Block Party Bash was a hybrid stage show and parade that played at
Disney California Adventure Park
Disney California Adventure Park, commonly referred to as California Adventure or by its acronym DCA, is a theme park located at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Park ...
from 2005 to 2008. It was relocated to
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks, Experiences and Products division. Based on a concept by M ...
in March 2008, replacing the
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade was a parade at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort, and Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris. The parade first premiered on October 1, 2001, as part of the Walt Disney World Resort's ...
.
Show facts
It ran at Disney California Adventure from May 5, 2005 to January 6, 2008. At Disney's Hollywood Studios it ran from March 14, 2008 to January 1, 2011.
It had three show stops (Summer 2005), then two show stops (Fall 2005–January 2008).
The Show length was 11-minute stop, approximately 40 minutes from entrance gate to exit gate (55 minutes with three show stops).
The previous parade was Disney California Adventure: Eureka! The California Adventure Parade, and at Disney's Hollywood Studios:
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade
Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade was a parade at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort, and Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris. The parade first premiered on October 1, 2001, as part of the Walt Disney World Resort's ...
.
History
![DCA-BlockPartyBash 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/DCA-BlockPartyBash_01.jpg)
Block Party Bash was introduced in May 2005 in conjunction with Disneyland's 50th anniversary "Happiest Homecoming on Earth" celebration. Produced to fill the void left after the closure of
Eureka!, it was conceived as more a mobile stage show than a parade. Unlike most Disney parades, Block Party Bash is an upbeat show that makes heavy use of dance music with an energetic, driving beat.
Block Party Bash featured characters from and units inspired by the
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios (commonly known as Pixar () and stylized as P I X A R) is an American computer animation studio known for its critically and commercially successful computer animated feature films. It is based in Emeryville, Californ ...
films released to that point: ''
Toy Story
''Toy Story'' is a 1995 American computer-animated comedy film directed by John Lasseter (in his feature directorial debut), produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The first installment in the '' Toy Story ...
'', ''
The Incredibles
''The Incredibles'' is a 2004 American computer-animated superhero film produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Written and directed by Brad Bird, it stars the voices of Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah ...
'', ''
A Bug's Life
''A Bug's Life'' is a 1998 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It was the second feature-length film produced by Pixar. Directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Andrew Stant ...
'', and ''
Monsters, Inc.'' In addition to the characters, Block Party Bash featured a large number of dancers, bikers, and trampoline artists. The original cast included over 60 dancers, 16 acrobats, 12 pairs of jumping stilts and 30 electric scooters.
Following its initial season, Block Party Bash was significantly scaled down, with its original three show stops being reduced to two, the
A Bug's Land stop removed, and the lighting and effects system reworked to require less manpower. The tail end of the Bug's Life unit was also scaled down by removing Dim, with the larger unit losing its trailered unit, and a few party cones.
After closing on January 6, 2008, the parade was relocated to
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios is a theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Parks, Experiences and Products division. Based on a concept by M ...
at
Walt Disney World
The Walt Disney World Resort, also called Walt Disney World or Disney World, is an entertainment resort complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States, near the cities of Orlando and Kissimmee. Opened on October 1, 1971, ...
in Florida. It premiered there on March 14, 2008—the same day that the new
Pixar Play Parade
Pixar Play Parade was a parade at the Disneyland Resort. The parade features floats and characters based on Disney·Pixar films such as '' Monsters, Inc.'', ''The Incredibles'' and ''Toy Story''. In a first for Disney California Adventure, the f ...
debuted at
Disney California Adventure
Disney California Adventure Park, commonly referred to as California Adventure or by its acronym DCA, is a theme park located at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It is owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company through its Park ...
.
Show Structure
Parade Mode
The show travels in "parade mode" along Disney's Hollywood Studios Performance Corridor until it reaches one of two "Party Zones". At this point, many of the performers are occupied with moving the units, while others dance alongside the procession to "
Celebration". The
Green Army Men, along the route, encourage guests to visit a "Party Zone", where they say the real fun begins.
Show Stop
Block Party Bash moves in "Parade Mode" to one of the party zones. When the show debuted, there were three party zones; "Red" located in
Sunshine Plaza, "Green" outside A Bug's Land, and "Blue" outside
Golden Dreams. Upon its arrival in the party zones, the show begins. The four main units as well as smaller "block" tweeners feature Green Army Men serving as a sort of party drill sergeant. Guests are invited to join in the jumping, dancing, games, and other fun.
Introduction
* "Celebration"; the floats arrive and set up for their stop.
* "
Dancing in the Street
"Dancing in the Street" is a song written by Marvin Gaye, William "Mickey" Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter. It first became popular in 1964 when recorded by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas whose version reached No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 ...
"; dance number
Jump
* "
Jumpin' Jack Flash
"Jumpin' Jack Flash" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released as a non-album single in 1968. Called "supernatural Delta blues by way of Swinging London" by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine, the song was perceived by some as t ...
"; characters, Pixar Pal dancers, and acrobats use jump ropes and jumping stilts, encouraging the audience to jump along.
Scream
* Green Army Men host a scream contest, challenging each side of the street to beat the other.
* "
Shout"; (lyrics changed to "scream").
Dance
* Dancers perform a routine featuring clips from "
Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)
"Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" is a hit song by C+C Music Factory. It was released in late 1990 as the debut and lead single from their first album, ''Gonna Make You Sweat'' (1990). The song is sung by singer Martha Wash and rapper ...
