One of the most highly anticipated summer events at Walt Disney World this summer is the new

Magic Kingdom Starlight nighttime parade

. This is the first nighttime parade, outside of special events, to come to Magic Kingdom in years!

The parade’s opening date likely should have coordinated with the start of other summer events at the resort like

Cool Kid Summer

,

the updated Little Mermaid show

, and the

new Disney Villains show

at Hollywood Studios. But better late than never, we now have the official opening date!


READ MORE –

Disney World’s New Sit-Down Restaurant With Direct Fireworks Views is Surprisingly Affordable With Great Food

Disney Starlight Parade Opening Date

It’s official, we have an opening date for the new “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” parade. The parade will kick off on

July 20th, 2025

. This is much earlier than many were speculating and isn’t too far behind the beginning of summer. This is great news for those planning a trip to Walt Disney World this summer!

This will be the first nighttime parade at Walt Disney World in nearly 10 years that’s not part of a ticketed event and it is going to be a major draw for guests visiting this summer.

What is Disney Starlight About?

As far as the story goes, “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” transports guests into the stories of Disney characters using the power of the Blue Fairy’s Magic. The parade is inspired by the “rich history of nighttime parades at Magic Kingdom” with Disney confirming the parade will include a few easter eggs.

This inspiration extends to the float designs, music, and choreography. Several members of the creative team working on the parade have also worked on favorites like “Main Street Electrical Parade” and “SpectroMagic” so you will see inspiration from those electrical parades present. According to Disney, the Starlight Parade will “recall the nostalgia of nighttime spectaculars with new innovative lighting.”

The parade is also inspired by some of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ earliest animated features with a parade float paying homage to Disney Legend and artist Mary Blair’s original concept artwork for “Cinderella.” This float will feature a “gleaming fountain of light that overflows to illuminate a cosmic ballroom” which is just one piece of the “constellation” of classic and contemporary stories from the parade.

Characters Included in Disney Starlight Parade

There will be a mix of classic and contemporary characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney Pixar films with some appearing for the very first time in a Disney Live Entertainment nighttime parade.

These confirmed characters include:

The Blue Fairy,


Peter Pan & Wendy,


Asha,


La Familia Madrigal (Mirabel, Isabela, Bruno),


Elsa,


Aurora and Prince Phillip, Tiana and Prince Naveen, Belle and the Beast, and Cinderella and Prince Charming,


Miguel and Pepita, and


Moana.

Disney: Starlight Parade Includes Light Up Costumes

The parade also features “glimmering garments” that Disney Live Entertainment Costuming created to accompany the parade.

The costumes use a “blend of innovative lighting techniques and whimsical custom fabrics” with the team constructing each look inspired by the “kissed by starlight” phrase. The lights on the costumes will also twinkle in synchronization with the music.

Official Disney Starlight Poster


READ MORE –

These 10 Disney Rides Are Far Better Than The Ones They Replaced

This parade sounds like a show-stopper and we can’t wait to see it debut at Magic Kingdom. Walt Disney World fans have long been envious of all the nighttime parades that come to Disneyland (like

Paint the Night this summer for the Disneyland 70th Celebration

!) and it’s about time to show Magic Kingdom some love.

Don’t Miss the Latest Disney News

Don’t miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the

FREE Mickey Visit newsletter

that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the

Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland

and the

Mickey Visit guide to Disney World

for tips.

The post

Opening Date for New Disney World Starlight Nighttime Parade & More Details

appeared first on

Mickey Visit – Disney News & Planning Tips

.