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Credit: DisneyIt’s been over a decade since Magic Kingdom had a proper nighttime parade—and now, finally, Disney has delivered.
The brand-new Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away made its long-anticipated debut on July 19, and to say expectations were high would be an understatement. Fans have been begging for the return of nighttime entertainment ever since Main Street Electrical Parade was retired, and with every rumor and teaser, the anticipation only grew.
The new parade brings together some of Disney’s most beloved characters in a fully illuminated processional led by the Blue Fairy herself.
There’s Moana riding waves of shimmering light, Miguel and Pepita representing Coco, Elsa dazzling with icy brilliance, and a glowing tribute to SpectroMagic with Jiminy Cricket waving from the final float. Even new characters like Asha from Wish and the Madrigal family from Encanto make their nighttime parade debut.
The grand finale float, nicknamed “Whimsy,” features a starlight-powered train engine—complete with a dreamy, otherworldly glow—that rolls in carrying a host of characters under twinkling skies. From top to bottom, it’s a showstopper.
And yes, it’s gorgeous. Yes, it’s packed with nods to the past. And yes, it’s a major win for Magic Kingdom, especially since it now includes two scheduled showtimes nightly—9 p.m. and 11 p.m.—on select evenings.
But, of course, because this is Disney in 2025, the internet has already found ways to rip it apart.
The Critics Came Out Fast
Just after Disney Starlight’s soft opening, some fans are already calling it “disappointing,” “underwhelming,” or saying it feels “off.” A lot of the complaints are about the music—some say it lacks that classic Disney magic or isn’t as catchy as past parades. Others pointed out the limited number of ground performers, saying the space between floats felt too empty.
It’s not hard to find the criticism, just check social media, and it will be front and center.
Now, to be clear: criticism is fine and should absolutely be part of fandom. I’ve criticized Disney plenty over the years: When the company makes poor decisions — which has been done plenty of times, particularly since 2020 when it really earned being labeled “woke” — or raises prices unreasonably, or removes beloved offerings, it’s absolutely fair to hold them accountable.
But this? This just feels like a new level of nitpicky. A nighttime parade finally returns after a full decade, and people can’t give it one weekend before tearing it to shreds?
Let’s put it in perspective: Magic Kingdom has been desperate for new nighttime entertainment, and Disney finally came through. Not everything needs to be perfect on night one. That’s why soft openings exist—to test, adjust, and tweak before the official launch.
DISNEY STARLIGHT IS A MASTERPIECE! The future of Walt Disney World is bright. Literally. 👏 pic.twitter.com/Ysyoe2sUc2
— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) July 19, 2025
Nostalgia’s Heavy Shadow
A lot of the backlash seems rooted in one thing: nostalgia. People want Main Street Electrical Parade back. Or SpectroMagic. Or something that feels like those. And look, I get it. Those parades were legendary. But Disney isn’t going to keep rehashing the same shows forever. Starlight was never supposed to be a carbon copy—it’s something new, something modern, something built for today’s audience.
Not everything can—or should—live in the shadow of what came before. Sometimes, we just need to accept that a new thing is allowed to be… new.
Let’s Appreciate What We’ve Got
It’s easy to forget what Magic Kingdom looked like a few years ago. After the pandemic, we lost parades, nighttime shows, and tons of entertainment. Happily Ever After came and went, just to finally return again. Fireworks returned, but the in-between felt barren.
Disney Starlight represents more than just a parade—it’s the return of something fans have missed for years. It also likely means longer park hours for the summer and potentially later, which is a win for everyone trying to soak in every last magical moment.
This parade didn’t replace anything. Nothing was retired for Disney Starlight. It’s a brand-new offering that we didn’t have before.
So before you blast the soundtrack, complain about the lighting, or point out that your favorite character didn’t wave at the crowd, maybe just stop and consider what it means to have a parade back at all.
It’s okay to have feedback. It’s okay to want more. Everyone is allowed to have an opinion. But don’t be that fan—the one who always finds something wrong, no matter how good things actually are.
Because, honestly? If you’re mad about a parade like Starlight during its first soft opening… maybe the issue isn’t the parade. Maybe the issue is that you’ve forgotten how to enjoy the moment.
Disney Starlight is running nightly through the end of July and early August at 9:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. The parade times have not been announced after those dates.