Difference between pages "Maharajah Jungle Trek" and "Festival of the Lion King"

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{{Infobox Disney ride
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{{Template:Infobox Disney ride |
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| image=Maharajah.jpg
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| image=Festivalofthelion.jpg
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| caption='''The Maharajah Jungle Trek is a walking trail in Disney's Animal Kingdom.'''
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| caption='''The entrance sign for the Festival of the Lion King.'''
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| land=Asia
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| land=Africa
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| opened= March 18, 1999
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| opened= April 22, 1998
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| park=Animal Kingdom
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| capacity= 1,375
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| type=Walking Trail
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| type= Stage Show
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| park= Disney's Animal Kingdom
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| duration= 28
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| custom_label_1= Based on
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| custom_value_1= The Lion King
 
| custom_label_1= FastPass +
 
| custom_label_1= FastPass +
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| custom_value_1= No
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| custom_value_1= Yes}}
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}}
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Festival of the Lion King is an attraction located in the [[Africa]] section of [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]]
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The Maharajah Jungle Trek is an attraction located in [[Asia]] within [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]].
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==Attraction History==
 
==Attraction History==
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Although not an opening day attraction, the Maharajah Jungle Trek opened with the rest of Asia on March 18, 1999 <ref> http://www.florida-project.com/images/guidebook/AK/1998v2/animal-kingdom-guidemap-dec-1998-11.jpg </ref>. Sometime after 2009 the Tapir was removed from the Jungle Trek <ref> http://www.jamboeveryone.com/search/label/tapir </ref>.
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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 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 Kingdomme was pushed back to a later time and a temporary land called Camp Minnie-Mickey was created in order to draw guests to this new land.
  
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==Attraction Description==
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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 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.  
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The Maharajah Jungle Trek is a self-guided walking tour that brings guests face to face with some of Asia's rarest animals. The Jungle Trek (like the rest Asia) is set in the fictional village of Anandapur.  
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===Backstory===
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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"/>. The show's theater was finally enclosed in 2003, along with air conditioning being added<ref name= "Hill"/>. Outside of changes to the show's theater, 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= "Hill"/>.
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The backstory for the Maharajah Jungle Trek states that since ancient times, the rajahs of Anandapur have hunted tigers in the forest. In 1544, King Bhima Disampati decreed that the forest would become a Royal Preserve where he and his guests could hunt. In order to make the hunting easier, he had the forest enclosed, trapping the animals inside. Ironically, the king was later killed in a hunting accident, and his successors eventually turned the enclosed forest into a nature preserve, where animals and the villagers could live in harmony.
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Further evidence in the attraction suggests that the preserve was part of a British colony until 1948, when the villagers of Anandapur regained control and opened the preserve up to the outside world <ref> http://www.disunplugged.com/2010/03/27/maharajah-jungle-trek-at-disneys-animal-kingdom/ </ref>.
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On January 5, 2014 Festival of the Lion King along with the rest of Camp Minnie-Mickey was closed in order make way for construction on Avatar Land (a new area of the park based on James Cameron’s film Avatar) <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.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 Lion King would be moving into a new theater called Harambe Theater located in a new expansion of the Africa section of the park. The theater was completed in May of 2014 <ref> http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/festival-of-the-lion-king/news/08may2014-photo-and-video---see-the-new-'festival-of-the-lion-king'-harambe-theatre-at-disney's-animal-kingdom.htm </ref>, and the Festival of the Lion King attraction reopened in its new home on June 1, 2014 <Ref> http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_flk.htm </ref>.
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[[Image:BengalTiget.jpg|400px|thumb|A Bengal tiger as seen from the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Photo by Theme Park Tourist]]
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===Animals===
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==Show Plot==
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{| style="padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px;"
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[[Image:FestivaloftheLionKing.jpg|400px|thumb|The cast of Festival of the Lion King. Photo: Lauren Javier]]
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|-
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The Festival of the Lion King begins with the shows' four hosts singing "Welcome 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 gift"). After the hosts introduce themselves, they tell the audience that Simba and his guests will be there any minute, but first they need the audiences' 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 who are the giraffes, make a noise that sounds like a sheep.
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* Komodo Dragon
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* Malayan Tapir (No longer present <ref> http://www.jamboeveryone.com/search/label/tapir </ref>)  
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* Rodrigues Fruit Bats
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* Malayan Flying Fox
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* Blood Python
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* Bengal Tiger
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* Blackbuck
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* Eld's Deer
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* Green Peafowl
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* Banteng
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* Bar-headed Goose
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|}
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===Birds===
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After everyone knows their roles, they all make their animal noises together. At this point, the lights in the room dim and everyone is told to listen. As wind begins to howl, various animals begin to dance on stage. After their ceremony, the Circle of Life begins to play. Simba, then addresses guests, telling them that it is time for the big celebration. At the beginning of the celebration, the song "I Just Can't Wait to be King" plays, as a parade begins. Timon, Pumbaa, the Tumble Monkeys, various animals, and other dancers then parade through the stage on floats. Finally, Simba appears atop a rock, watching over the proceedings.
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The Maharajah Jungle Trek also features an aviary where guests can see some of Asia's most exotic birds.
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{| style="padding-bottom:0px; padding-top:0px;"
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* Wompoo Fruit Dove
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* Golden Pheasant
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* Indian Pygmy Goose
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* White-Cheeked Bulbul
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* Long-Tailed Broadbill
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* Temminck's Fruit Dove
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* Masked Plover
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* Plum-Headed Parakeet
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* Jambu Fruit Dove
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* Nicobar Pigeon
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* White-Throated Kingfisher
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* Gold-Crested Myna
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* White-Rumped Shama Thrush
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* Crested Wood Partridge
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* Pheasant Pigeon
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* Chestnut-Breasted Malkoha
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* Fairy Bluebird
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* Piked Imperial Pigeon
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* Hooded Pitta
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* Mandarin Duck
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* Green Winged Dove
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* Bali Mynah
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* Lesser Green Broadbill
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|}
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===Other Points of Interest <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/10/maharajah_jungle_trek_1.html </ref>===
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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.  
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* Following the bat exhibits, guests enter the old hunting grounds of King Bhima Disampati. Here guests can see decaying ruins and ornate fountains that were once used as part of the hunt.  
+
[[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.  
  
