New Years would not be the same in our household without the college bowl games. I personally don’t care for football (gasp – a Native Texan who doesn’t like football?!?), but I do love the Tournament of Roses Parade. It’s one of the events to see on my bucket list! I’ve been told the floats smell as wonderful as they look. What does Disney have to do with the event? Let’s look and see:
A special 25th Anniversary of Disneyland pre-parade show in 1980 brings the Firehouse Five Plus Two out of retirement.
Walt Disney’s nephew Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew and Roy O.’s son, serves as Grand Marshal in 2000.
The Disneyland Resort presents a parade float inspired by the park’s newest attraction “The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.” The 2004 float stands nearly 100 feet tall (the tallest float in the parade’s history) and is titled “A Sudden Drop in Pitch.”
To announce the 50th Anniversary celebration at Disneyland, Mickey Mouse serves as the Grand Marshal for the 2005 parade. The company also celebrates with a Rose Parade Opening Show and a castle float titled “The Happiest Celebration on Earth.” During the broadcast a TV spot called “Coming Home” airs.
In 2006 Disney broke another Rose Parade record with the longest float at 150 feet in length. Titled ‘The Most Magical Celebration on Earth,” the float celebrates Disney Parks around the world.
The City of Anaheim, California celebrates its 150th birthday in 2007 with a float featured in the parade. Anaheim’s float, “Always Fresh & Never Grows Old,” features the City’s agricultural roots and its landmarks. Disneyland’s monorail and Angel Stadium of Anaheim’s “Big A” appear on the float. (Disney owned the Angels at this time.)
For the 2013 float, Disneyland Resort enters the “Destination: Cars Land” float with the Disney Channel “Shake It Up” star Zendaya and DJ Ernie D from Radio Disney.
I’m looking forward to the next entry in the Tournament of Roses, and maybe I’ll be in attendance that year.
Loved this post, thank you so much for sharing! I always look forward to seeing the Disney float in the Rose Parade. I attended once, when I was about 4 or 5. I recall two things: that one of the floats caught on fire! And the beautiful smell of the flowers in the air 🙂 Hope you get there someday, I’d love to go back now that I’m an adult.
I’m glad you enjoyed it. And I hope you get to see it again!