Walt Disney World has introduced the official debut date of Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away, the brand new nighttime parade coming to Magic Kingdom in Summer season 2025! This shares the most recent official particulars, unbelievable new idea artwork of the finale float, photograph & video first look & pay attention! Plus, our predictions about previews, smooth opening hypothesis, variety of nightly performances & showtimes, and extra!
For many who are unfamiliar with Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away Parade, it’s the non secular successor to SpectroMagic and Principal Avenue Electrical Parade. It was first introduced throughout final 12 months’s D23 Expo, and particulars have slowly trickled out since then, with full reveals of the floats and inventive course of.
Disney Starlight will use the most recent know-how to inform new tales in regards to the characters you’re keen on, in response to Walt Disney World. All of this is dropped at life by the magic of the Blue Fairy, along with beloved characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios movies “Peter Pan,” “Encanto,” “Frozen,” and plenty of extra films.
Walt Disney World has now introduced that Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away parade will open on July 20, 2025 in Magic Kingdom!!!
Listed here are extra new particulars shared by Disney in regards to the upcoming Starlight Night time Parade in Magic Kingdom from Walt Disney World:
✨ Dream huge, dream vivid! 🌟 Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away debuts on July twentieth at Walt Disney World! ✨ pic.twitter.com/e4QB3o0pdO
— Walt Disney World (@WaltDisneyWorld) Might 27, 2025
All the enjoyment, surprise, and magic culminates within the parade’s finale, the place a whimsical practice, impressed by the long-lasting Principal Avenue Electrical Parade float, emerges to take dreamers of all ages on a experience by the celebrities.
Swirling ribbons of starlight reveal Goofy, Pluto, Donald Duck, and Daisy Duck main a procession of Disney moments that features Snow White and Dopey in a twinkling mine automobile, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider floating towards a gleaming lantern on their boat, and Aladdin and Jasmine taking a magic carpet experience.
Closing out the celebration are the unique dreamers, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, draped in glowing new appears to be like. Collectively, the duo sends us off, reminding us to imagine within the energy of wishing upon a star.
Right here’s a sneak peek behind the scenes on the music & magic of Disney Starlight Dream the Night time Away:
Designing floats for a nighttime parade provides one other layer to the reside leisure manufacturing course of. This primary have a look at the Starlight floats reveals these are extra than simply static buildings, these are storytelling levels on wheels in response to Walt Disney World.
When the Disney Dwell Leisure group thinks about what this storytelling appears to be like like at evening, they consider creating these landscapes – or dreamscapes – out of sunshine. Learn how to use this medium to painting motion, shade, and imagery that we might usually see in a extra scenically pushed float in the course of the daytime? At present’s know-how opens extra choices than ever to make use of lighting and video components as a storytelling device.
As an illustration, the Blue Fairy magic, seen all through the parade, is made fully from factors of sunshine; using a curved LED panels on the Encanto float provides us the chance to create magic and motion {that a} static picture wouldn’t present. That is the thrilling know-how and artwork of the “Disney Starlight” floats.
Talking of thrilling, right here’s a second we’ve been eagerly ready for–the reveal of the grand finale float of Disney Starlight:
Wow. What a becoming finale float. If the idea artwork is correct, that is going to be one of many all-time nice parade floats. A robust contender for the most effective in Magic Kingdom historical past that ought to simply surpass Paint the Night time, which is a bit anticlimactic, in the event you ask me.
The whole lot Else We Know About Disney Starlight
Floats, Films & Characters – From the second the Blue Fairy’s magic wand lights up the evening, desires will come to life with a fascinating order of floats with these improbable associates:
- Blue Fairy
- Peter Pan & Wendy
- Asha
- La Familia Madrigal (Mirabel, Isabela, Bruno)
- Elsa
- Aurora and Prince Phillip, Tiana and Prince Naveen, Belle and the Beast, and Cinderella and Prince Charming
- Miguel and Pepita
- Moana, Pua, HeiHei, and a manta ray representing Gramma Tala becoming a member of the journey
- Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, Daisy, Snow White, Dopey, Rapunzel & Flynn, Aladdin & Jasmine
Walt Disney World shared that the above floats will seem within the order listed. Beforehand, Disney introduced that there could be ‘different royalty’ in Starlight, past the princess unit.
