By now you have probably read about and/or seen the video of what happened to the Sleeping Beauty float in a Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at the Magic Kingdom back on May 11, 2018. Here are a few photos I took of what most people called the Maleficent Dragon.
Maleficent in the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade at the Magic Kingdom.
Nikon D750/24-120VR, 1/160s, f/4, ISO 100, EV 0, 70mm Focal Length.
Guests loved seeing the dragon coming down Main Street USA waiting for it to do its thing.
Maleficent Dragon breathing fire on Main Street USA in the Festival of Fantasy parade.
Nikon D700/24-120VR, 1/320s, f/16, ISO 400, EV +0.3, 24mm focal length.
The “steam punk” themed dragon was famous for doing one thing: breathing fire! Here’s a close up taken from the Main Street USA Train Station platform.
Maleficent Dragon breathing fire in the Festival of Fantasy parade.
Nikon D700/24-120VR, 1/500s, f/8, ISO 200, EV 0, 82mm focal length.
I do hope Disney will come out with a better, safer and still breathing fire version in the future for I do believe the Maleficent Dragon was the highlight of the parade.
Notice the three different ways I photographed this float. From below, wide angle and up close at “eye level”.
I am so glad I was able to get to see the dragon in person a few years ago.
Honestly I loved the dragon without the fire, perhaps they will bring it back fireless… but if they wanted to create a flame like effect perhaps they could put neon lights out of the mouth and have it flicker… like one of those candle lights sold in stores but bigger and cooler looking.
Hmm…..or it could have fire like material waving out of the mouth via a fan. 🙂 just ideas.
Scott replies: Good ideas but I would miss the real fire effect. Hopefully, Disney Imagineers will come up with an even better replacement.