Disney Starlight Night time Parade is drawing colossal crowds to Magic Kingdom within the evenings, with Foremost Avenue packed ~2 hours early for prime places. Our information covers greatest & worst views, so you may spend much less time ready, see the parade and Fortunately Ever After fireworks, make a fast exit, or {photograph} it from the #1 location. These field-tested ideas & methods enable you present up half-hour or much less and nonetheless rating a spectacular last-minute spot for Starlight.
That is Walt Disney World’s first night time parade in roughly a decade, and first new night time parade since I used to be a child. And I’m not younger. Consequently, the parade route is filled with folks. We can’t overstate simply busy Foremost Avenue in Magic Kingdom is within the evenings for Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away and the Fortunately Ever After fireworks.
Let’s begin with a warning: this isn’t going to vary anytime quickly. In the event you’re pondering you may “wait out” the crowds and go to in October or December 2025, and even someday in Winter 2026, you’re mistaken. As a vacationer vacation spot, Walt Disney World has a gradual stream of first-timers and rare guests. Remember the fact that one third of holiday makers to Walt Disney World nonetheless haven’t seen Pandora: The World of Avatar and it’s been open for almost a decade.
Suffice to say, Starlight goes to have that “new parade odor” for a very long time. This shouldn’t actually come as a shock to followers, as even the mediocre Disney Enchantment was nonetheless drawing huge crowds in the direction of the top of its run as Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary wound down. Starlight is a lot better than that. For one of the best view, friends are presently tenting out roughly two hours upfront to see Starlight’s earlier showtime.
One factor we do count on to see change to a point is how early friends stake out spots. Proper now, locals and hardcore followers are arriving very early–sooner than crucial. In contrast, consciousness of Starlight amongst common friends nonetheless isn’t excessive and many individuals nonetheless don’t even know there’s a nighttime parade in Magic Kingdom (which may sound asinine given the PR push, however should you’re studying this, you’re not the typical visitor).
That is an odd dynamic and it’s onerous to say the way it’ll play out. Diehards will cease displaying up as early, whereas common friends will arrive earlier. Not a full ~2 hours, as a result of their trip time is efficacious, but additionally not final minute. We noticed this again when Foremost Avenue Electrical Parade returned to Magic Kingdom, in addition to with the debuts of Fortunately Ever After and Disney Enchantment, in addition to the return of the previous.
This isn’t meant to scare you out of watching Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away. The night time parade is totally value it, and as we talked about above, you don’t want to indicate up 2+ hours upfront to pre-claim after which camp out. Nice spots could be simpler to get if you already know what you’re doing, which is the entire level of this information.
In reality, I’ve already seen Starlight over a dozen occasions from greater than 10 completely different viewing places. This information has been devised based mostly on my firsthand experiences with seeing Starlight in-person at Magic Kingdom on some very busy nights early in its run (even in excessive crowds, motivated friends can catch Starlight as much as 4 occasions per night time). These experiences had been likewise knowledgeable by watching Foremost Avenue Electrical Parade and SpectroMagic a whole bunch of occasions again within the day. Right here’s all the things you could know…
Showtimes for Disney Starlight Night time Parade
Earlier than we dig into viewing ideas, let’s begin with the fundamentals. Disney Starlight is offered twice nightly, and presently rolls down the parade route beginning at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Right here’s the total Magic Kingdom nighttime schedule:
- Starlight Parade: 9 pm
- Fortunately Ever After: 10 pm
- Starlight Parade: 11 pm
- Park Closing: 11 pm
These occasions do shift all year long based mostly on sundown and park ops, so you should definitely verify the every day leisure schedule should you’re visiting lengthy after that is printed.
The remainder of the ideas ought to stay roughly correct–timing is the large one which’s topic to vary, and can most likely change as quickly as August or September 2025, and once more in November 2025.
Reverse Parade Route for Starlight
Starlight begins on Foremost Avenue U.S.A. and travels alongside the parade route in the direction of Frontierland to permit for higher visitor circulate on the finish of the night time. That is per what Magic Kingdom beforehand did for Foremost Avenue Electrical Parade and SpectroMagic, and in contrast to most different parades.
