Big changes are coming to your Disney transportation routine.
©Disney
A brand new nighttime parade is launching at Magic Kingdom starting July 20th, and it’s not just going to shake up your evening park plans — it’s going to affect how (and when) you leave the park, too. With “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” rolling out every night at 9PM and 11PM, Disney’s transportation system is about to be busier than ever. If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, there’s one major thing you’re going to want to avoid.
Don’t Count on a Quick Exit After the Parade
If you’ve ever tried to leave Magic Kingdom right after fireworks, you know what you’re in for: packed ferryboats, shoulder-to-shoulder monorail stations, and bus stops with lines that just won’t end. Now imagine that, but happening multiple times every night. Welcome to July 20th and beyond.
The monorail line can get pretty long when Magic Kingdom closes
The new nighttime parade, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, is set to debut with two showtimes every night — one at 9PM and one at 11PM. Sounds dreamy, right? It is. But that dream is going to turn into a bit of a logistical mess if you’re not prepared.
Disney Starlight concept art ©Disney
Here’s how it breaks down: fireworks crowds already flood the transportation hubs. Now, with a 9PM parade and an 11PM parade, the window of peak exit traffic is getting stretched even longer. You’ll get a wave of people trying to leave after fireworks, then another after the first parade, then the final swarm after the second parade ends. Basically, the entire back half of the night is going to feel like closing time at a music festival.
This Is NOT the Time to Wing It
The vibe in the parks is going to be amazing. A brand new parade is always something special at Disney. But if you’re not paying attention to the timing, you could end your magical night with an hour-long wait for a bus or a ferry ride that feels more like a crowd control exercise.
©Disney
If you’re staying at a Monorail resort — Contemporary, Polynesian, or Grand Floridian — expect those Monorail cars to be packed tight. Boats will be backed up. Buses to the All-Stars, Pop Century, and Caribbean Beach — all of them will have longer waits. Even Minnie Vans and rideshare pick-up zones will get jammed.
Monorail Crowds
And it’s not just about the lines — it’s about the time. What might usually take you 20–30 minutes to exit the park and get back to your hotel could now stretch past an hour, especially if you get caught in the triple-threat window of fireworks, first parade exit, or final parade finale.
So What Should You Do Instead?
If you’re planning to watch Disney Starlight, pick one showing and commit to it, and know what your exit strategy is before you find yourself in a sea of people. Here’s what we recommend:
- Leave before fireworks if you don’t care about them. That’s your best shot at a low-stress trip back to the hotel.
- Stick around after the 11PM parade if you’re in no rush. Shop. Grab a snack. Let the crowds thin out before you make your way to the buses or Monorail.
- Use that time to explore a near-empty Main Street. If you’ve never walked through Magic Kingdom 45 minutes after closing, trust us — it’s a vibe.
- Consider skipping the first parade entirely if your main goal is to beat the crowds. That 9PM showing will draw a ton of people out into the streets, and the exits will be slammed once it’s over.
Disney Transportation Isn’t Changing, But the Way You Use It Should
To be clear, Disney hasn’t announced any new Monorail routes or extra ferryboats just for this parade. The transportation setup itself isn’t changing, but your approach needs to.
©Disney
The debut of Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away is going to be a big deal, and we’re excited to see what the parade brings. But you don’t want to cap off a magical night with a frustrating wait at the bus stop. A little planning goes a long way here.
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Hot take: maybe having three exit-inducing night time events will help spread the load. 3 big waves instead of 1 massive wave after fireworks might actually improve end of day crowd flows.
I agree! I think three closing type events will HELP the mass exits from MK.
Thankfully the parade is starting where the parades usually end, the front of the park. That should help significantly.
Highly doubtful your hot take is accurate. While yes the exit will be spread out there WILL be a ton more people. Everyone will be park hopping over to see the parade. 4 parks of attendance squeezed into 1 park. They have already put the squeeze on annual passholders by requiring a reservation to park hop to MK plus cast members reportedly are blocked out.
The schedule is parade, fireworks, parade.
I agree with a previous comment. You will have the same number of guests as before but they will now be exiting in thirds instead of all at the same time after the fireworks show. We left right after fireworks on May 30 and although the crowd was massive, the line for the ferry never stopped moving. I see the two parades as a win/win all the way around.
What are the dates for the last Starlite Parade of the season??? Not going until Oct.7-16….guess it won’t be happening by then!!!
If my daughter were to read this article, she definitely wouldn’t let my 3 young grandchildren attend. Bummer!
Scheduled for 2 parades a night through August 2. After that unknown yet. Could be one parade at 9 on non-party nights.
Also, if you’re staying at the Contemporary Resort…use the walkway. You’ll be back at the hotel in the amount of time I would take to even get onto the Monorail platform!
Maybe the will take the Paddlwheeler from the Rivers of America attraction, and re-commission it to ferry service on the 7 Seas Lagoon. Additional capacity to the Transportation center. Why mothball a working asset that would could be utilized as a tour boat.
I think that having 2 parade times would actually decrease the likelihood of everyone exiting the park at one time. Especially if you choose to stay for the later parade time.
My plan of attack would probably be to hit up a few attractions with lower wait times during the first parade and fireworks and then stay for the 11pm parade.
I imagine those with younger kiddos won’t want to wait for the later parade and perhaps the crowds will have thinned out a bit by then.
But who knows! I guess time will tell