Everything that has changed (and stayed the same) for the Festival of the Lion King show

Festival of the Lion King has reopened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but there are definitely some changes you will want to make note of if you plan to catch the show next time you visit. Here’s everything that has changed and stayed the same.

Festival of the Lion King

The fan-favorite show, Festival of the Lion King, reopened this past weekend (May 8). We have all been looking forward to seeing more shows return as it is part of the experience that separates Disney from other theme parks.

This Broadway-style show features our favorite king of the jungle and all his friends. Acrobats, puppetry, and the amazing songs all make up this fantastic show.

I particularly like how the performers get Guests involved in the performance! Before each show, one participant is chosen from each of the four animal sections of the bleachers to help imitate the sounds of that particular animal. My second favorite would be those monkey acrobats! This is a really playful show and a must-do for everyone!

What has changed

Now called “A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King,” the show has some modifications to align with the health and safety standards Disney has put in place.

The showtimes are as follows:

12:30, 1:30, 2:30 pm, 5:00, 6:00, 7:00

A maximum of four people in the same party can sit together in the theater and then a divider blocks the next group. The theater is skipping rows to ensure even more physical distancing between groups. Because of this, the theater is not filled to maximum capacity.

Although you remain stationary inside the theater during the performance, eating and drinking is prohibited and masks are required at all times inside the building.

As far as the actual performance goes, A Celebration of the Lion King is different now than it was before the pandemic. There are no monkeys, which is very disappointing as it is one of my favorite parts of the show. The birds just dance around and do not fly. All performers are distanced as well to ensure physical distancing is happening for everyone in the theater.

Guests are not allowed to sing, but they are encouraged to clap instead. No one is chosen to be part of the show and Guests cannot do the little parade anymore.

Because of these modifications, the show runs about 5 minutes shorter now.

What is the same

We can still hear the same songs we know and love from the movie like “Hakuna Matata” and “Circle of Life.” The majority of the show is still the same despite the fact that some parts have been removed.

What about DAS? Yes, DAS can still be used for Festival of the Lion King! Simply let the Cast Member at the queue line entrance know and receive your return time for the show. This show was popular before the pandemic, and it’s popular now, so be sure to take advantage if you qualify for this service.

Have you seen the new show yet? What do you think of the changes? Let us know on Facebook.