This Little Talked About Light Show Happens Every Night at Disney World

Imagine coming home to your resort after a long day in the theme parks. It’s dark, quiet, and feels about 50 degrees cooler than it did all day in the glaring sun. Everyone agrees to fall fast asleep after returning to the room. As you walk back from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Swan and Dolphin come into view. When you reach the bridge, you begin to notice the pretty light displays on the palm trees and hear the faint sound of music.

The closer you get, the more you realize the entire thing is coordinated. Suddenly, everyone feels like staying out a little later, and you find a bench along the walkway to enjoy it. What a perfect way to end the evening!

What is this magic? It’s the dancing light show at Disney’s Swan and Dolphin, and it happens nightly. If you’re staying at the Swan and Dolphin Hotels or within the Epcot Resorts Area, you can easily stroll through the resort at night to see the lights as they dance on the palm trees. Don’t be surprised if it’s one of the most peaceful evenings of your Walt Disney World vacation.

This dancing light spectacle begins each evening at sunset and continues through 10:00 p.m. If you’re in a resort view room that faces the causeway, you’ll have a direct view of it from above. Anyone else can enjoy the pleasant atmosphere from the causeway. This is the long stretch between the Swan and Dolphin, where the Friendship boats dock.

If you’re staying at Disney’s Beach Club, Yacht Club, or the Boardwalk, you can stroll around Cresent Lake. When you reach the bridge, you’ll be able to see the Swan and Dolphin. Walk on over and find a bench. You can sit there and listen to the music as long as you like. Here are a few more photos.

Can You See Fireworks from the Swan and Dolphin?

On this evening, I happened to be at the Swan and Dolphin when it was time for Epcot’s evening performance of Luminous: The Symphony of Us. I noticed a handful of guests lined up on the causeway nearest the Dolphin side of the hotel to see the fireworks. So I joined them.

I’ve never felt like the Epcot Resorts area was a great place to see fireworks. Many people line up on the bridge near the International Gateway each evening, which is much closer than this location. But it’s often crowded, and the view is just okay. It will do if you don’t have a ticket to enter the park and want to see fireworks. But if you’re staying at any of the resorts in this area, we recommend purchasing park hopper tickets. Even if you only use the upgrade to walk into Epcot in the evenings to see the fireworks, it’s worth it. Here is a view of Epcot from the Swan and Dolphin. That’s the entrance to the Boardwalk lit up on the bridge toward the center of the photo.

Again, you might see a few fireworks if you’re just out enjoying the light show. It’s a nice touch but not worth trying to time right. Now, if you are in a room on a higher floor that faces Epcot, you might have a fun view. But, for Epcot’s fireworks, the best view will always be from within the park.

Related: Luminous: The Symphony of Us Viewing Locations