When the United States celebrated it’s Bicentennial, DISNEYLAND® commemorated it with “a salute…a celebration” - America on Parade, starting during the summer of 1975!

Preparations began more than two years in advance. Walt Disney Entertainment department developed new shows and parades for all of Walt Disney World, designing and fabricating more than 100 musical moving stages and 300 doll figures (representing more than 200 years of American history). This WALT DISNEY WORLD® version of the patriotic parade debuted (on June 6th, 1975), a week before its DISNEYLAND® counterpart (on June 14th, 1975), and well before the nation’s 200th birthday held July 4th, 1976. This limited parade ran twice daily through Frontierland, Liberty Square, and Main Street U.S.A. (once at 2 pm in the afternoon, with an encore at 9 pm, before the presentation of Fantasy In the Sky fireworks) at The Magic Kingdom!

CREDITS -

Director : Bob Jani

Float Design : Peter Larkin

Choreography : Barnett Ricci, Marilyn Magness

Music : Don Dorsey

Featuring “The Glorious Fourth” by The Sherman Brothers, as well as traditional favorites like “Yankee Doodle” and “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” in noticeably new and different styles. These were performed by the 19-century Sadie Mae band organ.

America on Parade continued into 1976, with a map explaining it this way : “In the Spirit of ‘76, Walt Disney Productions proudly presented America on Parade - a salute to America’s 200th birthday! Two centuries filled with challenges, achievements, and world contributions. Let’s step back into history and take a look at the first 200 years with this musical celebration.”

America on Parade was immortalized in souvenir films of the parade, which were sold through WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort and DISNEYLAND® Park. The “Walt Disney’s America on Parade” television special was aired in 1976, hosted by Red Skelton, and featuring a number of performances by the Kids of the Kingdom (which were filmed in both DISNEYLAND® Park and WALT DISNEY WORLD® Vacation Kingdom)!

Now, let’s take a look back to the WALT DISNEY WORLD® “salute…a celebration” to America! Let’s step back into history, and take a look at 200 years of contributions and achievements (with some inserted dialogue featured in the 1976 souvenir film)!

Girls bearing the flags of the United States of America, and EPCOT’s resident lands, “mind the music and the step”!

Following the opening unit of flag-bearers, the All-American College Band establishes the score of America on Parade and its successive floats!

Mickey, Goofy, and Donald were outfitted as a colonial fife-and-drum corps. to represent ”the spirit of ‘76!”

“When the pilgrims first settled in the ‘New World’, only aid from the Native American Indians helped them survive, and in gratitude, they set aside a day of Thanks Giving.”

Facts On Parade : The turkey stands a towering 18 feet tall aboard its stage!

“When work was done and the satisfaction of raising a new homestead was in the air, neighbors from far and near gathered together for square dancing to foot stomping melodies like ‘Turkey in the Straw’.”

“One man who played a part in the development of these soon-to-be-called ‘United States’ was Benjamin Franklin. This man carried the word from the colonies to the King of England, that this new land - America - wanted its independence!”

“When he returned from England with the King’s denial, the colonists knew that they would have to fight for their independence. Let freedom be heard, and let the Liberty Bell ring out across the land!”

“After eight years of fighting, the cannons stopped firing. The colonists had won independence.”

“A woman patriot - Betsy Ross - hand-sewed the first American flag in June of 1776 in Philadelphia at the request of America’s first general George Washington.”

“Pushing across the frontiers into the west, pioneers made their way in covered wagons. New land was being explored. America was expanding.”

“The great Mississippi River - commercial highway, romantic waterway, inspired many legends in American history. Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn lived and played along the mighty river banks.”

“Stagecoaches brought more and more people to the frontiers as pioneers left comfortable homesteads and headed farther and farther west.”

“Small towns sprang up like wildflowers when the discovery of gold started a ‘rush’. Thousands of people surged westward hoping to carve their fortunes from the dusty hills.”

“America began moving faster, and faster!…More rails were being laid.”

“The Sunday band concerts, strolls through the park, were a special time for ‘sweethearts’, walking ‘hand-in-hand’ under ‘blue skies’ and ‘lazy sunshine’ in ‘the good ol’ summertime’!”

“School days filled with memories of ‘penny candy’ and memories of readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmatic.”

“Leisure time enables Americans to participate in their favorite pastimes - sports! ‘Time Out!’ - a favorite call to every American. ‘Time Out’, to watch, to play, to root for our favorite team.”

