There are many magical moments to experience when visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. One of the magical experiences that Guests love to enjoy includes the Disney parades. But did you know that five secret parades occur in Walt Disney World each year? Most Guests don’t know about them, but we have all the information you need to ensure you don’t miss out on the fun!
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Located in the Magic Kingdom Park area of Lake Buena Vista, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground emulates the American Frontier. The Disney Resort hotel Guests are nestled within a pine and cypress forest. They are surrounded by beautiful scenery and woodland creatures, while staying in the heart of the Disney magic.
The Disney Moderate Resort offers Guests unique accommodations. They can choose to stay in one of the Cabins or rent a spot to pitch a tent or hook up an RV. The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness offer a luxury camping experience. You get a taste of pioneer life in a fully furnished cabin in the woods. Meanwhile, the Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness are perfect for Guests wishing to experience the great outdoors. Each campsite has access to water, cable TV, and electrical hook-ups, surrounded by privacy-enhancing landscaping. Are you a camper or a glamper?
Whichever accommodation you choose for your stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, you can hire a golf cart. Access to a golf cart can make traveling around the Disney Resort easy. Electric golf carts can seat up to four Guests and have a windshield and headlights to enhance the safety of your ride. When staying at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, you can choose how long you intend to hire a golf cart. You may choose to hire one for the entirety of your stay or on select days.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Golf Cart Extravaganza
You may be wondering why we mention the golf carts available for Guests to hire in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. They are, in fact, a vital part of the secret Disney parades that take place in the Walt Disney World Resort outside of a Disney Park.
When you think of a Disney parade, the Festival of Fantasy Parade in Magic Kingdom Park will probably come to mind. In the past, there have been other parades to feature in the Disney Parks, including the Main Street Electrical Parade in Magic Kingdom, the Block Party Bash in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. However, the Festival of Fantasy Parade is currently the only parade to feature in Walt Disney World. Guests can enjoy the Festival of Fantasy Parade daily at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.Â
The exception to the Festival of Fantasy Parade in Magic Kingdom Park is four other parades in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort each year. Guests hiring golf carts at the Disney Resort hotel at specific times of the year can participate in a seasonal Golf Cart Extravaganza.
The Golf Cart Extravaganzas are open to Guests of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Guests decorate their golf carts and enter the competition. While the golf carts are judged, the Golf Cart Extravaganzas tour Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground for Disney Guests to see. You don’t have to be a Guest of Disney’s Fort Wilderness to see the creativity that has gone into the decorated golf carts you will see. Spectators can see each golf cart parade from the Big Pine Trail and at the Campfire Theater at the end of each parade. You may even see Disney characters feature at the beginning of the parade.
There are four Golf Cart Extravaganzas to see at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort each year. They are:
- July 4 Golf Cart Extravaganza
- Holiday Golf Cart Extravaganza, which takes place on December 24 each year
- Halloween Golf Cart Extravaganza, which takes place on October 31 each year
- ‘It’s Really Not-So-Scary” Golf Cart Extravaganza, which takes place on April 28 each year, as part of the Halfway-to-Halloween celebrations
Mardi Gras Parade
Another unique parade in the Walt Disney World Resort each year is the Mardi Gras Parade. Every day is Mardi Gras in Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, but the celebrations extend to Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort on Mardi Gras each year too. Part of the Mardi Gras celebrations include the Port Orleans Mardi Gras Pargo Parade.
The Mardi Gras Pargo Parade takes place in the morning. Beginning at Port Orleans Riverside, the parade travels along the Sassagoula River to Port Orleans French Quarter. Guests can view the parade as it travels between the Disney Resort hotels. Upon arrival at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort, Guests can admire the floats. This year’s parade featured fabulous floats created by different teams of Walt Disney World Cast Members.
Getting There
Whichever secret Disney parade you choose to enjoy, you’ll need to make plans to arrive at the Disney Resorts before the parades start. If you plan on seeing one of the Golf Cart Extravaganzas at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, we recommend catching the boat from Magic Kingdom Park. If you are a Guest of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, you can also catch the bus to Disney’s Fort Wilderness.
When visiting Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts, you can catch the Disney buses from one of the Disney Parks. Alternatively, we love to use the Sassagoula River Boats from Disney Springs. The boat launch is at the end of the Marketplace.Â
Will your next Disney vacation coincide with one of the secret Disney parades? If so, visit Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort or Disney’s Port Orleans Resorts. We love to spend time in the Disney Resort hotels.Â
