left: "Captain EO," the 17-minute, classic 3-D film experience starring Michael Jackson has returned to the Imagination pavilion and is showing daily. right: Tinker Bell is all aglow as she leads the way in Disney's Main Street Electrical Parade as it returns to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort this summer.

Two Disney Parks are offering the return of two Disney Classics that are sure to encourage a sense of nostalgia and give fans an opportunity to share these historic and renewed favorites with friends, family and children.

At Magic Kingdom, the “Main Street Electrical Parade” has returned for a summer special. Now through August 14, Tinker Bell will be sprinkling her pixie dust to illuminate the classic parade and the parade’s highly recognizable musical theme is brightened by new technology..

The parade, which normally is featured at Disneyland Resort in California, was last at Walt Disney World Resort from 1999 into 2001. But it has returned to Magic Kingdom to headline “Summer Nightastic!” through Aug. 14and is showcasing lots of features never before seen – or heard – in Florida.

The parade twinkles with approximately half a million lights. Of those, nearly 10,000 are new “pixie dust” lights spread over the 23 parade floats. The new LED lights use one-quarter of the power of incandescent lights. The Tinker Bell float alone has more than 25,000 points of light and 75 percent are powered by an LED source.

Disney fans, the Jackson family from Lithia, is thrilled with the return of the parade. “We can remember coming to the parade as a young couple and now we can bring the whole family,” said Sarah who enjoyed the parade with children Sam, 5, Amanda, 3 and husband Rick.

And, over at Disney’s Epcot, Captain E/O, has made a resurrection. Starring Micheal Jackson, the original 3-D movie was released in the early 1990s. And, now just over 1 year since the icon’s passing, the movie is back in all its glory. Join Captain E/O, as he colors the devastated and dark world with color while delivering his ‘gift’. With traditionally pop choreography that is finding a modern twist, Jackson fans, families and Star Wars fans will appreciate the science fiction connection. Definitely worth a see this summer and as a bonus, this one is within an air-conditioned theatre!

Twenty-four years ago, entertainment superstar Michael Jackson joined forces with Disney, producer George Lucas and director Francis Ford Coppola to create a groundbreaking 17-minute 3-D film experience starring Jackson as Captain EO performing two original songs, and featuring Academy Award®-winning actress Anjelica Huston, and a cast of merry, mythical space characters with dual personalities who undergo magical transformations to become Jackson’s electronic band in conquering the forces of darkness. “Captain EO” played at Epcot from 1986-1994.

The attraction’s return provides new audiences the opportunity to experience the original 3-D production for the very first time, as well as a nostalgic look back for longtime fans wanting to see Michael Jackson in a rare performance created for the big screen.

The colorful Disney-created characters include: Hooter, the little green elephant-like creature who sneezes wild musical notes through his flute-like trunk; Fuzzball, the orange-haired space monkey with butterfly wings; the Geex, a golden-haired, two-faced personality with two left feet, one right foot and two shaggy heads named Idy and Ody; Major Domo, whose mirrored silver costume becomes a complete set of drums; and Minor Domo with his sparkling purple torso that turns into an electronic synthesizer played by Hooter.

“Captain EO” is presented multiple times daily at the Imagination pavilion at Epcot. It replaces “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” which is planned to return at an undetermined date.

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Marie Gilmore
Marie is the Managing Editor at the Osprey Observer. She covers news, transportation, education and likes to make a positive impact on the community and be 'in the know'!