Source: Matterhorn 1959
January 1986 – spring 1988
LOCATION
Main Street USA & Fantasyland – Most of this show’s festivities took place on Main Street, in both the hub and along the usual parade route. Videopolis in Fantasyland hosted a companion show as well, creating a two-land space for the entire circus.
BACKGROUND
Like the Blast to the Past celebration, Circus Fantasy was designed to drum up ticket sales and excitement during the park’s slowest season – the period between holiday celebrations ending and summertime crowds rolling in. The show ran seasonally (usually from January to May) – disappearing when the park got busy again in the late spring. Unlike the parades, Circus Fantasy featured professional circus performers, rather than training cast members to perform all of the roles.
EXPERIENCE
Circus Fantasy included 3 different show elements: a stage show, a parade, and a Main Street show. Depending on which venue you visited, you’d see some of all of the following:
- Elephants
- Clowns
- Stilt walkers
- Tightope/high wire
- Motorcycle daredevil stunts
- Circus dancers & acrobats
The “Disney” moment came during the parade – when Mickey joined circus performers on the back of one of the elephants!
Source: GEOCITIES
CLOSURE
After three years, Disneyland was ready to bring in a new show. If Circus Fantasy hadn’t drawn in new visitors by this point, they weren’t coming. So in 1988, Blast to the Past made its debut in the park, connecting in more Disney characters and some nostalgia that always wins over park fans.
TRIVIA
As one last push for Circus Fantasy, Disneyland featured some of its performers on a TV special in 1988, called “Disneyland’s All-Star Comedy Circus”.
This was the 4th circus themed attraction to reach Disneyland, joining Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Casey Jr. Circus Train, and the Mickey Mouse Club Circus.
Source: Matterhorn 1959