As one of the most anticipated entertainment additions of the summer season rolled into Magic Kingdom Park early, something unexpected happened: the crowds didn’t show up. On Friday and Saturday, Walt Disney World Resort surprised guests with “soft opening” performances of its brand-new nighttime parade, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, but despite the excitement surrounding the debut, guest turnout was far lower than expected.
On Saturday, July 19, the Central Florida park was described as a “ghost town,” even during what’s typically one of the busiest weekends of the season. In fact, despite multiple soft-opening performances of the dazzling parade, Magic Kingdom Park guests noticed an unusual lack of crowds throughout the day.
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away is officially scheduled to premiere on Sunday evening. However, on Friday, July 18, Disney offered a surprise soft opening performance for guests already in the park. The next day, the company announced two more soft-opening showings for Saturday evening, giving those without a Magic Kingdom Park Pass reservation for the following days a chance to see the new entertainment offering early.
For many Disney Parks fans, this seemed like the perfect opportunity, especially for Annual Passholders who were unable to book future reservations due to the new parade’s popularity. But instead of drawing an influx of local guests or tourists hoping to catch the early debut, the crowd response was remarkably muted.
Midday videos from around Magic Kingdom Park on Saturday showed empty walkways and abandoned food carts. One such video, shared by X user @imderekbell, captured just how empty the park really was:
Um… it’s Saturday. Where is everybody? We weren’t going to get a springrolls, but the place is a ghost town.
Um… it's Saturday. Where is everybody? We weren't going to get a springrolls, but the place is a ghost town. pic.twitter.com/6jp5sakkWH
— Derek Bell (@imderekbell) July 19, 2025
Magic Kingdom Park’s slow Saturday turnout isn’t an isolated case. Over the past few weeks, guests have reported significantly reduced wait times at all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks. Even during the typically crowded Fourth of July weekend, visitors noted how easy it was to find dining availability and navigate the parks.
Despite strong spring break attendance earlier in the year, the summer crowds haven’t followed. This shift comes amid a wave of promotions and price cuts, including discounts on tickets, resort hotel stays, and vacation packages.
Though Walt Disney World Resort has not released official guest numbers, the combination of low wait times, empty food stands, and ongoing discounts has sparked concern among some longtime fans and industry watchers.
The reasons behind the low turnout are unclear. Some speculate that pricing changes, economic factors, or shifting vacation trends could contribute to the quieter parks. Others point to international travel boycotts due to U.S. politics or concerns about the summer heat.
Still, for a summer weekend at the most iconic theme park in the country—and on the day of a brand-new parade preview—many expected something very different than what they saw.
Have you watched the Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away parade yet? Share your thoughts with Disney Dining in the comments!
