There seems to be no stopping "Frozen" frenzy, and now Disney's animated hit is taking over an annual holiday tradition: The Christmas Day Parade at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
This year's parade, which airs on TV on Christmas Day on ABC but is usually taped in early December, has been renamed the "Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration."
The Christmas parade's new title appears, along with "Frozen's" Anna and Elsa, on Disney's website for the Christmas Parade.
The new title was also included in an ABC media release of the network's holiday programming schedule. Here's the bit pertaining to the Christmas parade:
Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration — Music, magic and merriment come together when Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida present the 31st annual Christmas Day parade and TV special.
The star-studded sounds of the season include some of today's top musical talents lending their voices to celebrate the holidays.
And, from fairy tales to classic Christmas carols, Disney friends and holiday characters spread joy and good tidings through Disneyland Park in California and the Magic Kingdom Park in Florida.
This year promises some extra Frozen fun with fanciful floats and colorful cavalcades as Santa Claus himself along with his reindeer, wend their holly jolly way down Main Street, USA. (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET; check local listings)
Disney's Christmas Day Parade dates back to 1983 and has been held every year since, except in 2000, when Disney instead aired a Christmas Eve special called "Tracking Santa."
The parade was originally called "The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade" and taped exclusively in Florida. An additional host was added at Disneyland starting in 2003.
From 2009–2013, the parade was named the "Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade."
Now, it looks like the parade is getting — yes, we're going there — "Frozen" over, at least for this year.
Disney has not announced the dates when it will tape the Christmas parade at the Magic Kingdom in Florida and Disneyland in California, but taping in years past has usually happened in the first week of December.
For many longtime Disney fans, the change is likely a shock, but it also seems like it was inevitable, given the huge success of "Frozen" since its release last Thanksgiving. The film quickly rose to become the highest grossing animated film and fifth highest grossing film of all time.
"Frozen" merchandise has flown off the shelves over the last year, and will continue to be popular during the holiday shopping season, especially the newly released "Snow Glow Elsa" talking — and yes, singing — doll.
Taking all that into consideration, plus the movie's wintry theme, it's not that much of a surprise that Disney has chosen to add "Frozen" to the marquee of this year's Christmas parade. The company clearly hopes the franchise's popularity will translate to lots of eyes watching the TV special on Christmas morning.
As for others who have grown tired of "Frozen" mania, we believe the word they're looking for is "Enough!"
