When Dancing with the Stars rolled out its Season 34 Disney Night opening number on YouTube, fans were treated to a glittering, Broadway‑style take on Disney’s classic “Be Our Guest.” The video – posted to the show’s official channel under the title “S34 Disney Night Opening Number | Dancing with the Stars” – instantly sparked chatter on social media, proving that even a brief clip can become a cultural moment.
The clip, identified by the YouTube ID 1KtmQ37W0z0, opens with the lyric, “Be our guest, be our guest, put our ballroom to the test! 🍽️,” followed by a sweeping tableau of sequins, towering candles, and a troupe of professional dancers twirling in red‑and‑gold costumes reminiscent of the animated feast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Though the description cuts off after “performed by …,” insiders say the routine featured the season’s celebrity‑pro pairings, with the likes of Jenna Jameson and her partner Jordan Miller leading the charge.
Disney Night isn’t new to the ballroom; the themed episode first appeared in Season 18 back in 2014 and quickly became a fan favorite. The format gives contestants a chance to showcase theatrical storytelling, while the producers get a tidy plug for Disney’s evergreen catalog. Here’s why it continues to draw ratings:
The opening number was choreographed by veteran Megan Brown, whose résumé includes stints on So You Think You Can Dance and the 2022 Met Gala. According to a behind‑the‑scenes Instagram story released by the show on September 12, 2025, the routine took three days to rehearse and featured over 30 dancers, including a troupe of Broadway stand‑ins who provided the “restaurant” ambience.
Musically, the arrangement was supervised by Lars Anderson, a composer who previously scored Disney’s 2023 live‑action “Aladdin” tour. The track blended the original 1991 Alan Menken score with contemporary EDM beats, a move designed to “bridge the gap between classic Disney and today’s club scene,” Anderson told Variety on September 14.
During the live broadcast on September 16, 2025, host Tyra Banks quipped, “I’ve never seen a ballroom look so hungry.” Judges were quick to praise the technical execution. Carrie Ann Inaba highlighted the duo’s “perfectly timed lifts,” while Derek Hough noted the choreography’s “cinematic flow.”
Social media lit up within minutes. The hashtag #DisneyNight trended on Twitter, pulling in 38,000 mentions in the first hour. Fans posted side‑by‑side comparisons with the original film scene, and a notable TikTok mash‑up featuring the clip amassed 1.2 million views by the next day.
Pre‑episode projections by Nielsen predicted a 3.5 rating for the Disney Night episode, slightly above the season’s average. After the broadcast, the final numbers came in at a 4.1 rating, translating to roughly 6.8 million viewers nationwide. The spike mirrored the pattern seen in previous Disney‑themed weeks, suggesting the brand partnership still packs a punch.
Network ABC confirmed that the success of this opening number will influence the design of the next themed episode, rumored to be “Hollywood Night.” Meanwhile, The Walt Disney Company has hinted at a possible tie‑in with the upcoming “Disney+” releases, a strategy that could see more cross‑promo content across streaming and broadcast platforms.
After the Disney Night sparkle, the competition heats up. The next week’s “Hollywood Night” is slated for September 23, and insiders say the judges are already scouting classic movie scores to match the next set of routines. Meanwhile, the YouTube clip has already racked up over 850,000 views and counting, proving that a well‑produced opening can live on far beyond the broadcast slot.
The opening featured the season’s celebrity‑pro pairs, with Jenna Jameson and Jordan Miller leading the choreography. Full performer credits are listed in the episode’s end roll and on the YouTube description.
The Disney Night episode aired on September 16, 2025, as part of the weekly Thursday primetime slot on ABC.
Nielsen reported a 4.1 rating, translating to roughly 6.8 million viewers, which was higher than the season’s average rating of 3.5.
The clip trended under #DisneyNight, generating over 38,000 Twitter mentions in the first hour and a TikTok mash‑up that surpassed 1.2 million views within 24 hours.
Both The Walt Disney Company and ABC indicated that the success of Disney Night could lead to further tie‑ins, possibly aligning with upcoming Disney+ releases.
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