Is a New Drone Show Coming to Disney World?

The rumor mill in the Disney fan community is buzzing, and it’s all about drones. Whispers of a spectacular new drone light show coming to Disney World for the Christmas 2025 season have been flying around and Disney Tourist Blog talks about it, sparking a massive wave of excitement.

While a popular Disney blog has debunked the idea of an immediate holiday return for the beloved “Disney Dreams That Soar” show, the rumors themselves, fueled by recent FAA filings, point to a much bigger and more exciting reality: Disney is going all-in on drone technology, and something incredible is on the horizon.

The Summer Show That Started It All

To understand the excitement, you have to look back at the summer of 2025. Disney launched a free, twice-nightly drone show at Disney Springs called “Disney Dreams That Soar.” It was a massive hit. The show used an incredible 800-drone swarm to paint the sky with beloved characters and scenes from Disney classics, from Toy Story to Star Wars.

The 10-minute spectacle, performed over Lake Buena Vista, was a stunning display of what’s possible when you combine sophisticated swarm technology with world-class storytelling. It earned rave reviews and proved that drones could create a form of entertainment that was both magical and deeply emotional. It’s no wonder fans are clamoring for more.

Why a Christmas Repeat is Unlikely

The latest rumors were sparked by FAA filings for drone operations over Disney property. Naturally, fans connected this to a possible Christmas version of the Disney Springs show. However, as the Disney Tourist Blog logically points out, this is probably not in the cards.

The holiday season is the absolute peak for crowd levels at Disney Springs. The logistics of managing huge crowds for a drone show, in the same space as the chaotic holiday shopping rush, would be a nightmare. Furthermore, the summer-themed show wouldn’t fit the festive season, and the unpredictable Florida winter weather could lead to frequent cancellations.

Instead, the evidence points to something else. The permits are reportedly for testing at Animal Kingdom, suggesting that Disney is preparing for a brand-new, permanent drone show at that park.

The Future: Drones Instead of Fireworks?

A new drone show at Animal Kingdom makes perfect sense. For years, Disney has faced the challenge of putting on a nighttime spectacular at a park full of live animals who are sensitive to the loud explosions of traditional fireworks.

Drones offer the perfect solution. They are relatively quiet and produce no smoke or falling debris. A drone show could provide that magical, end-of-the-night spectacle that guests love, without stressing out the park’s animal residents. Imagine a show themed around the Tree of Life, with glowing, ethereal animal shapes soaring through the sky above it. The creative possibilities are endless.

While nothing is confirmed, a 2026 debut for a new Animal Kingdom show seems plausible, aligning with other major updates happening across the Walt Disney World resort.

The DroneXL Take

It’s hard not to get excited by this story. As a professional who uses drones as a tool for visual storytelling, I see Disney as the ultimate creative force. The idea of their legendary Imagineers getting their hands on a swarm of 800 drones is just a dream come true. “Disney Dreams That Soar” was a beautiful proof-of-concept; a permanent show at Animal Kingdom could be a true masterpiece.

“Real talk,” the operational challenges of a nightly drone show on this scale are immense. You’re dealing with thousands of batteries to charge, complex FAA regulations, and the constant threat of bad weather. It’s a massive logistical undertaking that requires military-level precision. But if there’s any company on the planet that can pull it off, it’s Disney.

This is a huge win for the entire drone industry. When a globally beloved brand like Disney embraces drone technology as a core part of its entertainment, it builds immense public trust and acceptance. It shows millions of people that drones are not just tools or toys, but a new medium for creating art and magic. It’s a powerful, positive story that helps us all. I, for one, will be watching the skies over Florida very, very closely.

Photographs courtesy of Disney Tourist Blog.