VeryMerryParades.comDetails: 1983 - 1993Details: 1994 - 2005
 
1994-2005

The Second Decade of the televised Disney Christmas Parades saw plenty of changes to the formula that had been repeated annually through the '80s and early 90's.  The producers felt that the MTV generation demanded a quicker pace, so more music and pre-produced segments were included with lots of quick clips.  Eventually, the entire parade would be pre-produced starting in 1997.

Also, by the mid-1990s, the concept of Disney corporate synergy had been perfected, meaning that the annual parades were perfect opportunities to promote everything-Disney.  Not only the Disney resorts were hyped, but also Disney movies, albums, video releases, television shows, recording artists, etc. etc.  All this promotion meant less broadcast time for actual parade footage and more time for previews and sneak peeks at Disney-related stuff.  (But my family loved these sneak-peeks!  And ... that's why you'll love owning my DVD collection ... because it's like owning a 20 year video year-book of everything Disney!)

The second decade of parades also gradually introduced the concept of Musical Guests.  At first it was just one or two Disney voice artists like Jodi Benson, but over the years, the quality and quantity of the acts increased dramatically!  The parades have showcased everyone from Britney and Jessica Simpson to the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees to Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson!  By the way, hands down, the best musical guest ever was Mariah Carey in 2004, opening the show with "All I want for Christmas is you!"

In 1996, Disney purchased the ABC network.  That same year, Regis and Joan were given the boot and a series of ABC Prime Time stars took over hosting duties. They were:

  • 1996 - Jerry Van Dyke (Coach) and Suzanne Somers (Step by Step)
  • 1997 - Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and Ben Savage (Boy Meets World) 
  • 1998 - Caroline Rhea (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) and Richard Kind (ok, not an ABC star, but Bugs Life!)
  • 1999 - Mitchell Ryan and Susan Sullivan (both from Darma and Greg)

After a year's absence in 2000 (when Disney broadcast a horrible Christmas Eve special instead) the Very Merry Christmas Parade returned in 2001 with a familiar face!  By that time, Regis was hip again, thanks to Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.  His morning show co-host Kelly Rippa makes a great partner, even though they always sound very scripted on the parades, thanks to the fact that the Disney Marketing Department writes the scripts.

In 2002, the parade was newly named "Walt Disney World's Christmas Day Parade" and the format has remained largely unchanged for the past six years.

1994:

Hosts:

  • Joan Lunden
  • Regis Philbin

On the Street:

  • Margaret Cho

From Disneyland:

  • Jonathon Taylor Thomas

Special Segments:

  • Greetings from President and Mrs. Clinton
  • A Tuba Christmas
  • Disneyland's 40th Anniversary
  • Jonathon Taylor Thomas rides Indiana Jones Adventure
  • Planet Hollywood Opening
  • Nancy Kerrigan skates
  • Regis visits Alien Encounter and New Tomorrowland
  • Sneak Peek at Pocahontas
1995:  (Don't know much about this one?  Can anyone help?)

Hosts:
  • Joan Lunden
  • Regis Philibin
1996:

Hosts:
  • Suzanne Somers
  • Jerry Van Dyke

On the Street:

  • Brianne Leary (Walt Disney World Inside Out)
  • J.D. Roth (Walt Disney World Inside Out)

Musical Guests:

  • Sandi Patti
  • Gary Beach
  • Ernie Sabella
  • Samuel E. Wright

Notes:

  • This is the first year Disney tried to up the Hip Factor by replacing Regis and Joan with ABC Prime Time stars.
  • This is the last year the parade was broadcast live.
1997:

Hosts:
  • Melissa Joan Hart
  • Ben Savage

On the Street:

  • Downtown Julie Brown at opening of Downtown Disney

Musical Guests:

  • Paige O'Hara ("As Long as There's Christmas")
  • Ernie Sabella at Discovery Island
  • Backstreet Boys (2 songs)
  • Jodi Benson

Special Segments:

  • Several segments feature the Hercules Parade
  • Ben rides Tower of Terror
  • Melissa visits Goosebumps Fright Show
  • Local kids perform "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Santa Baby"
  • Westwood High Marching Band
  • Winter Wonderland music montage at Blizzard Beach
  • Joe Rhode give preview of Animal Kingdom
  • ESPN sportscenter: Santa's Elves vs. Harlam Globetrotters
  • Chanukah songs at Epcot Disney Cruise Line
  • Preview "Let it Snow" music montage at the resorts
  • Holiday Cheerleaders sing "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree"
  • Greetings from President and Mrs. Clinton
  • Let There Be Peace on Earth video montage
  • HUGE finale on Main Street

