Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade

The Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade is an annual broadcast of Walt Disney World's Christmas parade, which is at their Magic Kingdom park. The program has since expanded to include coverage of the Disneyland Christmas parade. 
It is broadcast on Christmas Day morning on ABC, and was previously known as The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade from 1983 through 2001, and Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade until 2009.
In addition to appearing in the parade and on the broadcasts throughout the years, The Muppets helped co-host the parade in 2004 and again in 2011.
==Muppet appearances==
Image 	Description
 	1989
Kermit the Frog (performed by Jim Henson) makes special appearances throughout the broadcast. He chats with Regis Philbin on the street about the Muppets' then-upcoming move to the new Disney MGM Studios (including Miss Piggy's demands for Cinderella's Castle to become her personal dressing room) and mentions some of the failed attempts for the Muppets to collaborate with Disney; including Miss Piggy losing the titular role in Sleeping Beauty due to the inability to sit still and remain silent, and Gonzo's role of "Smelly" the dwarf being cut from Snow White.
Later, Kermit rides through Disney-MGM Studios in a sleigh, accompanied by two human cast members from the park. He sings a Christmas medley including "Sleigh Ride," "Come On, We're Going for a Sleigh Ride," and "White Christmas." Through the help of some "movie studio magic," Kermit ends the number with a quick costume change and even causes it to snow (as, after all, "there's no business like snow business").
Kermit later interviews some children along the parade route about Santa Claus.1989 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
A clip of Kermit's performance of "Sleigh Ride" was re-shown in the 2008 broadcast as part of the parade's 25th anniversary celebration. 
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 	1992
The Great Gonzo appeared (dressed as Charles Dickens from The Muppet Christmas Carol) with a short holiday message.
 	2002
Bear from Bear in the Big Blue House performs "The Bear Cha-Cha-Cha." Bear also talks with hosts Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa in their broadcasting station, and acts as a "cub reporter", throwing to Wayne Brady on the street.2002 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
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 	2003
Bear performs "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and appears in the finale singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" alongside a cast of celebrities (including Christy Carlson Romano, Raven-Symoné, Orlando Brown, and Anneliese van der Pol).2003 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
 	2004
Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy host the Disneyland section of the broadcast; while Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa cover the portions of the parade from Disney World."Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade 2004", WDW press release. December 16, 2004. They also interact with several performers and corespondents in Disneyland, including Ashanti and Christy Carlson Romano.2004 Walt Disney World Christmas Day Parade
Gonzo, serving as an on-the-street corespondent along the parade route, interacts with parade patrons. He also takes a look at various updates coming in Disneyland's Tomorrowland, the new Dreams Come True Fireworks, and new attractions at Disney California Adventure Park.
Bear gives a group of kids a tour of Walt Disney World in Florida, including a visit to the then-new Mickey’s PhilharMagic 3-D show, The Living Seas at EPCOT, and a safari at Animal Kingdom. 
Additionally, Treelo from Playhouse Disney: Live on Stage (Disney-MGM Studios) is seen on the Playhouse Disney float.
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 	2007
While Bear himself does not appear, Bear in the Big Blue House is still represented by Treelo, Pip and Pop and Tutter, riding behind Handy Manny on the Playhouse Disney float in the Walt Disney World section of the broadcast.
 	2010
Park puppets of Kermit and Piggy ride on their Honorary VoluntEars Cavalcade float in the Walt Disney World section of the broadcast.
250px|center	2011
Statler and Waldorf appear throughout the broadcast, providing color commentary from a box above Main Street in Disneyland. 
Kermit appears partway through with parade co-host Mario Lopez, to whom he offers his gig on New Year's Eve... being Miss Piggy's date; Lopez freezes in shock after unwittingly agreeing. During the segment, Kermit makes reference to his press tour for The Muppets. 
Gonzo appears briefly in the opening sequence, and is later featured in his stunt gear preparing to catapult over Cinderella's Castle (he checks the wind speed to make sure he doesn't hit It's a Small World). He recruits co-host Maria Menounos to join him; and Kermit observes him succeeding in the stunt right before a commercial break. 
Gonzo, Statler and Waldorf are all featured in outtakes and bloopers played during the end credits.
Kermit posed with Bella Thorne and Zendaya in publicity photos for the parade.
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 	2015
Kermit and Robin appear in a brief interstitial segment after a commercial break, plugging The Muppets ABC series and discussing Robin's first vacation at Disney World.
 	2021
Kermit appears in a short segment explaining why the holiday season is the most magical time of the year.
==Behind the scenes gallery==
Image:2004wdw2.jpg|Eric Jacobson and Steve Whitmire performing in 2004
Image:Dl3.jpg|Dave Goelz and Gonzo performing in 2004
Image:2004wdw3.jpg|Dave Goelz with Gonzo in 2004
Image:2011KermitZendayaBella.jpg|Kermit poses with Bella Thorne and Zendaya in 2011
==Connections==
*Joan Lunden co-hosted the parade from 1983 to 1995
*Mike Douglas co-hosted the parade in 1983
*Caitlyn Jenner co-hosted the parade in 1984
*Regis Philbin co-hosted the parade from 1984 to 2007
*Ed McMahon co-hosted the parade in 1992
*Melissa Joan Hart co-hosted the parade in 1997
*Caroline Rhea co-hosted the parade in 1998
*Wayne Brady co-hosted the parade from 1998 to 2003
*Kelly Ripa co-hosted the parade from 2001 to 2009
*George Lopez co-hosted the parade in 2003
*Ryan Seacrest co-hosted the parade from 2005 to 2010
*Maria Menounos co-hosted the parade from 2010 to 2012
*Mario Lopez co-hosted the parade from 2011 to 2012
*Neil Patrick Harris co-hosted the parade in 2013
*Nick Lachey co-hosted the parade in 2017
*Sarah Hyland co-hosted the parade in 2018
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:Christmas Appearances
Category:TV Appearances
Category:Disney Theme Park Attractions
Category:Parades
Category:Christmas Attractions