The Main Street Electrical Parade 1992: The Story Behind Disneyland Paris’ Opening Parade

The moment the lights on Main Street USA dimmed and that iconic electronic music started playing, you could feel the magic in the air. Let’s go back to 1992, the opening year of Disneyland Paris, for an absolute legend: The Main Street Electrical Parade. Where did this parade actually come from, and what secret did that green dragon carry with him?

From America to Europe

What many people don’t know is that this parade already had an impressive world journey behind it by 1992. The story doesn’t begin in Europe, but in America: in 1972, the very first version of this light parade rolled through Disneyland in California. It was such a massive success that it quickly became a phenomenon across the American parks, including Florida. When Euro Disney opened its doors in 1992, Europe got the honor: a stunning classic version of the parade crossed the Atlantic Ocean to light up the streets of Main Street USA. The familiar opening voice and soundtrack were given a charming European touch to fit perfectly into the Parisian picture.

The Blue Fairy and the Casey Jr. Circus Train

If you stood along the parade route as a visitor, you were completely overwhelmed by the enormous scale and hundreds of thousands of sparkling lights. The Blue Fairy always opened the procession with her illuminated wings, after which the ultimate landmark appeared: the Casey Jr. Circus Train. With a proud engineer at the controls, this cheerful little train pulled the giant, glowing drum carrying the parade logo. For many long-time fans, this is the image they still think back to.

A Dutch touch: Philips as sponsor

This parade also had a Dutch touch back then: it was sponsored by Philips, the electronics giant from Eindhoven. After the colorful mushrooms and spinning fireflies from Alice in Wonderland came an absolute crowd favorite: Elliott, the cheerful green dragon from Pete’s Dragon.

Elliott the green dragon

Elliott was originally added in America to promote the film, and that was only meant to last about a year. But he was so incredibly popular that he was never removed from the parade again, and he was even kept for the Euro Disney parade. Elliott also had a magical trick up his sleeve: by switching off all the lights on his body at once and leaving only Peter’s lights on, it looked as if the giant dragon literally disappeared for a moment in the dark streets of the park. A beautiful piece of theatrical technique.

The end of an era

In 2003, this legendary parade rolled through Disneyland Paris for the very last time, making way for new shows. Fortunately, we still have these beautiful memories and footage to dream away to for a while.

What was your favorite moment from this light parade? The Main Street Electrical Parade remains one of the most cherished memories of Disneyland Paris’ opening years for many long-time fans.

Kevin Schrier

Welcome to KTW Magazine! I’m Kevin Schrier, the founder of this platform. My passion for Disney began in the opening year of Disneyland Paris, in 1992, when I visited the park with my whole family – my parents and my brother. I was only three years old at the time.

After that first trip, the park quickly became the setting for a very special tradition between my mother and me. Our exclusive trips together created a magical bond that makes this place extra special to me.

With KTW Magazine I combine my years of experience with the latest news and practical tips and tricks. I love sharing my knowledge and inspiring other visitors for a carefree and unforgettable trip to Disneyland Paris.