Dancing With the Stars Disney Night Delivers Tears and Triumphs as Hilaria Baldwin Exits

Disney Night arrived on Dancing With The Stars October 7, transporting the ballroom into the "Happiest Place on Earth" for Disneyland Resort's 70th anniversary. This Week 4 event brought dazzling performances and a record-shattering vote count. However, the evening closed with an emotional departure.

Disneyland's Platinum Anniversary Brings Record-Breaking Spectacle to the Ballroom

The latest Dancing With the Stars episode truly embraced the spirit of Disneyland's 70th anniversary. Professional dancers and the troupe opened the show with a number set to "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast. Mandy Moore provided the choreography to usher in the Disney-themed evening. Each celebrity and their dance partner visited Disneyland in Anaheim to prepare routines honoring the park's well-known rides.

Hosts Alfonso Ribeiro and Julianne Hough shared exciting news during the show. Viewers again broke the voting record. A staggering 40 million votes arrived Tuesday night alone. Despite the magical atmosphere, the night finished with an elimination. Hilaria Baldwin and her partner Gleb Savchenko were sent home.

Whitney Leavitt Sets the Standard With the Season's First Nine Score

Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt delivered a dominant performance with her foxtrot. She danced to "The Room Where It Happens" from Hamilton, a production with a taped version released on Disney+ in 2020. Judge Carrie Ann Inaba expressed her deep appreciation for the dance, stating her lip quivered before giving Leavitt the season's first 9. Bruno Tonioli supported this praise, calling it a "showstopping" routine. Derek Hough was ready for the pair to perform on Broadway with their talents. Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas scored 25/30, placing them at the top of the leaderboard.

Leavitt has maintained her position as the top-scoring celebrity since the season 34 premiere. Disney Night marked the first time a single couple held the sole top spot, with Leavitt and Ballas achieving the highest score for four straight weeks.

Other Dazzling Performances and Judge's Insights from Disney Week

• Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy: Social media star Alix Earle sought a darker side for Disney week. She danced a Viennese waltz to "Once Upon a Dream" from Maleficent. Judges praised her haunting dramatic turn. Bruno Tonioli told Earle her dance showed true storytelling, transforming her into someone else. Carrie Ann Inaba noticed a confidence shift in Earle as she moved outside her comfort zone. They scored 24/30.
• Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten: Actress Elaine Hendrix revisited childhood memories with an homage to the Space Mountain ride. Her quickstep routine showed judges she responds well to criticism. Inaba called it her best dance of the season. Hough added he felt like he was on the rollercoaster due to the fast pace and full content. Hendrix exclaimed "Go for your dreams!" after tying for the top of the leaderboard with 24/30.
• Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa: Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles and her partner Ezra Sosa performed a quickstep to "Special Spice" from the "Tiana's Bayou Adventure" ride in Disneyland. The gymnast felt excited to honor the first Black Disney princess. Carrie Ann Inaba stated Chiles' routine showed exactly why audiences love Disney Night. Bruno Tonioli called her Disney royalty. They received 24/30.
• Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach: Traitors star Dylan Efron performed a quickstep to "Life Is a Highway" from Cars. He cited his own passion for road trips and adventure as his inspiration. His tribute to Radiator Springs impressed the ballroom and the judges. Derek Hough labeled Efron the "Quickstep King." Judge Bruno Tonioli joked the reality star was on the highway to the finale, praising his springy footwork and impeccable technique. Efron did not dance to High School Musical this week. He hinted that fans might see a tribute to his brother Zac if he remains in the competition next week. They scored 23/30.
• Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik: Mormon Wives star Jen Affleck celebrated Disneyland Resort's 70th anniversary with her kids and husband at the park. She and her partner Jan Ravnik competed with a jazz routine to "Friend Like Me" from Aladdin. The new mother performed a backwalkover in her jazz routine filled with tricks. Bruno Tonioli said the reality star provided a magical end to Disney night. However, Carrie Ann Inaba was less impressed with her routine, wanting to see more from her. They scored 23/30.
• Robert Irwin and Witney Carson: Zookeeper Robert Irwin visited Walt Disney Animation Studios for an early screening of Zootopia 2, in which he plays Robert Furwin. Irwin descended from the air into the ballroom. He then danced a cha cha with his partner Whitney Carson to "Try Everything" by Shakira. Bruno Tonioli compared the wildlife conservationist to a cuddly koala. Inaba asked him to move through his steps rather than holding poses to display his power. They scored 22/30.
• Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold: Pentatonix singer Scott Hoying displayed his personality performing a salsa to "Bop to the Top" from High School Musical. Lucas Grabeel, who played Ryan in the Disney Channel trilogy, was in the audience alongside Hoying's husband. Judges noted a small hiccup in the star's underarm turns. Overall, they were impressed by the amount of salsa included by his partner Rylee Arnold in the routine. They scored 21/30.
• Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov: Danielle Fishel felt ready to use her Disney magic to win over the judges with her quickstep to "I Wan'na Be Like You" from The Jungle Book. In sparkly fringe pants, she and her partner Pasha Pashkov impressed judges with their energetic performance. Carrie Ann Inaba and Derek Hough both praised Fishel's playful energy and expressions for Disney week. But all three judges noticed a mistake from the Boy Meets World star. She earned all 7s, totaling 21/30.
• Andy Richter and Emma Slater: Comedian Andy Richter expressed his desire to stay in the competition as long as possible. He and his partner Emma Slater danced a Viennese waltz to "Le Festin" from Ratatouille. Richter dressed as Chef Linguine and Slater as the rat. Inaba challenged the amateur dancer to put in more content for next week. Hough complimented Richter's love for dance but requested better technique. The crowd chanted his name as he moved to the skybox. They scored 18/30.

