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| land=Camp Minnie MickeyAfrica

| custom_value_1= The Lion King| custom_label_1= FastPass +| custom_value_1= Yes}}Festival of the Lion King is an attraction located in the [[Africa]] section of [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]]

Although currently the longest running show in Disney's Animal Kingdom(a distinction it shares with [[It's Tough to be a Bug]]), Festival of the Lion King was originally planned as a temporary attraction. When Imagineers designed Animal Kingdom, the plan called for Beastly Kingdom Kingdomme to be one of the park’s main lands<ref name= "Hill"> http://jimhillmedia.com/guest_writers1/b/travel_tips/archive/2011/02/10/quot-festival-of-the-lion-king-quot-show-at-disney-s-animal-kingdom-proves-that-recycling-can-be-fun.aspx </ref>. Due to budget constraints however, Beastly Kingdom Kingdomme was pushed back to phase II a later time and a temporary land called Camp Minnie-Mickey was created in order to draw guests to this new land.

At the same time Imagineers were working on Camp Minnie-Mickey, Disneyland’s "Lion King Celebration" parade was ending its three year run<ref name= "Hill"/>. Eventually, it was decided that Imagineers could rescue many of the puppets and floats from the parade , and create a new stage show for Animal Kingdom<ref name= "Hill"/>. The show that they created, The Festival of the Lion King was housed in a temporary theater which was not enclosed, <ref name= "Hill"/>. The show was called Festival of the Lion King and was ready in time for Animal Kingdom's opening day.

The Festival of the Lion King (, as well as the rest of Camp Minnie Mickey), proved to be so successful that it eventually became one of the parks most popular attractions<ref name= "Hill"/>. Finally in 2003, the The show's theater was finally enclosedin 2003, and along with air conditioning was being added<ref name= "Hill"/>. Outside of changes to the show's theater, the Festival of the Lion King has not seen any major changes, although a new Timon costume that allowed the meerkat to move his mouth and blink his eyes was added to the show in 2009.<ref name==Show Plot==The festival of the Lion King begins with the shows four hosts, Kiume (meaning "masculine and strongHill"), Nakawa (meaning "good-looking"), Kibibi (meaning "princess"), and Zawadi (meaning "the gift"), singing Welcome to Our House. After the four hosts introduce themselves, they tell guests that Simba and his guests will be there any minute, but first they need their help. In order to greet Simba and his friends, the hosts decide to divide the audience into four groups, who will greet the animals by making animal noises. The first sound guests make is that of a warthog. To do this, one guest is chosen to lead the audience as they make tusks with their fingers and make a snorting noise. Next up is the lions. Another guest is chosen to imitate a lion by putting their paws up and roaring. After the lions are done, it's time for the elephants. The section that is assigned elephants put their hands up and trumpet like an elephant. Finally, the last group, the giraffes, whose noise, sounds like a sheep/>.

After everyone knows their rolesOn January 5, they all 2014 Festival of the Lion King along with the rest of Camp Minnie-Mickey was closed in order make their animal noises togetherway for construction on Avatar Land (a new area of the park based on James Cameron’s film Avatar) <ref> http://www. At this pointwdwmagic.com/attractions/festival-of-the-lion-king/news/18nov2013-festival-of-the-lion-king-closing-in-early-january-for-six-months.htm </ref>. Despite the closure of the land, Disney announced that Festival of the lights Lion King would be moving into a new theater called Harambe Theater located in a new expansion of the room dim and everyone is told to listenAfrica section of the park. As wind begins to howl, various animals begin to dance on stageThe theater was completed in May of 2014 <ref> http://www. After their ceremony, wdwmagic.com/attractions/festival-of-the-lion-king/news/08may2014-photo-and-video---see-the Circle -new-'festival-of Life begins to play-the-lion-king'-harambe-theatre-at-disney's-animal-kingdom. Simbahtm </ref>, and the Festival of the Lion King then addresses guestsattraction reopened in its new home on June 1, telling them that it is time for the big celebration2014 <Ref> http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_flk.htm </ref>.

At ==Show Plot==[[Image:FestivaloftheLionKing.jpg|400px|thumb|The cast of Festival of the begging Lion King. Photo: Lauren Javier]] The Festival of the Lion King begins with the shows' four hosts singing "festivalWelcome to Our World". The four hosts are Kiume (meaning "masculine and strong" in Swahili), Nakawa (meaning "good-looking"), Kibibi (meaning "princess"), and Zawadi (meaning "the song I Just Can't Wait to gift"). After the hosts introduce themselves, they tell the audience that Simba and his guests will be King playsthere any minute, as a parade beginsbut first they need the audiences' help. Timon, PumbaaIn order to greet Simba and his friends, the Tumble Monkeyshosts decide to divide the audience into four groups, various who will greet the animals by making animal noises. The first sound guests make is that of a warthog. To do this, one guest is chosen to lead the audience as they make tusks with their fingers and other dancers then parade through make a snorting noise. Next up is the stage on floatslions. Finally, Simba appears atop Another guest is chosen to imitate a rocklion by putting their paws up and roaring. After the lions are done, watching over it's time for the proceedingselephants. The section that is assigned elephants put their hands up and trumpet like an elephant. Finally the last group who are the giraffes, make a noise that sounds like a sheep.

