Disney nighttime parade - Begins July 20, 2025!!

[brockash]

It took at least 7 emails and 2 phone calls but I finally got a clear answer….,,
Leigh,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World Resort and for being one of our valued Annual Passholders!

We appreciate your persistence in ensuring you have complete and accurate information, and apologize for the sometimes conflicting information you received while inquiring about this matter. The information provided by Lynn Marie is correct. As she advised, if you have a park reservation for any of our theme parks, and visit that theme park, you can park hop to Magic Kingdom, same as a Guest with any other ticket type.

To clarify what changed, our rule for the other 3 Theme Parks is after 2:00pm, you can visit the park with no need for a park reservation. So if you wanted to visit Disney's Hollywood Studios after 2:00pm, and that was going to be the first park of the day for you, you could just come in without setting up a park reservation at all. Though a park reservation would still be necessary if visiting earlier in the day. The exception to this was Magic Kingdom, where on weekends you would require a Park Reservation to visit. However the option was available to either have a Park Reservation for Magic Kingdom, or to a different Theme Park and park hop to Magic Kingdom later in the day.

The recent change brought about in response to the debut of our new Nighttime Parade modifies that further. Where previously you needed a Park Reservation to visit Magic Kingdom only on weekends, now it applies any day of the week. So if you wish to visit Magic Kingdom, you must have a Park Reservation that day. However if you have a Park Reservation for a different theme park, park hopping is still allowed as normal. The restriction only applies to visiting Magic Kingdom after 2:00pm with no Park Reservation.

I hope that this clears up any lingering confusion. If you still have questions about this policy, I would be happy to discuss it with you further directly by phone. If so, please provide me with a phone number and the best time to reach you, I would be happy to reach out.

Sincerely,

Dayton
V.I.Passholder eCommerce Coordinator

Sorry it took so long, but thanks for posting. I'm glad they eventually got back to you and were clear and gave examples. It seems they actually read your email and responded appropriately which is always appreciated, but doesn't always happen.

 

[Abg1960]

Is it expected to run through all of 2026?

 

[scrappinginontario]

It is intended to be an ongoing parade. Their has been no indication that an end date is planned for this parade.

 

[The Mayor]

We're going August 16-23 and as of now there are no MK parades (daytime or night time) listed during our stay. The last day of any parade, on MDE, is August 2. Is this unusual and they will eventually add the parades or do they not run parades after a certain date?

 

[wisconsinmom]

So we will be there July 17-21, we have APs and are staying onsite at SSR. It is saying that MK is unavailable the 20th. I get that it is unavailable for AP holders but I was hoping being onsite overrode that. Any insight?

 

[vinotinto]

We're going August 16-23 and as of now there are no MK parades (daytime or night time) listed during our stay. The last day of any parade, on MDE, is August 2. Is this unusual and they will eventually add the parades or do they not run parades after a certain date?

While park hours get released 2 months out, my experience is that sometimes parades and show schedules don't get released until later. The hours for your dates were recently released and my guess is that Disney plans on 2 parades per night, but it may take them longer to post those times. Trust me, they *will* have the parade on any night that doesn't have MNSSHP or MVMCP, the question is weather they will have 1 or 2 parades every night.

 

[summerlvr]

So we will be there July 17-21, we have APs and are staying onsite at SSR. It is saying that MK is unavailable the 20th. I get that it is unavailable for AP holders but I was hoping being onsite overrode that. Any insight?

Staying onsite does not override passholder reservation availability. It only overrides the number of reservations you can have at one time. What you can do is make a reservation for another park and then hop to MK. I'd probably hop pretty early though in case they suspend park hopping to MK.

 

[wisconsinmom]

Thanks! What a bummer, I'll keep watching for openings.

 

[Joanna71985]

We're going August 16-23 and as of now there are no MK parades (daytime or night time) listed during our stay. The last day of any parade, on MDE, is August 2. Is this unusual and they will eventually add the parades or do they not run parades after a certain date?

times haven't been released yet

 

[MamaKate]

Tony's used to have the Parade Dining Package. I wouldn't be surprised if they bring them back.

I really hope they offer some sort of viewing package with seating. I don't do well with the mass of people waiting for nighttime shows. I usually book whatever package is offered so I don't feel so swished.

I'm thinking it probably would have been announced by now so it's not looking good. I won't be there until November so hopefully it calms down a bit, but with the Christmas parties, I'm thinking every night will be packed for the parades and fireworks...

 

[Minnie1222]

I really hope they offer some sort of viewing package with seating.

I hope so, too!

 

[Joanna71985]

Just 9 days to go! I am so excited for the 20th

 

[Minnie1222]

I guess there are no dining/dessert packages for this show?

 

[Dave006]

I guess there are no dining/dessert packages for this show?

Not yet but Disney is not often likely to miss an opportunity to up-sell Guests. They may be waiting to see how the early roll-out feedback is for the parade.

Dave

 

[iHEARTflorida]

It would be cool if they ran the parade on party night as well

 

[Lauren in NC]

I apologize if I've missed this, but I've been reading through the thread and haven't seen this exact question yet. We'd booked July 20th as our only MK day well before the parade announcement and are trying to figure out our strategy. If we chose to not watch the parade, what should be our strategy for avoiding the parade route and doing rides? Hanging out in Tomorrowland?

 

[elvispursley]

It would be cool if they ran the parade on party night as well

Then there would be 3 parades! Two seems plenty on party nights, IMO. I can’t imagine the headache of trying to navigate the parks around the parade route for three parades when trying to do party activities

 

[Dave006]

If we chose to not watch the parade, what should be our strategy for avoiding the parade route and doing rides? Hanging out in Tomorrowland?

You are not limited to Tomorrow Land, you can go to Fantasy Land ,and even cross over to Adventure Land by using the marked crosswalks (tape lanes) near HM, using the boardwalk pathway from near HM to near Country Bear Jamboree (bathroom cut-through).

From Adventure land you could also enter Frontier Land from the back path by going west of Pirates and heading to Tiana's.

Dave

 

[Joanna71985]

It would be cool if they ran the parade on party night as well

Disney already said that Starlight won't be running on party nights. And honestly- if I'm paying for MNSSHP or MVMCP, I would want to see the Halloween or Christmas parade

 

[UniversalDad]

since it hasn’t been announced yet, I’m guessing no soft opening/preview for the parade this week?