Countdown to Disney Starlight: Inside the Final Hours 

For the first time in nearly a decade, Magic Kingdom is preparing to unveil a brand-new nighttime parade, set to debut July 20. Bringing this dazzling spectacle to life takes incredible collaboration and creativity as hundreds of cast members and Imagineers come together behind the scenes, each contributing their unique talents to make “Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away” a reality. 

Last week, we shared an inside look at the making of Disney Starlight from our friends at Disney Live Entertainment, but today, we are inviting you to follow along a day in the life of cast members at Magic Kingdom as they make their final preparations before opening night.  

“With just one week until its debut, I couldn’t be prouder of what our incredibly talented cast, crew and leaders have achieved,” said Entertainment Leader Frank. “We stand ready to bring Show Director Tara Anderson’s inspiring vision to life — a parade that gives a nod to the past with eyes firmly set on the future.” 

For a parade of this magnitude, the choreography process started months before rehearsals began. Choreographer Cindy Wilson began creating her vision last year. After that, she brought together a group of performers and maintenance choreographers to workshops, where they fine-tuned the details, changed movements that didn’t quite work and tested different props.  

Once workshops were complete, and the opening team performers were selected, unit rehearsals began. Each “unit” performs alongside one of our Disney characters — Elsa or Mirabel for example.  

Here, you see performer Soso practicing with fans representing the waves of the ocean. She will perform alongside Moana when the parade debuts.  

 “Though Costuming cast members work behind the scenes and may rarely interact with guests, their contributions are absolutely vital to the magic of Disney Starlight,” said Costuming Leader Danielle. “They do far more than manage laundry and inventory — their attention to detail and care helps ensure every costume on the parade route dazzles night after night.”  

Cosmetology is another key team in bringing the Disney Starlight to life. They support the performers in a variety of ways include creating makeup and face painting concepts, building wigs and more.  

“As a dancer, the focus is usually on you as the art,” Kelsey explained. “But in parades, you get to get up close and personal with the guests.  I like being able to make eye contact and connections with them from the street. That’s my favorite part.”  

Kelsey started her career at Disney as a performer for “Main Street Electrical Parade.” She explained being part of the opening team for Disney Starlight felt very “full circle” for her.  

Disney Live Entertainment worked closely with operational leaders to create the costumes for Disney Starlight. The designs had to be both beauitful and functional. They found solutions for common conundrums like how to get the costume on easily and quickly, or how to keep the garments lightweight and comfortable; they also found solutions to unique challenges like how to light up the costumes safely and how to create pieces that can sustain high volumes of wear.  

 “Getting outside and practicing is super important,” performer Fiona said. “Not just to test our training but also to understand how the parade naturally travels over the course of 30+ minutes of performing.”  

When Main Street Operations Trainer Danielle was a little girl, she visited Walt Disney World with her family. She remembers walking behind the “Main Street Electrical Parade” with her older sister, dreaming out loud about how incredible it would be to one day work the nighttime parades at Disney. 

“On my very first day out of training, I couldn’t help but call my sister and cry,” Danielle said. “I got to live the dream we created as little girls.” 

“I hope there is another little girl in the crowd who is inspired by Starlight and grows up to become a parade cast member just like I did,” Danielle added.  

In total, Disney Live Entertainment created over 75 new garment designs for Disney Starlight, which translates to more than 10,000 costuming pieces created.  

“Seeing the performers bring the choreography to life has been incredibly rewarding,” said maintenance choreographer Brandon. “We’ve watched them take what we’ve given them and make it their own — creating their own stories along the way.” 

But don’t worry, our Cosmetology cast members are always nearby to give a helping hand.  

Merchandise cast members help build anticipation in the moments before the parade begins, getting guests ready and excited for the magic ahead. As they walk the parade route, they offer show-specific merchandise that immerses guests in the experience — creating lasting connections and unforgettable memories along the way.

“It has been humbling to be part of this process as it has always been a dream of mine to be on an opening team,” Dylan said. “This parade is going to touch the hearts of all our guests — those who have visited and seen past shows and our newer ones.” 

Ahead of the debut, the Engineering Services team plays a critical role in bringing the parade to the Magic Kingdom — reassembling floats upon their arrival at Walt Disney World, configuring complex lighting and audio systems, developing custom charging solutions, and making final technical modifications.  

Once the parade officially launches, these cast members will remain essential to its daily success, performing routine safety inspections, maintaining float functionality, and providing on-the-spot support to ensure each performance runs smoothly and safely.  

You may not think of Food & Beverage cast members when you think about parades — but who else will guests get all their favorite snacks from? Whether its freshly popped popcorn to iconic Mickey pretzels and bars, they’re the ones making sure every parade moment is paired with the perfect treat. As the excitement builds, they’re already in position — ready to serve smiles, one snack at a time.  

“Technology has come a long way from parades of the past,” said Entertainment Leader Trevor. “We used to have Christmas lights and reflectors. Now we use all different kinds of lighting and design elements to tell our stories in new and different ways.”  

In the low glow of work lights, overnight rehearsals are where preparation meets precision. Performers take to the parade route to perfect their choreography, while float drivers rehearse intricate maneuvers. Choreographers guide each step, ensuring every moment flows seamlessly, while the maintenance and creative teams continue their around-the-clock testing of lighting and audio.  

As parade captain, Shelly wears many hats. She is a float driver, a trainer and a dispatcher. As dispatcher, she guides the floats in and out of the park safely.   

“The cast members in my area have been so excited to catch sneak peaks of the parade rehearsals backstage and they are looking forward to Starlight,” attraction coordinator Amanda said. “Most of our cast have never seen a nighttime parade, so they are just as excited as the performers to see this magic brought to life!” 

“What’s most exciting about the new parade is the size and scale of the floats,” parade captain Jason said. “Whether guests are front row or across the way, everyone will have an opportunity to appreciate the art and production… to participate in this dazzling event.”  

“Seeing the floats come down Main Street and hearing the music in the park for the first time was very emotional for me,” parade captain Michael said. “All our hard work is paying off.”  

“The other parade captains and I have been around while and were lucky enough to have started on other nighttime parades,” Shelly said. “But getting to experience all these “firsts” together as a team —whether it is the first time we get to drive the new floats or the first time a float enters the park — is so special.” 

“During overnights, I like to find opportunity to have a quiet moment with the park and its legacy,” parade captain Jason said. “We are so lucky to have this be the fabric of our lives. And we get to do it every night.”  

After a fun and productive overnight rehearsal, leaders gathered the cast to reflect on the progress made and recognize the group for their energy and enthusiasm. These leaders have played a crucial role in bringing Disney Live Entertainment’s vision to life, demonstrating confidence, positivity and teamwork along the way. 

Custodial cast members aren’t just the first to arrive and the last to leave, they help keep the park clean 24/7, even overnight during third shift. And while their work may not always take center stage, their impact is everywhere — from the gleam of Main Street in the early morning to the spotless parade route just moments before showtime. Without them, the park simply couldn’t shine the way it does.