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Fan-Favorite Show to Pause Performances This Summer at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney's Festival of the Lion King

Live entertainment is a staple among the many attractions and events at Walt Disney World the whole family can enjoy together. Fans of Disney’s iconic live performances have been thrilled to learn that a popular show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will soon be returning to its full, pre-pandemic format.

Guests with trips to the Disney Park this summer will want to note a brief pause in performances at Disney’s Festival of the Lion King that could impact their trip.

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Credit: DisneyFanatic.com

Disney’s Festival of the Lion King is set to return to its original format (with tumble monkeys and aerial birds included!) this July in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Ahead of its return, performers will be rehearsing the show to debut the full version of the performance, resulting in a break in showtimes from July 5-15, 2022.

Theme park reporter Scott Gustin shared the news on Twitter:

Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King, the current and abbreviated version of the show that has been running since it reopened from its 2020 closure, will close after its final performance on July 4, 2022. Then on July 5, the show will be paused until the full version returns on July 16, 2022.

If you have some flexibility in your next trip to Walt Disney World and Festival of the Lion King is on your must-do list, you may want to start planning around the show’s scheduled break so you do not miss it!

Disney’s Festival of the Lion King is one of the most popular shows at Walt Disney World featuring a celebration of the hit 1994 Disney animated film in a vibrant festival of music, dancing, audience interaction, and iconic Lion King characters.

The show takes place in Harambe Village in Africa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with showtimes typically running hourly between 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or later depending on the date and park hours.

As you plan your next visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, be sure to note the scheduled break from July 5-15, 2022, and find current showtimes for the full show beginning July 16 on DisneyWorld.com and in the My Disney Experience app.

About Brittany DiCologero

Brittany is a New England-based writer focused on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. She is the author of "Red, White, and Disney: The Myths and Reality of American History at the Walt Disney World Resort," and "Brittany Earns Her Ears."