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away travels within the “reverse” route, up Foremost Avenue in the direction of Frontierland for each performances. The rationale for this reverse route is fairly easy: it permits for the parade to move friends nearer to the exit, after which these friends to exit the park in a orderly style.
There’s a regular stream of friends in a position to depart their spots as Starlight passes, which means crowd circulate regulates itself naturally. That is a lot better than the choice, which is how the primary Paint the Night time performs out at Disneyland, with a visitor cavalcade trailing the parade that’s so filled with folks that it appears a bit unsafe!
Starlight + Fortunately Ever After
The above hour gaps between nighttime leisure plus journey time of Starlight means it’s roughly 10:30 p.m. as soon as the parade clears the Central Plaza in entrance of Cinderella Fort. Because of this, many friends strategically choose Starlight spots that will even be good for Fortunately Ever After.
That is logical, and it leads to the Hub/Central Plaza being far and away the busiest viewing space for Starlight. That’s since you aren’t tenting out 90 minutes to 2.5 hours for simply Starlight, however a mixed 2-3 hours for each. Whereas that is actually one possibility, it’s not essentially what we suggest.
As an alternative, we’d advise staking out a lower-demand spot in the direction of the entrance of the park and following Starlight up alongside the route. You’ll not be swimming upstream on this case as long as you’re pretty near the again of the parade. That is the way in which the group instantly behind Starlight will circulate.
The exodus within the different route happens with a little bit of a lag, so you may “draft” on the parade deeper into the park and safe a main spot for Fortunately Ever After with relative ease. (See Finest & Worst Magic Kingdom Fireworks Viewing Spots.)
You would possibly contemplate taking this a step additional, securing a spot in City Sq. close to Foremost Avenue Theater and instantly heading up the parade bypass hall as soon as Starlight passes. You’ll be able to then arrive deeper onto Foremost Avenue close to the Plaza earlier than the parade even passes, and pretty simply work your means into the Central Plaza.
Sooner or later, this bypass does convert to one-way site visitors out of the park, however that shouldn’t be the case at this level. The same method works on the opposite facet of City Sq. and going by the Emporium (now you already know why that hall was widened).
What I can’t overemphasize with any of those approaches is that you could be prepared to maneuver as quickly because the parade passes. Don’t spend 5-10 minutes gathering your group. That can end in combating the group as you’ll be swimming upstream.
Nevertheless, there’s nonetheless an excellent higher method…
Earlier vs. Later Starlight
The primary efficiency of Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away is at all times busier than the second efficiency. It’s not even a remotely shut name. This could make sense, as Magic Kingdom’s core demographic is households with young children, and staying till after 11 p.m. is a giant ask for a lot of of them. Even many friends with out youngsters don’t understand that the second parade is considerably much less crowded.
In the event you solely take away one factor from this viewing information, it’s that it’s best to watch the second Starlight Night time Parade as an alternative of the primary if in any respect potential. That’s the #1 tip, as that’s the single best and best choice for spending much less time tenting out. Not solely are the crowds simply twice as giant for the primary parade (though that might change over time), however in addition they arrive twice as early.
So as an alternative of watching Starlight after which Fortunately Ever After, flip the script and watch Fortunately Ever After after which Starlight. (The most important draw back of this method will not be doing an end-of-night trip, no less than with the present 9-10-11 schedule, except you’re actually aggressive!)
The parade route hits capability for the primary parade and friends are a number of rows deep, whereas that doesn’t occur for the second Starlight. Even already, there have been occasions the place you can rating a entrance row spot for Starlight because the parade is stepping off, particularly in Liberty Sq. and Frontierland.
Whereas many friends arrive 90 to 120 minutes earlier than the primary efficiency, that isn’t even potential for the second. There isn’t that a lot time on the clock as soon as Fortunately Ever After ends. Because of this the ‘mud settles’ on the parade route round 10:30 pm, which is in regards to the earliest folks will begin tenting out for the second displaying.
One factor to notice right here is that the imbalance between the primary and second parade will change over time. It will happen as showtimes transfer ahead because of earlier sundown occasions in winter. It additionally occur as phrase will get out in regards to the second efficiency being much less crowded–in some unspecified time in the future, Walt Disney World will nearly actually begin making parkwide bulletins with this information at round ~8 p.m. Lastly, the dynamic will change throughout Celebration Season, as demand spikes and the parade route hits capability for the primary efficiency.
