Walt Disney World Resort has decided to increase capacity at Magic Kingdom Park, allowing over 70,000 cast members access to the park. This change comes shortly after Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away debuted, marking the Disney park’s first nighttime parade in nearly a decade.
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away premiered on July 20, 2025, and typically performs twice nightly at Magic Kingdom Park. It features a vibrant mascot train called Whimsy and floats inspired by Disney films like Pinocchio (1940), Wish (2023), and Coco (2017).
Crowd management became a hot topic following the debut of Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away. In anticipation of higher attendance, Walt Disney World Resort implemented strict Disney Park Pass reservation rules for Annual Passholders visiting the Magic Kingdom. Disney cast members were also blocked from entering the park for much of July.
After just a few days of seeing crowd levels stabilize, Walt Disney World Resort adjusted its approach. On July 28, they reversed the Annual Passholder restrictions, allowing them to enter the Magic Kingdom without needing a Disney Park Pass reservation after 2:00 p.m. on weekdays. The new policy echoes the one in place before the parade’s debut.
Hours later, Walt Disney World Resort lifted the blockout for cast members, allowing them to enter Magic Kingdom Park freely from July 29 to August 15, 2025. However, as is customary during the Halloween season, select dates will be blocked out from August 16 through October 11, 2025. The usual Christmas-related restrictions will also be announced closer to the holidays.
Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away typically performs twice nightly, just before and after the Happily Ever After fireworks. However, it’s important to note that the parade does not take place during special events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
As always, check the daily entertainment schedule on the Walt Disney World Resort website or the My Disney Experience app for the latest information about parade showtimes.
Have you visited Magic Kingdom Park since Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away debuted? In the comments, share your experiences with the crowds with Disney Fanatic!
