Rare Character “Kiss Goodnight” Surprise Guests at Magic Kingdom Closing. Guests exiting the Magic Kingdom recently received an unscheduled dose of pixie dust when Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Pluto appeared for a surprise “Kiss Goodnight” character wave.
While the famous Cinderella Castle light-and-narration show was a nightly ritual, a spontaneous character send-off is a notably rare event, typically reserved only for special after-hours parties.
The sighting occurred approximately 30 minutes after the park’s official closing time. Instead of the characters’ usual perch on the Main Street Train Station platform (which just finished being under refurbishment), the “Fab Four” surprised guests exiting through Town Square by appearing on the porch of Tony’s Town Square Restaurant.
Disney World Mickey & Minnie Kiss Goodnight:
The entire heart-warming interaction lasted about 15 minutes. To maximize the experience, the characters rotated positions, allowing crowds to enjoy a moment with each pal. The grand finale featured the classic Disney “Kiss Goodnight” shared between Mickey and Minnie Mouse before they disappeared. Pluto and Donald Duck followed, waving and taking final bows.
This interaction is not on the schedule and does not happen every evening at the Park closing at Walt Disney World. The majority of the time, this only happens during special after-hours events. We have now seen this mentioned 3 or 4 times in 2025. Disney has recently, in early summer 2025, said there will be more character interactions around Walt Disney World Resort.
“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.”
The official Disney Site lists the Kiss Goodnight: About 30 minutes after the park closes, Cinderella Castle starts to sparkle with a beautiful light display. “When You Wish Upon a Star” begins to play, and the castle glows with color. As the lights twinkle, a narrator’s voice thanks the guests for spending their day at Magic Kingdom and wishes them a safe journey home. The entire presentation lasts just a few minutes, but it’s a beautiful way to wrap up a day of Disney magic!
