UPDATE 2: 1:25PM, Monday, April 22, 2019 – I’ve updated the below post to more accurately reflect that Jim Hill and WDW NT disagree over whether or not there will be a new nighttime parade at the Magic Kingdom for the 50th anniversary.

On this morning’s edition of the Disney Dish with Jim Hill, Jim shared the rumor that Disney is holding back an announcement of a new nighttime parade for the Magic Kingdom until D23 Expo in August. Jim also said the goal is to have the new parade up and running prior to the 50th Anniversary in 2021. Later this morning, WDW NT made a post saying there will be NO PARADE in advance of the 50th. At this point, it appears we officially have a battle of the rumors.

Readers of the site will know that Elyssa and I are huge fans of nighttime parades and we have been bummed that the Magic Kingdom has gone so long without one. Personally, I hope that Jim Hill is right and that the new parade is something that will be coming next Spring / Summer, and not in 2021. (Given that Disney has so many hard ticket events in the fall and winter now, I imagine there is zero chance it would be ready for this year.) I will be really bummed if it turns out that WDW NT is right and there is no new parade at all.

Also on the nighttime entertainment front, Disney announced today that they are giving a revamp to Rivers of Light (including changing the name to Rivers of Light: We Are One) this summer. I wonder if this will give some renewed interest in that show.