Notes:

  • Official title is "A Magical Walt Disney WOrld Christmas"
  • Opening Features Santa saying "I'm going to Disney WOrld!"
  • This is the first year the parade was broadcast entirely pre-taped.
  • The birthday cake castle is very visible throughout the show.
  • This is probably my favourite year!  It's a great show!
1998:

Hosts:
  • Caroline Rhea
  • Richard Kind

On the Street:

  • Wayne Brady

Musical Guests:

  • N*SYNC
  • Martina McBride
  • Donny Osmond
Special Segments:
  • Magic Music Days
  • Preview of WDW Fantasmic!
Notes:
  • Best opening montage ever!
  • Wayne Brady makes his first appearance.  He has appeared every year since, with the exception of 2004.
1999:

Hosts:
  • Mitchell Ryan
  • Susan Sullivan (both from Darma and Greg)

On the Street:

  • Wayne Brady
Musical Guests:
  • Harry Connick Jr.
  • N*SYNC
  • She*Daisy
  • 98 Degrees
  • James Ingram 

Special Segments:

  • Harry Connick Jr. visits Tower of Terror
  • Sneak Peek of Millennium Celebration with N*SYNC
  • Electrical Parade segment
  • Wayne Brady Rides Rock N Rollercoaster

Notes:

  • Only year this parade was filmed at night and aired in prime time on Christmas Day Eve.
  • New "elegant" on-screen graphics were created for this night-time event
  • This is the last year that the voice of Dick Tufeld is heard over the opening credits.
2000:

  • The Very Merry Christmas Parade was not shown in 2000. Instead, a prime time special aired on Christmas Eve, called "Disney's Night Before Christmas."
Summary:
  • Santa fills his sleigh for another year of merrymaking as The Wonderful World of Disney presents Walt Disney World's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas!... a 2-hour special tracking the globe-circling flight of the man in red.  The special airs Dec. 24 from 7-9 p.m. EST on ABC television.  Families will watch as the Santa Tracking Headquarters stationed in the Magic Kingdom follows Santa's sleigh with up-to-the-minute sightings from correspondents world-wide. The special also includes: Celebrities sharing their Christmas Eve traditions and holiday home videos, A special visit to the North Pole and more! Mickey, Minnie, Donald and other Disney characters will celebrate Christmas Eve with all the holiday warmth and magic Walt Disney World Resort offers.

Musical Guests:

  • 98 Degrees
  • SHeDaisy
  • 'N Sync
  • Monica
  • Billy Gilman
2001:

Hosts:
  • Regis Philbin
  • Kelly Rippa
On the Street:
  • Wayne Brady
  • Mandy Moore

Musical Guests:

  • Aaron Carter (x2)
  • Mandy Moore (x2)
  • Charlotte Church (x2)
  • Baha Men
  • City High
  • Wayne Brady
  • Aaron Tippin

Special Segments:

  • Behind the Scenes: Decorating WDW for Christmas
  • Wayne Brady at One Man's Dream Exhibit
  • Band of the US Air Force Reserve
  • Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade
  • Wayne Brady improv rap with park guests
  • Behind the Scenes at Tapestry of Dreams
  • Share a Dream Come True Parade
  • Stars and Motorcars Parade
  • Many greetings from the troops over-seas

Notes:

  • This DVD is missing the opening number
  • The parade is still known as the Very Merry Christmas Parade in 2001
  • On-screen graphics are the same elegant ones from 1999 night-time parade
  • TV premiere of the new Santa's Sleigh float
  • The 2001 parade exhibited the modesty & restraint that was typical of many post-9/11 TV specials.
2002:

Hosts:
  • Regis Philbin
  • Kelly Rippa
On the Street:
  • Wayne Brady
  • Meredith Viara
  • Robin Roberts
  • Star Jones

From Disneyland:

  • John Ritter
  • George Lopez 

Musical Guests:

  • Andrea McArdle and Alexis Kalchoff
  • Jump 5
  • Lee Ann Womak
  • Bear in Big Blue House
  • The Wiggles
  • Heather Headley
  • Hilary Duff
  • John Rzeznik

