A surprising turn of events at the Most Magical Place on Earth.
Magic Kingdom’s Festival of Fantasy parade is a guest-favorite spectacle that winds through the heart of the park nearly every afternoon at 3 p.m., featuring beloved Disney characters and eye-catching floats from Peter Pan, Tangled, and more. The official Walt Disney World description calls it “a thrilling parade spectacular” with “dazzling mix of floats, motion and original music”—and this week, the magic kept going even in a Florida downpour.
Earlier this week, under heavy rain and gray skies, the Festival of Fantasy parade still rolled down Main Street, U.S.A.—even surprising some guests who didn’t expect the performance to go on. In most cases of inclement weather, Disney pivots to the Rainy Day Cavalcade, a shortened version of the parade with fewer floats. But this time, things unfolded a bit differently.
A video captured by TikTok user @tiffanybab showed performers like Belle, Beast, Ariel, Tinker Bell, and Anna and Elsa navigating the soaking conditions. Many characters could be seen trying to keep dry mid-performance, with water visibly weighing down costumes and props. Despite it all, spirits stayed high.
That is, until the end of the video, when a rare and concerning moment occurred. Snow White was seen escorting Bashful—one of the Seven Dwarfs—to the side of the parade route. With arms held across his chest, Bashful was helped off the route by a nearby cast member. While the reason for the departure wasn’t made public, guests speculated that slippery terrain or limited visibility might have prompted the character’s early exit.
Weather has long played a tricky role in Walt Disney World entertainment. Last year, Hurricane Milton forced the temporary closure of the entire resort. And while Florida’s weather rarely brings Disney’s entertainment to a complete stop, performers and operations teams do have protocols in place.
Despite the rain, the Festival of Fantasy parade continued to enchant—thanks in no small part to the commitment of the cast members. TikTok viewers praised the performers for their dedication: “This came out of NOWHERE!!! shoutout to the performers and cast members,” wrote @tiffanybab in the post caption.
Of course, this memorable parade comes during a time of big change for the Magic Kingdom.
Beginning July 7, two of the park’s longstanding areas—Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America—will permanently close to make way for a major transformation of Frontierland. This change marks the largest overhaul in the park’s 53-year history. The new land, which will feature themes from Pixar’s Cars, is called Piston Peak National Park and doesn’t yet have a set opening date, but Disney has released updated concept art and emphasized the use of “Parkitecture” to blend new elements into the land’s Western aesthetic.
While work begins behind the scenes, Magic Kingdom continues to bring the magic front and center with experiences like Happily Ever After at Cinderella Castle and the ever-popular Festival of Fantasy parade. These fan favorites remain at the heart of the guest experience, even amid big changes.
So, how would you feel about dancing through a parade in the rain? Let us know in the comments—and don’t forget your poncho next time!
