here to welcome guests right away.

And we get right into the floats, starting with Alice on the Chesire Cat.

Snow White comes next, attended by a woodland meadow of furry critters.

Afterward comes Pete and his dragon.

This is a clear tribute to the original Main Street Electrical Parade's iconic float.

Afterward, Peter Pan, Wendy, Captain Hook, and Smee are engaged in a battle.

The sails are screens with various changing designs.

We dive underwater with Crush and company.

There's a very giant Nemo!

The Pixar spree continues with the Toy Story gang.

Then come Mike, Sulley, and Boo.

Back to hand-drawn classics, such as Aladdin and Jasmine.

Genie is right behind.

You can see the detail in the lights.

The changing patterns match the "Friend Like Me" zaniness wonderfully.

Tangled comes next.

Flynn and Rapunzel greet guests aboard a gorgeously lit float, rich with detail and depth.

If there was a movie meant for an illuminated parade float, this was it!

Rapunzel and Flynn are followed by Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother.

Cinderella's sporting one beautiful dress!

And behind, Prince Charming, looking regal.

The royal court is in attendance too.

Tinker Bell and her friends make an appearance.

It's odd that they're not with Peter Pan, but this whole parade is more a series of beautiful moving scenes anyway.

Donald, Daisy, and the Three Little Pigs come next. 

There's no cohesion in the progression, but who cares?  The parade is spectacular.

Chip and Dale float on by.  Pun intended.

Hi, Dale!!

Then comes a series of floats that have an "It's a Small World" vibe to them in my opinion.  Here's Pinocchio and Geppetto.

Stitch and Lilo are in the back half.  The Japanese LOVE Stitch.

The whole float.

The Three Caballeros, plus Pluto and an Aristocat.

Well, not three, I suppose. Just Jose and Panchito.

And strangely, from the Aristocats, it's only Marie present and none of the other felines.

But thus ends the parade! And as I quickly found out, all parades must have a float for the sponsor. So there you go!