2 BIG Changes Set to Hit Magic Kingdom Soon

The Disney Parks are certainly always evolving, and “The Most Magical Place On Earth” is about to undergo a pretty big change!

Cinderella Castle

Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away is Magic Kingdom’s newest nighttime parade, and is set to debut at the theme park on July 20th, 2025. This new parade will use “the latest technology to tell new stories about the characters you love” in a spectacle inspired by other Disney nighttime parades like the Main Street Electrical Parade and SpectroMagic. Featuring lively Disney music, live performers, and vibrant floats carrying characters like Tinker Bell, Peter Pan, Isabella from Encanto, Moana, the Disney Princesses, and so much more, this new parade will be a bit different from the Magic Kingdom parades of old — creating TWO major changes.

While parades aren’t a new concept at Magic Kingdom, Disney Starlight will be a bit different than some others thanks to a few changes Disney is making to accommodate the new show. For starters, the parade is switching directions from a normal parade route.

©Disney

Instead of ending on Main Street, U.S.A., Disney World confirmed the parade will START on Main Street, U.S.A., and travel towards Frontierland.

The parade route is essentially the same as other parade routes — simply in reverse. So expect similar blocked off areas and the same rules and regulations. The major difference here is that if you camp out along Main Street, this time you’ll be seeing the parade FIRST rather than having to wait as it makes its way towards you.

©Disney

The biggest change this parade will cause, however, has to do with Disney World Annual Passholders. Beginning July 20th, Annual Passholders visiting Magic Kingdom at any time of the day (including after 2 PM) MUST have a theme park reservation.

Disney is expecting Magic Kingdom’s demand to go up thanks to Disney Starlight, and is adjusting as such.

Disney World Annual Pass

Of note, this rule change only impacts Magic Kingdom, so don’t worry about entering Disney’s Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios after 2 PM without a theme park reservation.

Park hopping is also unaffected, so if you go to one of the other three parks and want to go to Magic Kingdom in the afternoon or evening after going to your first park, you’re perfectly fine to do so. Park hopping will still be subject to availability, though — and if Magic Kingdom is as busy as Disney thinks it will be, this will be something you’ll need to be aware of.

Magic Kingdom park entrance crowds

Disney Starlight will take place nightly at 9 PM and 11 PM at Magic Kingdom (except on evenings Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or evenings with inclement weather) and will feature floats inspired by “Disney and Pixar stories such as Moana, Peter Pan, Encanto, Frozen, Pinocchio and more.”

We’ll be there on July 20th, covering the new parade! In the meantime, stay tuned right here at DFB for all the latest Disney World updates!

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