Festival of the Lion King to close in January

[Brian Noble]

It doesn't make any sense for an attraction to go down for an extended period of time.

...it does if you are moving it. Say, to Harambe. You know, to make way for an expansion/redevelopment of the current Land.

Is this going to include the character trails?

Disney has already announced that one of the Discovery Island shops is being re-purposed as an indoor character meet-n-greet. Once that opens, I'm not sure you still need the trails...

 

[Miss Marie]

Since nobody else has mentioned this...

How do we know this is actually going to happen?

I hope that this rumor isn't true. I've never seen the show before and really want to. It looks so good!

I hate the idea of Avatar. Sure it's got a good message that fits well with Disney, but it's just one movie that is supposed to be the start of a series. What if the next few movies aren't as good? I did like the message and the whole design, but I mean seriously, one movie that was a huge success gets a theme park area? HP I can understand, but Avatar, I don't get it.

Just in case, we'd better make sure to see FotLK in November.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I hope that this rumor isn't true. I've never seen the show before and really want to. It looks so good!

I hate the idea of Avatar. Sure it's got a good message that fits well with Disney, but it's just one movie that is supposed to be the start of a series. What if the next few movies aren't as good? I did like the message and the whole design, but I mean seriously, one movie that was a huge success gets a theme park area? HP I can understand, but Avatar, I don't get it.

Just in case, we'd better make sure to see FotLK in November.

I agree. In my opinion, if you are absolutely insistent on having a land based on a movie franchise (which certainly seems dangerously close to copying something Universal did - but doesn't seem to be getting done as well), why not pick out a film franchise that has shown itself to actually be successful. In fact, you already have a partnership with George Lucas. Why not a Star Wars land? Star Wars the Weekend is extremely successful, as are all of those Star Wars conventions. And how many people love Star Wars and still dress up as characters from the movies at Comic Con? I don't even like Star Wars and I am able to see the promise that this idea holds. Avatar has me much less convinced.

 

[Jennasis]

Why not build the new theater first then move it? They haven't even broken ground on Avatarland or even released any detail on what it might be.

 

[SamSam]

Although I'm very pleased that Disney is constantly working on new projects for the parks, I really hope that Festival of the Lion King is just being relocated and not permanently closed.

Dh and I love this show, in fact, we AK...our favorite park.

 

[si-am]

Avatar land is the dumbest idea ever. Sure, it was successful when it came out, but it's been pretty much forgotten now. It doesn't have the same cult following as Hary Potter or Star Wars or even Toy Story. It's not a movie that people tend to watch over and over.

 

[minnie mum]

I love this show as well, so I hope it's a quick move. So do people think they are going to put camp minnie/mickey into a building? I thought one of the poster said something about moving them as well. I would not like that to be like the princesses at MK.

Camp Mickey Minnie covers a lot of territory. Were you perhaps asking if they were putting the character meet and greets into a building? If so, then the answer is YES. The characters will be moving very soon to Discovery Island and will be greeting in what is now Beastly Bazaar.

Mom,
Avatar had already struck out when I saw it when it came out.

I think Disney formed an alliance with James Cameron on this one. I think a ride would be just fine, but taking over the space of something popular is not cool with me. Is this going to include the character trails? That will put me over the edge for sure.

See my comment above. You will still be able to meet the characters, but in a different area.

Why not build the new theater first then move it? They haven't even broken ground on Avatarland or even released any detail on what it might be.

EXACTLY what I was saying in an earlier post. They did this with the new Dumbo spinner to minimize down time, so why not with the new FOTLK theatre?

 

[featherise]

So sad. We are headed next June with folks who have never been. By far, my favorite show!

 

[DisneyGuess]

Camp Mickey Minnie covers a lot of territory. Were you perhaps asking if they were putting the character meet and greets into a building? If so, then the answer is YES. The characters will be moving very soon to Discovery Island and will be greeting in what is now Beastly Bazaar.

Not to derail, but I can't remember when this was said to be opening...was it the end of August (this month)?

