New Walt Disney World Annual Passholder Rule Change Due to Disney Starlight

Disney just announced the debut date of the new nighttime parade at the Magic Kingdom, Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away. This long-awaited cavalcade will debut on July 20, 2025!

And of course, demand is already high. So, because of that, for a limited time following the parade’s debut, Annual Passholders visiting the Magic Kingdom at any time of the day (including after 2:00 p.m.) must have a valid theme park reservation. This is a change over the current policy.

Before July 20, 2025, Annual Passholders may visit the theme parks without a theme park reservation on a good-to-go day or after 2:00 PM (except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom park). 

Now, nothing has changed at EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Passholders can still enter those parks after 2:00 p.m. without needed a theme park reservation.

This change also has no effect of park hopping. So Annual Passholders with a park reservation to one of the other three parks will be able to park hop to the Magic Kingdom, after they visit their first park, of course, subject to capacity.

Want to learn more about Disney Starlight, including a look at all the floats that will be part of this new parade? Take a look at our article here:

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But now, I want to know your thoughts. Are you excited for Disney Starlight? You can share with me in the comments or on social! Find me on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram, Threads,  BlueSky, and TikTok.

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