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* Following the tiger viewing area, guests see the detailed walls of the former king's hunting lodge.  
+
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.
  
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* Near the hunting lodge guests can see an ancient coral tree where villagers have hung scarves and garland as offerings. They can also see bells which are used  to represent prayers that have been answered.
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==Fun Facts and Trivia==
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[[Image:kingbhimadis.jpg|thumb|250px|King Bhima Disampati holding a bow.]]
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* 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>.
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* While passing through a large archway, guests see a mural of King Bhima Disampati on the left and three murals of his successors on the right. The first king is shown holding a bow and arrow while his successors hold signs of peace. It is implied that these three maharajas turned the hunting lodge into the forest preserve.  
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** Past the archway, guests come upon a courtyard where they can see Blackbucks.
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** An ancient medicinal garden is located near the courtyard.
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** Across from the garden is a watering hole which holds safe water for travelers.
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** After passing the watering hole, guests come upon and old bridge, where numerous prayer flags are located.
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** To the right of the bridge, guests can see a mural that shows the death of King Bhima Disampati while on a tiger hunt. The king was apparently killed by a tiger.
+
  
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====Anata's Sarcophagus <ref> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/10/maharajah_jungle_trek_1.html </ref>====
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* 136 African inspired costumes are used in the show <ref name= "trivia"/>.
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Finally, guests reach the final resting place of Anata the founder of the Kingdom of Anandapur. Five carved tiles show the relationship that man (as represented by Anata) have had with animals.
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1. In the first tile man and animal live together in harmony.
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* 50 cast members perform daily in the Festival of the Lion King <ref name= "trivia"/>.
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2. In the second tile, animals hide under a tree, living in fear of man.
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3. In the third tile, man destroys the forest and kills the animals.
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4. In the fourth tile, the heavens show their displeasure with man's actions.
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5. Finally, man repents and once again lives in harmony with the animals.
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After passing by the tiles, guests come to the burial place of the ancient king in the form of a sarcophagus inside a temple. The inside of the temple serves as the attractions aviary.
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==Fun Facts and Trivia==
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* When guests enter the Maharajah Jungle Trek, they will notice that old Anandapur newspapers are being used as insulation <ref name= "book"> https://books.google.com/books?id=0i54BwAAQBAJ&pg=PT211&lpg=PT211&dq=Maharajah+Jungle+Trek+Anandapur+newspapers&source=bl&ots=ilBQBu2pls&sig=kruJr-omfFvuPMBvcREzMUmrz7g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDEQ6AEwA2oVChMIzpzSyeeLyQIVl36ICh19OAYa#v=onepage&q=Maharajah%20Jungle%20Trek%20Anandapur%20newspapers&f=false </ref>.
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* There are 6 tigers located within the Maharajah Jungle Trek <ref> http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_mjt.htm </ref>.
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* 7 shows of the Festival of the Lion King are performed every day <ref name= "trivia"/>.
  