“The all-time favorite and best snack of all is the giant, jumbo, sandwich.”

“…and in the movie theaters, Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was something that had to be seen to be believed.”

The Kids of the Kingdom perform atop a repurposed Magic Kingdom float, for America on Parade’s American bicentennial salute and celebration!

The narrator of the 1976 souvenir Walt Disney Production concludes : “God bless America! May Liberty’s flaming torch, and our great symbols of freedom shine like beacons, and inspire all mankind to live together in peace and harmony!”

FINALE : By its completion on September 6, 1976, the Walt Disney World version of America on Parade made 653 performances and featured more than 200 performers in Walt Disney World alone. It has been figured that America on Parade was seen by more than 25 million people*. (*This figure includes Disneyland as well as Magic Kingdom audiences.) To understand how staggering that figure is, Vacationland magazine (Summer, 1975) states, “A broadway show would have to play every night for 300 years to accommodate the same number of people.”

Though another patriotic parade Spirit of America would occur more than a decade later (September 1987 - November 1988), no future parade would quite carry the grandeur of this salute! Now, let’s take a look back to Walt Disney World’s “salute…a celebration” to America!

Though another patriotic parade Spirit of America would occur more than a decade later (September 1987 - November 1988), no future parade would quite carry the grandeur of this salute!

The Little Golden Book ©️ 1975 by Walt Disney Productions stars Donald Duck, Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Walt Disney World’s production of America on Parade! This children’s publication is one of the more educational promotional tie-ins. After watching America on Parade - “a celebration of America’s two-hundredth birthday”, Huey attempts to study his American history schoolbook, but he was too tired and falls asleep. As he begins to dream about historic moments in American history, his uncle Donald is thrown into the action!

There were plenty of other pieces of licensed merchandise - commemorative paper-back and hardcover books published by Nal-Abrams, a Whitman Sticker Book, limited & numbered Trivet hot plates and Viletta fine china plates, souvenir fans, Aladdin brand metal lunchboxes, exclusive Coca-Cola tumblers, hats, to name just a few! “A salute..A celebration dedicated to America’s Bicentannial year, America on Parade”…commemorated on a collectible coin! Both bronze editions, and silver editions were available.

According to the 1976 Shareholders Report: “A special July 4th fireworks show bursted over Walt Disney World in celebration of our nation's 200th birthday. Just two months later, 4,000 Orlando area high school students joined the regular cast in the final performance of ‘America on Parade.’ During its 15-month run, the Company's Bicentennial salute completed 668 Walt Disney World and 678 Disneyland performances, and was seen by an estimated 25 million guests.”

“Fifteen Years - We’re Having A Party…and ‘We’re Gonna Party All Year Long’!”

Visitors from both near and far travelled to WALT DISNEY WORLD® Vacation Kingdom in Florida, for the biggest, year-long celebration (to date), an all-new parade party spectacular, and their chance to win big prizes with “Walt Disney World’s 15 Years of Magic”! Just how great of an audience visited Walt Disney World during 1986 was a staggering figure. According to an article published by the Orlando Sentinel (February 23, 1987), “1986 was a record year for its Florida parks…the attendance had risen 11 percent from fiscal 1985”… with 74 percent of Walt Disney World Guests hailing from states other than Florida. To be exact, “attendance at The Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center totaled more 23.9 million during Disney’s 1986 fiscal year, which ended September 30.”

SPECIAL EVENTS :

Many year long festivities marked the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the MAGIC KINGDOM Park® in 1986.

The Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary Prize Clock bore free gifts for guests entering the Parks - every fifteen minutes!

“Walt Disney World’s 15 Year Anniversary Celebration” - To top the festivities off, ABC Television broadcasts the two-hour special Walt Disney World’s 15th Birthday Celebration on ABC, November 9, 1986. The special features loads of special guests including Ronald Reagan, the Monkees, Charlton Heston, Ted Kennedy, the Everly Brothers, Dolly Parton, Warren Berger, O.J. Simpson, Ray Charles, Justin and Justine Bateman, Gladys Knight, Charlie Daniels, and Air Supply.

“15 Years of Magic” - Walt Disney Entertainment department developed new shows like “15 Years of Magic.” Mickey conjures up 15 Years of Magic Kingdom Memories in this daily stage production on Cinderella’s Castle Forecourt!

