NEW SHOW – ‘Disney Dreams That Soar’ – What You Need to Know About Disney Springs’ Newest Must-See Drone Show

“Disney Dreams That Soar presented by AT&T,” the newest nighttime entertainment at Walt Disney World, officially debuted on May 24 in the skies above Disney Springs. Running to September 2, this innovative drone show combines technology and storytelling to offer a larger-than-life viewing experience for the summer. We were there on opening night and loved the show! Keep reading to learn why you don’t want to miss it!

Click here to see our Instagram Story from opening night of “Disney Dreams that Soar.”

1 – Drones Take to Sky for Storytelling

Set to a sweeping original soundtrack and iconic movie quotes from movies like “Peter Pan,” “Dumbo,” “Wall- E,” “Big Hero 6,” and “Star Wars,” the show celebrates taking dreams to the skies and the joy of flight. The new, limited-time show uses 800 cutting-edge drones choreographed to create over 30 characters in the night sky. During the show, figures soar to heights of up to 400 feet to create a visually stunning experience for audiences of all ages. With scenes like a 213-foot Death Star amid a galactic battle to an appearance from Tinker Bell spreading pixie dust, this expansive character collection offers something for every Disney fan.

2 – Amazing Technology

One of the things that blew us away was the technology of drones for storytelling. The images you see in the sky have a lot of depth, and seeing them in person is a must-do for your summer trip to Walt Disney World. Seeing the video is great, but seeing it in person is so much better because you can see the depth of the characters in the sky. The Coco scene is most impressive with its depth.

“We put a lot of thought into making sure that no matter how old you are, or how much of a fan you are, you’re likely to see a character that you love,” said Disney Live Entertainment Executive Creative Director Tom Vazzana. “This is an elaborate, one-of-a-kind show of scale and technology where guests will be wowed by the emotion of seeing these treasured stories appear in the sky, at sizes larger than beloved icons like Spaceship Earth and Cinderella Castle.”

3 – Showtimes

Most often, the shows will be at 9:00 pm and 10:45 pm; however, showtimes for “Disney Dreamers That Soar’’ will vary throughout the summer. You can find the schedule by searching for the show in the My Disney Experience app or at DisneySprings.com.

4 – Run Time

The show lights up the sky above Disney Springs for just under 10 minutes nightly, providing guests with an enchanting conclusion to a day filled with shopping and other activities. We felt it was the perfect length—not too long and not too short.

5 – MagicBand+ Bonus

If you have a MagicBand+, you’ll want to bring it along and make sure it is on during the show. Much like the fireworks shows at the parks, guests wearing MagicBand+ can also enjoy interacting with “Disney Dreams That Soar” as the accessories light up, vibrate, and sync with the spectacle that’s unfolding in the night sky.

6 – A Great Addition to Disney Springs

“Creativity and innovation are part of everything we do at Disney Springs, from the incredible places to dine to the mix of shopping options,” said Disney Springs Vice President Matt Simon. “This is what makes ‘Disney Dreams That Soar’ a great fit for Disney Springs, and the perfect ending to remember your day.”

“Disney Dreams That Soar” marks the most recent addition to Disney Springs, which continues to innovate and expand as a unique retail, dining, and entertainment district at Walt Disney World Resort. Other recent additions include the popular waterfront restaurant Summer House on the Lake, known for its California-style cuisine; the Indian-inspired dining location eet by Maneet Chauhan; and Vineyard Vines, a renowned lifestyle brand.

With its open-air promenades and picturesque lakefront views, Disney Springs provides a charming ambiance reminiscent of Florida’s waterfront towns. Disney Springs offers guests a diverse and vibrant destination to explore, boasting over 150 shops and restaurants, including popular retail brands, specialty boutiques, and dining experiences curated by renowned chefs.

7 – Where to Watch the Show

The show is best viewed from the West Side of Disney Springs along the waterway promenade. Viewing locations along the railing behind the House of Blues all the way to the Aerophile Baloon will be the best viewing areas. The most centered viewing location will be between Summer House on the Lake and Jaleo restaurants. While I can’t speak about the viewpoints from these locations, others mentioned people planning to view the show from the Coco-Cola Store rooftop and even the top level of the Orange parking garage. Much like the fireworks in the parks, the music is a crucial component of the show, and wherever you choose to view the show, you’ll want to make sure that you’ll be able to hear the music.

