Disney Starlight Showtime Adjustments to Take Place Soon

Since its debut, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away, the new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom, has been held nightly at 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. with one exception. The parade is not offered on evenings of special-ticketed events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. A recent look at Disney’s 5-day calendar indicates that showtimes for the performance will have a slight adjustment, starting this Sunday, August 31st. Showtimes will change to 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. We also see that Happily Ever After will move from its recent 10:00 p.m. showing to 9:30 p.m. on the same evening.

As the year lengthens, we will likely see more adjustments based on the sunset. Therefore, it is imperative that you check the showtimes on the day of your visit. Those wanting to watch the first parade and fireworks (one after the other with a prime viewing location) will want to secure a spot in the hub or along Main Street U.S.A. We’ve attended several parades in recent weeks and have found that most spots in the hub are full by 1 to 1.5 hours before the start of the first parade. By 8:15 p.m., we’ve heard announcements over the loudspeaker that all viewing areas in the hub were full. This leaves stragglers filling in the remaining portions of Liberty Square and Frontierland last minute.

We’ll have some more comparisons and thoughts on this subject in the coming weeks. If you’re visiting soon and cannot stay late for the second parade, you’ll want to camp out early for a prime viewing location. If you’re more interested in the fireworks than the new parade, the problem is that most people will stay put for the fireworks after the parade. So if you do secure a spot early, the best bet is the hub, where you can do both. Bring water and snacks for the wait, and don’t forget to take a restroom break beforehand. If the hub were to close due to capacity, you might have a difficult time getting back to your party.

More Planning

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