MK All-New Nighttime Parade Disney Starlight Set to Debut at Magic Kingdom in 2025

[DisneyHead123]

I’m actually pretty surprised by the hesitant reaction this parade is getting. Even Reddit, which tends to lean quite pro-parks, didn’t have a lot of enthusiasm going on.

I have much stronger feelings about the park design and rides, to me parades are largely something I hope the kids in my family will like and a brief “Ooo… pretty stuff” moment for me. So possibly I’m too uninvested to really get it. To me the lights look really gorgeous though, and probably much much more so in person (I paid for these expensive lights for my Christmas tree, and every year I’m annoyed to remember that lights just don’t translate well to pictures and videos. They look so beautiful in person but are relegated to blurry dots in pictures.) My one criticism is that this parade is on the short side, due to overall number of floats and also performers between floats. But what’s there looks really impressive to me.

 

[tathompson87]

That would make more sense to me. A float that includes many characters and not solely one half the crowd doesn’t even know the name of

I’m noticing a pattern on your commentary about Wish being included.

 

[brb1006]

They really just need a massive flood of characters in front of that train float.

Wish the train was made a bit longer.

 

[Squishy]

Frontierland is pretty empty for the 11pm showing, you can walk up and find a front row spot at the sametime it's stepping off from main street.

 

[SoFloMagic]

You either missed large portions of this thread after the debut last night, or you are intentionally ignoring them.

Almost everyone was so excited and happy for a night parade to be back at MK. I even mentioned how it takes away the sting of the ROA now that another MK classic attraction has returned.

However…. There are some interesting choices made that are worthy of discussion. There was no wow moment for me (in person) - other than the princess float - but what made that work was all the performers and the choreography- something most of the parade indeed lacks.

It’s so tiring to discuss the parks only to have someone not add anything to the topic but call people “vultures” for discussing the topic.

I think ive added to the topic, including my thoughts having actually seen it in person night one. Its frustrating to me how things are balanced and good discussions for 24 hours, then shifts to just constant negativity after. It just gets a bit old, honestly.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

Coco was a nice standout. (100pts to anyone who can guess why)

Blue Fairy Pinocchio float is just terrible. Laughably so. Odd concept made worse with poor execution. Whimsy as expected was a nothingburger but the overall float design was nice.

Still... THIS isn't a good parade. Would rather Paint the Night or Electrical. Once the pixie dust settles... I hope people (and Disney especially) realize how bad this is.

Sorry, Disney. But it kind of sucks. Back to the drawing board. There's not much worth saving here.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I hope people (and Disney especially) realize how bad this is.

I wouldn’t say it’s bad…. It’s not as good as it should be. kinda like 7 dwarves, galaxies edge, and…… most of what Disney parks produce now.

I think I’d prefer this over Main Street Electric at MK - but it’s a toss up

 

[flynnibus]

I think ive added to the topic, including my thoughts having actually seen it in person night one. Its frustrating to me how things are balanced and good discussions for 24 hours, then shifts to just constant negativity after. It just gets a bit old, honestly.

I think you confusion discussion for 'constant negativity'

When there is consensus... there is little discussion.. because it's already said and there is no back and forth. People all shared what they liked, and when people are all in agreement, there is little point in people going 'me too!!' for weeks on end.

When there is a concern or discussion on a topic, like a point for improvement, a concern, a question, or an opinion.. you are more likely to find people who either don't agree, so will add their take, people will comment on the topic, or people may even add their own counter points.

Thus points that are NOT in agreement are naturally going to run much longer and at higher volumes of activity.

It's also human nature to react to something quickly without a ton of detail.. and then as time and repeat exposures happen you start to see things differently, or your focus shifts as your attention does. Thus it's pretty typically for someone to have a first impression, and then often be more critical later as they've had a chance to take in more details.

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

I wouldn’t say it’s bad…. It’s not as good as it should be. kinda like 7 dwarves, galaxies edge, and…… most of what Disney parks produce now.

I think I’d prefer this over Main Street Electric at MK - but it’s a toss up

I think MSEP edges out just because of nostalgia. I don't know. This just seems so cold and lifeless. Doesn't help that it's short and thin on content. Makes one all the more critical of what they can see

 

[Drew the Disney Dude]

Empty!!

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

View attachment 871862
Empty!!

The bright blue blob has eaten all the park guests!

 

[DisneyHead123]

I think MSEP edges out just because of nostalgia. I don't know. This just seems so cold and lifeless. Doesn't help that it's short and thin on content. Makes one all the more critical of what they can see

I keep seeing criticism along the lines of this being too “cold”… I guess as someone whose apartments were plastered with Edward Hughes art posters in my 20s I don’t get it. I like the “Night and Her Train of Stars” aesthetic updated to 2025, but maybe I’m in the minority. If this was advertised as a raucous dance party that would be different, but I think it pulls off the dreamy starlight look very well.

 

[AxolotlTales]

I think I’d prefer this over Main Street Electric at MK - but it’s a toss up

Agreed. No more MSEP please! For both MK and DL. Let that thing rest.

 

[Kittlesona]

Coco was a nice standout. (100pts to anyone who can guess why)

Blue Fairy Pinocchio float is just terrible. Laughably so. Odd concept made worse with poor execution. Whimsy as expected was a nothingburger but the overall float design was nice.

Still... THIS isn't a good parade. Would rather Paint the Night or Electrical. Once the pixie dust settles... I hope people (and Disney especially) realize how bad this is.

Sorry, Disney. But it kind of sucks. Back to the drawing board. There's not much worth saving here.

I don’t remember seeing the Fog/steam snort from Pepita last night. Is that what you’re referring to?

 

[ᗩLᘿᑕ ֊ᗩζᗩᗰ]

I don’t remember seeing the Fog/steam snort from Pepita last night. Is that what you’re referring to?

A slight for sure but no that's not it. I actually liked the Coco float. Bought the only bright spot in the entire parade, IMO.

 

[Comped]

The thing that scares me is that now that MK has made the investment into this parade, I am so far from certain about if we are going to see improvements or IP changes rather than deletions. Even in 5 years I couldn't tell you because of how parades and shows have been treated in Orlando for years (Fantasmic being the one exception and that's because they literally can't figure out anything else to replace it with.) And we all know that this is probably going to run for 10 years or more unless something catastrophic happens, so we may be stuck with this version for quite some time if not a decade. And frankly I hate to say it but that could be us getting lucky. I don't see a replacement being developed until the 2030s.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Agreed. No more MSEP please! For both MK and DL. Let that thing rest.

Oh I love seeing it at Disneyland!

 

[Jedi14]

A slight for sure but no that's not it. I actually liked the Coco float. Bought the only bright spot in the entire parade, IMO.

Why the Coco float and none of the other floats?

 

[trainplane3]

They will fly, it’s tucked into the same positioning as the Dreaming Up float. It will take some time, but knowing the float was designed for this…. I don’t see it getting scraped.

Great to know. Thanks!

 

[GhostHost1000]

I think ive added to the topic, including my thoughts having actually seen it in person night one. Its frustrating to me how things are balanced and good discussions for 24 hours, then shifts to just constant negativity after. It just gets a bit old, honestly.

It happens often. Many go from the initial “yey something new!” to real reflection and analysis of it based on what Disney could have delivered.

What may be getting old is expectations are more than what we typically get now adays which is where more of the negativity and frustration shows up from those who want things to be better.