November 28, 2012

Rare Characters From 1983's Flights of Fantasy

In a recent post we watched the giant Fantasia brooms march by, and now we're taking a look at some more rarely-seen characters who grabbed the spotlight in Disneyland's 1983 Flights of Fantasy parade. We've got a dozen photos today, starting with the best armored oddballs ever:
The Trumpeter, Hippo Knight and Rhino Guards from Robin Hood show up! Check out the rhino on the far right menacing the crowd.
Disney Heffalumps Woozles Disneyland Flights Fantasy Parade
Heffalumps and Woozles. Hide the honey!

Disney Snow White Scary Evil Trees Flights Parade Disneyland
The scary trees from Snow White get their moment in the sun.
Disney Stromboli Disneyland Flights Fantasy Parade
 The Great Stromboli.


Disney Alligator Crocodile Fantasia Hippo Flights Parade Disneyland
Walt Disney World got a lot more Fantasia love during SpectroMagic's run. Here in Disneyland, the crowd loved this crew. I'm looking at the gator and wondering how on earth he didn't fall off that tiny ledge!
Disney Fantasia Alligator Crocodile Flights Parade Disneyland
"Dance of the Hours" is my second-favorite part of Fantasia.
Disney Ostriches Fantasia Parade Flights Fantasy Disneyland
I wonder if some of these costumes came from the traveling Disney on Parade arena shows. I love that the ostriches aren't all identical.
Disney Wonderland Dee Dum Walrus Flights Parade Disneyland
Nothing rare here, but the Walrus doesn't get enough park time. Did you know J. Pat O'Malley did the voices of Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum, the Walrus and the Carpenter? And, come to think of it, why has the poor Carpenter never appeared with the Walrus in the parks? How hard is it to stick a white paper hat on a Cast Member?
Disney Caterpillar float Daffodils Parade Flights Disneyland
They're rare and meaner than they look -- The Dizzy Daffodils!
Disney Disneyland Cheshire Cat Flights Fantasy Parade teapot
Rarely seen in a teapot.
Disneyland Disney Cards Alice Parade Flights Fantasy Wonderland
A good attempt at a difficult concept.

One last shot -- and I apologize about the poor image quality. There's certainly nothing rare about Maleficent in either Fairy or Dragon form...
Maleficent Dragon Disney Disneyland parade goon Flights
...but how many times do you see her escorted by one of her Goons? (For a slightly better look at the dragon, please see our recent post on Disney's Favorite Way To Bump Off a Villain).

I hope you enjoyed this trip back in time to Flights of Fantasy, Disneyland's celebration of the 1983 Fantasyland renovation. I remember enjoying the parade, but being a bit impatient for it to end; I just wanted to get back to Fantasyland to check out the improved Mr. Toad's Wild Ride several more times!



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