Special Segments:

  • Behind the Scenes: Decorating WDW for Christmas
  • Preview of Aladdin Musical at Disneyland
  • Roy Disney - History of Disney Christmas
  • Greetings from President Bush

Notes:

  • Newly-named The Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
  • New producing company: Harborlight / Lightship Entertainment
2003:

Hosts:
  • Regis Philbin
  • Kelly Rippa
On the Street:
  • Robin Roberts

From Disneyland:

  • George Lopez

Musical Guests:

  • Clay Aiken
  • Jump 5
  • Wayne Brady (Tarzan Rocks)
  • Bear in the Big Blue House
  • Enrique Iglesias
  • Disney Channel stars
  • Rascal Flats
  • Jessica Simpson
Special Segments:

  • Clay Aiken sings opening and closing numbers
  • Raven behind the scenes at Philharmagic
  • Introducing Pop Century Resort
  • 75 Years of Mickey statues
  • Star Jones' Animal Kingdom overview
  • Brady Bunch at Disney/MGM Studios
  • Lance Bass at Mission: Space
  • George Lopez visits DCA Tower of Terror
  • Michelle Kwan at Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA
  • Overview of Magical Gatherings

Notes:

  • Billed as the 20th Annual broadcast
  • New Mickey inflatable leads the band
  • The term "Magical Gatherings" is peppered nearly 30 times throughout the script.
2004:

Hosts:
  • Regis Philbin
  • Kelly Rippa

On the Street:

  • Tom Bergeron
From Disneyland:
  • Kermit the Frog
  • Miss Piggy
  • Gonzo On

Musical Guests:

  • Mariah Carey
  • Diana DeGarmo
  • Raven
  • Wynona
  • Ashanti
  • Kelly Clarkson
  • SHeDaisy
  • Latin singing sensation Juanes
  • Jump 5

Special Segments:

  • Mariah Carey opens the show with "All I want for Christmas is you" (Probably the best musical act in the history of the Disney Parades)
  • Zach Braff introduces his movieChicken Little
  • Kelly and son Michael visit Stitch's Great Escape
  • Christy Carlson Romano visits Snow White: An Enchanting Musical
  • Jesse McCartney visits Tower of Terror at DCA
  • A visit to Mission: Space, Test Track, and Rock n Roller Coaster
  • Tom Bergeron hosts Stars and Motorcars Parade
  • Bear in a Big Blue House visits all four parks to explore kid-friendly attractions
  • Overview of Magical Gatherings
  • Regis visits Cirque Du Soleil
  • Meredith Vieira visits Disney Broadway shows in New York
  • Julie Andrews previews Disneyland's 50th Birthday
  • Behind the scenes at Walt Disney Imagineering
  • Preview of Expedition Everest, Lucky the Dinosaur and Turtle Talk

Notes:

  • Last year for Michael Eisner to introduce the parade.
2005:

Hosts:
  • Regis Philbin
  • Kelly Rippa
From Disneyland:
  • Ryan Seacrest

Musical Guests:

  • Brian Setzer Orchestra
  • Fantasia
  • Vanessa Williams
  • Aly and AJ
  • The Cheetah Girls
  • Jim Brickman, Kimberly Locke & Wayne Brady
  • John O'Hurley sings Beauty and the Beast
  • Mercy Me
  • Lone Star
  • Diana Krall
  • Paulina Rubio

Special Segments:

  • Chris Brown visits the new Space Mountain at Disneyland
  • Julie Andrews overviews 50 Years of Disney Theme Parks
  • Parade of Dreams from Disneyland
  • Cast of Narnia visits Journey Into Narnia at Disney/MGM
  • Kyle Petty at Lights, Motors Action! Stunt Show
  • Raven with a sneak peek at Expedition Everest
  • Sneak peek at Monsters Inc ride at DCA
  • Star Jones at Saratoga Springs
  • Tiger Woods on Soarin'
  • Greetings from President and Mrs. Bush
  • 500 members of the US Armed Forces march down Main Street USA
  • Tom Bergeron previews: Cinderellabration, Soarin' and Lights, Motors, Action!
  • Tarzan Rocks! and Lion King Celebration performances on Main Street
  • Finale from all the parks around the world

Notes:

  • First year for Bob Iger to introduce the parade
  • For the first time ever, all the Disney theme parks around the world join the broadcast.
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