Universal Orlando Spills Secrets Behind the Park's Nostalgic New 'Mega Movie Parade,' a Total '90s Tribute

'Ghostbusters' and 'Back to the Future' are among the highlights of the experience

If a recent late-night TikTok scroll had you thinking you were back in the '90s, chances are you just stumbled on footage of Universal Studios' new Mega Movie Parade.

The super nostalgic moment — which debuted in the Florida park in July — features 13 floats depicting classics like E.T., Ghostbusters, Jaws and Back to the Future alongside more current hits like Trolls and Minions. And capturing the hearts of millennials was basically the point, according to Mike Aiello, Universal's senior director - entertainment creative development.

"I was thinking about the family dichotomy of being able to come see a parade that has things that I recognize being the age that I am, and then kids being able to see these things maybe for the first time," he shares. "And that becomes a doorway for them to then lean into some of these classic films, and maybe go home and watch as a family because you saw the parade."

Related: Universal Releases Photos and Details of New Epic Universe Park — Including Harry Potter, Nintendo Lands

Aiello and his team pitched the parade as "a front and back book cover of everything that is Universal Orlando right now," he says. "We haven't really done a parade to this day that's celebrated our movie history, our library of films. So it really became this fun exercise to capture a timeline of events over the course of the parade."

The guest response to the parade has been "fantastic" so far, Aiello shares. "I think people are surprised by the floats that end up rounding the corners. That's the cool thing about a parade, especially one of this scale with these massive floats and the characters associated with the brands."

More than 100 performers are involved, portraying characters like Back to the Future's Marty McFly and Doc and the Ghostbusters themselves.

"When we audition we don't tell the cast who they're going to play," Aiello shares. "And then once they're cast and they find out they're going to be, say, Marty McFly, their eyes just kind of light up."

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Of course, putting on a parade that includes a giant shark and flying bicycles comes with challenges.

"We can draw really cool things all day, but if you can't build it and move it down the street then it's a futile effort," says Aiello. "But it's so fun to brainstorm, to provide an experience for guests that may or may not have ever seen Back to the Future or Jaws, but who will hopefully continue their journeys with those films beyond their visit here to the park."

Regardless of your familiarity with the films, "when the floats pass you by, it's an electrifying experience," Aiello says. "Something meaningful is going to come out of it, no matter your age."

The Mega Movie Parade runs through Nov. 14.

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