I Was Already Looking Forward To Disney World’s New Nighttime Parade, But A New Detail Has Me Even More Excited

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I adore parades, but my favorite is a spectacular nighttime parade in a theme park. And nothing beats the experience provided by Disney Parks. When I heard that Disneyland’s Paint the Night parade was making a comeback for the 70th anniversary of Disneyland Resort, I was thrilled beyond belief! I can hardly wait for Disney Starlight: Dream The Night Away, the brand new nighttime parade debuting at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World next month.

Among the fresh additions coming to Disney World soon, I must admit that the upcoming parade is what I’m most eagerly anticipating. The floats I’ve glimpsed during construction already look astonishing before they’re illuminated. The snippets of the musical score we’ve been given a glimpse of are lovely. This morning, Disney World disclosed some new information about the forthcoming parade, and one detail in particular has me quite thrilled as it seems the parade will extend Magic Kingdom’s operational hours.

Disney: Starlight Means Magic Kingdom Will Be Staying Open Later

Disney World announced that starting July 20th, Disney Starlight will operate twice each evening. The first parade commences at 9:00 PM, and the second one kicks off at 11:00 PM. Notably, this late start time is significant as it means Magic Kingdom will stay open until at least that hour, extending its usual closing time by an hour.

One issue I consistently find with Disney World and other major Orlando theme parks is their early closing hours. Compared to most people, Magic Kingdom stays open relatively late, closing at 10:00 PM, while the rest of the Disney World parks close at 9:00 PM. Disney’s Animal Kingdom closes as early as 6:00 PM, which seems quite early, especially when you consider how enchanting Pandora: The World of Avatar looks at night if you get the chance to see it.

Disneyland Resort is Open Much Later Than Walt Disney World

Anyone familiar with Disneyland Resort understands the appeal of extended hours. Unlike its counterpart in Orlando, Disneyland Park often stays open until midnight, and even opens earlier than usual. This means that if one wishes, they can easily spend an entire day enjoying the parks, which is a common practice for me.

It’s terrific news that Magic Kingdom is extending its hours from July 20 and beyond, allowing for some flexibility in your visit. This means you can take a break to enjoy the early performance of the new parade without losing time later, since the park will stay open an extra hour. If parades aren’t your preference, you simply get additional time to focus on activities you enjoy more. Additionally, parade times offer a chance to explore popular rides with shorter lines at Disney World.

In the revised schedule, it’s important to note that Disney Starlight won’t operate on nights coinciding with Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in autumn, and it’s likely to follow the same pattern when Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party occurs during the festive season.

Disney Starlight doesn’t have a fixed end; it might continue for several months or even years. Fingers crossed, this extended operating hour could become permanent, making 11 PM the usual closing time for Magic Kingdom. If luck is on our side, other parks in Disney World might also extend their hours, potentially offering more hours inside these magical realms. Spending more time within a theme park generally means a more enjoyable experience.

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2025-06-21 06:07