Korkis Korner: Farewell to the Festival of the Lion King?

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Farewell to the Festival of the Lion King? by Jim Korkis

Jim roars through the rumors surrounding the Disney's Animal Kingdom show.

Read it here!

[Laserman]

I think we need more parks that makes us walk more. This Nation is becomeing the Obese capital of the world.

[marclichon]

Honestly you have to drag me to see the show, but once there I always seem to enjoy it (or at least the air conditioning and seating, although seat-backs wouldn't hurt) and the energy is infectious. I also tend to avoid FotLK because it pales in comparison to Tarzan Rocks and I'm a little irritated that TR was replaced and FotLK was kept. I love the Nemo show, but I get enough of him at Epcot (besides, DHS would be a better fit; I know DAK is an 'animal' based park, but Nemo fits NO WHERE in the park schema) and loved the TR show much more so I generally boycott the FotLK in protest. That being said, with so few sit-and-enjoy-the-show offerings at DAK they should probably relocate (never really fit in with the 'camp' theme anyway) and keep it.

[Drince88]

Interesting, marclichon -- I endured Tarzan Rocks if I had to. I was more than happy that my uncomfortable nap was taken away!

I hope if they do remove FOTLK, (Avatarland???) that they wait as long as they can in the overall construction scheme of things.

[mkelm44]

I've always liked Festival, dating back to the first time I saw it during the soft open. I admit, I used to be an acrobat (though nowhere in the league of the performers there) so I appreciate it a little more, but I think my appreciation is that there is nothing else like it in the park. Like Jim said, every other show is a condensed versison of the movie, and while some are very well done (especially Nemo), this is the only one you could say is inspired by the movie. Also, no where else in the parks (save La Nouba, which doesn't count) will you see the type of skills that are being performed by the cast. The Festival also has the nice feature of giving you a place for a nice long sitdown, which when traversing the biggest park on the property is a necessary thing. There are very few other places you can just sit and relax like you can there.

I'd be very sad to see a unique show closed or replaced, especially if it's just replaced by another retelling show.

[arnoldvb]

Jim, thanks for your wonderful articles. They bring so much Disney history to light.

My family and I believe that removing Festival of the Lion King from the Animal Kingdom park would be a major calamity. We visit Walt Disney World at least once a year (traveling from our home in the Caribbean) and always make it a point to visit Festival of the Lion King at least once. For me personally, it is my absolute favorite live show in all of Walt Disney World. I would certainly have much less reason to visit Animal Kingdom is that show was closed permanently. I can understand the need to close FotLK to accommodate the new Avatarland (or whatever it's eventually called), but would hope that Disney will find a new location to rebuild the theater and return FotLK to the park.

[spectromen]

This show is my #1 reason for visiting Animal Kingdom - not the Safari, not Everest (though those are great, too). Without this, I would be severely disappointed in the park's offerings. Is this true fact that Disney is concerned about the cost, or is it speculation? I can't imagine anything on a cheaper scale that would ellicit the same emotions from an audience. They got the floats free, they built that nice enclosed theatre, etc..it would be a shame to cut it now. If anything, they could experiment with only running 4 days a week a la Fantasmic model and see if it produces enough savings.

I hope that if this IS true, that we're given plenty of warning with a closing date.

[DisneyGator]

If Avatarland actually does make it, I can see this show being eliminated. Unfortunately, it'll be replaced with something zany like "Adventure of Jake, My Jake".

[kevdo]

I find it amusing when people use the "too far to walk" excuse for not liking Animal Kingdom, then happily promote Epcot as the best theme park ever. Have you seen how far it is to walk from the Epcot turnstiles to the American Adventure? Far, far longer than the AK entrance to any walkable location in the park.

I wish this article had been broken up into two separate pieces. If the story is about the Festival of the Lion King, why preface it with a long editorial about "why I don't like Animal Kingdom"?

The background on the cost structure for the show is interesting. Would be sad to see Disney "go cheap" by eliminating this show (which I think we'd all agree we'd like to see moved to Africa if Avatar Land is placed in the Camp Minnie-Mickey location).