Two years in the making—finally here!* Hong Kong Disneyland’s LED parade, staff cried during its premiere

▲ World Premiere of “Disney Paint the Night” Nighttime Parade!* Live from ETtoday EBC News Cloud (Photo by Reporter Xie Tingting)



Hong Kong Disneyland made an unexpected announcement this year (2014): “We don’t want to do Halloween anymore.” This caused quite a panic among Disney fans—who would want to visit an annual pass park that drops its biggest seasonal highlight? But,Hong Kong Disneyland clearly had something big up its sleeve, debuting this year the two-year-in-the-making “Disney Paint the Night.” The highlight? A nighttime parade illuminated by 740,000 LED lights, paired with immersive light experiences and select Halloween attractions. “We’re offering guests a Halloween experience they’ve never had before.”Intrigued by that promise, ETtoday EBC News Cloud paid a special visit to Hong Kong Disneyland to get an exclusive first look at the “Disney Paint the Night” nighttime parade premiering October 1.


▲ Hong Kong Disneyland unveils the two-year-in-the-making “Disney Paint the Night.”

Want to see more photos of “Disney Paint the Night”? Click here

Unlike parades at other Disney parks,Hong Kong Disneyland began researching a cutting-edge LED-light parade over two years ago. Beyond dazzling nighttime visuals, it also incorporates interactive technology.

Audiences simply need to wave a magical color wand to send signals to performers, changing the colors of LED decorations on dancers. Director of Disney Paint the Night, Wayne Harrison, said, “We want guests to feel like they’re part of the parade.”


Before diving into details about the new “Disney Paint the Night,” the reporter has to share what Hong Kong Disneyland employee Jacky privately shared about the parade: “I cried the first time I saw it. It represents so much hard work and effort from all of us.” Of course, it’s not surprising that employees speak highly of their internal projects—even verging on over-promotion—but even audience reactions may offer a better gauge. Visitor Ms. A, standing nearby during the show, was also moved to tears: “Oh my god, it’s so beautiful, I wanna cry...”

▲ “Disney Paint the Night” opens with Tinker Bell. “Disney Paint the Night” officially debuts October 1. Prior to that, a media preview was held on September 11, followed by an exclusive performance for Taiwan travel agency Koala Travel on September 12, giving Taiwanese visitors a first glimpse of this global-first LED nighttime parade.Featuring over 740,000 individual LED lights that bring to life various Disney and Pixar animation stories through dynamic light displays, the entire 30-minute parade

offers a full sensory experience through sight, sound, and touch, with seven floats performing under the night sky.


At 7pm, as all the lights on Main Street USA go dark, the show’s prelude begins to build. As music gradually approaches, the parade story kicks off with Mickey Mouse’s magical light brush, joined by Tinker Bell sprinkling her enchanted stardust. “Disney Paint the Night” opens with Tinker Bell flying through the air, scattering sparkling starlight while displaying dazzling spiral light patterns—an eye-catching entrance.


▲ Tinker Bell opens the parade, flying through the air and scattering sparkling stardust.


▲ Monsters, Inc. Scare Factory.

▲ Next up is the Cars float.

Next comes the Monsters, Inc. Scare Factory, bringing to life the energetic scare specialists Mike and Sulley as they control multiple portals to the human world. Then the Cars float features Lightning McQueen, Mater, and DJ. Making his Disney parade debut, Mater is 54 feet long and 18 feet tall, covered in blinking LED lights forming 3D patterns.

Want to see more photos of “Disney Paint the Night”? Click here Next, Ariel takes guests into a dazzling underwater world. A group of sea creatures displays graceful beauty, and at the back of the float, you can see fish swimming among coral. Then, Beauty and the Beast’s Belle projects her romantic and magical love story onto a giant screen. Behind the float, elegant dove dancers perform graceful moves between giant candle holders.


Here, director Wayne Harrison points out to audiences, “The doves’ eyelashes are also made with fiber optic effects, each one shimmering in the night sky.”


▲ Ariel takes guests into a dazzling underwater world.


▲ Belle appears.


▲ *The LED effects on the dancers’ costumes are also fiber optic-based—each piece sparkles brilliantly in the night sky.*


From Toy Story, Slinky Dog carries Woody and Buzz Lightyear while rapidly twisting along the parade route. A group of lasso dancers twirl their cowboy ropes, painting dazzling patterns across the night sky. Following them is the iconic “Pixar Ball” from the Pixar films, a symbol of the animation studio. The grand finale is the star-studded “Mickey and Friends” float, where Mickey waves his magic light brush across the night sky, illuminating the park with vibrant, dynamic colors. His friends—including Goofy, Donald Duck, and Minnie Mouse—ride on spinning globes as part of the performance. A silver band conductor leads a troupe of glow stick dancers and colorful pinwheels, adding even more joy and color to the celebration.


Hong Kong Disneyland has created its first-ever fully LED-lighted parade, utilizing innovative technology to produce over 1,000 scenes and lighting designs. To bring guests even closer to happiness, the park has specially introduced new interactive light props: “Mickey’s Light Brush,” “Minnie’s Light Headdress,” and “Mickey’s Light Gloves,” allowing guests to interact with the performers. Meanwhile, “Disney Paint the Night” features two performance stops where visitors can use the brushes to change the color of specific performers’ costumes, and the parade floats will simultaneously activate magic, transforming all the interactive light props on-site into matching theme colors.

“The Disney parade always aims to be better than before and to explore more possibilities.” This time, Hong Kong Disneyland has truly opened up a new way of thinking and a fresh parade model for Disney parks worldwide. The LED costumes worn by the dancers are very comfortable—not only lightweight but also cool to the touch. Hua Wen Di (华文迪) stated that they will continue to explore more possibilities in the future to fill the park with delightful and moving experiences.

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▲Hong Kong Disneyland Performance Schedule. (Table / Provided by Hong Kong Disneyland)