76 - Festival of the Lion King

Update: 2025-09-30

Description

Join AJ, Mike, and Chris as we dive into the history of Festival of the Lion King, one of Walt Disney World’s most beloved stage shows. Opening alongside Disney’s Animal Kingdom on April 22, 1998, the show was originally designed as a quick, temporary solution, but it grew into a fan-favorite production that’s still running today.

We explore the fascinating journey of the show, including:

The origins of Camp Minnie-Mickey and the companion show Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends.
How the Lion King Celebration Parade at Disneyland influenced Animal Kingdom’s show.
Michael Eisner’s last-minute push for characters and stage shows at Animal Kingdom.
Disney Legend Ron Logan’s leadership and the recycling of parade floats to create the production.
Writer and director Reed Jones, his early Disney career, and his vision for a celebratory musical revue rather than a simple retelling of the film.
A detailed walkthrough of the show itself from the Tumble Monkeys to the fire knife dancer to the aerial “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” duet.
The show’s upgrades over time, including moving from its original “shed” theater in Camp Minnie-Mickey to the Harambe Theater when Pandora – The World of Avatar was announced.
The pandemic closure, the scaled-down A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King, and the triumphant full return in 2022.
A look at the Hong Kong Disneyland version and how it differs from Walt Disney World’s.

Join us as we celebrate the story of a show that was meant to be temporary but became an Animal Kingdom icon.

00:00 Welcome to 90s Disney

01:12 Festival of the Lion King Introduction

01:33 Disney in the 90s Recap

01:58 Animal Kingdom's Opening Day

04:29 Beastly Kingdomme and Budget Cuts

06:56 Camp Minnie-Mickey: A Temporary Solution

09:05 Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends Show

11:00 Lion King Celebration Parade at Disneyland

14:21 Creating Festival of the Lion King

17:47 The Show's Key Performers and Acts

32:59 Voice Actors