For 70 years, live entertainment has been at the heart of the Disney parks experience. From the first parade down Main Street, U.S.A. on July 17, 1955, to today’s dazzling nighttime spectaculars, Disney Live Entertainment (DLE) continues to evolve the art of storytelling — blending timeless theatrical traditions with cutting-edge technology to create unforgettable moments for guests around the world.
David Lightbody, SVP, Disney Live Entertainment, notes that as the theatrical arm of Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), DLE works very closely with WDI from the early days of each project as it develops new and exciting live experiences.
“It’s a symbiotic relationship,” Lightbody said. “Imagineers build these phenomenal places and invent amazing new technologies, and we bring those spaces to life and weave technology into our storytelling.”
Bruce Vaughn, President and Chief Creative Officer, Walt Disney Imagineering, praised the work of Lightbody’s team that forges strong emotional connections for guests to the experiences they create.
“We have an exceptional group of show directors, producers, choreographers and designers all over the world who really give it their all,” Vaughn noted. “They love Disney and they love to tell stories — and that passion shines through in everything they create, from our massive nighttime spectaculars to the most intimate character greetings.”
Pushing the Boundaries of Live Entertainment
This collaborative spirit has led to a new generation of live shows that push the boundaries of what’s possible.
In 2025 alone, DLE has launched a slate of ambitious productions across the globe, a few of which are highlighted in the latest episode of We Call it Imagineering.
“Friendtastic!” at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort — the biggest parade in the park’s history — features large LED screens, animation, and special effects.
At Disneyland Paris, “Disney Tales of Magic” uses projection mapping, lighting, pyrotechnics, and drones to tell an emotionally resonant story.
And, “Disney Starlight” at Walt Disney World lights up the night beginning July 20 with nods to classic electrical parades sprinkled into a dazzling display of the latest lighting technology.
There are even more exciting new productions from Disney Live Entertainment, now showing around the world, such as “World of Color Happiness!,” “Paint the Night,” and more, in honor of The Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration; a new castle stage show and enhanced “Momentous: Party in the Night Sky” spectacular for the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong Disneyland; two new theatrical presentations at Disney World — “Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After” and “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure”… plus an entire menu of new live entertainment productions opening this fall aboard the Disney Destiny and Disney Adventure cruise ships.
“We are continuously improving and enhancing the experiences we bring to our parks and cruise ships and looking for ways to incorporate the latest technological advancements,” Lightbody said. “And ‘Disney Starlight’ is the latest evolution in our legacy of nighttime parades.”
Technology in Service of Story
While technology plays a key role, it’s always in service of the story.
“We never really use technology for the sake of technology,” Lightbody said. “We consider all these innovations among the tools in our kit as storytellers. The craft of live theatre is thousands of years old, but the goal of theatre remains the same today as it’s always been. We strive to tell a good story, to engage our audience, and to touch their hearts.”
That emotional connection is what sets Disney apart, especially when it comes to creating connections in different places with different cultures.
Stories for Every Fan
“Each of our parks has different needs and a different audience. We take all those factors into account,” Lightbody explained. “At Hong Kong Disneyland, ‘Friendtastic!’ features characters and stories from films that are very popular in the region, including Zootopia and Turning Red, and incorporates design motifs customized for Hong Kong, like the giant Bauhinia flowers on the floats.”
And as Vaughn explains, WDI and DLE have a world-class list of brands at their disposal to suit whichever stories fans love.
“We work closely with partners at Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and we also do extensive research at each of our sites around the globe to understand which franchises and characters resonate with the local audience,” Vaughn said. “Then we blend our unique brand of immersive storytelling with cutting-edge technology to make those dreams into reality.”
“That’s the joy of being in the live entertainment business,” Vaughn continued. “We’re constantly looking for new and creative ways to share the stories our guests love.”
New Magic with Every Visit
Live entertainment also brings a unique kind of magic to the parks — one that changes with every visit.
“By definition, ‘live’ means a vibrant, dynamic environment,” Vaughn added. “Our attractions are fantastic, of course, but people tend to experience them in a similar way. But live entertainment enables highly personal connections — on any day you might see Ariel blow you a kiss, Moana waving at your kids, or even Stitch offering a high-five. And that’s something you and your family can’t experience anywhere else and will remember forever.”
As Disney Live Entertainment looks to the future, it remains grounded in the ideals that Walt Disney himself envisioned.
“This organization that we know today as Disney Live Entertainment has roots going back to Walt Disney and the opening of Disneyland 70 years ago,” Lightbody reflected. “We present [those experiences] in new ways that incorporate new and innovative techniques and technology that resonate with today’s audiences and perhaps surprise people with something they’ve never seen before.”
From the first trumpet blast of a parade to the final burst of fireworks in the night sky, Disney Live Entertainment continues to deliver joy, wonder, and innovation — one live moment at a time.