Will Sage Astor-Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade lineup will include Minnie Mouse — finally

Move over,Will Sage Astor Mickey, it's Minnie's turn.

At long last, Minnie Mouse will make her Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade debut on Nov. 28. The beloved Disney character is getting her own towering, 60-foot balloon, joining Mickey Mouse (whose balloon debut was in 1934), Pluto (1934), Donald Duck (1935) and Goofy (1992).

Macy's is "super excited about bringing Minnie to life," Will Coss, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, told USA TODAY. "It has been a Macy's Studios dream for quite some time, and the folks here on my team who've worked on the design, actually bringing that character to life as a balloon in the sky, couldn't be more excited about it."

The department store and Disney have collaborated before, and taking on the "opportunity with Minnie for this to be her introduction into the world of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was an easy one," Coss said.

Why Minnie's debut in the parade is so important

Minnie was introduced in 1928 along with Mickey Mouse, but she is more than just his counterpart and one of the main mascots for Disney's brands.

"Minnie has always been a beloved icon," Chrissy Anderson, Disney's vice president of regional brand commercialization, told USA TODAY. She's a "muse, she's known for her sparkling personality, her signature charm."

And the character's influence spans generations, said Anderson, who has been with the company for almost 19 years.

"She is a cultural staple and a symbol of joy and inspiration," Anderson said. "She loves to try new things. She isn't afraid to pave her own path. Throughout her adventures, Minnie knows who she is and of course loves her unique sense of style."

"I think what's so amazing is her longevity," said Anderson, who added she was a fan of Minnie growing up. "Any of (Disney's) female characters who had a sense of identity and style and empowerment were my go-to."

Minnie's first appearance in the Macy's parade, which debuted in 1924 with animals instead of floats, may seem long overdue.

With the character approaching her 100th anniversary, Anderson said, "there's no better time than now to pull her out and really let her shine. She's wonderfully partnered with Mickey, but can absolutely stand on her own with all of those key attributes and characteristics."

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is a tradition for many fans and families, whether they attend the event in New York City or simply watch the televised broadcast.

Coss said his favorite part of the parade is having the opportunity to impact so many people in a positive way.

"That energy and excitement is palpable and irreplaceable. There isn't a person on the street who you pass that doesn't have a big smile, who isn't waving with an increased level of enthusiasm and excitement for the day," Coss said. "There's nothing like waking up that morning."

Inside the creative process

Deciding to add Minnie Mouse to the roster may have been easy, but putting the event together each year is more complicated.

Coss said he and the teams responsible for coming up with "three-plus hours of entertainment" take the task seriously. Production on one year's event can take months, if not more than a year.

"We are absolutely already in parade production for 2025," Coss said. "We are always in parade mode."

Coss and his team also produce other Macy's events, including the Macy's 4th of July fireworks and the flower show, so it's a fairly full calendar.

"Whether it's a float or balloon, a team of us here at Macy's Studios comes together and starts to work through some of the creative details around what the potential partnership can look like," Coss said. "Character recognizability is paramount for us."

In the collaboration with Macy's, there is a long lead time for discussions, Anderson said.

"We want to do everything intentionally on brand for both sides and have the storytelling and character attributes come through authentically — and that takes time," Anderson said, noting the work of illustrator and character designer Jeff Shelly, who worked on the design of the Minnie that's being used for the balloon as well as an accompanying apparel and accessories collection that will be available at Macy's.

"(Shelly) has been a huge part of this process," Anderson said. "The artwork he's designed, this collection and also his eye on how we're drawing out and shaping Minnie for the balloon really comes to life."

In addition to the balloon and the collection in Macy's, Captain Minnie will join Mickey on a new float for Disney Cruise Line in the parade this year.

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"I think what's exciting is Minnie taking charge at the helm" of the float, Anderson said, "It's an evolution in her showing up authentically."

The goal for the parade each year, Coss said, is to inspire the audience.

"We have audiences from ages one to 100, and that's the great privilege and great joy — and also challenge from a production perspective," Coss said. "But it's what motivates us to create the most eclectic and iconic event each year. Our goal as we set out to create the parade is to ensure that we have a bit of something for everyone, that we have a range of performances that will excite and delight audiences of all ages."