Let’s be honest—parades at Magic Kingdom are no joke when it comes to crowds. As soon as Disney drops something new, the energy on Main Street, U.S.A. skyrockets… and so does the chaos. Guests start staking out spots hours in advance, and by the time the parade begins, the whole area can feel more like a stampede than a celebration.
But this summer, Disney’s doing something about it.
With Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away set to debut on July 20—the first nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom in nearly a decade—Disney is putting some new crowd-control measures in place. And Annual Passholders are feeling the changes first.
Magic Kingdom’s New Passholder Rule Is a Game-Changer
For over a year now, Annual Passholders have enjoyed a nice little perk: no reservation required to hop into the parks after 2 p.m. That’s been a great way to enjoy spontaneous afternoons—unless you were going to Magic Kingdom on a weekend.
Well, that ends on July 20. From that date forward, Magic Kingdom will require a full-day reservation, no matter the time, for Annual Passholders. And it’s all because of the buzz surrounding Disney Starlight. Disney’s trying to keep things from spiraling into full-blown gridlock once that parade rolls out.
The rest of the parks? No change. You can still head to EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, or Hollywood Studios after 2 p.m. without any fuss. But for Magic Kingdom, this marks a definite shift.
Is Festival of Fantasy Next?
So far, Disney hasn’t announced any official updates to Festival of Fantasy, the fan-favorite daytime parade. But let’s not ignore the rumors floating around. There’s been talk that Disney could roll out reserved parade spots through Lightning Lane—basically, a way to guarantee a good view if you’re willing to pay.
That’s a move Disney’s dabbled in before with parade dining packages, so it’s not far-fetched. If the crowd-management strategy for Starlight ends up working well, don’t be surprised if similar systems are applied across the board.
A Smarter (and Smoother) Experience
Nobody wants their Disney memories clouded by the stress of getting elbowed out of a parade spot, or standing in the rain pressed against a stranger just to get a decent view. This latest move from Disney seems like an attempt to put a little order back into the magic.
And honestly, it’s a smart one. Parades are a huge draw, but the “every man for himself” approach has needed a rethink for a while. With a nighttime spectacular about to light up Main Street, now’s the time to get it right.
If it goes smoothly, we may see a whole new approach to parades moving forward—something that feels less frantic and more magical.
