Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Directing
Executive producers
Ryan Polito, Sharon Everitt
Similar
American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, The Academy Awards, The Price Is Right, Mickey Mouse
The Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade is an American television special that airs on Christmas Day on ABC, taped primarily inside the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, approximately one month prior to Christmas Day. A Spanish simulcast of the parade has aired on Univision under the titles Desfile de Navidad Disney, (Feliz) Navidad Disney, and Navidad Mágica Disney, and typically air Spanish singers who sing Christmas carols as well as their latest hits. Past shows have included segments featuring other Disney theme parks in Orlando, Florida; Anaheim, California; and around the world (plus in recent editions, the Disney Cruise Line). The program has aired annually since 1983, with the exception of 2000 when Disney aired a Christmas Eve "Tracking Santa" special instead. In 1999, a nighttime version of the parade was shown on Christmas Day. In the 1980s and 1990s, the program was known as The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade. Until 2009, the parade was referred to/known as the Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade.
The parade down Main Street, U.S.A. features appearances of Disney characters, including Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Pluto, Scrooge McDuck, and Chip 'n Dale, as well as floats featuring celebrities, musical performances, marching bands from various schools and community groups across the USA, and highlights of events and properties at Disney theme parks and other Disney productions. The parade concludes with the arrival of Santa Claus. Most of the program is taped in November and early December for broadcast on Christmas Day. However, until the early 1990s, the parade was broadcast live on Christmas Day, usually on CBS, with whom Disney had partnered for Thanksgiving and New Year celebrations as well, until Disney bought out ABC in 1996.
The parade has been simulcast in Canada for many years by CBC Television.
The parade was first telecast, as Walt Disney World's Very Merry Christmas Parade in 1983; Joan Lunden and Mike Douglas were the hosts. Alan Thicke later replaced Douglas, and Regis Philbin was later added as an on-street interviewer. Eventually Philbin took over as co-host, and Kelly Ripa (his cohost on Live with Regis and Kelly) later joined him.
The parade has been aired every year since 1983 except for in the year 2000.
Hosts Joan Lunden and Ben Vereen; on-street interviewer Regis Philbin. Regis Philbin previews The Living Seas at EPCOT Center and Ben Vereen previews Captain EO. Ben Vereen sings Go Tell It on the Mountain. Special holiday messages from US President Ronald Reagan, UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, as well as from World Showcase Cast Members from France, China, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Morocco and Japan.
Hosts Regis Philbin and Joan Lunden; on-street interviewer Robby Benson. The parade was broadcast live. Appearances by Kathie Lee GiffordJohn Davidson & Bill Nye The Science Guy. Reading of The Night Before Christmas by President Bill Clinton. Announcer: Dick Tufeld.
Hosts Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, with Ryan Seacrest. Airs on ABC. Entertainment: Billy Ray Cyrus, Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers, Sarah Brightman, Jose Feliciano, David Cook, the Imagination Movers, Corbin Bleu (who debuted a new song) and Dance the Magic dancers from dance studios from all over the country. Since this was the 25th anniversary of the parade, clips of previous years were shown (usually directly after commercial breaks) featuring Beyoncé (2006), Kermit the Frog (1989), Nancy Kerrigan (1994) and Jodi Benson (1997), and a repeat of Vanessa Williams' entire performance from 2005 closed the telecast.
2009
Hosts Kelly Ripa and Nick Cannon at Walt Disney World, with Ryan Seacrest at Disneyland. Airs on ABC. Entertainment: Demi Lovato, Celine Dion, Stevie Wonder, Imagination Movers, Jonas Brothers, Yanni, Kris Allen, Steve Rushton, Selena Gomez, Anika Noni Rose, and Dance the Magic dancers which include dance schools from all over the country. Regis Philbin did not host this year due to hip surgery a week before taping the parade. 2009 marked the show's change in title to Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade as part of a branding consolidation announced in February.
Hosts Derek Hough and Julianne Hough at Walt Disney World and Jesse Palmer at Disneyland. Airs on ABC. Renamed Disney Parks Magical Christmas Celebration. Starting this year, the parade returns to being filmed from both major Disney parks, with the musical performances being filmed at Walt Disney World (across all four of the main parks) and the parade segments being filmed at Disneyland. Entertainment: Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, Kelly Clarkson, Sofia Carson, Jordan Fisher, Mariah Carey, Gavin DeGraw, OneRepublic, Alessia Cara, Flo Rida. Two companion specials, The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration and Disney Parks Descendants Magical Holiday Celebration were announced to air November 24 on ABC and November 25 on Disney Channel respectively, featuring many of the same personalities as the Christmas parade, with the latter heavily tying into the Descendants franchise. Some segments in the parade were even recycled from the two earlier specials and the performances from those specials were also used.
2017
Hosts to be announced. Airs on ABC. Renamed Disney Parks Musical Christmas Celebration. For the first time, all performers will form into an all-star chorus for the finale. Entertainment TBA
Before Philbin and Ripa, the long-time hosts were Joan Lunden and Alan Thicke, with Philbin on the street interviewing guests. Philbin had been involved with the program continuously from 1991 to 2009.
