The Resorts Gal Guide to Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Sometimes, it’s challenging to comprehend how a place like Walt Disney World can do so many things in a day. Then they turn around and do it all again the next day, the day after, and so on. Of course, it’s the cast members, essentially, who are responsible for ensuring these things happen regularly and effortlessly. I was recently reminded that one offering, the Festival of the Lion King, happens seven to eight times every single day.
It had been a while since I last stopped in to see the show, but I was as wowed as I was the first time I saw it many years ago. So, I thought we would take a fresh look at what to expect. If you have never seen a performance, it’s a hands-down must-do. But if you’re like me and visit somewhat regularly, it might be something you’ve been guilty of putting on the back burner for entirely too long. So, it might be time to include a performance in your itinerary. I doubt you’ll regret it. The Festival of the Lion King is truly sublime.
Here are a few quick references.
| Festival of The Lion King | Disney’s Animal Kingdom |
|---|---|
Location: | Harambe Theater (Africa) |
Height Requirement: | NA |
Lightning Lane: | Yes, Lightning Lane Multi Pass |
Early Theme Park Entry: | No |
Extended Evening Hours: | No |
Ride Type: | Theater/Show |
Duration: | Approximately 30 minutes for the show (40+ minutes to get seated) |
Rider Switch: | NA |
Good For: | Anyone |
Scary Factor: | None |
Must Do List: | Medium Priority |
Perfect For: | Fans of The Lion King, Musicals, Theater |
Special Mention: | Guests might be asked to participate. |
Accessibility: Guests may remain in wheelchairs or ECVs. Sign Language, Handheld Captioning, and Assistive Listening are available.
Festival of the Lion King is one of a few attractions that offers sign language-interpreted performances twice weekly. The schedule changes each week. You can pick up a copy of the schedule at Guest Relations at any park.
Make sure to check our one-stop Lightning Lane Guide to plan your attractions.
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History
The Festival of the Lion King is the longest-running attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s a Broadway-style show presented as a revue, with each number featuring a song and a unique style of performance art. The original offering debuted with the rest of the park in 1998. At the time, the Festival of the Lion King was held in an open-air theater at Camp Minnie-Mickey. Years later (2014), the larger-than-life show moved to the Harambe Theater, which was solely built for it in the Africa section of the park. The show features music written by Elton John and Tim Rice. Songs include:
- Circle of Life
- I Just Can’t Wait to Be King
- Hakuna Matata
- Tumble Monkeys
- Be Prepared
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight
- The Lion Sleeps Tonight
- Celebration Finale (Collective)
Festival of the Lion King Review
The Harambe Theater is located on the outskirts of Harambe, near Tusker House Restaurant. It’s along the outer walkway that leads to Pandora, World Of Avatar. Showtimes for each day are listed in the entertainment section of the My Disney Experience app. They are also posted on a marquee outside the theater.
Festival of the Lion King has a standby entrance, and a Lightning Lane is available with Lightning Lane Multi Pass. If you’re visiting during a busy holiday season, I would suggest using Lightning Lane to secure your spot and prevent having to wait so long in line. However, most of the time, you’ll do fine with standby.
The entertainment offering has a tremendous queue. Most of it’s in the shade, so it’s not the worst place to wait.
When cast members allow guests inside, they begin filling in each section of the theater. Unfortunately, you won’t have much choice about where you sit. The theater is like a large square with four sections: giraffes, elephants, warthogs, and lions. Guests with accessibility needs are seated in the first couple of rows. There are dedicated areas towards the front of each section for guests in wheelchairs and ECVS.
At the beginning of the show, four performers wearing traditional African dress take center stage. Each one has a Swahili name: Kibibi (Princess), Nakawa (Attractive), Zawadi (Gift), and Kiume (Strong). They open the show by greeting the audience and selecting a few participants to help out. Each section is asked to make the sound of the animal their section represents.
Afterward, they are joined by a group of performers, and the show begins with a few visual effects.
Soon, the party comes to life as incredible stilt walkers, dancers, floats, puppetry, and other forms of pageantry join the stage. Each section has a float that represents it. On corner has a giraffe float, another an elephant, Simba represents the lion section, and Pumbaa represents the warthogs.
After the opening act, the theater quietens momentarily. A new troupe, the Tumble Monkeys, enters the ring, accompanied by Timon. To everyone’s delight, they begin to perform aerobatic stunts that send them soaring above the crowd.
Next, a professional fire dancer takes the stage in an act that leaves everyone on the edge of their seats.
Soon after, the show takes a romantic turn as a duo of aerial performers intoxicate the crowd with a dazzling performance. Can you feel the love tonight?
Then, everyone returns to the stage for the spectacular finale, highlighting each performance.
Overall, the Festival of the Lion King is a remarkable offering. If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to take the time to see it. The performance lasts approximately 30 minutes. However, you’ll probably spend about 40 minutes in the theater getting seated, not to mention how long you might have waited. Therefore, it will take up a decent amount of touring time. We prefer to see this show later in the day when we need a break from the sun and wait times are running high elsewhere.
For more planning, you might enjoy our Animal Kingdom Planning Guide or some of these other attraction reviews:
- Kilimanjaro Safaris Ride Guide
- The Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Photos)
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Quick Service Dining Guide
- Meeting Characters at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
In the Comments
Have you ever seen the Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Do you enjoy it? How long has it been since you saw it? Leave us a comment below with your thoughts or experiences. We would love to hear from you and take the time to read your responses.
