Memory 099 – SpectroMagic

** Binaural Audio **
Time: 42:18

Come and join us for another installment of the WDW-Memories podcast, where I try to make it possible for you relive your Walt Disney World Memories when you can’t actually be there.

99 Memories… you know what that means… special memory episode next time. Yep, I’ve been thinking about Memory 100 for a little while now and Paul and Magic Joe from Window to the Magic have given me an idea of what I’ll do. But you’ll just have to tune in next time to find out what it is. For today though, I was inspired by all the news about SpectroMagic. If you haven’t heard, the scuttlebutt on the internet is that they have recently destroyed various SpectroMagic parade floats, taking away any opportunity for the return of this parade in the future. This saddens me greatly as I loved this nighttime parade, possibly even more than the Main Street Electrical Parade. To me, the music is better, and I loved the little guys with the white faces. Other then that, I guess they’re really the same parade right?
But that’s just me, and like always, I wanted to hear from you, so again I tossed it out to social media, and got the following responses.

On Twitter JohnC35 wrote:

Saw it once in ’08. It was cool but to be honest I missed the Electrical Parade!

On Google+, Ed wrote:

My family’s favorite WDW parade bar none. We are extremely disappointed that we will never see it again. We started taking my daughter to WDW in the 90’s and every year thereafter until 2006 and that was the parade we never missed. We would always stake out a spot on the circle in front of the railroad station on Main Street. There was nothing that beat the soundtrack and I still listen to it to perk me up. So long Spectromagic!! We will certainly miss you!!

And on Facebook, Laura wrote:

We have a video of Spectromagic from one of my little brother’s first trips. Most of the video, however, is of him. My dad was holding him while he taped the parade and every few seconds my brother would point and say “Daddy! Daddy!” And my dad would point the camera back at him. His eyes were so wide and he was completely captivated by what was happening. It was like he wanted to make sure our dad wasn’t missing anything

Sadly, I’m not sure I’m not in the minority again on this one. Oddly enough, a nighttime parade has never been high on my list. Our family always used parades (day or night) as a prime attraction time. I now see how much fun it is for small children, so maybe that will change going forward. Shoot, it’s got to be a lot better to watch a parade without the Florida sun beating down on you than during the heat of the afternoon right?

Anyways, today’s memory is from January 2007. We’re back in the Magic Kingdom, just for one night as Traci has a convention at the Contemporary Resort. After checking into our room (we have a room for the night on the corner, overlooking the castle) we head to the park for a bit of fun. It’s fairly crowded, as it’s like January 2 or 3, so we don’t do many attractions but really soak in the atmosphere again. We’ve skipped the first parade time (using it to ride attractions instead) and caught Wishes. Now we want to find a good spot, and we couldn’t get much better. There are planters near the Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square that end up being close to the ropes. We arrive maybe 5 minutes before, take a seat and wait for the parade to arrive. We’ll join this memory as we’re sitting on the planters being entertained by those around us, and then the awesome music begins with that memorable trumpet fanfare, and the parade begins.

Today’s memory is in binaural, so I’d suggest putting those headphones on to fully immerse yourself in the memory.

Now sit back. Relax. Close your eyes. And come with me as we remember a parade that is now lost forever.