Debuting along with Hong Kong Disneyland’s 20th Anniversary Celebration dubbed “The Most Magical Party of All”, Disney Friends Live: Party at the Castle is a brand new castle stage show developed just for the anniversary. It temporarily replaces Follow Your Dreams and is the second non-seasonal castle stage show to debut at the park.

But is the show any good? Is it better than Follow Your Dreams? This review will go into detail on everything you need to know about this castle stage show, from viewing tips to my general thoughts on the show. So without further ado, let’s begin this review!

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Pre-Show Matters and Background

On February 5, 2025, Hong Kong Disneyland announced that an anniversary-only castle stage show would temporarily replace Follow Your Dreams for the duration of the 20th Anniversary celebration. During the Magic Access anniversary preview parties, it was revealed that the show would be called Disney Friends Live: Party at the Castle. 

Just like Follow Your Dreams, the title of the show gave no indication as to what kind of show it would be and what characters would be included. I expected it then to be a simple castle stage show that’s more fun than emotional, similar to Follow Your Dreams. 

After seeing the show during my recent trip, I was right. 

Disney Friends Live: Party at the Castle is an upbeat and joyous show. What it lacks in story and thematic depth it makes up for in pure unadulterated fun. I was smiling ear to ear the entire time I was watching it. It has an infectious sense of optimism which I think makes it a show worthy of the 20th Anniversary celebration. While I don’t think it surpasses Follow Your Dreams, it’s still a good show and I would recommend everyone watch it at least once. 

Before the Show and Viewing Tips

When I watched the show for the first time, I picked a viewing spot to the left of the stage facing the castle because it was hot and that was the only area with shade. I probably arrived 20 minutes before the show and there was still a lot of space in the viewing area. I would say that if it’s warm outside, arriving about 15-20 minutes before showtime should be ok. If it’s cooler outside, though, then maybe arriving 25-30 minutes before showtime would be best. 

Do take note that the center-front viewing area is reserved for those who bought the highest Premier Access package that also includes a reserved viewing area for Momentous: Party in the Night Sky. You don’t really need to use Premier Access for this show, however, as I saw people arrive 10-15 minutes before showtime and they still got a great view. If you already bought the package, however, then using it should be fine. Arrive early to get the most unobstructed view possible. 

If you want to take pictures of the characters, note that the Duffy characters are mostly on the left side facing the stage, with the Princesses on the right side. The lineup of Duffy characters changes depending on the day. When I saw it, the characters featured were Duffy, OluMel, Gelatoni, and LinaBell. CookieAnn, StellaLou, and ShellieMay also appear depending on the day. 

The Show Itself

The show starts off with dancers filling the stage to the tune of the 20th Anniversary theme song, which is also called “The Most Magical Party of All”. Suddenly, singers then rise up from below the stage along with screens that form the backdrop of the show. Disney characters then swarm the stage including Donald, Goofy, Duffy and Friends, Aurora, Tiana, and Belle. They dance briefly then the show transitions to the Duffy and Friends section of the show. Banners drop in front of the castle featuring the logo of the anniversary. 

Duffy and Friends arrive with decorations for the party. Mickey, Minnie, and Duffy and Friends then begin a dance number to the tune of another original song called “The Beauty of Friendship”. Halfway through the performance, Duffy and Friends decide to teach the audience a dance. They perform some simple dance moves for the audience and invite everyone to follow along. As their number finishes, balloons inflate all over the castle. Duffy and friends then leave the stage. 

Mickey and Minnie leave the stage too and soon Aurora, Tiana, and Belle appear on the screens saying that they have second thoughts about going to the party. The show then transitions to the Princesses number, as the Princesses are beckoned into the party with their new outfits. The singers reassure them through a song called “You Belong” that they in fact do belong at the celebration! Everyone does a little dance number and the section ends. 

All the characters then come back for the grand finale, with Duffy and Friends and Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy dressed in their 20th Anniversary celebration outfits. They all dance together as sparklers light up the stage, signaling the end of the show. 

Thoughts on Disney Friends Live: Party at the Castle

I thought this was a good show with a very simplistic plot but with such a joyous execution that it made standing out in the heat of the sun worth it. The plot may be very basic, but the show at least had a narrative thread that made sense. The show was able to communicate its plot effectively, and at the end I felt like I got told a complete story. Contrast this with Momentous: Party in the Night Sky which I thought was just a mish mash of competing ideas without a cohesive structure. Disney Friends Live: Party at the Castle at least was cohesive and had a definite direction for where the story was going. 

At the end of the day, it’s still an overly simplistic story, and it gets docked a few points for that. But at least I was able to fully grasp what the show was trying to say, which I couldn’t say the same for Momentous: Party in the Night Sky. 

I liked that the themes of the show were also cohesive with the themes of the other anniversary offerings. The show focused on having fun and creating memories with friends and family. This is similar to the overarching themes of the other 20th Anniversary offerings and therefore of the 20th Anniversary Celebration as a whole. The 20th Anniversary celebration is about coming together and celebrating as one with friends and family, and I felt like this theme was exemplified well through the entertainment offerings. 

I also liked the two original songs they used for the show. You Belong, which was the song in the Princess section, is really catchy and well written lyrically. The Beauty of Friendship on the other hand was also good, albeit a bit cringy, but still drove home the point of that section well.

I also liked that they rotate the different Duffy characters. That adds a lot of rewatchability to the show, which needs it if it wants to keep attracting people for the length of the 20th Anniversary celebration. I can also see why it’s an anniversary-only stage show as the themes of the show would only work within the context of the 20th Anniversary. 

The set design and props used in the show were also top notch. I liked the use of screens and the platform to bring performers and set pieces in and out seamlessly. The banners on the castle, as well as the balloons, were also a nice touch. 

The costumes used in the show were also spectacular and were probably the best part of the show. How often do you get to see Aurora in her Briar Rose outfit? The 20th Anniversary costumes of the singers and dancers, as well as those for the different characters, were really colorful and eye-popping as well. 

The performers also knocked it out of the park. The singers in particular were very talented, but that’s not to discount the dancers, who were also amazing. They gave such high energy performances that gave the whole show such a positive vibe. 

My only complaint about the set design and props is that the finale didn’t feel big enough. The show kind of just ends, which is a shame because the lead up to that is good. If they could fix the finale, this would be a must-watch show.

Disney Friends Live: Party at the Castle Review Conclusion

Ultimately, this show succeeds because it has an infectious sense of optimism that perfectly matches the theme and message of the anniversary celebration as a whole. It’s an escapism show, a show where for 15 minutes you can just experience pure unadulterated fun and joy. We need more of that in the world right now, and so I’m glad this show exists, even just for the anniversary, so it can keep spreading that infectious optimism to as many people as possible. 

7/10

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