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* Just outside of the bat caves, guests can see photographs of real caves in Asia where bats live. In one of the pictures guests can even spot Imagineer Joe Rhode with his camera <ref name= "book"/>.
+
* Several of the show's first performers went on to perform on Broadway <ref> http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_flk.htm </ref>.
  
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==Official Site==
 
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https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/animal-kingdom/maharajah-jungle-trek/
 
 
==References==
 
==References==

Revision as of 19:01, 7 May 2020

Festival of the Lion King
Festivalofthelion.jpg
The entrance sign for the Festival of the Lion King.
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Land Africa
Attraction type Stage Show
Opening date April 22, 1998
Ride duration 28 minutes
FastPass + Yes

Festival of the Lion King is an attraction located in the Africa section of Disney's Animal Kingdom

Attraction History

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 Kingdomme to be one of the park’s main lands [1]. Due to budget constraints however, Beastly Kingdomme was pushed back to 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 [1]. 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[1]. The show that they created was housed in a temporary theater which was not enclosed[1]. The show was called Festival of the Lion King and was ready in time for Animal Kingdom's opening day.

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[1]. The show's theater was finally enclosed in 2003, along with air conditioning being added[1]. Outside of changes to the show's theater, 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[1].

On January 5, 2014 Festival of the Lion King along with the rest of Camp Minnie-Mickey was closed in order make way for construction on Avatar Land (a new area of the park based on James Cameron’s film Avatar) [2]. Despite the closure of the land, Disney announced that Festival of the Lion King would be moving into a new theater called Harambe Theater located in a new expansion of the Africa section of the park. The theater was completed in May of 2014 [3], and the Festival of the Lion King attraction reopened in its new home on June 1, 2014 [4].

Show Plot

The cast of Festival of the Lion King. Photo: Lauren Javier

The Festival of the Lion King begins with the shows' four hosts singing "Welcome 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 gift"). After the hosts introduce themselves, they tell the audience that Simba and his guests will be there any minute, but first they need the audiences' 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 who are the giraffes, make a noise that sounds like a sheep.

After everyone knows their roles, they all make their animal noises together. At this point, the lights in the room dim and everyone is told to listen. As wind begins to howl, various animals begin to dance on stage. After their ceremony, the Circle of Life begins to play. Simba, then addresses guests, telling them that it is time for the big celebration. At the beginning of the celebration, the song "I Just Can't Wait to be King" plays, as a parade begins. Timon, Pumbaa, the Tumble Monkeys, various animals, and other dancers then parade through the stage on floats. Finally, Simba appears atop a rock, 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.

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.

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.

Fun Facts and Trivia

  • The Simba puppet in the Festival of the Lion King is 12 feet tall [5].
  • 136 African inspired costumes are used in the show [5].
  • 50 cast members perform daily in the Festival of the Lion King [5].
  • 7 shows of the Festival of the Lion King are performed every day [5].
  • Several of the show's first performers went on to perform on Broadway [6].

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 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
  2. ↑ http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/festival-of-the-lion-king/news/18nov2013-festival-of-the-lion-king-closing-in-early-january-for-six-months.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/festival-of-the-lion-king/news/08may2014-photo-and-video---see-the-new-'festival-of-the-lion-king'-harambe-theatre-at-disney's-animal-kingdom.htm
  4. ↑ http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_flk.htm
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://www.disneybythenumbers.com/wdw/CampMinnieMIckey.html
  6. ↑ http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_flk.htm
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