Starlight Will Supply ‘Nod to Previous’ Magic Kingdom Night time Parades – Walt Disney World is describing the parade as “a nod to the previous with our eyes firmly set on the long run” and saying that this has turn out to be “a motto for the inventive group bringing ‘Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away’ to life.”
The inventive group is “drawing inspiration from not solely the wealthy historical past of nighttime parades at Magic Kingdom…but in addition a few of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ earliest animated options.” Walt Disney World can also be indicating that there are “various” easter eggs for parade lovers.
Delivered to life by the inventive fingers and hearts at Disney Dwell Leisure, Starlight: Dream the Night time Away is the proper continuation of Walt Disney World’s legacy of nighttime parades. It’ll provide bits of nostalgia sprinkled all through a stunning procession that raises the bar for the long run.
This concept holds true for each a part of this parade, not solely within the float design, however within the music, choreography, and extra. With a number of members of the Starlight inventive group having labored on fan-favorites reminiscent of “Principal Avenue Electrical Parade” and “SpectroMagic,” you will note the inspiration from ever-iconic electrical parades of years previous. Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away recollects the nostalgia of nighttime spectaculars with innovation lighting the best way for a magical expertise like by no means earlier than.
Disney has additionally revealed that the princess unit pays homage to Disney Legend and artist Mary Blair’s unique idea art work for Disney Animation’s “Cinderella.” It’ll be anchored by a gleaming fountain of sunshine that overflows to light up a cosmic ballroom, and is only one piece of the constellation of basic and up to date tales that make up Starlight.
What Type of Music Will Starlight Use? – SpectroMagic, Principal Avenue Electrical Parade, Dreamlights, and Paint the Night time all have totally different soundtrack types.
From my perspective, SpectroMagic has the most effective music. I’d describe that rating as a triumphant waltz, a time period I made up. I don’t know the way else to explain the regal trumpet fanfare, dreamlike melodies, joyous lyrics, and lifting orchestral rating.
Principal Avenue Electrical Parade wants no clarification; “Baroque Hoedown” and its electro-synthe-magnetic sound are well-known even past Disney followers. Dreamlights is like that, however modernized. Paint the Night time additionally attracts inspiration from what got here earlier than, however has far more of a high-energy pop sound. “When Can I See You Once more” is an earworm, and Paint the Night time is memorable consequently. A fantastic parade can take an only-okay soundtrack and make you fall in love with it.
Walt Disney World has introduced that Starlight can have a brand new unique theme that blends an impressive musical rating with basic melodies from beloved Disney animated movies. A parade with out music is sort of a canvas with out shade. Present Director Tara Anderson mentioned it completely: “You’ve bought to have nice music to have a fantastic expertise.”
Disney has an unique theme written particularly for “Disney Starlight” that really embodies all of the fantastical emotions you get watching a parade come down Principal Avenue, U.S.A. with Cinderella Fortress within the background. For Disney followers, this new theme could have some surprises that sound acquainted – you’ll want to pay attention intently for some Disney Parks favorites woven into the rating. (Right here’s hoping for that iconic SpectroMagic trumpet fanfare!!!)
Whereas I don’t wish to decide the music prematurely, I’m feeling actually good about it after that first pay attention video above. It sounds elegant and complicated, a classical and timeless model that appeals to me far more than Paint the Night time. I can’t wait to listen to the complete rating as these floats roll down Principal Avenue.
Is “Disney Starlight” rehearsing now? – Whereas floats set the stage, and music units the tone, our performers carry the power and pleasure. Choreographed by Cindy Wilson, who drew inspiration from every of the movies represented within the parade, in addition to a mixture of totally different dance types. Each eight-count is meticulously timed to coordinate with the music and lights as they animate throughout the costumes and floats.
Each float constructed, each observe within the music you hear, each performer studying the choreography for the primary time – all of it performs a component in constructing the joy and anticipation as we get nearer to the ultimate manufacturing.
