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

[TrainsOfDisney]

I mean, that's essentially what they did with the court dancers and why they at least work reasonably well in person.

The court dancers are also doing actual ballroom style choreography. Even then I thought they looked better in the castle hub where there is some parade route lighting making them more visible.

Compare with the electrical night parade costumes - those carrying the canopy were dressed and very visible for example.

 

[DCBaker]

Performance times for Disney Starlight in early 2026 have been added to the Walt Disney World website through January 10:

Jan. 1, 2, 3: 7:45pm, 10:30pm
Jan. 4, 5, 9, 10: 7:45pm, 10pm
Jan. 6, 7, 8: 7:45pm

 

[mattpeto]

Performance times for Disney Starlight in early 2026 have been added to the Walt Disney World website through January 10:

Jan. 1, 2, 3: 7:45pm, 10:30pm
Jan. 4, 5, 9, 10: 7:45pm, 10pm
Jan. 6, 7, 8: 7:45pm

There it is, just once per night. Maybe if they extend the hours for Jan 6-8 they will add a 2nd showing.

 

[jrhwdw]

There it is, just once per night. Maybe if they extend the hours for Jan 6-8 they will add a 2nd showing.

I'm not shocked to see 1 Starlight a night, mid week, in winter.

 

[Squishy]

Performance times for Disney Starlight in early 2026 have been added to the Walt Disney World website through January 10:

Jan. 1, 2, 3: 7:45pm, 10:30pm
Jan. 4, 5, 9, 10: 7:45pm, 10pm
Jan. 6, 7, 8: 7:45pm

There it is, just once per night. Maybe if they extend the hours for Jan 6-8 they will add a 2nd showing.

Makes sense, some nights for the 2nd showing the end of frontierland has a bunch of empty front row spots.

 

[dmc493]

Makes sense, some nights for the 2nd showing the end of frontierland has a bunch of empty front row spots.

Still disappointing

 

[DCBaker]

Performance times for Disney Starlight in early 2026 have been added to the Walt Disney World website through January 10:

Jan. 1, 2, 3: 7:45pm, 10:30pm
Jan. 4, 5, 9, 10: 7:45pm, 10pm
Jan. 6, 7, 8: 7:45pm

Another week of performance times have been added for Disney Starlight:

Jan. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15: 7:45pm
Jan. 16, 17: 7:45pm, 10pm

 

[DCBaker]

Disney has added another week of performance times:

Jan. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22: 7:45pm
Jan. 23, 24: 7:45pm, 10pm

 

[dmc493]

any proper guess on the main reason? thinking it could be a "seasonal" decision, proper budget cuts, less showtimes to see how people react, less showtimes to maybe adjust something in the parade itself, or some other factor altogether

 

[mattpeto]

any proper guess on the main reason? thinking it could be a "seasonal" decision, proper budget cuts, less showtimes to see how people react, less showtimes to maybe adjust something in the parade itself, or some other factor altogether

Just looking at the calendar, when MK holds it's closing at 9 pm and it sticks - they will only do Starlight once, at 7:45 PM. Nights that get bumped to 10 pm or 11 pm will get a 2nd showing of Starlight.

The other exceptions are the After Hours event -1/19 and EEH 1/21 nights - they want day guests out after HEA so it's only Starlight show.

 

[dmc493]

Just looking at the calendar, when MK holds it's closing at 9 pm and it sticks - they will only do Starlight once, at 7:45 PM. Nights that get bumped to 10 pm or 11 pm will get a 2nd showing of Starlight.

The other exceptions are the After Hours event -1/19 and EEH 1/21 nights - they want day guests out after HEA so it's only Starlight show.

Makes sense - I see the logic on party nights and After Hours nights. It felt like there were hopes that Starlight would push MK back towards later midnight closings like we used to have.... curious to see how park hours evolve I guess? Or if we'll see more one parade nights moving forward

 

[HauntedPirate]

Makes sense - I see the logic on party nights and After Hours nights. It felt like there were hopes that Starlight would push MK back towards later midnight closings like we used to have.... curious to see how park hours evolve I guess? Or if we'll see more one parade nights moving forward

It feels highly unlikely that TDO would extend park hours just to have a second parade. But I could be wrong.

 

[mattpeto]

Makes sense - I see the logic on party nights and After Hours nights. It felt like there were hopes that Starlight would push MK back towards later midnight closings like we used to have.... curious to see how park hours evolve I guess? Or if we'll see more one parade nights moving forward

Probably towards the summer again. Standard hours got pushed to 9:30 pm for March, so maybe by the time it goes back to 10 pm (late March-ish) maybe we'll just get 2x a night daily.

 

[Kevin_W]

I've avoided this thread since I wanted to see it in person. Perusing it now, I can see some of the complaints, especially about having more performers in-between floats.

But overall, I absolutely loved the Starlight parade. The floats were amazing (many people seem to dislike having Wish included, but I like having under-represented Disney movies present) and I really enjoyed the soundtrack. Having a night parade was part of what defined a Disney park to me and I'm so glad to see one back after ~10 years.

 

[Brian]

Peter Pan and Wendy flying was in rehearsals again.

 

[jrhwdw]

Peter Pan and Wendy flying was in rehearsals again.

OK......that's needed News!!! Any idea how close we are????

 

[Starship824]

Peter Pan and Wendy flying was in rehearsals again.

 

[jrhwdw]

View attachment 901690

Hopefully we get a date soon.....

 

[Starship824]

Hopefully we get a date soon.....

I'm not sure this is something that will get a date, more like the new Moana props where we might just see it one day, that's my guess anyway.

 

[jrhwdw]

I'm not sure this is something that will get a date, more like the new Moana props where we might just see it one day, that's my guess anyway.

Fair.