Stand up! We’ve got BIG news, people. One of the BEST new things to hit Magic Kingdom just opened early. That’s right. The brand-new Disney Starlight parade is about to soft-open in Magic Kingdom, and we are there for a first look. 

Ah, Magic Kingdom. How we love the way Cinderella Castle glows at night! From the spectacle of the Happily Ever After fireworks show to the charming music playing on Main Street, U.S.A., there’s no better feeling than watching the park come to life at night. Now that the new Starlight parade is officially up and running, let’s see what it will add to the nighttime scene in Magic Kingdom! Come with us for a FIRST LOOK. 

It’s time to give a warm welcome to the new nighttime parade in Magic Kingdom: Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away! Originally, this parade was set to open on July 20th, but today, July 18th, we heard an announcement right around 7:15 PM in Magic Kingdom that there would be a special soft opening of the parade at 9 PM!

The announcement we heard said, “Good evening, stargazers. We have heard your wishes upon a star, and with glad hearts we grant them to come true, as we proudly present a preview of the new nighttime parade, Disney Starlight: Dream The Night Away. Beginning at 9 PM, Disney Starlight can be viewed from the parade route throughout the Magic Kingdom. We look forward to inviting you to dream the night away soon!”

This parade follows in the footsteps of previous (iconic!!!) nighttime spectaculars like the Main Street Electrical Parade and SpectroMagic. If you need a little refresher, here’s a peek at the old Main Street Electrical Parade. Technology has come a LONG way since then (we’re talking both our cameras AND the parade floats!).

Like any good Disney attraction, this one has a story! As the show begins, Disney Starlight will be “brought to life by the magic of the Blue Fairy” from the Disney animated classic, Pinocchio. Look out for classic characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Pixar films — some are even making their nighttime parade debut!

During its initial opening phase, Disney Starlight will be presented nightly at 9 PM and 11 PM at Magic Kingdom. Listen carefully! Unlike the daytime Festival of Fantasy Parade, the new nighttime parade route will begin on Main Street, U.S.A., and travel towards Frontierland.

When it comes to the parade, if you want that picture-perfect spot, we have an idea. Typically, the best parade picture comes as the parade comes toward you with Cinderella Castle in the background, but since this parade is going backwards, that’s different this time.

One of the best spots will be standing along the parade barrier in the hub, facing the castle, either in the center, near the Partners Statue, or to the left as the parade heads into Liberty Square – even as far as the edge of the Christmas shop. This will get you some great views of the floats as they pass in front of the castle. We would recommend grabbing your spot an hour before the show begins for the best spot possible. 

It’s also important to remember that the fireworks will still be happening each night! The fireworks, which will remain hugely popular, take place between 9 PM and 11 PM parade times. If you want to see the fireworks and Disney Starlight, you’ll need to see them back to back with the parade, regardless of which parade you plan to see. The good news is, the parade spots will work nicely for the fireworks as well, just move closer to the middle of Main Street.

If you want to see the first parade, this should work out pretty smoothly. Stake out your spot for the parade, then hang in there for about 30-40 minutes after to watch Happily Ever After. For watching the second parade, this gets tricky. If you want to see both, we highly recommend seeing the first parade. If most people from the first parade stick around to watch the fireworks, that means those headed to Main Street to see Happily Ever After who DIDN’T stake out a spot for the first parade will be fighting all the people who already had their parade spots and are keeping them for fireworks.

If you aren’t worried about your perfect Main Street spot for the parade or fireworks, consider watching the parade from Frontierland.  This is always a great parade watching tip because Frontierland isn’t as flashy as Main Street if you don’t care about the classic background of Main Street. The parade begins on Main Street, so it will take roughly 20 minutes to get to Frontierland.

Finally, if you aren’t sure which parade to watch, we’ve got you covered! The 9 PM is perfect for anyone looking to watch the fireworks or anyone who can’t make it to the latest show. For most families, 9PM is late, and it will feel even later after a long day in the sun. The 11PM might just not be possible, especially after Happily Ever After feels like a great finale. Trust us, you don’t want to push through tantrum-level exhaustion (from kids AND adults alike) just to have a slightly less crowded parade. Then, no one will enjoy it. If late nights aren’t a problem, the 11 PM might be for you! It will be much easier to find a spot once the main crowds are gone. The 11 PM parade also takes place after the park has closed, meaning you don’t have to waste any precious park time.

Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation.

In the meantime, we’re always on the lookout for the latest Disney news, so stay tuned for more.

3 Tricks to Getting the BEST View of Happily Ever After Fireworks in Magic Kingdom

Do you like the new parade? Let us know in the comments!