Right here’s one other quote from Tara. Anybody who has labored together with her can attest that that is actually one thing she says all through each undertaking–and it completely embodies what motivates the group behind the Disney Starlight parade: “We have to contact each coronary heart.”
Starlight Merchandise Sneak Peek – Pictured above is the merchandise assortment Walt Disney World might be releasing for Starlight. This consists of:
- T-shirt & mouse ears headband, each that includes the parade emblem and Mickey Mouse in his Starlight costume.
- Blanket that includes the identical.
- Collectible pin with the brand and Mickey artwork.
- Mickey Mouse glove bubble wand that can light-up and work together with the parade because it passes.
For the snackers, a dreamy new popcorn combine is coming quickly! Themed to have a good time the debut of “Disney Starlight,” this new providing might be out there solely on the Principal Avenue Confectionary in Magic Kingdom beginning the primary evening of the brand new parade. Friends can take pleasure in a star-kissed mixture of Bubble Gum and Blue Raspberry Sweet Popcorn, M&M’S Milk Chocolate Candies, mini-marshmallows, and white chocolatey drizzle.
What’s the Starlight parade route? – Starlight will journey alongside the Magic Kingdom’s parade route, beginning in Frontierland and ending on Principal Avenue, U.S.A. This was revealed on Walt Disney World’s official web site when the Starlight web page launched.
I don’t suppose this was ever actually in query (not prefer it’s gonna plow its manner by Tomorrowland and below the TRON cover, cool as that’d be), however newer followers who’ve by no means had the enjoyment of experiencing an evening parade could have puzzled.
What We Need to Know About Starlight
Will There Be Tender Openings? – Tender openings are often known as technical rehearsals, and are mainly an unannounced early opening. They supply a possibility for theme parks to debut an providing previous to its official opening and conduct operations and Solid Member coaching in a extra forgiving and decrease stress surroundings.
Tender openings are extra widespread with new sights, and even then, Walt Disney World has moved away from them in favor of registration-only previews that supply Annual Passholders, Disney Trip Membership Members, and others early entry. In recent times, these previews have often lasted just a few weeks.
Issues are trickier with new leisure and it’s been ages since Walt Disney World final had a brand new parade. Our greatest guess is that it’ll debut an evening or two sooner than introduced, as a “shock and delight” expertise for company. This most not too long ago occurred with Harmonious (relaxation in items), which had a 2-night smooth opening previous to its official opening on October 1.
We’d anticipate one thing related right here. Starlight’s official opening date is Sunday, July 20, 2025. That is really excellent timing, as the favored Pixie Mud Cross is blocked out July 19-20, 2025–which means Walt Disney World may debut Starlight on Saturday with one tier of APs excluded solely. Not solely that, however all tiers of Annual Passholders are required to make reservations on Saturdays and Sundays for Magic Kingdom, additional limiting the potential visitor pool.
The higher query is whether or not a “shock and delight” preview of Starlight might be added to the official calendar, as was the case with Harmonious (and has occurred with Christmas parade filming). We’re going to go towards the grain and guess that it’s going to not.
Will There Be AP/DVC Previews? – It’s one factor to have a preview for a brand new attraction in an in any other case operational theme park. There’s just one entry level, so that you simply management that by scanning credentials and letting those that have registered proceed.
It will be logistically not possible with Starlight, as parade viewing is extra “porous” for lack of a greater time period. The one possibility could be conducting the previews after-hours. That’s doable, however we’ve by no means seen something like that occur to the most effective of my data.
The one manner I may see Annual Passholder or Disney Trip Membership Member previews of this nature is that if they’re paid. Walt Disney World may monetize the heck out of Starlight, providing per week of sneak peeks for APs, DVC, D23, and so forth. at $99 per individual or extra. Actually, I’d in all probability pay it, each for the early entry with an enthusiasm viewers and the decrease crowds.
I’d put the possibilities of this taking place very low. It will be one factor if Starlight have been forward of schedule and had loads of time to roll out throughout shoulder season, however that ship has already sailed. As an alternative, it looks like it’s going to be a race towards the clock simply to have Starlight completed earlier than the late July “final hurrah” of summer time trip.
