On this last day of the year, we take our annual look back at our most popular videos of the year – and it has been a huge year!
We once again have more than doubled the size of our YouTube channel in number of subscribers and tripled the number of video views. Our channel received roughly 152 million views in 2014, up from 56 million last year, for a total of 261 million and counting! 190,000 new subscribers joined us, for a total of 315,000 subscribers, up from 122,000 in 2013. And across all of our viewers, more than 412 million minutes of our videos were watched.
Now, you can probably guess what hot topic brought most of those views… or should I say, a rather “cold” one instead.
To recount all the fun we’ve had in the last year, the top 10 most viewed original new videos for 2014 are included below – ones shot, created, and uploaded within the year – followed by some honorable mentions, including a few of our most popular videos of all-time.
Our Top 10 Most Popular New Videos for 2013
10. Anna, Elsa, and Olaf Frozen meet and greet at Walt Disney World special event
1,030,498 views
“Frozen” fever came on strong throughout 2014, taking up much of our top 10 video list here. This special meet-and-greet early in the year at a special Walt Disney World event brought more than a million viewers, marking the first time every video in our annual most-viewed list tops that milestone. And there’s definitely no stopping the popularity of “Frozen.”
9. Mark Hamill does Joker and Luke Skywalker voice dialogue at Star Wars Weekends 2014
1,053,350 views
If there is anything that can topple the power of “Frozen,” it’s the power of the Force. When Luke Skywalker himself Mark Hamill visited Star Wars Weekends for the first time ever, he delighted fans with this gem – a conversation between his two most popular characters, the animated Joker and the “Star Wars” role he’s returning to in “The Force Awakens” next year. The video spread quickly online, even prompting Hamill to reference it later that weekend, noting he received a cease and desist letter reminding him he is not allowed to voice the Joker publicly anymore. Sorry, Mark!
8. Frozen Disney on Ice show highlights with Anna, Elsa, Hans, Olaf, Sven, Kristoff skating
1,609,488 views
The long-awaited arrival of the “Frozen” themed Disney On Ice show came in 2014, debuting in Orlando before touring around the country. This highlights video offers a glimpse at the most impressive moments from the show that recounts the entire film – on ice.
7. Stormtroopers sing “Let It Go” from Frozen in song medley at Star Wars Weekends 2014
1,692,110 views
The battle between “Star Wars” and “Frozen” continues on this list as both franchises combine with Stormtroopers singing a bit of “Let It Go” in the theater before Mark Hamill took the stage. It was a big day for Disney – and for us.
6. FULL Marvel Phase 3 announcement with clips, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans
1,864,563 views
If there’s anything that can topple both “Frozen” and “Star Wars,” it’s Marvel. And when the superhero studio announced its full Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 3 movie line-up at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood, fans went into a frenzy of excitement.
5. Slow motion water slide on new Ihu’s Breakaway Falls with POV at SeaWorld Orlando Aquatica
2,298,555 views
Amidst a year filled with “Blackfish”-fueled bashing of SeaWorld, this highlight emerged as their Aquatica water park in Orlando debuted a thrilling new water slide called Ihu’s Breakaway Falls. Armed with a high frame rate camera, we produced this amusing super slow motion video that caught on in a big way.
4. FULL Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World with Anna and Elsa
2,503,380 views
Largely thanks to the popularity of “Frozen,” the debut of Walt Disney World’s Festival of Fantasy parade brought big attention online. Though, in my opinion, the “Sleeping Beauty” unit is the star of this show, particularly the incredible fire-breathing Maleficent dragon.
3. Frozen Holiday Wish castle lighting show debut – Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff at Walt Disney World
7,326,209 views
Jumping nearly 5 million views ahead of the last video in this list, “Frozen” once again takes the spotlight as Elsa ices over Cinderella Castle for the holiday season. Despite the fact that this video is not even 2 months old, it has quickly become one of our most popular ever.
2. I am MegaCon 2014 – Costumes, Cosplay, and Zombies in Orlando HD
7,615,143 views
Cosplay is huge and still a growing phenomena. And while we’ve been covering it for a few years, this compilation of MegaCon’s best costumes is the biggest cosplay video we’ve ever produced, truly gone viral. We’ll definitely be back to make another one in 2015, so keep an eye out for our cameras!
1. Full Frozen Summer Fun Live stage show with Anna, Elsa, Kristoff at Walt Disney World
12,152,967 views
Surprising no one, Disney’s first-ever “Frozen” stage show has taken the top spot on this list, not only becoming the year’s most viewed video but also our most viewed video of all time. This show was created in less than 2 weeks. Just imagine what will happen when Disney’s “Frozen” ride opens in 2016…
Honorable Mentions
While the above top 10 videos brought the most views of the year, there were many more highly entertaining uploads that were still watched by hundreds of thousands of people. More than just “Frozen,” they stretch to “Big Hero 6,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Maleficent,” “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” Halloween Horror Nights, Toy Fair, Villains Unleashed and, of course, the grand opening of Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.
A few more popular videos are included below.
Frozen Royal Welcome ceremony with Anna, Elsa, Kristoff + parade highlights at Walt Disney World
899,369 views
FULL Disneyland Christmas Fantasy Parade 2014 with Frozen Anna Elsa and Olaf
803,098 views
Best & Hottest Cosplay of San Diego Comic-Con 2014 – Marvel, DC, Disney, Girls & More
745,073 views
Baymax & Hiro fist bump in Big Hero 6 meet and greet at Walt Disney World
671,041 views
Full Oogie Boogie’s Freaky Funhouse Show in Villains Unleashed event at Walt Disney World
524,551 views
Once Upon a Time in Westeros – Extended Season Finale “Frozen” Ending
478,130 views
Angelina Jolie Maleficent appears at Walt Disney World for Rock Your Disney Side 24-hour event
464,790 views
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dance show with April O’Neil at Nick Hotel
450,673 views
New Frozen products, Ariel, Sofia the First at Disney Consumer Products Holiday Showcase 2014
410,649 views
“Halloween” Michael Myers haunted house at Halloween Horror Nights 2014, Universal Orlando
366,400 views
The Purge opening scaremony at Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights 2014
325,093 views
Hogwarts Express train full ride POV – Diagon Alley to Hogsmeade at Universal Orlando
295,347 views
FULL New Beetlejuice Graveyard Revue 2014 update at Universal Orlando
275,812 views
My Little Pony Equestria Girls 2 Rainbow Rocks toys revealed at Toy Fair 2014 from Hasbro
263,018 views
Most Viewed Videos of All Time
While Walt Disney World’s “Frozen” sing-along has now become our most watched video ever, a handful of older videos continue to draw millions of viewers each year, the top 5 of which are included below.
Mickey’s Soundsational Parade shot high above Main Street USA at Disneyland
Uploaded June 3, 2011 – 11,939,740 views
All 11 Disney Princess gathering for the first time for Merida’s coronation at Walt Disney World
Uploaded May 11, 2013 – 9,447,753 views
Jaws Ride: The Movie – An ultimate tribute to the Universal Studios Orlando attraction
Uploaded January 2, 2012 – 9,427,191 views
Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron transform & talk at Transformers grand opening in Orlando
Uploaded June 21, 2013 – 7,187,880 views
Rapunzel becomes 10th Disney Princess with procession and coronation ceremony in London palace
Uploaded October 3, 2011 – 7,151,098 views
Happy New Year and see you in 2014 with even more exciting and fun videos!