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Universal's Superstar Parade

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Universal's Superstar Parade
Universal Studios Florida
StatusRemoved
Opening dateMay 8, 2012; 12 years ago (May 8, 2012)[1][2]
Closing dateJune 4, 2022; 2 years ago (June 4, 2022)
Replaced byUniversal Mega Movie Parade[3]
Ride statistics
Attraction typeParade
DesignerUniversal Orlando's Entertainment Division
ThemeDespicable Me
Hop
The Secret Life of Pets
SpongeBob SquarePants
Dora the Explorer
Go, Diego, Go!

Universal's Superstar Parade was a parade at Universal Studios Florida. It was first announced at a live webcast on January 25, 2012. The parade included characters, floats, and themed-vehicles based on Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment's Despicable Me and Hop films, as well as Paramount and Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and Go, Diego, Go! television series. Each section of the parade had a unique mix of performers, from aerialists to drummers to acrobatics. The parade was notable for having “show stops” in the New York and Hollywood sections of the park where an elaborate choreographed dance routine would take place. Leading up to the parade, each individual unit would make appearances throughout the day for smaller shows and meet-n-greets.[4] The parade debuted on May 8, 2012, as part of Universal Orlando's "Year To Be Here".[1][2][5]

In November 2016, Universal announced that the Hop unit would be replaced by Illumination Entertainment's The Secret Life of Pets-themed floats. This unit introduced break dancers performing stunts, bicyclists, and puppets of the film’s main characters.[6]

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Despicable Me (2012-2022)

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  • Gru
  • Margo
  • Edith
  • Agnes
  • Vector
  • The Minions

SpongeBob SquarePants (2012-2022)

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  • SpongeBob SquarePants
  • Patrick Star
  • Squidward Tentacles
  • The Bikini Bottomites

Hop (2012-2016)

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  • E.B.
  • Mr. Bunny
  • Carlos
  • Phil
  • The Pink Berets

The Secret Life of Pets (2016-2022)

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  • Max
  • Duke
  • Gidget
  • Snowball

Dora the Explorer (2012-2022)

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  • Dora the Explorer
  • Boots
  • Diego
  • Baby Jaguar

Closure

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Following a week of rumors, Universal officially announced the parade's ending date on May 18, 2022.[7] The parade ended its 10-year run with its last performance on June 4, 2022. The final performance utilized an additional float from the theme park's Mardi Gras parade, to allow additional Universal team-members to participate in the festivities.

The individual parade units continued to do meet-n-greets and shows in the park after the parade closure, with The Secret Life of Pets’ last bow on August 13th, 2022, and Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants and Despicable Me units closing on September 10, 2022.

On April 30, 2024, Universal announced that Universal's Superstar Parade's replacement was Universal Mega Movie Parade which debuted on July 3, 2024.

Legacy

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A performance of this parade in January 2016 led to the "Dabbing Squidward" meme. The original Vine video of a Universal team-member dabbing inside a Squidward Tentacles mascot costume garnered 22 million views within a week.[8] The video led to widespread virality, and even officially-licensed merchandise of the meme by Nickelodeon.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Universal Releases First-Ever Looks at All-New Experiences, Including Upcoming Despicable Me Attraction, New Interactive Parade and Spectacular Nighttime Show". Universal Orlando Resort. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Universal Orlando set to open two new guest experiences May 8". Central Florida News 13. April 3, 2012. Retrieved August 4, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "New DreamWorks Land is just the beginning. Universal Orlando shares big summer plans". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "Cast of Universal Studios Florida's new Superstar Parade spent weeks rehearsing by starlight". May 7, 2012. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  5. ^ MacDonald, Brady (January 25, 2012). "Universal Orlando adding new nighttime water show this spring". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 27, 2012. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
  6. ^ Bevil, Dewayne (November 21, 2016). "Universal: 'Secret Life of Pets' joins parade". OrlandoSentinel.com. Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  7. ^ Francis, Katie (May 18, 2022). "Universal's Superstar Parade Ending on June 4". WDWNewsToday. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  8. ^ Leunig, Maximilian (March 19, 2022). "10 Most Memeable SpongeBob Moments & The Best SpongeBob Memes". Collider. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  9. ^ Anderson, Robert (April 8, 2021). "New SpongeBob Collectables Meme Toys Are Now Available". IGN. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
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