Parks Magic
Magic Kingdom's ABC Christmas Parade Taping Debuted Monsters, Inc. and Encanto Units Made Only for TV
News

Magic Kingdom's ABC Christmas Parade Taping Debuted Monsters, Inc. and Encanto Units Made Only for TV

Michael Travels
·
Published

Mike Wazowski showed up to Magic Kingdom's Christmas parade in a hard hat. On Tuesday, November 10, ABC's cameras rolled on the afternoon performance of Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, and the parade stepped off with two new segments made for the broadcast: a Monsters, Inc. unit and an Encanto unit, both tied to lands expected to open in 2027.

Here is the catch. According to BlogMickey, "Both Monsters Inc. and Encanto units are special for the Disney Parks holiday special, and won't be included in other performances of Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade." BlogMickey did not say whether Wednesday's second taping performance includes them, but after this week, the TV special is the place to see them.

Mike, Sulley and the MU crowd

The Monsters, Inc. segment included a Monsters University flag line, its blue flags printed with the Monsters, Inc. logo, plus MU cheerleaders with pink shaggy wigs and blue pom-poms. Mike and Sulley waved from the rear seat of a white Main Street car edged in blue tinsel.

Mike's blue hard hat carried the Monsters, Inc. logo, and he had company: George Sanderson and Needleman walked beside the car, and Needleman wore a hard hat to match. BlogMickey sees a nod to the build site at Disney's Hollywood Studios, where Monstropolis is going up in what used to be Muppets Courtyard. Disney says the first phase of the land opens in 2027.

George Sanderson, an orange furry monster, and Needleman, a tan monster in a blue Monsters, Inc. hard hat, wave on Main Street USA in front of performers carrying blue flags with the Monsters, Inc. logo

George Sanderson and Needleman, in his hard hat, in front of the Monsters University flag corps. Photo: BlogMickey

Encanto gets a Christmas float

The Encanto segment brought Mirabel, Bruno and Isabela dancing down Main Street USA surrounded by villagers dressed in ruffled skirts, striped ponchos and broad woven hats. A repurposed float followed, its red body crowned with poinsettias and white flowers and set with oval panels in gold frames.

BlogMickey ties the segment to Tropical Americas at Disney's Animal Kingdom, home of the upcoming Antonio's Fiesta de Encanto ride. A Disney webpage dropped the land's 2027 window in September, but BlogMickey says it understands the land remains on schedule for 2027.

A red parade float topped with red poinsettias and white flowers, with gold-framed oval panels including a candle design, behind dancers in Encanto costumes, on Main Street USA in front of the Emporium

The repurposed Encanto float, topped with poinsettias, passes the Emporium. Photo: BlogMickey

Who is hosting, and who is singing

No host had been announced when ABC set its 2026 air dates last month. The taping answered that: BlogMickey spotted Robert Irwin, last fall's Dancing with the Stars season 34 champion alongside pro Witney Carson, and Malia Baker, Chloe in the Descendants films The Rise of Red and Wicked Wonderland. The two taped what appeared to be host segments on a set of giant red glitter presents tied with gold bows. Crew credentials named both specials, which suggests this week's filming serves both shows.

Malia Baker in a red plaid dress and Robert Irwin in a cream suit sit on white chairs holding gold microphones in front of giant red glitter gift boxes with gold bows and a gold snowflake

Malia Baker and Robert Irwin on the gift-box host set at Magic Kingdom. Photo: BlogMickey

Disney has not announced its performer lineup, but one musical act and one character debut are already out:

  • aespa: the K-pop group filmed "Jingle Bell Rock" on a red-carpeted stage in front of Town Square Theater, per BlogMickey.
  • Billie Doe: the character from Disney's new film "Hexed" made her Disney Parks debut riding a float with Marie from The Aristocats and Nick Wilde from Zootopia, WDW News Today reported. She begins appearing at Disney's Hollywood Studios on November 25, the day the film opens in theaters.

When to watch, and the last daytime parade

The Wonderful World of Disney: Holiday Spectacular airs Monday, November 30, at 8pm on ABC, and the Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade airs Christmas morning at 10am Eastern.

The parade's second daytime performance was scheduled for 2pm on Wednesday, November 11, the last daytime performance outside Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade does not run on either taping day.

Sources

Image credits: All photos by BlogMickey.

Mentioned in this story

Check out our guides for more on each place in this story:

Magic Kingdom Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Related News