12 Most Beautiful Places at Night in The Parks at Disney World

During the day, the parks at Walt Disney World shine brightly as your eyes are drawn to the vibrant colors of the attractions and the lush greens of the landscapes. But the parks take on a whole new visual feel when the sun goes down. No longer lit by sunlight, the parks rely on the atmospheric lighting and the moon’s ambient light to draw your eyes’ attention.

Disney Imagineers have carefully designed the parks to not only make sure that guests can see all of the attractions but to enhance them, giving each a very different feel in the evening. Some attractions can look completely different in the dark, making for a uniquely different experience as you explore the parks. To celebrate the hard work of the Imagineers, we have put together a list of the fourteen most beautiful places at night in the parks.

12 – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

When the sun hits the rocky tree-covered mountain of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, you can really see all of the detail in the meticulously kept landscape, but at night, the ride takes on a different personality. With only the lanterns to light the track ahead, a little more mystery is involved in the ride over and through the mountain. As the warm yellow light from the lanterns covers the ground below, the rock formations above are cast in a blue glow, looking like moonlight to make a beautiful contrast of color.

11 – Tomorrowland

In keeping with the theme of “the future that never was,” Tomorrowland carries on the sci-fi atmosphere by circling each attraction and building in the land with bright red, blue, and green lights. The bright combination of colors makes it seem futuristic and out of this world, and there’s no better vantage point than aboard the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, where your tour through Tomorrowland takes on a different feel as you take in the sights at night. It’s also home to the next attraction on our list, TRON Lightcycle / Run.

10 – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Over in Frontierland, the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a bright, dry, and hot locale during the day, taking guests on a runaway Mine Train through the ghost town of Tumbleweed. At night, the ride takes on a totally different persona, with some parts of the ride only visible at night. The shadows in the caves, skeletons, and rock formations add a sense of danger as you don’t know where the train will take you next. But in the town of Tumbleweed, the lights are on inside the buildings, giving you a look into the goings-on while rushing by. For any Disney Fan, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a must-do both during the day and especially at night to get the full effect of the ride.

9 – TRON Lightcycle / Run

TRON Lightcycle / Run is Magic Kingdom’s newest attraction. This thrilling attraction takes guests onto the game grid on high-speed Lightcycles for a thrilling race through a dark, computerized world, facing off against a fierce group of Programs known as Team Orange. During the outdoor portion of the ride, guests glide under the attraction canopy. This dramatic canopy covers more than 50,000 square feet, reaches 105 feet high, and features more than 1,200 lights. It’s those lights that make the attraction experience extra special at night!

8 – World Showcase Lagoon

Each of the eleven countries around the World Showcase Lagoon takes on a different personality once the sun goes down. With lights either surrounding the buildings in the pavilions or ambient lights guiding you through the architecture, it’s hard to truly appreciate how beautiful it all is until you look out across the lagoon and see the countries side-by-side. The torches in the water are lit in anticipation of the fireworks, and the fires burn brightly to mark each pavilion surrounding the lagoon. The entire scene makes for a great backdrop should you wish to find a prime viewing location for the nighttime spectacular.

7 – Tower of Terror

Sticking with Hollywood Studios, it’s hard to beat the view down Sunset Boulevard with a perfectly paved roadway with quaint shops on either side heading down to the menacing-looking Hollywood Tower Hotel in the distance. With the green and white lights illuminating the Tower sign, looking like they could burn out at any moment (with some already burnt out), an ominous feeling wells up inside you as you walk towards it, hearing the screams of guests coming from the windows. At night, the lights cast onto the tower have a deep blue hue, giving it a dark glow that sets the stage perfectly for the story about to unfold.

6 – World Celebrations Gardens

The center of EPCOT is now World Celebration Gardens, a fantastic new area that features beautiful green spaces, including a central planter based on the five rings of the iconic EPCOT logo. The ample seating that is available gives guests lots of choices to find a spot to relax and take in the beauty. You’ll also find the new “Walt the Dreamer” statue, which is beautifully lit at night with the glowing Spaceship Earth behind it. The additional lighting syncs to the Beacons of Magic light show (see #5), giving guests a very comfortable spot to enjoy the show. Be sure to visit, especially at night!

5 – Spaceship Earth

The iconic Spaceship Earth at Epcot is a bright reflective geosphere during the day, but at night, it relies entirely on artificial light to bring it to life. A solid color would be too bold, so a combination of colors shines onto the enormous attraction. In the evening, you can now catch the Beacons of Magic on Spaceship Earth, a gorgeous light show that you don’t want to miss. Who knew Spaceship Earth could look so amazing?

4 – Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana

3 – Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

In Star Wars films, exotic locales function almost like characters unto themselves, setting the tone for the adventures to come. In the same way, exploring the 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is an attraction experience all its own at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge comes alive for guests as they play roles in their own Star Wars stories. Whether using the Play Disney Parks mobile app, encountering Star Wars characters, or interacting with Disney cast members, guests engage with this new land in ways never experienced before in a Disney park. The experience is even more spectacular at night. The lighting on the Millennium Falcon is gorgeous. Nighttime is the perfect backdrop for running into Kylo Ren and his Stormtroopers. The entire land has an entirely different feel at night, so be sure to visit during the evening as well as the daytime!

2 – Pandora – The World of Avatar

Pandora-The World of Avatar, the largest expansion in the history of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is based on Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron’s record-breaking box-office hit, Avatar, which was released in 2009. The film was insanely popular, mostly due to Cameron’s amazing special effects. The land is a fantastic spectacle of Disney Imagineering, creativity, and storytelling. As you explore the vibrant terrain sprawling beneath mountains that appear to float in the sky, you’ll see waterfalls cascading down the mountainside into meandering streams and pools. Then, you’ll discover two thrilling new expeditions: Avatar Flight of Passage and Na’ vi River Journey. Grab a bite to eat at the quick-service restaurant Satu’li Canteen, or grab a drink and snack at Pongu Pongu. At night, the land transforms into an entirely new experience. The bioluminescent plants of Pandora illuminate the land at night, giving breathtaking views of the Pandora landscape that are entirely different from the daytime experience. You don’t want to miss Pandora after dark!

1 – Cinderella Castle

It would be difficult to end this list with something other than the most iconic sight in Walt Disney World. Cinderella Castle is cast in several different colors at night, transitioning between them without guests noticing the changes. The glow on the castle makes for a breathtaking view in the heart of the Magic Kingdom. Once Happily Ever After Nighttime Spectacular starts, it becomes the focal point for thousands of guests, making it the perfect fireworks setting. It truly is the most beautiful place at night in Walt Disney World.