Paint the Night Parade is a nighttime parade at Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island, Hong Kong and at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California.[2][3]

Paint the Night Electrical Parade
Hong Kong Disneyland
StatusRemoved
Soft opening dateSeptember 11, 2014 (2014-09-11)
Opening dateOctober 1, 2014 (2014-10-01)
Closing dateJanuary 25, 2020 (2020-01-25)
Disneyland
StatusRemoved
Soft opening dateMay 21, 2015 (2015-05-21)
Opening dateMay 22, 2015 (2015-05-22) (Original version)
2025 (2025) (Revamped version)
Closing dateJanuary 8, 2017 (2017-01-08) (Original version)
ReplacedLight Magic (1997)
Replaced byMain Street Electrical Parade (2017, 2019, & 2022)
Disney California Adventure
StatusRemoved
Soft opening dateApril 12, 2018 (2018-04-12)
Opening dateApril 13, 2018 (2018-04-13)
Closing dateNovember 7, 2018 (2018-11-07)
ReplacedDisney’s Electrical Parade (2001–2010)
Ride statistics
Attraction typeParade
Music"When Can I See You Again?"
"Baroque Hoedown"
Duration17 minutes (Disneyland)[1]
Disabled access Wheelchair accessible

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

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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

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The Hong Kong version contains the following parade units:

Current Parade Floats

 
Logo for the Hong Kong version of Paint the Night

Disneyland Resort (California)

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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

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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

Current Parade Floats

Retired Parade Floats

References

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  1. ^ a b "Video, slide show: First look at Disneyland's 'Paint the Night' parade, a modern version of Main Street Electrical Parade". Ocregister.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-24. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  2. ^ "'Paint the Night' Parade Starts May 22 as Part of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Disneyland to launch new parade, fireworks for 60th anniversary". Los Angeles Times. January 28, 2015. Archived from the original on March 3, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Pimentel, Joseph (January 28, 2015). "VIDEO: Disneyland announces 60th anniversary plans with a little extra dazzle; it's adding a parade, punching up fireworks show". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  6. ^ "BREAKING: Paint The Night Electrical Parade Return Finally Teased - WDW News Today". wdwnt.com. 2024-10-11. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Hong Kong Disneyland will showcase a Whole New Light at Nighttime this Coming Fall/Winter". Hong Kong Disneyland. Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  8. ^ "Disneyland to celebrate 60-year anniversary with new shows, diamond decorations". ABC7 Los Angeles. January 28, 2015. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  9. ^ Richard, Terry (February 3, 2015). "Disneyland adds nighttime spectaculars for 60th anniversary starting in May at Anaheim". OregonLive.com. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  10. ^ MacDonald, Brady (29 April 2015). "What to expect from Disneyland's Paint the Night parade". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  11. ^ "Disneyland announces 60th anniversary plans". Los Angeles Daily News. January 28, 2015. Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  12. ^ "Watch Premiere Performances of 'Paint the Night' Parade and 'Disneyland Forever' Fireworks and Disneyland Resort 24-Hour Event LIVE on Disney Parks Blog". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  13. ^ Young, Adam (25 March 2015). "Disney hired me to work on their new Electrical Parade. Stoked" (Video). Instagram. @owlcityofficial. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Main Street Electrical Parade Coming to Disneyland Park for a Limited Time; Last Chance to 'Paint the Night'". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  15. ^ Glover, Erin (January 20, 2017). "It's Home! Main Street Electrical Parade Begins Limited-Time Run at Disneyland Park". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2017.
  16. ^ Smith, Thomas. "New Pixar Pier to Bring Favorite Pixar Stories to Life at Disney California Adventure Park; Limited-Time Pixar Fest Celebration Coming Throughout Disneyland Resort". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on July 16, 2017. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  17. ^ Kubersky, Seth (16 July 2017). "Disneyland Resort's Pixar Fest brings Pixar Pier to DCA in 2018". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
  18. ^ Glover, Erin. "Pixar Fest Brings Celebration of Friendship Throughout Disneyland Resort Beginning April 13, 2018". Disney Parks Blog.[dead link]
  19. ^ Glover, Erin. "Pixar Pier to Open June 23 at Disney California Adventure Park; New 'Incredibles' Float to Join 'Paint the Night' Parade". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved February 14, 2018.[dead link]
  20. ^ Slater, Shawn (April 13, 2015). "Behind the Scenes of 'Paint the Night' Parade, Coming for the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  21. ^ "Prepare to Be Dazzled! Disneyland Reveals More Details for the Upcoming 60th Birthday". 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on April 19, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
  22. ^ "Google Sites".[dead link]