Walt Disney World | 4th of July Spectacular | 1989 | Main Street Electrical Parade | Sandi Patty

In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, the Disney Decade was in full swing, and part of it was advertising what’s new at Walt Disney World Resort. Disney parks was no stranger to “live” events from the parks. The Happy Easter Parade, Christmas Day Parade, and yes, The 4th of July Spectacular. While Disney has “live streamed” some recent 4th of July performances, it just doesn’t quite feel like the anticipation of waiting to watch the “live” fireworks on July 3rd in the 1980s. The special, like the Christmas and Easter Parades, evolved over the years; and in 1989, America’s 213th Birthday the focus was on Disney recording artists and the newly opened MGM Studios theme park. The Spectacular kicks off at Washington Square, New York, New York, or in this case, at Walt Disney World MGM Studios. Remember the Studios had just opened just two months earlier on May 1st, 1989 – New Kids on the Block are at Pleasure Island along with the Mannequin Dancers. Mickey Mouse Club Members are at the new Typhoon Lagoon Water Park; boy that footage looks familiar, almost like I’ve seen it before. Carol Channing is at Cinderella’s Castle; Jane Frisk, at the Theater of the Stars, and The Temptations in front of Oscars Service Station at MGM Studios. Disneyland has just opened the new Splash Mountain while Willard Scott and Gretchen Carlson, Miss America, host the All-American Parade at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom along with the Main Street Electrical Parade, and Sandi Patty closing out the Spectacular during the “live” fireworks performance. Happy 213th Birthday, America!!