Block Party Bash was introduced in May 2005 in conjunction with Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebration. Produced to fill the void left after the closure of Eureka!, it was conceived 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 units 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 also featured 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 significantly scaled down, with its original three show stops being reduced to two and the lighting and effects system reworked to require less manpower. The Tail end of the Bug's Life unit was also scaled down by removing Dim, with the larger unit losing its trailered unit and a few party cones.
Block Party Bash's final performance at Hollywood Studios took place on January 1, 2011. The parade was then retooled as the Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun Parade, which ran until the Spring of 2013.
Floats
Units
Block Party Bash has three-themed parade units, dedicated to these Pixar movies:
Characters from The Incredibles also appear on top of the Block floats during the finale.
Elements
Each unit consists of, in order:
Trampoline Unit: These are four-sided trampolines with simplified pictures of characters from the unit featured. The parade's logo appears on front. When the parade stops, they open up with a stationary spot in the middle featuring high-flying acrobats.
Block Unit: These are "tweener" units featuring Green Army Men at the front hyping up the crowd, alongside space for prop storage, scream meters. During the finale, a character from The Incredibles appears on top.
Cone Units: These cones contain inside them - motorized scooters, banners, and beach balls.
Main unit: Elaborately decorated units based on the Pixar films, featuring Green Army Men, animatronic characters, stages, and air-guns that shoot out the Nerf balls at the end.
Each section also contained 8 dancing couples and 4 acrobats, totaling 48 dancers and 12 acrobats for the entire parade.
Lineup
May 2005-September 2006 (California Adventure)
Block Party Bash Title Trampoline (Parade logo on all four sides)
Toy Story Block Float
Cone #1
Cone #2
Toy Story Float
Cone #3
Cone #4
Toy Story Trampoline
Monsters, Inc. Block Float
Cone #5
Cone #6
Monsters, Inc. Float
Cone #7
Cone #8
Monsters, Inc. Trampoline
A Bug's Life Block Float
Cone #9
Cone #10
A Bug's Life Float
Cone #11
Cone #12
A Bug's Life Trampoline
September 2006-January 2008 (California Adventure)
Toy Story Trampoline #1
Toy Story Block Float
Cone #1
Cone #2
Toy Story Float
'Toy Story Trampoline #2
Monsters, Inc. Block Float
Cone #3
Cone #4
Monsters, Inc. Float
Monsters, Inc. Trampoline
A Bug's Life Block Float
Cone #5
Cone #6
A Bug's Life Float
March 2008-January 2011 (Hollywood Studios)
Toy Story Trampoline
Toy Story Block Float (Frozone)
Cone #1
Cone #2
Toy Story Float (Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Little Bo Peep and Mr. Potato Head. Starting on May 9, 2010, Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear was added on the float)
'Monsters, Inc. Trampoline
Monsters, Inc. Block Float (Mr. Incredible)
Cone #3
Cone #4
Monsters, Inc. Float (Mike (Animatronic), Sulley, Boo, George, Needlemen, and Smitty appear on-foot)
A Bug's Life Trampoline
A Bug's Life Block Float (Elastigirl)
Cone #5
Cone #6
A Bug's Life Float (Large puppet of Heimlich appears on front, and Flik, Atta, Gypsy Moth, and Slim appear on the back)
Show Structure
Parade Mode
The show travels in "parade mode" along Disney's Hollywood Studios Performance Corridor until it reaches one of three "Party Zones". At this point, many of the performers are occupied with moving the Units, 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.
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 units as well as smaller "block" tweeners feature Green Army Men serving as a sort of party drill sergeant. Guests are invited to join in the jumping, dancing, games, and other fun.
Introduction
"Celebration"; the floats arrive and set up for their stop.
"Jumpin' Jack Flash"; Characters, Pixar Pal dancers, and Acrobats use jump ropes and jumping stilts, encouraging the audience to jump along and to ask "How high?" when the Green Army Men say "jump".
Scream
Green Army Men host a screaming contest between the two sides of the street to see who can scream the loudest.
"Shout"; (lyrics changed to "scream").
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.
Finale
The dancers perform a final dance number to "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A."
The show returns from Parade Mode to "Celebration".
Gate Tag
Once the floats, Tweeners and Cones reach the Paradise Pier parade gate, the Pixar Pal dancers step aside to the edge of the parade route. Once the A Bug's Life float reaches the edge of the gate, the Pixar Pals dance back into the center and perform a choreographed 'tag' as the music ends.
One by one, they dance back toward the slowly closing gate and, on the final "Celebrate!" moment, they throw dozens of custom-printed Block Party Bash Nerf balls over the gate.
Show facts
Show Dates: Disney's California Adventure: May 5, 2005 - January 6, 2008. Disney's Hollywood Studios: March 14, 2008 - January 1, 2011
Creative Director: Steven Davison, Disney Creative Entertainment
Show Producer: Mike Williams
Show Director: Marilyn Magness-Carroll
Art Director: Brad Kaye
Technical Directors: K.C. Wilkerson, Jeff
Choreography: Jerry, Rita May Bland, Robin Trowbridge
Show stops: 3 (Summer 2005), then 2 (Fall 2005-January 2008)
Show length: 11-minute stop, approximately 40 minutes from entrance gate to exit gate (55 minutes with 3 show stops)
Previous parade: Disney's California Adventure: Eureka! The California Adventure Parade. Disney's Hollywood Studios: Disney's Stars and Motor Cars Parade.
Trivia
During the scream competition, the Green Army Man says "I'll bet this side can be much louder than those guys!". This would be more appropriate if there was one Green Army Man taking each side of the street.