Regardless, we might be monitoring for smooth openings and previews (free or paid) like hawks within the coming weeks and offers you a heads up ASAP if/when registration goes reside or one thing is rumored. You’ll be able to subscribe to our free electronic mail e-newsletter for immediate alerts.
When and How Many Instances Will Starlight Carry out Nightly? – It’s been a very long time since Walt Disney World has had a brand new evening parade. The closest is throughout Summer season Nightastic again in 2010, which was really the return of Principal Avenue Electrical Parade.
Distilling all of that precedent together with expectations for Summer season 2025 crowds, my greatest guess for the schedule is as follows:
- Starlight Parade: 9 pm
- Fortunately Ever After: 10 pm
- Starlight Parade: 11 pm
- Park Closing: 11 pm
The above schedule isn’t far-fetched–these are the precise parade and fireworks showtimes from Summer season 2010. There won’t be the choice to maneuver ahead these occasions a lot attributable to sundown, however they may very well be condensed barely. If Walt Disney World doesn’t wish to do 11 pm closings of Magic Kingdom, it’s doable the park may shut at 10:30 pm whereas nonetheless sustaining the 9/10/11 cadence for nighttime leisure. Disney’s Hollywood Studios does this typically with Fantasmic.
I actually hope Walt Disney World is aware of higher than to run Starlight solely as soon as per evening. My concern is that they could begin with 2 nightly performances opening weekend, however rapidly swap to at least one per evening (as a result of cheapness). If that does occur, I may see the schedule rapidly altering, as Disney is disabused of the notion that one efficiency is ample fairly rapidly.
Fears apart, we’re optimistic that Walt Disney World will do the proper factor. Our expectation is that Magic Kingdom closes at 11 pm on July 20, 2025 and each regular evening thereafter for the rest of 2025. We additionally anticipate 2 nightly performances of Starlight on each non-party evening (extra on that under) by early 2026.
How Will Crowd Management Be Dealt with for Starlight? – One other one among my fears is that Walt Disney World has misplaced a lot institutional data since then that they don’t know the best way to deal with operational logistics for an evening parade. Summer season Nightastic was 15 years and a pandemic in the past, which resulted in quite a lot of early retirements among the many previous guard who knew how issues labored. (See additionally, upkeep.)
On a constructive observe, the present Magic Kingdom group does have related expertise due to the Halloween and Christmas events. In truth, they made an underrated (and actually good) adjustment final 12 months, transferring ahead the primary Boo to You Parade by a full hour. That demonstrated to me there are nonetheless folks inside park ops enthusiastic about these things, and making sensible adjustments.
One other good change we’ve seen not too long ago has been the (controversial) redesign of the Emporium, which many followers have criticized as having an excessive amount of “useless area” or being too bland or fundamental. Whereas I agree in precept with a few of these complaints, what critics are overlooking is the aim of the adjustments. The purpose just isn’t an Emporium redesign–it’s making a makeshift parade bypass by that’ll facilitate crowd circulate and can stand as much as quite a lot of foot visitors.
If we wish to criticize Walt Disney World for cheaping out and never creating correct arcades or cancelling the Principal Avenue Theater undertaking (that will’ve additionally included an Imagineered bypass, I’m completely right here for it. However what’s taking place proper now with the Emporium is all about making lemonade out of lemons, and looking for possible approaches to getting folks out and in of the park with the expectation that Principal Avenue itself goes to be packed.
Even so, crowd management for Starlight goes to be a piece in progress. Between the misplaced institutional data and the rising native fanbase, it’s going to be trial by fireplace. I’d not wish to be a Disney PAC Solid Member this summer time, and anticipate lots of them to turn out to be battle-hardened fairly rapidly. (We’ve seen precisely this at Disneyland.)
What About Get together Season? – As we’ve mentioned with the discharge of 2025 Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Get together dates, that occasion is beginning a full week later than final 12 months. This isn’t taking place attributable to a scarcity of recognition–each single date bought out final 12 months. Our greatest guess is that is to provide Disney Starlight Night time Parade an extended runway of uninterrupted efficiency dates earlier than Get together Season begins.
