The Kiss Goodnight: Disney World’s Best Thing Few Guests See
Too few Walt Disney World fans know about the Kiss Goodnight at Magic Kingdom. If you just thought, “what’s that?” you’re not alone. The Kiss Goodnight is a little over 2-minutes long, and it is WDW’s way of saying “goodbye” (or “go home!” depending upon your perspective) to guests at the end of a long day in the park.
The Kiss Goodnight usually plays every 30 minutes after Magic Kingdom closes, and starts with Cinderella Castle “twinkling” as the music from When You Wish Upon a Star slowly builds.. This means that you could see it more than once in a single night–we once saw it four times in the same night…its magic wears off a bit after the second time, ha!
Since originally writing this post a few years ago, we’ve seen the Kiss Goodnight many, many times. (Even writing a follow-up further expressing our appreciation of it.) A few people have asked questions about the Kiss Goodnight that we figured we’d answer up front here, though…
The Kiss Goodnight still runs at Magic Kingdom as of Spring 2020. There are nights when it is (inexplicably) not shown, or runs on a different, more frequent schedule. There is no rhyme or reason to this, and we cannot explain why that occurs. Those nights are few and far between in our experience (<5% of the time), so if you miss it one night, try to catch it another.
It’s really only visible and audible from Main Street, so watching from another land is not possible. Finally, there is no Kiss Goodnight at any other castle park in the world. (Sorry, Disneyland fans.) The next closest thing is the seldom-seen burn off for IllumiNations. Those are really the major things to know, so let’s turn to why this little “moment” is so magical.
A narrator then greets the last of the guests in the Magic Kingdom, saying:
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, on behalf of everyone here at the Magic Kingdom, we thank you for joining us today for a magic gathering of family, friends, fun, and fantasy. We hope your magical journey with us has created wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.
Walt Disney said that the Magic Kingdom is a world of imagination, hopes, and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment, magic and make believe are reborn, and fairy tales come true. The Magic Kingdom is a place for the young and the young at heart. A special place where when you wish upon a star, your dreams can come true.
Until we see you again, have a safe trip home. Thank you, and goodnight.”
Here’s a video I shot of The Kiss Goodnight:
Please excuse the poor quality, as that video was shot a decade ago (probably on an original iPhone–I don’t even remember), long before we ever started this blog. It was my very first upload to YouTube, and the only reason I posted it because there were no other videos of the Kiss Goodnight at the time. Despite happening nightly, it was relatively unknown online.
I wanted to write about the Kiss Goodnight, but it’s something that photos definitely don’t do justice. Most shots simply look like Cinderella Castle at night, albeit with minor color differences…and maybe some twinkling.
Throughout this post, there’s over 11 years of Kiss Goodnight photos, from 2008 until today! From a photography perspective, the Kiss Goodnight may not look different than normal lighting used on Cinderella Castle, but it is. Beyond the twinkling, there are a few color schemes not normally used throughout the night.
My favorite of these is at the very end, when Cinderella Castle is quickly bathed in mostly-white lighting, with extra intensity on the top spire (see above). I actually use photos of this ‘moment’ on the blog quite regularly, as I love the way this photographs and looks.
One of my first Kiss Goodnight photos is from August 18, 2008–a shot I shared in my “Top 30 Must-Sees” countdown on Flickr prior to our then-annual Walt Disney World trip.
On that list, I ranked the Kiss Goodnight as the #2 experience we were looking forward to (#1 was spending time with one another…so the Kiss Goodnight was basically the #1 Disney attraction) on that trip. That ranking and those words still ring true today.
To this day, the Kiss Goodnight is something we look forward to, always make an effort to see, and our day at Magic Kingdom isn’t quite complete without the Kiss Goodnight.
It’s safe to say that for something that lasts only about two minutes to be one of the most anticipated and memorable experiences at Walt Disney World, it must be pretty special.
It goes without saying that for that thing to be the second most anticipated experience at Walt Disney World, especially given the myriad of amazing sights, sounds, tastes, etc., it must be out-of-this-world, jaw-droppingly [insert string of adjectives here] amazing.
Such is the Kiss Goodnight, the proverbial icing on the Cake (Castle!) for us. After a long day in the parks, we can’t help but just stop and watch the Kiss Goodnight, completely frozen and unable to move. For us, the combination of the beautiful light display and hearing about the meaning Walt Disney wanted the parks to have for guests does it every time.
We both still get choked up by the Kiss Goodnight…to this day…even after seeing it more times than I can count.
Being in an almost-deserted park as the ‘young at heart’ during Walt’s favorite time of day, we can’t help but think of his influence, and how special it is to walk alone in the last park he envisioned and take it all in.
The Kiss Goodnight demonstrates what makes the place inherently special and transcendent of the concept of a “theme park.” Simply put, the Kiss Goodnight concisely states and embodies the ‘Magic of Disney.’
