1995 marked the middle of the Disney Decade. Among its legacies is the longest-running parade in Disneyland History, “A Christmas Fantasy,” which debuted on November 23, 1995.
Walt Disney loved parades. As a youngster growing up in Marceline, Missouri, the annual appearance of the circus parade made a profound impression on him. He was determined that the same joy he recalled from his boyhood would be his gift to the visitors at Disneyland.
There were at least three different holiday-themed parades during Disneyland’s first decade: the Christmas Show Parade, Christmas in Many Lands, and the Parade of Toys. In 1965, as part of the Tencennial celebration, Fantasy on Parade was introduced. Mickey’s giant drum was the familiar herald of this holiday classic, which ran until the 1976 holiday season.
In 1977, the Very Merry Christmas Parade was introduced. It ran through 1979. Fantasy on Parade returned from 1980 through 1986. 1987 to 1994 saw the return of A Very Merry Christmas Parade. All of these parades opened with elaborate units celebrating classic Disney movies, with a full complement of performers, including children. The latter half of the parade consisted of traditional holiday scenes, culminating in the appearance of Santa Claus.
When A Christmas Fantasy was announced for the 1995 season, it was assumed it would be an all-new holiday parade. As guests quickly found out, it was in reality a shorter version of the most recent parades, consisting of all the traditional scenes, with an extremely catchy new theme song that unified the new holiday offering.
There were also a few new units, although sharp-eyed guests would have noted that many were recycled from other parades. The herald for the Christmas Fantasy was a title float carrying a music box ballerina and a teddy bear. For just this first year the ballerina was dressed as a Dutch doll.
Next up were the familiar toy soldiers, marching and playing live instruments. For long-time guests, it seemed odd to see them at the beginning of the parade, as they had ushered in the latter section of the previous Christmas parades.
Also held over from previous parades were child performers. Here is one, performing as an elf in Mrs. Claus’s North Pole mail room. They would appear for just one more season before being replaced by adult performers.
Santa’s magical toy factory was a crowd favorite. The mechanical contraption was preceded by a stack of blocks, with not Woody, but rather Ariel the Little Mermaid riding aloft. While not strictly speaking a toy, the Little Mermaid had nonetheless sold a lot of toy products for the Walt Disney Company.
It took two massive wagons to carry Santa’s Toy Factory, all pulled by a relatively tiny railroad engine. Overseeing the whole thing were Pinocchio, Gepetto, and Jimmy Cricket.
Pulling up to the rear of all this was another stack of blocks, this one not carrying Buzz Lightyear. If you are wondering why Woody, Buzz, and the Toy Story gang were not around, bear in mind that the original Toy Story had just gone into general release the night before this parade made its own debut. Disney declined to feature an unknown generic cowboy and space doll, thinking it better to promote a sure-fire character owned by the company: Roger Rabbit.
The next unit was also a familiar favorite, the Winter Wonderland. Roller skating snowflakes filled the street, choreographed to the new theme song that had already worked its way into everyone’s consciousness.
The highlight of Winter Wonderland was an actual skating rink, with actual skaters. Over the years, a variety of teams had been recruited to circle this rolling rink (it was built into a float). For 1995, it was Chip ’n Dale, looking quite festive in their brightly colored earmuffs and winter coats. Marching along after them were a troupe of snowmen and snowwomen.
One of the more unusual entries in the Christmas Fantasy Parade was Aladdin and Jasmine’s magical winter sleigh. Perhaps their driver, the Genie, had something to do with introducing a snow-driven vehicle to Agrabah.
What is a Christmas Fantasy without treats? Specifically, gingerbread treats? For thirty years, the bakers and their gingerbread men have been making their way through Disneyland. The only thing that has changed is the identities of the head chefs riding on the gingerbread house float. For 1995, it was Daisy Duck and Clarabelle Cow.
Completely new for A Christmas Fantasy was an elegant Candlelight Christmas Ball. Previously, the various princesses had appeared in their own respective parade units in the first part of the holiday parade. For 1995, they had accepted a cordial invitation to join together and dance… in the street.
The centerpiece of the ball unit was a classical domed gazebo, which had previously been seen in the Fantasia unit. Now it was the stage for Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast, directing his fellow candlesticks in setting a charming mood.
So far, there had been no sign of Disney’s reigning king and queen, Mickey and Minnie Mouse. This was remedied as the pair, dressed in Victorian-inspired winter finery, appeared in a horse-drawn wagon, pulled by actual horses. Previous editions of holiday parades had featured many horses; this pair marked the only equine performers for 1995.
Complementing Mickey and Minnie’s Victorian appearance were strolling Dickens Carolers, followed by a float inspired by Mickey’s Christmas Carol. The snow-bedecked structure, complete with a Scrooge and Marley sign posted out front, bustled with the holiday activities of Scrooge McDuck, his nephew Donald, and Pluto.
Eight reindeer next arrived, signaling the imminent appearance of the big man himself. In 1995, Santa’s reindeer were still a zany-looking crew. In later years, they would be replaced by the “cute” reindeer we see today.
With his booming voice calling out holiday greetings to the crowd, Santa brought the parade to a close. This 1995 edition had him riding slowly up and down over low rooftops, with chase lights outlining the sleigh’s runners. Evergreen swags, holly, and sparkling snowflakes completed the decoration of Santa’s sleigh.
And there it is, from beginning to end. While there have been a number of changes over the years, today we have essentially the same parade, accompanied by THAT same song, rolling down the parade route, just as it did thirty years ago at Disneyland.
