A Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King Post-Covid Performance 2022

The Festival of the Lion King has been a must-see experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom since it debuted in 1998. This high-energy, Broadway-style show features songs, acrobatics, and audience participation that celebrates the spirit of The Lion King. In 2014, the show relocated from Camp Minnie-Mickey to a brand-new indoor theater in the Africa section of the park, making space for Pandora—The World of Avatar.

A celebration, not a retelling

This isn’t a direct retelling of the movie. Instead, the show celebrates the music and themes of The Lion King through dance, puppetry, and song. It includes fan-favorite numbers like “Hakuna Matata,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” and “Circle of Life.”

The pandemic-era version

After the pandemic shutdown, Disney returned a modified version titled A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King. This temporary version included changes to choreography and backstage operations to allow for physical distancing.  Most notably, the Tumble Monkeys and some aerial elements were paused.  Even with the changes, the show kept its energy and emotional impact. The performance’s costumes, music, and spirit remained as powerful as ever.

The full version returns

Disney announced the full return of Festival of the Lion King in summer 2022. That includes the return of the Tumble Monkeys, aerial artists, and the original choreography. This blog’s featured video shows the transitional version—an essential moment in the show’s history and a sign of Disney’s resilience.