Even though it’s almost impossible to explain, this pretty much sums up why we feel the Kiss Goodnight is so special, and why it gives me goosebumps every time I see it. It’s not an amazing, state-of-the-art attraction.
It’s one of those little things that elicits an emotional response from us, and is therefore one of the most important experiences we can have at Walt Disney World. Besides the TTA, it’s likely the “attraction” we experience most on each trip we take to Walt Disney World.
Even though the Kiss Goodnight is the absolute best time to take photos of Cinderella Castle, most of the time I just find myself standing there gazing at the Castle in awe, paralyzed by the beauty of the moment. Not everyone will feel the same way.
If they were to see it, I suspect most visitors to Walt Disney World would probably shrug it off, thinking it of very little significance in the grand scheme of their vacation.
However, I’m convinced that most people who “get” the Walt Disney World theme parks would get goosebumps if they were to stand in a mostly-empty Magic Kingdom and watch and listen to this on a tranquil Main Street USA.
It’s special not just because you’re in the park at such a peaceful time, essentially by yourself with Cinderella Castle, but also because of the significance of the words in Roy O. Disney’s Walt Disney World opening day dedication speech.
The Kiss Goodnight embodies and reminds us exactly why it’s so great and special to get to experience Walt Disney World–and why so many of us are lifelong fans. If you haven’t stayed to experience the Kiss Goodnight before, you should definitely make an effort to do it at least once. It absolutely belongs on everyone’s WDW Bucket List.
Beyond that, being a Disney fan who has seen the Kiss Goodnight makes you part of an exclusive club (we ought to have a secret handshake!). Not many people can muster the stamina it takes to be in the park that late, so those who answer “yes!” when asked if they’ve seen the Kiss Goodnight are among the most passionate of the passionate Disney fans…or perhaps we’re all just the craziest? Either way, there’s something to be said for making the effort to be in the Magic Kingdom during that peaceful and special time of night, and having the Kiss Goodnight put the cherry on top of a day of wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.
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Your Thoughts
Are you part of the club? What do you think of the Kiss Goodnight? If you haven’t seen it, does this post make you want to stay up late for it? Do you agree or disagree with our take here? Think the Kiss Goodnight is overrated? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Thank you sooo much for the post! My husband and I just celebrated our 20th anniversary by going to WDW for our 8th time and this is the first time we got to experience the kiss. It is the closest thing to experiencing your first Disney trip again. Such emotion that brings up all those feelings of why we love Walt Disney World!
Does “Kiss Goodnight” happen on park closing before MVMCP begins?
No, it does not. It does still occur at the end of the night, though.
My hubby and I are headed to WDW for a long weekend kid-free getaway in early November…so excited about our trip and hoping our kids will eventually forgive them! 🙂 Planning on a day in Epcot for F&W and a day in MK. We really want to see this while we’re there…but I have one question. If the park is scheduled to close at 9pm that night, but has EMH for 2 hours past closing…will the kiss be at 9:30 or 11:30? I’m fine staying till 11:30, but if it’s at 9:30 I wanna make sure I’m there ready to watch and not on a ride. Thanks so much!
THANK YOU!!
I saw this post just a few days before I left on a 14 Day Vacation to Florida. On May 10, 2013 I Opened the Park with the Opening Ceremonies and Closed the Park by Staying for the Good Night Kiss, (Which I had never heard of before this site) and then walking down the MIDDLE of Main Street without stepping off the center line once between Cinderella’s Castle Circle to the Entry Circle. I did have a lot of Clean Up workers wave and tell me to have a good night… So I guess I am not the only one to have ever done that. But I will never forget the Experience of feeling like I had the park to myself and having a personal Goodnight message. Thanks for giving me the hint!!!
YES! YES! YES! You have perfectly described what the Kiss Goodnight does to me! I am stopped dead in my tracks when I hear the beginning magical cascade and hear the lilting music. I too get choked up every night I hear it. I LOVE WDW – it is in every ounce of my being. And when I am on Main Street USA on a starlit night I am enchanted. I love to just sit near the castle on a bench and take it all in. So many people coming out of Tomorrow or Adventureland or Liberty Square don’t even pause or look over to the castle on their way out. Seriously? I always say good night castle and stop at the train station and turn around and make a wish that I will be healthy and solvent to make another trip – be it in two weeks or two months. And I live in Chicago! 🙂 I love the Kiss Goodnight and if they ever decided to do away with it – there is nothing we can do – but I will have the word and music locked away in my heart forever. Thank you for a GREAT post! 🙂
Thanks for writing about this — we just went to Disney World for our honeymoon in May, and made sure to stay to see this. We were the last guests in the park, and it was the perfect end to a magical day. It’s always hard to leave the Magic Kingdom, but having this goodnight made it just that little bit easier.
Going to try again tonight I think. MK closes at 11 tonight. Fingers crossed!
Well…what’s the word?
