Legend of the Lion King closing Fed. 23rd

[toefungus]

wdwmagic.com is reporting that the Legend of the Lion King will be closing on the 23rd to make way for Mickey's Philharmagic. I'm glad that they're finally starting to get working on the project, it looks like a good one! :D :D

[Eeyore2U]

I'm glad I saw it on our trip last February as we get there on the 24th. I enjoyed LOTLK but it's time for something new.

[Planogirl]

I just hope that they consider QUALITY when they construct the new attraction. I tend to worry now about what the public will end up with. :(

[Kirby]

I assume that you are talking about the one at MK. If so, thats good. I didn't think that a Lion King attraction was necessary in two different parks.

[Micca]

I agree Kirby. When the AK show opened, LOTL seemed redundant. Are we sure the Philharmagic attraction is new? There was a show in the MK that moved to TDL in the 80's that featured AA characters playing musical instruments with a Disney soundtrack. It was in a building at the end of Main Street closest to the entrance(over on the right side of the street as you face the castle). It was really cute, but might seem dated now. I'm wondering if Disney is packing it up and sending it back from Japan.

[Micca]

I agree Kirby. When the AK show opened, LOTL seemed redundant. Are we sure the Philharmagic attraction is new? There was a show in the MK that moved to TDL in the 80's that featured AA characters playing musical instruments with a Disney soundtrack. It was in a building at the end of Main Street closest to the entrance(over on the right side of the street as you face the castle). It was really cute, but might seem dated now. I'm wondering if Disney is packing it up and sending it back from Japan.

[HBK]

It's a new attraction....it will be a 3D / 4D movie based attraction similar to bugs life @ AK.

[catsrule]

Glad they are doing something new.

[space42]

Fantasy Land Theatre!

The attraction Micca is talking about is The Mickey Mouse Review. This was the first attraction to play in the Fantasy Land Theatre (where Legend of the Lion King is now) It moved to Tokyo Disneyland sometime around '86?? not sure of the exact date. Magic Journeys then moved from Epcot (to make way for EO) to the theatre. It played until '94 I think. Legend of the Lion King replaced it.

It is nice to see an attraction close to make way for a new attraction! Now, if only they'd bring back the Working for Peanuts 3d preshow that played before Magic Journeys. That was wonderful!

I am also excited to see a Mickey Mouse based attraction coming back to the Magic Kingdom! This is good news to me.

[Another Voice]

According to rumors, the new show is a 3-D computer generated movie featuring Mickey and the gang. It’s very similar to the old ‘Mickey Mouse Review’ in that everyone is putting on a show for the audience and “things go wrong” with funny results. There are some in-theater effects planned, but few people expect them to survive the budget cuts that are happening to the project.

By the way, the person who took over as head of WDI used to run the group’s film and video unit. This show is rumored to be his pet project. It must be good to be the king.

[Micca]

Thanks Space42 for reminding me of the name of the attraction. I could swear this was originally in a building on Main Street. Are you certain that it was in the location now inhabited by LOTLK? I defer to your expertise.

[space42]

Well, looks like my facts were not 100% accurate. The show closed in 1980. If you would ike to know the history of this attraction, check out widen your world here - > http://home.cfl.rr.com/omniluxe/mmr.htm

Lots of great info on extinct attractions :)

[Micca]

Cool site. Thanks for sharing. :)

[anim8or98]

There are plans for a Philharmagic shop out there also. Not sure if this will replace "Fantasy Faire" currently at the exit to L.O.T.L.K. or if it will be a new shop.

[andychris14]

when will this new attraction be opened?

[Testtrack321]

All thought nobody knows, my guess is Summer 2003.

The reason why they moved the Revue was that the pre-show room could only hold 600 people, and the theater could hold 800, so each show had 3/4 of the seats filled. Intresing bit of trivial there...

[larworth]

From Orlando Sentinel
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/orl-cfbtoursty04020402feb04.story?coll=orl%2Dbusiness% 2Dheadlines%2Dtourism

The new attraction will cost in the range of $30 million to $40 million, theme park consultants estimate. Disney World officials wouldn't comment on the project's cost.


A new theater will be built for the new 3-D movie and will feature a 150-foot-wide canvas. Disney officials said the animated 20-minute film -- being produced at a Disney studio in California -- will be 3-D on a grander scale than the entertainment giant has ever produced.

Tom Fitzgerald, executive vice president and senior creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, said, "We're always exploring ways to take 3-D to the next level."
This is sounding better all the time. Maybe, there is a reason Mr Sklar was so enthusiatistic when he commented on the effort being made here.

I'm happy to see that it will be of a reasonable length (20 min.s). Love "Tough 2B Bug", but it really is too short. We didn't need another candidate for "short attention span theater". If anyone remembers just how long Honey and Muppets are it might be an interesting comparison?