Hilaria Baldwin's Emotional Farewell and Backstage Rumors

Hilaria Baldwin and her partner Gleb Savchenko were eliminated during Disney Night. They performed a quickstep to "Cantina Band" from Star Wars: A New Hope. Hilaria warmed up for her Star Wars routine with a trip to Disneyland with her husband Alec and their children. Tonioli searched for flaws in her routine, claiming "he didn't see it." Hough however, stated he still sought what would distinguish the wellness influencer. They scored 23/30.

Hilaria Baldwin expressed gratitude for her time on Dancing With the Stars. "We're okay," she told E! News after their elimination. "I mean, we're not great, but we're okay at the same time. It's mixed." She got emotional remembering support from her family. "The first night we got here to LA...I said to my daughter, 'What happens if I get voted off right away?' She said, 'Mommy, at least you tried.' And I hope they always know that: At least I tried."

Gleb Savchenko praised Hilaria's dance passion and talent. "You tried your best, I'm so proud of you," he told her. "And I'm so grateful for an opportunity to be able to dance with you, because I felt like I was transformed back to my competition times. I've never danced a samba that level ever on Dancing With the Stars or on tour." He called her a "superhero in the studio, on the floor and at home you're an amazing mom to your incredible seven kids." Baldwin and Savchenko were in the bottom three alongside Andy Richter and Danielle Fishel.

Despite her respectful exit on camera, sources suggest a different backstage experience. Rob Shuter's ShuterScoop reported that Baldwin "completely lost it" backstage. She was allegedly angry at everyone, including producers for "sabotage" with music or choreography, judges, and Alec Baldwin. "She said it wasn't 'Disney enough,' and blamed Alec's friends for not voting," a source stated. Another described her as being on a "rollercoaster of rage and tears," while a third source mentioned it was "heartbreaking. She wanted this to be her redemption moment."

Hilaria's past dance experience caused some discussion this season. Fans brought up an old scoring chart showing Baldwin competing in tango at the 2004 Blackpool Dance Festival, where she appeared to have beaten DWTS pro Emma Slater. Baldwin addressed this, saying she only competed twice around age 19 or 20, and that Slater was younger and likely in juniors at the time. She and Emma "couldn't understand it" either. Alec Baldwin previously mentioned Hilaria's life was dance until an injury. Her past experience did not result in top scores, nor did it keep her from being the fourth celebrity eliminated this season.

What Could Have Been: Dedication Night Plans for Hilaria Baldwin

Had Hilaria Baldwin continued, viewers would have seen a special guest for next week's "Dedication Night." Baldwin revealed that her husband, Alec Baldwin, would have danced with her. "We were going to dance to our very first wedding dance, Contigo by Luis Miguel," she shared. Hilaria returns to her main role as a mother. "My kids came out here [to Los Angeles]," she said. "They changed their school. Alec had been flying back and forth. My whole family moved heaven and earth to support me. Now, I'm going back to being a mom."

Gleb Savchenko, while sad about the elimination, feels a renewed passion for dance from their journey. He hopes to transition into acting, having attended acting school and auditioned. He also expects to dance again in the finale if tradition holds.

The Remaining Competitors Gear Up for Dedication Night

After Week 4, ten couples remain to compete for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy:

• Robert Irwin and Witney Carson
• Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas
• Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy
• Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik
• Elaine Hendrix and Alan Bersten
• Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa
• Danielle Fishel and Pasha Pashkov
• Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach
• Scott Hoying and Rylee Arnold
• Andy Richter and Emma Slater

Dancing With the Stars returns next Tuesday, October 14, with Dedication Night. Expect many emotional and meaningful performances as the stars dance for those special to them. With Whitney Leavitt holding the top spot, the competition continues to be fierce. Viewers can watch live on ABC and stream on Disney+ in local time zones, with episodes available the next day on Hulu.