As Magic Kingdom Park prepares to light up the night in new ways, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders are being asked to take note of a rare update to their access. For three consecutive days, Passholders will be unable to secure entry into Magic Kingdom—highlighting just how popular the park’s newest nighttime spectacular is already proving to be.
The highly anticipated Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away officially premieres Sunday, July 20, 2025, bringing with it a stunning blend of storytelling, light, and projection technology. Drawing inspiration from the legacy of the Main Street Electrical Parade, this new nighttime parade reimagines familiar Disney charm through what the creative team calls “dreamscapes,” lush nighttime scenes built entirely out of light.
According to Disney Parks Blog, “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. Today’s technology gives us more options than ever to use lighting and video elements as a storytelling tool.”
The new parade will run at 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., weaving through Magic Kingdom in a colorful procession of innovation and imagination. Its soft opening took place on the evening of July 18, giving some lucky guests an early glimpse of what’s to come.
But with excitement comes crowd control. Due to overwhelming demand for the parade’s debut weekend, the Theme Park Reservation System has adjusted access policies specifically for Annual Passholders. Though Passholders can typically visit any park after 2:00 p.m. without a reservation (except on weekends at Magic Kingdom), this flexibility will not apply to Magic Kingdom on July 20.
As outlined on the official reservation page: “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.”
And those coveted reservations? They’re already gone. WDWMagic reported that Magic Kingdom is at full capacity for Passholder reservations on July 20. Now, two more dates—July 21 and July 22—have also reached capacity. That means APs without a secured reservation will be unable to enter Magic Kingdom for three days in a row. While reservations may pop back up due to guest cancellations, it’s a good idea to check the reservation page frequently for updates.
This change arrives as part of a broader evolution for Magic Kingdom. Beyond the nighttime additions, guests can look forward to upcoming expansions that reimagine the park’s footprint. Frontierland, a beloved part of the park since opening day, is entering a bold new chapter. In the works is Beyond Big Thunder, a new land concept featuring environments such as Piston Peak National Park, inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Cars, and a long-awaited area themed to Disney Villains.
While no official opening timeline has been shared for these new lands, the transformation reflects a larger vision of merging legacy and innovation, a hallmark of Disney storytelling.
What are your plans for parade weekend? Let us know in the comments below!
Hi! Quick tip here: All you have to do is go to another park and hop over. I was just there yesterday. We went to Animal Kingdom and hopped over. We saw the parade Fri and Sat nights. It was pretty cool!
How about giving something back to the passholders for taking away opportunities? We spend big bucks on the ticket especially when out of state and our visits are more limited due to travel costs.
We have taken our children and now our grandchildren to the Disney Parks. Over the past 30 years of attending the parks one thing I have noticed is how much more expensive it has become to go there. Disney is a dream for every little boy and girl, and as such I honestly believe that all children under 10 should be allowed into the park free. It could also be viewed as Disney’s way of giving back to society itself. Disney has built its wealth on the dreams of children. It is only fitting that they give it back, again making it possible for every child to afford the park itself. It is my sincere hope that you will consider my suggestion.
Pass holders who give WDW steady passive money are punished instead of rewarded. That goes to show you how much Disney values your steady customer support base. Me and my family not for long, and so should other Florida pass holders. Universal here we come !!!