Disney World Goes Dark: Slashes Nighttime Show Permanently, Suspension Implemented Immediately

in Disney Parks, Walt Disney World

disney springs crowd levels memorial day weekend

Credit: Inside the Magic

Earlier this year, Walt Disney World Resort announced a slew of new offerings to entice guests to visit over the summer, now, with kids back in school and the fall season starting, some of those offerings have been removed.

A blue hot air balloon with intricate swirled patterns and orange stripes ascends into a blue sky with fluffy white clouds above Disney Springs. The basket is visible below, and tall palm trees frame the scene on either side.
Credit: Disney Springs

Today also marks the first evening that Disney’s beloved free night show will not air.

One of the most magical aspects of visiting Walt Disney World Resort is its nighttime shows and entertainment.

While there’s plenty to experience during the day at Walt Disney World Resort, the true magic often comes alive after the sun sets. With the My Disney Experience app, guests can easily navigate and plan their day, accessing nearly everything they need right at their fingertips.

The resort features four incredible theme parks—Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT—along with two water parks: Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and the currently closed Disney’s Blizzard Beach.

Additionally, guests can explore Disney Springs, 25+ on-site resorts, golf courses, mini-golf, ESPN Wide World of Sports, and more. The entire resort spans an area equivalent to the size of San Francisco, making it a self-contained city of its own.

Entrance archway to Walt Disney World with a banner reading "The Most Magical Place on Earth" adorned with images of Mickey Mouse on the left and Minnie Mouse on the right. Palm trees and a roadway lead towards the entrance.
Credit: Inside the Magic

Disney is particularly renowned for its evening shows. At night, Happily Ever After illuminates Cinderella Castle with a fireworks display like no other, captivating guests with a nightly performance.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers not only fantastic rides but also Broadway-caliber shows. The park’s focus on movies means it boasts more entertainment options than any other Disney World theme park. Shows like Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage bring beloved characters to life, while the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! gives guests the feeling of being on a real movie set.

As night falls, guests can enjoy the spectacular Fantasmic! show. During the pandemic, Fantasmic! underwent significant renovations, including upgrades and maintenance to the iconic lagoon at the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater. When the show returned, it featured an enhanced version with new appearances by Mulan, Elsa, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and Moana, creating an even more mesmerizing experience.

Mickey Mouse, dressed as a magician on stage during the Fantasmic! show, surrounded by dramatic blue and purple stage lights and mist during a nighttime performance at Disneyland Park.
Credit: Scott Gustin on X

At EPCOT, guests are able to enjoy the new nighttime show Luminous, which brings the World Showcase to life.

At Disney Springs, earlier this summer Dreams That Soar began, which was a free nighttime show that brought Disney characters, music, and life to the sky with drones. 

Lately, park tickets have been selling at most for $184 per day per person due to the strain of price hikes the company implemented during ex-Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s reign. So, having a free nighttime show was a big deal. 

It had been seven years since Disney last offered a free nighttime show like this, allowing guests to enjoy an evening in the theme park without spending a dime.

The timing was perfect, as Universal Orlando Resort had just announced their summer lineup, featuring an all-new Harry Potter nighttime show on the Hogwarts castle, the Mega Movie Parade, the opening of DreamWorks Land, and the new lagoon show at Universal Studios Florida, which utilized hundreds of drones in a spectacular display called Cinesational.

A colorful light display forms the shape of a large robot against a dark background. In the foreground, a person with long hair and bear-like headband, along with another person, stands looking up at the light display, creating a sense of awe and wonder.
Credit: Disney

With drone technology being so cutting-edge, it was reassuring to see that Disney World wasn’t falling behind, making their show accessible to all guests.

Sadly, September 2nd was the final night for Dreams That Soar, so now, Disney Springs is back to having no evening shows for guests.

If you missed the show at Disney Springs, you can watch it in the video below!

Dreams That Soar was bringing in massive crowds to Disney Springs each night, which likely resulted in more food, drink, and merchandise sales as it is hard to enter Disney Springs and walk out without purchasing anything. Hopefully, with the financial success that Disney likely saw from the show, we will be able to see more nighttime drone shows at Disney Springs without a 7-year wait in between.

Do you think that Disney should permanently keep a drone show at Disney Springs?

Be the first to comment!