What Time(s) to Stake Out Starlight Spots
The parade route actually begins filling in about 90 minutes upfront of the primary efficiency, and that is presently the ‘candy spot’ in order for you a spot on Foremost Avenue. It will change over time as crowd ranges lower and improve, particularly as soon as Magic Kingdom is open late fewer nights per week throughout Celebration Season.
The primary space to replenish is the Central Plaza in entrance of Cinderella Fort (nearer to 120 minutes), adopted by up and down Foremost Avenue USA (90 minutes), after which City Sq. (no less than an hour). Frontierland and Liberty Sq. are slowest to replenish, with spots obtainable for the primary parade 45 minutes earlier than Starlight steps off.
Simply take into account that it takes longer for the parade to get to Tiana’s Bayou Journey than it does Foremost Avenue Theater, so 60 minutes in City Sq. vs. 45 minutes in entrance of Pecos Invoice finally ends up being about the identical. And people earlier viewpoints additionally enable extra time to place for Fortunately Ever After or, alternatively, beating the post-parade crowd out of the park or to sights with shorter waits.
For the second parade, you may arrive a lot later. The preferred spot will replenish instantly after Fortunately Ever After and Foremost Avenue will develop into busy ~half-hour upfront, however City Sq. typically has a scattering of entrance row spots after that, generally up till quarter-hour earlier than the second parade steps off. Over in Frontierland and Liberty Sq., you would possibly discover a prime spot shortly earlier than the parade arrives.
In reality, I’ve been capable of finding a spectacular location ~10 minutes earlier than the parade arrived. This isn’t irregular, particularly should you’re prepared to face. You’ll be able to stroll as much as view pretty final minute on many nights for the second performances, whereas you’ll be a number of rows deep and have your view obstructed should you attempt that with the primary efficiency.
It’s not tough in any respect to have a good view even should you arrive proper because the parade does. It most likely gained’t be entrance row should you’re on Foremost Avenue, nevertheless it is likely to be in Liberty Sq. or Frontierland. I’ve scored nice spots arriving after 11:15 p.m. on the finish of the parade route.
Finest & Worst Pictures Spots for Starlight
My all-time #1 spot for just about any parade is correct behind the flagpole with a view up Foremost Avenue (aka Christmas Tree Level). That is hardly a secret, and is the popular vantage of 9 out of 10 photographers. And there are a variety of Disney fan photogs on the market. That is nonetheless one of many first stops to replenish, even supposing Christmas Tree Level is an objectively terrible spot for Starlight because of the reverse parade route.
The underlying thought is similar for Starlight, it’s only a completely different spot because of the reverse route. My ‘secret’ hack for securing parade spots has lengthy been to camp out off to the facet the place a rope will go up in some unspecified time in the future to create a viewing space on the road. This occurs in each City Sq. (in entrance of the Emporium) and the Central Plaza (Crystal Palace facet) as a result of Starlight loops round each, creating viewing areas in what would in any other case be avenue.
This hack usually works effectively at tourist-centric Walt Disney World, however locals and photographers are effectively conscious of this trick. Consequently, the road part fills up early, too. Under is how this appears within the Central Plaza:
Except you’re a photographer, we don’t suggest this spot within the Central Plaza. Sure, it provides an image good view with Cinderella Fort within the background. However it comes with critical downsides.
The primary is that its the quickest to replenish for the primary parade, as area is extraordinarily restricted on this space. This implies arriving no less than 2 hours upfront, after which doing this awkward music and dance. If the rope isn’t up but (it gained’t be), you’re simply standing on the street like a dummy, impeding crowd circulate. This annoys different friends.
That’s assuming Solid Members let you stand there 2 hours upfront. In the event that they don’t (and so they most likely gained’t), you’re then doing a unique (however equally awkward) music and dance with different friends who’re additionally “competing” for this spot. We’ve got already seen tensions flare right here and friends trade heated phrases, which then turns into doubly awkward as they’re presumably camped out subsequent to at least one one other for a pair hours. Not precisely the perfect vibe for having fun with a parade!
