UPDATED March 10, 2025
A brand new nighttime parade is coming to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in the summer of 2025. Get ready for Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away!
Concept Art for Disney Starlight ©Disney
In August 2024 at the D23 Ultimate Fan Event in Anaheim, California, Disney shared the big news about this new nighttime spectacular, revealing that Disney Starlight will be “using the latest technology to tell new stories about the characters you love.”
Disney Starlight follows in the footsteps of previous iconic nighttime spectaculars like the Main Street Electrical Parade and SpectroMagic.
Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland
Disney Starlight — The Characters and Floats
Disney Starlight will be “brought to life by the magic of the Blue Fairy” from the Disney animated classic, Pinocchio.
©Disney
In fact, the star on the Blue Fairy’s wand will be the “first star you’ll see tonight” and viewers will be invited to wish upon that very star to kick off the parade.
Parade viewers will see Disney characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios films such as Encanto, Frozen, and Peter Pan. (You’ll see Wendy, too!)
©Disney
Isabela will swing on vines on the Encanto float, just like she does in the beloved film.
In November 2024, Disney also confirmed that a Moana float will also be part of the parade.
©Disney
Accompanying Moana will be Pua, HeiHei, and, Disney shares, “a manta ray representing Gramma Tala.”
And in January 2025, Disney revealed additional concept art for a float featuring Disney Princesses and their Prince (and Beast!) Charmings including Aurora and Philip, Tiana and Naveen, Cinderella and Prince Charming, and Belle and the Beast.
©Disney
Disney has confirmed that royal court dancers will bookend the stunning Princess Float, as one of many nods to the iconic Main Street Electrical Parade.
And in March 2025, Disney shared concept art for the Coco float that will be featured in the parade with none other than Miguel front and center.
©Disney
Mariachi music will introduce the colorful float’s arrival.
Disney has shared that the focus of the parade will be “a nod to the past with our eyes firmly set on the future.”
Disney Starlight — The Inspiration
The team working on the parade are looking at past Disney nighttime parades, promising “more than a few Easter eggs.” However, they are also looking to some of Disney’s earliest animated movies for inspiration.
©Mary Blair and the Walt Disney Animation Research Library
For example, the Princesses float is inspired by Disney Legend and artist Mary Blair’s original concept artwork for Cinderella.
Disney Starlight — The Costumes
Disney has also shared a sneak peek at what the Disney Live Entertainment Costuming team is working up for the new parade! Costumes will use “a blend of innovative lighting techniques and whimsical custom fabrics” to create an experience that looks to be “kissed by starlight.” Here’s a prototype costume piece for the parade:
©Disney
The idea is that it will swirl down the parade route as the fabric picks up lighting from the floats with each light synchronized to the music. WOW.
The NEW Disney Starlight promises to change the face of nighttime entertainment at Walt Disney World for the foreseeable future. We can’t wait to share more information about this new nighttime parade as soon as it is revealed!
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