Exciting transformations are lighting the way at Magic Kingdom this summer, as Walt Disney World Resort prepares to debut an all-new nighttime parade and continues to reimagine the park’s Frontierland area.
On Sunday, July 20, 2025, guests will be treated to the grand premiere of Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, a brand-new nighttime parade that takes the legacy of the beloved Main Street Electrical Parade to dazzling new heights. Featuring never-before-seen lighting and video technology, this new experience brings nighttime storytelling into a brilliant new era.
“When we think about what this storytelling looks like at night, we think about creating these landscapes–or dreamscapes, as we think about them–out of light,” shared Disney Parks Blog. “Today’s technology gives us more options than ever to use lighting and video elements as a storytelling tool.”
The parade will step off at 9 p.m. and again at 11 p.m., creating double the opportunity to experience the magic. Naturally, this major debut has drawn enormous interest—so much so that the Park Pass reservation calendar shows Magic Kingdom as fully booked for Annual Passholders on July 20.
And, due to a temporary change, Annual Passholders still won’t be able to access the park after 2 p.m.
“For a Limited Time, Starting July 20, 2025: Passholders will continue to be able to enter EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park after 2 p.m. without a theme park reservation,” the official Disney World website states. “However, due to anticipated high demand upon the debut of the Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away parade on July 20, 2025, Passholders visiting Magic Kingdom park at any time of day (including after 2 p.m.) must have a theme park reservation.”
Meanwhile, construction is continuing over in Frontierland, where a massive overhaul is underway. This transformation will expand the land with new experiences inspired by Pixar’s Cars and the Disney Villains. The Cars-themed area has been named Piston Peak National Park, and another project called Beyond Big Thunder is also in development. While no official opening date has been announced yet, the additions are part of a long-term vision to evolve the park for future generations.
So while some Annual Passholders may have to plan creatively to join in on the July 20 celebration, the night promises to be one of the most memorable of the year at Walt Disney World Resort.
