Block Party Bash
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Block Party Bash is a hybrid stage show and parade that plays at Disney's California Adventure park.
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[edit] History
Block Party Bash was introduced in May 2005 in conjunction with Disneyland's 50th Birthday "Happiest Homecoming on Earth" celebration. Produced to fill the void left after the closure of Eureka! The California Adventure Parade, it was concieved 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.
Advertised as a "high-energy party," Block Party Bash features characters from and floats inspired by the Pixar films released to that point: Toy Story, The Incredibles, a bug's life, and Monsters, Inc. In addition to the characters, Block Party Bash features 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 slightly scaled down, with its original three show stops being reduced to two, with the a bug's land stop removed. The Tail end of the Bug's Life unit was also scaled down by removing Dim, with the larger float losing its trailered float, and a few party cones.
It is rumoured that Block Party Bash may close at California Adventure at the end of 2007 to make way for a larger, more traditional Pixar parade. The show would be moved to Disney-MGM Studios in 2008.[1]
[edit] Show Structure
[edit] Parade Mode
The show travels in "parade mode" along Disney's California Adventure's Performance Corridor until it reaches one of two "Party Zones." At this point, many of the performers are occupied with moving the floats, while others dance alongside the procession to "Celebration." The Green Army Men, along the route, encourage guests to visit a color-coded "Party Zone," where they say the real fun begins.
[edit] 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 floats as well as smaller "block" floats feature Green Army Men serving as a sort of party drill sergant. Guests are invited to join in the jumping, dancing, games, and other fun.
[edit] Introduction
- "Celebration"; the floats arrive and set up for their stop.
- "Dancing in the Street"; Dance number
[edit] Jump
- Characters and acrobats use jump ropes and jumping stilts, encouraging the audience to jump along.
[edit] Scream
- Green Army Men host a scream contest, challenging each side of the street to beat the other.
- "Shout!"; (lyrics changed to "scream.")
[edit] Dance
- Dancers perform a routine featuring clips from "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)," "Dance to the Music," "Shake Your Booty," and "Footloose."
- The audience is invited to participate in a series of popular dances: "Macarena," "Stayin' Alive," "Y.M.C.A.," "U Can't Touch This," Whoomp! (There It Is) "Twist and Shout," and "Do You Wanna Dance?."
- The Incredibles arrive, emerging from the block floats.
[edit] Finale
- The dancers perform a final dance number to "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A."
[edit] Tear-Down and return to Parade Mode
- The performers pack their floats back up to "You've got a Friend in Me."
- The show returns to Parade Mode to "Celebration."
[edit] Floats
The float units are themed to one of three Disney-Pixar films, in this order:
- Toy Story
- Monsters Inc.
- a bug's life
Each float unit consists of, in order:
- Trampoline Unit: Four-sided trampolines with a stationary spot in the middle featuring high-flying acrobats.
- Two Cones: Featuring motorized scooters, banners, beach balls.
- Block Unit: Mini-float featuring Green Army Men, prop storage, scream meters, and (later) The Incredibles.
- Two Cones
- Main Float: Elaborately decorated floats based on the Pixar films, featuring Green Army Men, animatronic characters, stages, and air-guns.
- Two Cones
Twenty-six popular Pixar characters appear in the parade, including Woody, Jessie, Buzz Lightyear, and Little Bo Peep from Toy Story, Mike, Sulley, Boo George, Needlemen, and Smitty from Monsters, Inc., Flik, Atta, Gypsy Moth, Heimlik and Slim from a bug's life, and special appearances by Frozone and Mr. and Mrs. Incredible from The Incredibles.
[edit] Show facts
- Grand opening: May 5, 2005
- Show stops: 2
- Show length: 11 minute stop, approximately 40 minutes from entrance gate to exit gate
- Previous parade: Eureka! The California Adventure Parade
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[edit] External link
[edit] See also
- Disney's California Adventure entertainment history
