Directional Changes Coming to Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away at Magic Kingdom
If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom with plans to see Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, the park’s nighttime parade, you’ll want to be aware of a directional change for the second parade. To be clear, the parade route has not changed. What has changed? The direction in which the 2nd evening parade performance follows the route.
When Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away first debuted at Magic Kingdom last summer, the parade ran what most regular guests refer to as a “reverse” route. That’s when the parade begins in Town Square on Main Street U.S.A. and travels along the usual parade route towards Frontierland. This parade ends by going backstage near Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Since its debut, both nightly performances have stepped off in Town Square, but that has changed.
Moving forward, on nights when two performances of Disney Starlight are offered, the second parade will run in the opposite direction, starting in Frontierland. (For reference, this is the same direction other parades and cavalcades travel.) If you’re visiting on an evening when only one nighttime parade is scheduled, the parade will stick to its usual route, starting at the front of the park.
This is a somewhat significant change for anyone with plans to watch the second parade. First, you’ll want to consider where to stand to get the best view of the parade. As an example, the image above was taken one evening when the second parade was coming down Main Street U.S.A. from Town Square. The second parade will no longer offer this direct view from this location. To get a straightforward view like the one above, you’ll need to secure a spot in Town Square, facing down Main Street U.S.A. toward Cinderella Castle.
Another consideration is what you’ll do after the parade passes. For example, if you watch the second parade from Frontierland, you’ll be behind the parade after it passes. This could make it a little more challenging to leave since you have to pass through the Emporium and cross the route at some point. That said, if the park is still officially open, you might catch a few rides in the immediate area while the parade continues through the rest of the park.
Since Happily Ever After is performed between the first and second parade, the change should allow for more guests who aren’t staying for the second parade to exit the park more efficiently. This change takes place immediately. To find exact showtimes for the parade, check the entertainment section of the My Disney Experience on the day of your visit. It will list available showtimes. Here’s a quick rundown of what we’ve covered.
- One Parade: The parade route will step off at the scheduled time in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A.
- Two Parades: The first parade will step off in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A., at the first scheduled showing. The second parade will begin in Frontierland, near Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
We hope this helps! For more on the parade, see our entire overview:
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away Nighttime Parade
In the Comments
What do you think of this change? Will it affect when and where you plan to watch the parade? Let us know below in the comments.