Even with that, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away debuts on July 20, 2025 and the primary Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Get together is on August 15, 2025. And since Walt Disney World delayed the beginning date of MNSSHP whereas sustaining the identical variety of complete events in every month, there are instantly 3 events per week in August (versus 2 in prior years).
The brand new nighttime parade wants as many efficiency dates as doable as a launch valve on demand and crowds earlier than Get together Season begins. As soon as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Get together begins, there’s virtually 5 months of Magic Kingdom closing early a number of nights per week. This causes large disruptions to attendance patterns, which is a dynamic we’ve mentioned on this weblog for over a decade.
This isn’t actually a query that Walt Disney World can reply. We already know Starlight will solely be proven on evenings when MNSSHP or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Get together aren’t taking place. We’ve however questioning simply how unhealthy congestion might be alongside the parade route, particularly from October by December in the course of the weeks when MNSSHP and MVMCP happen 4 nights per week, which means solely 3 days when Starlight could be proven.
In all probability, that is going to exacerbate the daytime attendance disparity between social gathering dates and non-party dates. Starlight goes to sow chaos and craziness throughout this stretch of the 12 months, nevertheless it must also current strategic alternatives to use for savvy planners. It’ll be attention-grabbing if Disney makes an attempt to mitigate any of this–they tried final 12 months by providing free Park Hopper upgrades, however that didn’t actually work.
How Lengthy Will the Parade Be? – Walt Disney World has now revealed all 9 floats/models, suggesting that Starlight is roughly Paint the Night time size. Regardless that it’s nonetheless a lot shorter than Tokyo Disneyland’s Dreamlights, it’s a fairly good length with a spread of characters.
In fact, floats are just one component of a parade, with the dancers and ground-level performers additionally being necessary to the power and robustness of a parade. Walt Disney World has an aversion to spending cash on reside performers, so my concern is that Disney Starlight Night time Parade gained’t have a big forged, even with 9 floats.
Once more, I’m not anticipating one thing on par with Dreamlights, however Starlight additionally shouldn’t really feel like a glorified cavalcade. If Disney is anxious with cost-cutting, why not check out one of many $200+ million Disney+ reveals.
Is Jiminy Cricket Concerned? – Again in the course of the heyday of SpectroMagic, there was simply one thing particular in regards to the anticipation that constructed when Jiminy Cricket’s voice began coming over the loudspeakers. He was the voice for a technology of nighttime leisure at Walt Disney World, and made these evenings thrilling.
Foolish as it’d sound, Jiminy Cricket being the host of Starlight is the simplest option to faucet into fan nostalgia for that particular time within the Nineties and early aughts. It’d be an superior nostalgia play.
In case you’ll be able to’t inform, we’re past excited for Disney Starlight: Paint the Night time Away Parade and counting down the times till July 20, 2025. It’s been so lengthy that Magic Kingdom has had a nighttime parade roll down Principal Avenue that it’ll virtually be surreal to see. We’re very completely satisfied that can change with Starlight, and tons of company can have this turn out to be a ‘core reminiscence’ to finish every night within the park.
This in all probability seems like extreme expectations for a easy piece of leisure, and maybe I’m overvaluing the importance of Starlight evening parade to the typical Walt Disney World visitor. I actually don’t suppose so, although. SpectroMagic was completely formative to my fandom as a child, and for Sarah and me falling in love with Walt Disney World over again as adults. I do know we weren’t the one ones. We can’t wait to kind all new (future) nostalgia, watching Starlight dozens and dozens of occasions with our daughter as she grows up with Walt Disney World’s latest evening parade.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Will you be in Magic Kingdom on July 20, 2025 for opening evening of Disney Starlight: Dream the Night time Away Parade? Trying ahead to Walt Disney World’s first brand-new evening parade in many years? What are you anticipating with Starlight? What else do you wish to know in regards to the upcoming evening parade? Agree or disagree with our assessments? Another questions or remark? Listening to suggestions about your experiences is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!