"Festival of The Lion King" Pumps Magic into Camp Minnie-Mickey

Aronda says: "This is a performance that always brings tears to my eyes because of the perennial message of the commonality of all creatures. And when the bird takes flight to 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight'--well, WOW! It's an amazingly emotional moment. The Tumble Monkeys are an absolute hoot, and the fire dancer will amaze you. Don't miss this show--and by all means, make sure you arrive at least 30 minutes (or more) early, even on less-crowded days. I've seen disappointed folks all too often turned away from the theater because they walked up at the last minute."

Animal heroes of "The Lion King," one of the world's favorite classic Disney films, star in this popular spectacle that combines the pageantry of a parade with the excitement of an African tribal celebration. Staged in a hexagonal timber structure, now enclosed and air-conditioned, with the atmosphere of an Adirondack summer theater, the show puts the 1,375-guest audience right in the middle of the excitement.

Four giant rolling stages move in from two directions as costumed performers and colorful props sail through the air above the audience. Guests sit in triangular sections labeled elephant, giraffe, warthog and lion.

To the right, Simba is a giant animated figure, 12 feet high, sitting atop Pride Rock. To the left is Elephant Waterfall, where a playful pachyderm spouts water from his swaying trunk. Another stage is dominated by a swaying giraffe and a fourth is the jungle stage where Pumbaa and Timon reside.

Singers in African tribal robes open the show with a rousing chorus of "I Just Can't Wait to be King." The center stage doubles as a trampoline for costumed aerial performers portraying a troop of acrobatic monkeys flying through a happy rendition of "Hakuna Matata." "Be Prepared" sets the theme for a mock battle of tribal warriors on stilts.

High-wire aerialists hit the high notes dressed as giant birds in a love duet that literally soars to the tune of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" The show comes full circle with a full chorus of "The Circle of Life" followed by audience participation in competing groups for "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." The show's 50 performers return for the rousing finale of a medley of songs from the film.

The 28-minute performance is staged daily in Camp Minnie-Mickey.

A LION KING EXTRAVAGANZA -- Performers in African tribal robes join the animal heroes of the Disney classic film "The Lion King" for a rousing performance of the "Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park. The show, which also features high-wire aerialists and hit music from the film, is performed daily in the park's Camp Minnie-Mickey. Festival of the Lion King is among more than 150 live acts performed daily throughout the year at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.