Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away (Disney Starlight for short) debuted at the Magic Kingdom in July. I was out of town for the debut, and then I decided to wait until the weather cooled a bit. It wasn’t a good idea for me to be packed in on a hot, humid evening, especially since I’m local and I knew I’d have other opportunities. Anyway, on September 13, we had a bit of a break in the weather, so my daughter and I decided to check out Disney Starlight.
We’re Annual Passholders, so we made theme park reservations to visit the Magic Kingdom. They’re still required for APs to stop by the park on Saturdays and Sundays. This applies even after 2:00, or if you had been to a different park without a reservation after 2:00. Fortunately, I had no problem getting last minute reservations.
We arrived at the Magic Kingdom around 6:30 PM. There were already people lined up along Main Street, U.S.A. for the 8:30 parade. If this is your plan because you want pictures of Disney Starlight with Cinderella Castle in the background, remember that the parade starts on Main Street and ends in Frontierland. You’ll get nice pictures, but in many spots it will be of the backs of the floats. That said, these floats are gorgeous, including the backs.
At around 7:30 we found a great place to watch in Frontierland. Disney Starlight was to start at 8:30, and run again at 10:30. A little before 8:00 it was announced that all the spots on Main Street, U.S.A. were filled, but that there were still viewing areas open along the route. I was glad that we found a place early. Around 8:15 there was a second announcement that all viewing areas were full. I don’t know how common that is, but it’s something that you’ll want to keep in mind if you’re at the Magic Kingdom. Don’t plan to grab a spot five minutes before the parade.
Except for special ticketed events, the Magic Kingdom has been without a nighttime parade since Main Street Electrical Parade left in 2016. That’s my favorite parade of all time, and it’s impossible to not make comparisons. After all, guests have loved the classic since 1972! So yes, I was thinking about Main Street Electrical Parade the whole time we were watching Disney Starlight.
I’ll say it right off, Disney Starlight is gorgeous. It’s definitely must-experience. It’s visually stunning, and there are plenty of special effects that create “wow” moments. There are lots of characters, and they do a great job of bringing the magic to life.
One character who deserves a shout out is Tinker Bell. She was the only main character walking in the parade, and she interacted with many of the guests. There was a little girl dressed as Tinker Bell in the crowd, and the two of them had a great few seconds together. It was a moment that I’m sure that child will remember for the rest of her life.
What Disney Starlight was lacking for me was interaction. Aside from Tinker Bell, there were no characters walking along the route. The characters on the floats either didn’t talk or only had scripted lines.
Also, a couple of the dancers before and after the princess float had no working lights on their costumes. I’m sure that was a technical issue, but it was strangely distracting.
The music for Disney Starlight worked. It intermingled many of the themes that you know and love. But it also wasn’t hummable, like Main Street Electrical Parade.
For me, the final float of Disney Starlight is what makes the new parade so special. It’s a train with Mickey and the gang. The train has an animated face, which is fun to watch. But what gave me goosebumps (not an exaggeration) was that they played the music from Main Street Electrical Parade! It was an adapted version, but it still had the earworm charm of the original piece. When I saw the float it took me back to my childhood, to when I saw the brand new Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland.
As I write this, Disney Starlight runs twice most evenings, weather permitting. It does not take place on Mickey’s Party nights. I believe that both showing start on Main Street and end in Frontierland. If you want to see the exact route, pick up a map when you enter the Magic Kingdom. Also, Cast Members along the way are very helpful, and will point you in the right direction.
Overall, I loved Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away. It’s beautiful, fun, and stunning. It’s not Main Street Electrical Parade, but that’s okay. If we can’t have the beloved classic, Disney Starlight is a great alternative. Check out my reels on Facebook and Instagram to see clips for yourself!