 

[Reddog1134]

I'm just going to throw this out there. If people don't like it, they can feel free to throw it right back. Is the "conservation" and "love your planet" thing not already the theme of Rafiki's Planet Watch? I mean, my goodness, that is where Conservation Station is. Why not put this Avatar thing there? It has been my experience that that is the least crowded area of the park when I am there, anyway, so you would be less likely to upset people. Plus, with having to take the train to get there, you would be able to work with the how it blends in to the surrounding area a bit easier and it wouldn't be like you are walking along and BAM you are in Pandora. I'm sure I'm not the first person to think of this and that there is a reason they aren't putting it out there, but does anyone know why?

I believe it has to do with the animal habitats. Avatar land will most likely have elements that will require it to be placed in an area away from the live animals.

 

[Lucia_27]

If FOTLK goes away, I am pretty sure we will skip AK on any future trips. We live 20 min. from Busch Gardens, which blows AK away. I just said to DH today that Lion King is my favorite thing at AK.

 

[wendydarling826]

I would be very unhappy to see FOTLK closed. It is our favorite show and our favorite AK attraction. I don't know where they're going with the Avatar thing and it doesn't appeal to me. Lion King is classic Disney and in my opinion it needs to stay.

 

[Bullseye]

I'm not sure I understand the dislike for Avatarland, when no details have been released as to the attractions/shows/dining/etc...

Just because you didn't like the movie doesn't mean you will hate Avatarland.

Exactly!! I personally am excited about some new attractions coming to AK. We love that park and are excited about enjoying more great attractions there. I trust that Disney will do a great job bringing the imagination and creativity of Avatar to this new area of AK.

Why not build the new theater first then move it? They haven't even broken ground on Avatarland or even released any detail on what it might be.

I'll be in the minority here and say I like all of Dinoland AND I'm looking forward Avatar at AK. It's going to be cool and it's going to add at least one more "E-ticket" ride to that park guaranteed. I like FOTLK, but if they have to temporarily close it then I'm sure that's what they have to do. Is it possible that it could be housed in the same structure it is in now at it's new location which is why they have to close it. Obviously, not the foundation but the building itself?

 

[cigar95]

Avatar land is the dumbest idea ever.

Ever heard of Rocky Candy Mountain at Disneyland?

 

[jdcthree]

Ever heard of Rocky Candy Mountain at Disneyland?

We have a book about Disney mountains and my son was so disappointed that they didn't make Rock Candy Mountain. We thought it was a great idea, lol!

 

[Jennasis]

What really bugs me about "Avatarland" is the possibility of it being called "AVATARLAND". It's ridiculous. If they call it "Pandora", then maybe I won't be so angry about the whole thing.

I also think it was stupid to call DCA's area "CARSland". It should have been called "Radiator Springs".

 

[girls]

Oh. :-( We're going mid-Jan. I hope we can catch it still see it. That was such an amazing show.

 

[bdoyledimou]

Back in 2002 the ex-wife and I were told by a cat member that we were attending the FINAL SHOWING of FOTLK -- they announced it at the beginning and end of the show -- and thanked the audience for all the support over the years..

Then imagine my surprise in 2004 when it was still there -- It's a super popular show!!! I really do hope that they keep it around in SOME fashion.. but i am sure the Tumble Monkeys need a vacation

(i wonder where people who work at Disney world go on vacation ----- )

 

[crostorfer]

Avatar is no Potter.

Don't give two hoots about an Avatarland. Now, FoTLK shutting down for an extended period, that I can give a hoot about, and not a positive one. Take that out of the equation and AK becomes a true half day park for me.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I don't care about Avatar Land one way or the other, but if they're going to get rid of any show in AK, it should be Nemo and not the Lion King.

LK is excellent and always worth seeing. Nemo OTOH is easily the worst show I have ever seen at any Disney park going back to the 1970s. It's so, so bad! Even sitting in air-conditioning does nothing to redeem it. Terrible! I will never waste my time there again.