Following "I Just Can't Wait to be King"After everyone knows their roles, Timon takes center stage to perform Hakuna Matatathey all make their animal noises together. He is joined by PumbaaAt this point, who is located on the side of the theater "lights in the warthog section”room dim and everyone is told to listen. As Timon tries wind begins to perform his songhowl, the Tumble Monkeys initially cause havocvarious animals begin to dance on stage. After getting their ceremony, the monkeys in order Timon and Pumbaa finish the song. After Hakuna Matata has ended the Tumble Monkeys perform an acrobatic act as the rest Circle of the animals look on. The dance is performed Life begins to a medley of songsplay. The songs featured in the act areSimba, “Singthen addresses guests, Sing, Sing”, ”Playmates”, ”Snake Charmer”, ”Caravan”, ”Hakuna Matata”, ”Yes! We Have No Bananas” and Hawaiian War Chanttelling them that it is time for the big celebration. . As At the monkey begin packing up beginning of the stagecelebration, the song Be Prepared "I Just Can't Wait to be King" plays, as a parade begins to play. As Timon, Pumbaa, the Tumble Monkeys, various animals, and other dancers appear in dark clothing, Kiume takes center then parade through the stage to sing the songon floats. While he is singingFinally, Simba appears atop a fire dancer begins dancing with a flaming torchrock, watching over the proceedings.

Following "I Just Can't Wait to be King", Timon takes center stage to perform Hakuna Matata. He is joined by Pumbaa, who is located on the side of the theater in “the warthog section”. As Timon tries to perform his song, the Tumble Monkeys initially cause havoc. After getting the monkeys in order, Timon and Pumbaa finish the song. After Hakuna Matata has ended, the Tumble Monkeys perform an acrobatic act as the rest of the animals look on. The dance is performed to a medley of songs including: “Sing, Sing, Sing”, ”Playmates”, ”Snake Charmer”, ”Caravan”, ”Hakuna Matata”, ”Yes! We Have No Bananas” and "Hawaiian War Chant". As the monkeys begin packing up the stage, the song "Be Prepared" begins to play. As various dancers appear in dark clothing, Kiume takes center stage to sing the song. While he is singing, a fire dancer begins dancing with a flaming torch. [[Image:FestivaloftheLionKingSimba.jpg|400px|thumb|Simba in the Festival of the Lion King]] Following Be Prepared, two ballet dancers dance as two cast members sing, "Can you Feel the Love Tonight". During the song, the female dancer is raised into the sky, and she flies above the stage. As the song finishes Kiume appears again, telling everyone that they are all connected through the circle of life. At this point in the show, the dancers (including Timon and the Tumble Monkeys) all create a circle around the stage, as a female singer sings “The Circle of Life”. Following the song, Simba tells the audience that it's time to for them to help in the celebration finale “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. The different groups are then divided back up and given different parts to sing. The giraffes and the elephants singing the "wing a way" and lions and the warthogs singing the high part. Timon then decides that he will sing the melody. The whole cast and audience then performs The Lion Sleeps Tonight together.

At his point in the show, the dancers (including Timon and the Tumble Monkeys) all create a circle around the stage, as a female singer sings “The Circle of Life”. Following the song, Simba tells the audience that it's time to for them to help them in the celebration finale “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”. The different groups then are divided back up and given different parts to sing, with the giraffes and the elephants sing the "wing a way" and Lions and the warthogs singing the high part. Timon then decides that he will sing the melody. The whole cast and audience then perform The Lion Sleeps Tonight together.  After the song has finished, Timon tells the cast that it's time to take it home. They then perform a medley of the Lion King songs that had previously been featured in the show (Hakuna Matata, Can You Feel the Love Tonight ,Be Prepared and I Just Can't Wait to Be King), concluding with a reprise of the Circle of Life. After the medley, the actors take a bow as Simba roars. Timon then tells the audience they were the best audience ever before pointing them towards the exit.

* The Simba puppet in the Festival of the Lion King is 12 feet tall!<ref name= "trivia"> http://www.disneybythenumbers.com/wdw/CampMinnieMIckey.html </ref>.

* 136 African inspired costumes are used in the show<ref name= "trivia"/>.

* 50 cast members perform daily in the Festival of the Lion King<ref name= "trivia"/>.

* 7 shows of the Festival of the Lion King are performed everydayevery day <ref name= "trivia"/>. * Several of the show's first performers went on to perform on Broadway <ref> http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_flk.htm </ref>.