", "
Dance to the Music", "
(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty", and "
Footloose
Footloose may refer to:
* ''Footloose'' (1984 film), a musical film
** ''Footloose'' (1984 soundtrack)
** "Footloose" (song), performed by Kenny Loggins
* ''Footloose'' (2011 film), a remake of the 1984 film
** ''Footloose'' (2011 soundtrack) ...
".
* The audience is invited to participate in a series of popular dances: "
Macarena
"Macarena" is a dance song by Spanish pop duo Los del Río, about a woman of the same name. The song uses a type of clave rhythm. Originally appearing on the 1993 album '' A mí me gusta'', a subsequent remix by Miami-based producers The Bays ...
", "
Stayin' Alive
"Stayin' Alive" is a song written and performed by the Bee Gees from the ''Saturday Night Fever'' motion picture soundtrack. The song was released in 1977 as the second single from the ''Saturday Night Fever'' soundtrack. The band co-produced ...
", "
Y.M.C.A.", "
U Can't Touch This
"U Can't Touch This" is a song co-written, produced, and performed by American rapper MC Hammer. It was released as the third single from his third album, ''Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em'' (1990), and has been considered his signature song. Alon ...
", "
Whoomp! (There It Is)
"Whoomp! (There It Is)" is the debut single by 1990s rap duo Tag Team, written by members Cecil "DC the Brain Supreme" Glenn and Steve "Rolln" Gibson. The song reached No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B chart and No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot ...
", "
Twist and Shout
"Twist and Shout" is a 1961 song written by Phil Medley and Bert Berns (later credited as "Bert Russell"). It was originally recorded by the Top Notes, but it did not become a hit in the record charts until it was reworked by the Isley Brothers ...
", and "
Do You Wanna Dance?
"Do You Want to Dance" is a song written by American singer Bobby Freeman and recorded by him in 1958. It reached number No. 5 on the United States ''Billboard'' Top 100 Sides pop chart and No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' R&B chart. Cliff Richard ...
"
* The Incredibles arrive, emerging from the block floats.
Finale
* The dancers perform a final dance number to "
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.
"R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.", subtitled "A Salute to 60's Rock", is a rock song written and performed by John Mellencamp. It was the third single from his 1985 album ''Scarecrow'' and a top-ten hit on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and Top Rock Trac ...
"
Tear-down and return to Parade Mode
* The performers pack their floats back up to "
You've Got a Friend in Me
"You've Got a Friend in Me" is a song by Randy Newman. Used as the theme song for the 1995 Disney/Pixar animated film ''Toy Story'', it has since become a major musical component for its sequels, ''Toy Story 2'' (1999), ''Toy Story 3'' (2010) ...
".
* The show returns from Parade Mode to "Celebration".
Gate tag
* Once the floats, Tweeners and Cones reach the Paradise Pier parade gate, the Pixar Pal dancers step aside to the edge of the parade route. Once the
A Bug's Life
''A Bug's Life'' is a 1998 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. It was the second feature-length film produced by Pixar. Directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Andrew Stant ...
float reaches the edge of the gate, the Pixar Pals dance back into the center and perform a choreographed 'tag' as the music ends.
* One by one, they dance back toward the slowly closing gate and, on the final "Celebrate!" moment, they throw dozens of custom-printed Block Party Bash
Nerf
Nerf is a toy brand formed by Parker Brothers and currently owned by Hasbro. Most of the toys are a variety of foam-based weaponry, with other Nerf products including balls for sports such as American football, basketball, and baseball. The ...
balls over the gate.
Floats
The units are themed to one of three Disney-Pixar films, in this order:
* Toy Story
* A Bug's Life
* Monsters Inc.
The units are themed to one of three Disney-Pixar characters, in this order:
* Toy Story: Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Little Bo Peep, Mr. Potato Head, Green Army Men, and
Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear (Start from May 9, 2010)
* A Bug's Life: Flik, Atta, Gypsy Moth, Heimlich, and Slim
* Monsters Inc.: Mike, Sulley, Boo, George, Needlemen, and Smitty
These characters come out in the finale of the show
* The Incredibles: Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Frozone
Each unit consists of, in order:
* Trampoline Unit: Four-sided trampolines with a stationary spot in the middle featuring high-flying acrobats.
* Block Unit: a "tweener" unit featuring Green Army Men, prop storage, scream meters, and (later) The Incredibles.
* Two Cones: Featuring motorized scooters, banners, and beach balls.
* Main units: Elaborately decorated units based on the Pixar films, featuring Green Army Men, animatronic characters, stages, and air-guns.
In September 2006, the parade was scaled down from its original opening format. Previous to the current format of the parade, each section consisted of a trampoline, a tweener, two cones, the main unit, and 2 cones (a total for 4 cones per unit).
Each section also contains 8 dancing couples and 4 acrobats, totaling 48 dancers and 12 acrobats for the entire parade.
Creative staff
* Creative Director: Steven Davison, Disney Creative Entertainment
* Show Producer: Mike Williams
* Show Director: Marilyn Magness-Carroll
* Art Director: Brad Kaye
* Technical Directors: K.C. Wilkerson, Jeff T. Miller
* Choreography: Jerry Evans, Rita May Bland, Robin Trowbridge
References
{{reflist
Former Walt Disney Parks and Resorts attractions
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts parades
Disney California Adventure
Disney's Hollywood Studios
2005 establishments in California
2008 disestablishments in California
2008 establishments in Florida
2011 disestablishments in Florida