So we stayed last night and did get too see the kiss goodnight! I left with tears in my eyes! I think maybe we missed it the last two nights because the park hours were extended an hour during the day. So originally the park was scheduled to close at 11 but stayed open until 12. Just a thought. Thanks for letting us know about this!!
Sadly I am writing from WDW. We just left magic kingdom, which closed at 12 tonight. Stayed until 12:45 and no kiss, nothing. Really disappointed and seriously pooped! Lol
Hopefully this was a one-time thing and isn’t a permanent change… 🙁 Sorry to hear that you missed it!
Oh my gosh, I had never heard of that!
Definitely going to stick around next time, I was choked up even just reading about it, let alone watching it!
Can’t wait to experience that! Love learning new things about WDW every day! 🙂
If a video got you choked up, you might want to bring some tissues when you see it in person! 🙂
Read today about the Kiss Goodnight on the Moms Chat, emailed my Disney guru, she sent me to your blog. We are 29 days from Disney. This is now on my to do list. I had never heard of it, until today…excited the video was awesome!!! Cannot wait for my daughter to see this we will be exhausted but this is well worth it!!!
I used to work on Main St. USA and the Kiss Goodnight brings back so many amazing memories. I agree wholeheartedly that it’s an amazing way to end your vacation and something that is hard to put into words.
We did get to experience this on our last visit to Disney World in September 2012. It was so amazingly wonderful!!! I stood like a little child and could not believe my eyes!!! My children have been to Disney World several times, but had not experienced this with me and it was a wonderful family moment. LOVED IT!!!
Great that you got the chance to experience this–sounds like it lived up to the hype for you!
As a kid growing up we had 2 tv channels and one of them had the Sunday evening Disney movie, or cartoon. It was a family tradition to watch that every Sunday I mean EVERY Sunday. So when I had the chance as an 8 year old to travel with an uncle and aunt to Disney land in there motorhome I jumped all over that and ever since been hooked. Fast forward 14 Years my brand new bride and myself walk through the gates to disney land and both are tearing up as it had also been her life long dream to get there. Fast forward 6 years The wife and I decide to recreate the month long road trip I did with my uncle and aunt as an 8 year old with our 6 year old and 4 year old daughters. There we are with the girls on our shoulders watching the fireworks above exploding above the castle we are both crying our eyes out AGAIN. We Have taken them to Disney World as well when they were 10 and 8 once again Magical and amazing BUT had no Idea about this Kiss Goodnight. This June we will be going to WDW once more to celebrate our youngest daughter’s 12th birthday and to watch her DANCE in one of the parades, ANOTHER DREAM COME TRUE. After reading this post I can not wait to surpise all of them with this unique experiance thank you so much for sharing it here. Otherwise we would never have heard about it.
Happy to help! Hope your family enjoys the experience!
I think we’ve heard this played on our way out a few times, but never actually stopped to watch it. We’ll have to try and remember to do it on the next trip in just 2 weeks!
Hi Tom,
I never get the time to comment here! Its a shame because your blogs really inspire my Disney opinions. Anyway, I HAD to comment on this because it is one of the most relevant Disney topics to me at the moment;
I’m a big fan of WDW photography and you’ve inspired me for sometime to do a ‘closing the park’. I finally managed it this year and whilst trying to take some magical pictures, I was lucky enough to have experienced this wonderful event. I’ve got to be honest and say that I wasn’t fully aware of what it was at the time because I was so wrapped up trying to get my shot. However, I did stop when I noticed the ‘kiss’ taking place and it was very special. I can only describe it as feeling like Walt (or perhaps just the MK park) was personally reaching out to just me. Okay, the park wasn’t busy at this time, but it did feel very personal (spiritual in a Disney way!). And yes, you really have to be there to completely ‘get it’. Thanks for giving me more background on it though. I’m sure next time (as I’m a die hard) I will take it in even more!
I think that’s a fairly accurate description of how The Kiss Goodnight “feels” to me, too. Thanks for the comment!
Does anyone know if this can be seen after Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?
Where can I find the full Top 50 things to see at? (The one you did back in the day that listed this as number 2:) ? Thanks, Jenna
(Top 30) I meant
They have disappeared from Flickr because I don’t have a premium account. However, if you Google “Sarah Tom Bricker Flickr Top 30 Disney,” you should be able to find most of them that way!
I’m looking forward to this during my next Disney World vacation!
So, I’m confused…does this occur at Disneyland too???
This does not occur at Disneyland.
Awww, thanks…but, I’m disappointed to hear this!!! I had gotten my hopes up.
Our last trip to Magic we were there from rope drop to kiss! It was a VERY magic day. My sons and I met up with my childhood best friend, whom I hadn’t seen in 12 years, and her family. And as we were leaving the park we stopped to get new ears and have our names put on them, just like I had when my grandparents bought for me at DisneyLand when I was young. I got all teary when picking out our ears. The sweet man working at Ears to You gave my boys and I magical moment cards.