It’s no higher after the fireworks. Whereas the spot is objectively simpler and fewer time-consuming to safe, the larger drawback is the Magic Kingdom mass exodus. There’s a regular stream of friends making an attempt to exit the Central Plaza…and this wall of friends making an attempt to fortify their positions, riot police model.
We’ve got additionally seen tensions flare between common friends making an attempt to exit and this line of photographers, however I suppose the upside is that the road is unified and never adversarial with each other, and the upset friends are nonetheless exiting the realm. Both means, don’t hassle with this except you’re a critical photographer.
I might argue that it isn’t even crucial for many photographers (save for these wanting most or all of Cinderella Fort). I actually like this spot when utilizing a large angle lens, however wouldn’t hassle if utilizing something above 35mm. There are simpler alternate options.
Finest & Worst Viewing Spots for Starlight
Whereas the Cinderella Fort view within the Central Plaza is the one best spot for seeing Starlight, the whole lot of Foremost Avenue is a detailed second. The excellent news is that there’s way more area up and down Foremost Avenue, so there’s each extra capability and decrease demand.
The unhealthy information is that it’s nonetheless very talked-about. And actually, the hall of Foremost Avenue is a bit overrated for viewing Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away. It’s the primary part to replenish and even should you put within the onerous ‘work’ for a entrance row spot, you nonetheless may need your view obstructed.
It is because the parade will not be coming straight in the direction of you on Foremost Avenue. The parade is simply approaching you should you flip sideways, wherein case you’re trying previous different friends who’re consistent with you. This creates a probably awkward dynamic the place friends reaching out with their telephones or cameras, and even simply leaning out, can partially block your view.
Because of this, should you should watch from the Foremost Avenue curb, we suggest placing a trash can between you and the Practice Station. It’s an imperfect answer, however offers you a little bit of a buffer. Clearly, this additionally means sitting/standing subsequent to a trash can, which could be annoying should you’re there for an hour-plus and individuals are continuously throwing away their trash. Except your title is Oscar.
In the case of Foremost Avenue viewing, my favourite spots are both behind Companions (principally Starlight’s model of Christmas Tree Level, besides with the Practice Station as a background as an alternative of Cinderella Fort) or close to Casey’s Nook (behind a trash can).
Each have the benefit of lengthy approaches and the parade then curving previous the route. Behind Companions is certainly higher from this angle, nevertheless it’s additionally in greater demand for the primary parade attributable to Fortunately Ever After viewing.
I might solely suggest these places for the second parade; they replenish too quick for the primary. Since Starlight debuted, I’ve been in a position to rating each of those spots lower than half-hour earlier than showtime. I’ve tried earlier than the primary parade, and each had been complete nonstarters even 2 hours upfront.
My #1 viewing suggestion for Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away is across the bends in City Sq..
I might strongly suggest being on the outer perimeter of City Sq. versus the inside circle. You additionally need to be at one of many curved sections, versus the straightaway immediately underneath the Practice Station. That is vital as a result of the parade curls round City Sq., so most spots alongside the outer perimeter will provide you with an extended view of the parade. You see it approaching and crossing immediately in entrance of you. Higher for having fun with and for pictures.
Along with seeing the floats as they not far away and are available in the direction of you, offering facet and entrance angles of the floats from a distance, additionally, you will see one other ‘layer’ of floats on the opposite facet of City Sq.. This offers better depth to the parade and makes it extra pleasing.
In the event you watch Starlight from the Foremost Avenue Theater facet, this additionally makes for a fast exit to beat the mass exodus, should you so need. Or, as talked about above, you may take the bypass within the different route and end up deeper in Magic Kingdom earlier than issues get chaotic.
Though technically a part of Foremost Avenue versus City Sq., this suggestion consists of the ultimate ‘bend’ that’s immediately in entrance of the Emporium. This spot could be busier for the primary parade, nevertheless it must be simple to seize a Fortunately Ever After fireworks in the course of Foremost Avenue again by the Emporium after which shifting to the curb for the parade.