Please note that Cast Members blocked off certain areas, so there were only two places to enter the viewing area. The first entry location is behind the House of Blues, and the second entrance is near Starbucks and the Aerophile Balloon. While we’re not certain they will use this system the entire summer, expect to go to one of those entry points when lining up to watch the show. Finally, those requiring wheelchair access will want to head to a dedicated viewing area at Food Truck Park next to Starbucks on the West Side.

8 – When to Line Up

On opening night we saw guests lining up already by 6:30 pm. We’re not sure if this will continue throughout the summer since it was opening night and a holiday weekend. However, if you want to be right up against the railing along the water, you’ll want to get there early. It was reported that Cast Members opened the viewing entrances (see #7) around 7:45 pm. So, guests first waited to enter the viewing area and then waited for the show.

9 – Crazy Crowds and Leaving Disney Springs After the Show

As expected, Disney Springs was crazy busy for the show. As I mentioned earlier, it was opening night and the start of a holiday weekend. I’ve never seen Disney Springs so busy in my twenty years (fourteen years as a local) of visiting. It was Main Street USA after the fireworks busy after the 9:00 pm show. There was very little room to move around the West Side of Disney Springs. And while the parks are designed to handle the crazy crowds, unfortunately, Disney Springs isn’t.

For example, only two relatively small bathrooms exist on the West Side. The first is at Starbucks, and the second is at Cirque du Soleil. After the show, I waited twenty minutes to use the bathroom. I’m glad I waited because getting out of the Disney Springs surface parking lot took me an hour and twenty minutes! There were so many cars, and we had nowhere to go, so for most of that, I just sat there. It was terrible. I cannot speak about the buses back to the resorts, but I imagine that, much like leaving the parks after fireworks, there are really long lines to get on the bus.

We expect Disney Springs Cast Members to adjust and respond to the crowds in the future. When trying to leave the parking lot, relatively few were on hand to guide traffic. It would have been so much better had they been able to direct people out of the surface lot.

10 – Tips for Dealing with the Crowds

Our tips for dealing with the crowds begin with seeing the second show, if possible. Fewer people will be willing to wait until 10:45 pm to see the show, making finding a viewing spot easier. There will also be fewer people leaving after the show, making leaving the Disney Springs area easier.

If you can’t wait for the second show, our next recommendation is not to leave Disney Springs immediately after the show. Let the crowds die, let people get their cars out of the garages, and let the bus lines go down. Get some shopping done, get drinks, or relax somewhere and let some of the craziness die down before you leave.

Overall, pack some patience and expect the crazy. We really do feel the show is worth seeing in person and worth dealing with the crowds. It’s a great addition to Disney Springs, so don’t let some negative rumblings online about crowds deter you from seeing the show.

11 – Summer 2024 at Walt Disney World

Summer 2024 is a fantastic time to visit Walt Disney World. Many new offerings and returning favorites are being offered for guests to enjoy. In addition to “Dreams that Soar,” guests can enjoy new experiences at EPCOT, celebrate the 30th Anniversary of “The Lion King” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and enjoy Tiana’s Bayou Adventure when it opens in Magic Kingdom on June 28. Click here to learn more about the new and returning offerings coming this summer!

12 – Quick Facts about “Disney Dreams That Soar”

• “Disney Dreams That Soar” is a nighttime experience that combines LED, choreography and animation for an unforgettable show.
• “Disney Dreams That Soar” features over 30 classic Disney characters, all sharing the dream of flight. The show features a remarkable 800 drones contributing to its visual display and each drone is around 1 foot tall and wide.
• Big Ben in the show stands at 328 feet tall, surpassing the real-life Big Ben’s height of 316 feet.
• The Death Star in the show reaches a height of 213 feet, towering over Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, which stands at 180 feet.
• The Up House is a height of 321 feet, which is roughly equivalent to three and a half Up Houses stacked on each other (including the balloons!).
• Baymax in the show has a height of 328 feet, which is roughly 52 times bigger than the character Baymax at Disney Parks.
• The highest point of the show is the Dumbo scene reaching 354 feet, which is 17 times higher than the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride at Magic Kingdom.
• The width of the show spans an impressive 524 feet, roughly equivalent to the length of two and a half Monorail trains.
• The show’s soundtrack was recorded in-studio by a full orchestra.