“15th Birthday Parade” - “Singers, dancers, and lots of fun spill into the streets of the Magic kingdom every day at 3p.m. beginning at Town Square on Main Street U.S.A. During the holiday season, the 15th Birthday Parade featured “yuletide floats, fun, and fantasy”, according to The Walt Disney World News (Winter, 1986).

A special edition of the Main Street Electrical Parade featured a special “15 Years” anniversary float (which was later reused for a number of anniversaries at both DISNEYLAND® and the MAGIC KINGDOM® Park).

Colorful candles were placed near Main Street Station, heralding Walt Disney World’s Fifteen Years of Magic! The bright pink blooms of the iconic Mickey Mouse floral arrangement complimented the pink ensembles of the “15 Years of Magic” parade performers.

Speaking of Topiaries, (eight years before the iconic Partners Statue would be unveiled) the MAGIC KINGDOM® Plaza floral bed was the perfect place to highlight the character of event and anniversary themes at the MAGIC KINGDOM®. From October of 1986 to September of 1987, the Plaza featured this fanciful and carefully crafted cake centerpiece as a tribute to “15 Years of Magic” at WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort! According to the Disney Parks website, the “cake” was an impressive seven feet tall, with a circumference of 41 feet. Horticulturists and gardeners took great care in adding more than 11,000 plants to this living sculpture. The live plants comprising the “15” candle on top, and the coordinating accents, were changed throughout the seasons (from Scarlett begonias, to chrysanthemums, and finally, poinsettias).

“This Is The Year to See The World and Win”

If ever there was a year to see “the world”, that year would be 1986! From October 1, 1986 to September 30, 1987, a Prize clock bearing free gifts for guests distributed almost 3,000 magical prizes daily, for a full year. In fact, by the printing of Walt Disney World News (Winter, 1986), “over 186,300 winners” had been awarded prizes, “including a car winner every day”. It’s hard to believe that any tickets read, “Sorry. No Prizes today.” These Walt Disney World birthday gifts were awarded every fifteen seconds that the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center were open to the public during Birthday Bonanza Weekends. Daily prizes included souvenir pins, 15th Birthday pins, film video cassettes from Disney Home Video, light-up visors, Michael Jackson cassette tapes from Epic Records (a Captain EO promotional tie-in), complimentary Magic Kingdom Epcot Center and Discovery Island Park tickets, or a $500 U.S. Savings Bond. Daily Grand Prizes included a brand new 1987 Chevy Cavalier Convertible, a Chevy S-10 pickup truck, and a cruise for two to the Bahamas aboard Premier Cruise Lines!

Two vehicles were awarded each weekend, over the course of the “15 magical years” celebration! Winners rode as guests of honor in the “15th Birthday Parade”. Still, all guests could feel the “heartbeat of America”, by sitting behind the wheel of the Cavalier or S-10 in one of Walt Disney World’s promotional photo locations (whether they won or not)!

Occasionally WINNERS were publicized : June Schaffer (of Kensington, Maryland) was the first guest to win a brand new 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier on the first day of the year-long prize giveaway. Some winners were also featured in The Walt Disney World News publication.

June 27, 1987 - Daniel A. Dundon (of Gettysburg) won a 1988 Chevrolet Cavalier.

A particular Guest named Kristine won a Chevy Cavalier.

Bunting, signs, and banners heralding “15 Years of Magic” decorated Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom’s lampposts and other street features!

At the head of the parade, one lucky Cast Member sets the pace and keeps the beat, while bearing the standard of “Walt Disney World’s 15 Years of Magic” parade!

Walt Disney World celebrates “15 Years of Magic”, with Mickey’s biggest street party yet! Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse lead a cast of 40 popular characters aboard new floats.

It looks like the Country Bears (Liver Lips, Wendell and Shaker) are cookin’ up somethin’ real special for “Walt Disney World’s 15th Year of Magic”!

Goofy greets Walt Disney World guests from the top of Cinderella’s Castle!

Epcot Center got into the spirit with this giant cake photo spot!

CAST OF THOUSANDS -- World Showcase cast members join Donald Duck in front of the China Showcase at Epcot Center to celebrate Walt Disney World's 15th Anniversary celebration. The year-long celebration will be marked by 365 days of special events at both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center, more than a million special thank-you gifts to guests (one given away every 15 seconds the park is open) and a top prize each day of a new Chevrolet Cavalier. Copyright 1986, THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY (69-49-21).