This makes for a decrease stakes 1-2 punch of the fireworks adopted by the parade, versus the opposite means round. Maybe most significantly, this makes for a fast and simple exit after the parade passes at park closing. You need to be capable of beat the push and be on a bus, boat, or monorail by round 11:30 p.m., which is tough from spots additional down Foremost Avenue or in Frontierland and Liberty Sq..
All through the parade route, I favor places the place the curvature of the parade route is such that the floats are heading directing in the direction of you and move in entrance of you. For probably the most half, this similar thought truly applies within the Central Plaza–I simply wouldn’t suggest it for the primary parade because it fills up so quick.
One other great place like that is in Liberty Sq. in entrance of the previous Riverboat Touchdown, or on the other facet throughout from Corridor of Presidents. A lot of the spots on this space are fairly good–you simply don’t have an excellent backdrop.
There are additionally a number of sections of this route that solely enable a pair rows of viewing. It’s an analogous story in areas of Frontierland; there are additionally spots there that enable for elevated viewing. Simply make sure the place you’re standing is definitely parade viewing and never a crowd circulate hall (search for tape on the bottom).
You’ll most likely discover a variety of recommendation elsewhere that Liberty Sq. and Frontierland are one of the best Starlight spots as a result of they’re the least crowded. That is technically true, however once more, you’re ready longer for the parade to reach.
Because of this you can’t beat the mass exodus. You additionally can’t safe a great spot for Fortunately Ever After. Lastly, you can’t beat the group deeper into Magic Kingdom to trip Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, TRON Lightcycle Run, or different headliners (besides Tiana’s Bayou Journey, however that isn’t high-demand at night time within the first place).
These are all issues to present important weight to should you’re watching the primary Starlight efficiency. It’s not simply how lengthy you wait earlier than the parade steps off, it’s complete time dedication and the way your parade spot units you up for what comes subsequent. In the event you’re watching the second Starlight, there’s actually no level settling for a subpar spot given the benefit of securing higher spots.
A technique that Frontierland or Liberty Sq. could make sense for the second parade is should you race to a trip instantly after Fortunately Ever After after which seize a final minute spot for Starlight.
You would possibly be capable of knock out Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, at which level it’s too late to return to Foremost Avenue. Scoring a spot in Liberty Sq. is simpler at that time, each when it comes to navigating the parade route and being purchased a bit of additional time till the floats arrive.
I’m additionally a giant fan of a pair particular spots in Frontierland and Liberty Sq.. The primary is immediately reverse Sleepy Hole, proper on the opposite facet of the bridge. This can provide you a clear shot of the parade coming throughout the bridge with Cinderella Fort within the background (see above).
The opposite is wherever in Frontierland that’s elevated. There are a number of such spots, together with in entrance of Nation Bear Jamboree. As an added bonus, these views behind the primary row of individuals present sufficient clearance that you would be able to watch the parade method from a distance, and take images which have Cinderella Fort within the background (see beneath).
Lastly, a few suggestions. The primary is that you simply don’t must sweat Starlight an excessive amount of. If all of this sounds overwhelming, or should you’re not a parade individual however nonetheless need to test it out, you may get a “unhealthy” again row spot with ease on the final minute and never miss a lot.
As coated in our Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away Evaluate, this parade has a horrible floor sport. This partly appears purposeful, as many of the floats are giant and elevated, permitting for an excellent view even from a distance. So even ~5 rows deep, you’re seeing 95% of what issues simply wonderful.
My final piece of recommendation could be grabbing one thing to eat whereas ready for Starlight. Everybody goes to advise sending a runner to Casey’s Nook or Sleepy Hole for warm canine or waffles. And that’s sage knowledge–I’d suggest likewise. However this weblog is all about deeper cuts, and zigging once they zag. So my recommendation is doing that, but additionally sending a runner over to Auntie Gravity’s in Tomorrowland for Salted Caramel Smooth Serve. This ice cream hits the spot, and the quick line plus the strolling will nonetheless take much less time than Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Foremost Avenue.
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Your Ideas?
Have you ever tried watching Starlight Night time Parade at Magic Kingdom? Do you’ve favourite and least favourite viewing spots? Like or dislike those we’ve advisable? First versus second displaying Starlight? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation on crowds and the trouble of securing spots for the primary parade? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!