Magic Kingdom expected to miss out on the Cinderella Castle Dreamlights again this year

Gallery / 11 Photos
A Frozen Holiday Wish opening show

See all 11

Posted: Wednesday June 14, 2023 1:32pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The spectacular Cinderella Castle Dreamlights look set to be missing again from this year's holiday celebrations at Magic Kingdom.

A Frozen Holiday Wish opening show

Despite murmurings earlier in the year that the dreamlights may make a return this year, we understand that the latest plans for the holiday season will continue to use only projectors to produce visual effects on the castle.

Disney will announce its plans for the holiday season at Walt Disney World on June 15, when we likely know the fate of the lights this year. The focus of this year's Walt Disney World holiday celebrations will be an all-new hard-ticketed event at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Originally debuting in 2007 and last seen in 2019, the castle dreamllights used 32,000 square feet of fishing nets, supporting 200,000 individual LED lights to create a glistening blanket of ice.

The lights were the highlight of the Magic Kingdom's holiday decor and played a starring role in the nightly "Cinderella's Holiday Wish" show, which later became "A Frozen Holiday Wish."

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

BrianMar 30, 2024

I would also like to see snowcapped turrets and a little garland worked in. But I'll certainly take the OG Dreamlights back. It's really so stunning in person.

yensidtlaw1969Mar 30, 2024

Oh I agree that projections are insufficient. I just think the Dreamlights weren't quite all that, even at their best. I would also be plenty thrilled with a winter overlay that's closer in line with what Disneyland does. Of course their castle is much smaller and easier to decorate in this way, but the snow-capped roofs make such a tremendous positive difference in both the daytime and nighttime look (their icicles could use some work though, they don't look so hot during the day)

wdwmagicMar 30, 2024

They did get pretty quick at the install in later years, and it was a true wow moment for guests when lit. Projections don't come close.

MisterPenguinMar 29, 2024

Everything's an LED!! Everything's an LED!!

bmr1591Mar 29, 2024

Putting a ton of LEDs in the walls of the castle would make perfect dreamlights, not be an eyesore during the day, and let them be used for other shows.

aladdin2007Mar 29, 2024

Just me but I would rather them restore the castle back to its original colors instead of covering it in lights.....granted the lights are seasonal...but just saying in terms of money being spent...........I guess though it will be eons before we ever see it happen. :rolleyes:

mattpetoMar 29, 2024

They need to do something to bolster their Christmas offerings. And Halloween. Really surprised Villains didn’t make it back, they went with Enchantment for an AH draw instead.

yensidtlaw1969Mar 29, 2024

This may be an unpopular opinion, but the Dreamlights never quite earned their keep for me. They take forever to install, muck up the face of the castle during the day, and look kind of cool at night but not as sophisticated as I think they should. I wish they'd just find a way to run Fiber Optics all over the castle, take a season to install them properly, and then keep them permanently to be used mainly just at Christmas Time. Maybe an occasional punctuating moment of magic in a Fireworks show or the Kiss Goodnight. Something that you wouldn't know was there unless you really looked for it, but could still make the castle sparkle on command.

CntrlFlPeteMar 29, 2024

I assume they would just projection map the castle these days. about six weeks of people complaining that a crane ruined their once in a lifetime trip ;)