Disney Characters to Lead Rose Parade

With the fanfare of a band, costumed dancers and an applauding Mickey Mouse, Disneyland officials on Wednesday announced that Disney characters will be the lead participants in the 1993 Tournament of Roses.

Disneyland has taken part in the annual New Year’s Day parade since 1955. But park officials said the 1993 Rose Parade will be particularly significant for Disneyland because characters from “Mickey’s Toontown” will be in the lead.

“Mickey’s Toontown” is a new theme area of Disneyland scheduled to open in January. It will join such long-established theme areas as “Tomorrowland” and “Fantasyland.”

Jack Lindquist, president of Disneyland, said the Disney characters would be contributing “a new dimension in this great New Year’s Day celebration.” Lindquist said the “Mickey’s Toontown” characters will present a pageant “saluting the (1993) tournament’s theme,” which is “Entertainment on Parade,” during the march down Pasadena streets. He said Disneyland also will sponsor the 1993 parade’s theme float.