No tumbling monkeys at FOTLK?

[Gruff320]

I used to perform in FoLK (way back when the park first opened in 98-99) and there are many reasons why that could happen. Staffing is a possibility, but I have friends that still do the show and I think I remember seeing something on Facebook about the stage not working correctly. There was a post from one FoLKer a while back that said they did some shows where the stage was broken and couldn't move in/out of the theater and I believe there have been times where the stage wouldn't open/close. So it could have been something like that or a monkey equipment problem (rings, bars, etc.).

It really could be a variety of reasons. I remember that we had some issues with some stilts needing repair back in 98 or so and we would have to do a 2-stilt show. That would also happen if we were short-staffed i.e. a stiltwalker was also trained in puppets and we were short a puppeteer, so they would be moved to puppets and go to a 2-stilt show until they could pull someone from another area or call someone in.

Back when the theater was open-air, we would have "heat shows" where some performers were allowed to go back into the Quonset Huts during certain numbers to cool down. There were other times when the rain would be so heavy it would come in through the top vents of the theater and cancel a show. You just never know...

 

[Robo]

I used to perform in FoLK (way back when the park first opened in 98-99)...

I must say that the dancers in FoLK are a really great part of the show. They add so much to the overall
enjoyment of this wonderfully staged presentation.

It's great to hear from a former cast member and I just wanted to tell you how much our entire family loves
what you did to make our days at DAK so much more FUN!

The stilt-walkers really rev up the excitement!

Thank you!

 

[Gruff320]

I must say that the dancers in FoLK are a really great part of the show. They add so much to the overall
enjoyment of this wonderfully staged presentation.

It's great to hear from a former cast member and I just wanted to tell you how much our entire family loves
what you did to make our days at DAK so much more FUN!

The stilt-walkers really rev up the excitement!

Thank you!

Thank you! Stilts were a blast! (And great exercise! I miss that cardio! haha)

I'll tell you, the performers feel all of that magic come right back to them from the guests! Just this week, a friend who still does the show posted on Facebook about how performing in that show is still an amazing experience. I can't tell you how many times we'd come back to the greenroom after a show and performers were talking about the wonderful kids they pulled out to participate in "Lion Sleeps".
I hope you all know that the performers are just as touched by all of you as you are by them. It's definitely a two-way street!

 

[kwdw]

While I've never seen a show without the tumbling monkeys -- I did see one this past spring that started with 4 of them - and then there were 3. Didn't notice when the one skipped out - but I'm guessing he hurt himself during the show. Hadn't been any obvious accident - but yep - 4 to 3 mid-show.

This show really is Disney at it's best and I wish they had more shows like this!

 

[elaine amj]

My fave show in WDW - and the tumbling monkeys are awesome

 

[PatMcDuck]

Saw the monkeys performing with the show 3 weeks ago, Oct 24.

 

[epcotty]

The Lion ate the monkeys, after all it's the Feast of the Lion King as I usually (accidentally) call it

 

[BrokeMack]

They were there today. My favorite part of the show.

 

[Robo]

They were there today. My favorite part of the show.

"Ladies and gentlemen, direct from a record-breaking
2 million years at the bottom of the evolutionary ladder,
let's hear it for...

The Tumble Monkeys!"

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Definitely could be one of them was ill since that is a highly specialized position they cannot just come up with a replacement. I met the father of one of the tumble monkeys once and they were from Cuba where the son had been on the Cuban Olympic gymnastics team. I am always so impressed by their routine and skill. Best part of the show.

One of the current tumble monkeys was a gymnast on Team USA at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where they won the bronze medal.

 

[Gruff320]

"Ladies and gentlemen, direct from a record-breaking
2 million years at the bottom of the evolutionary ladder,
let's hear it for...

The Tumble Monkeys!"

View attachment 133667

HAHA!

A little trivia for you...

When we were still in rehearsals for the show back in 1998, there used to an Ed Sullivan impression that Timon did to introduce the Tumble Monkeys. "Really big shew..." and all that, but it had to be removed for copyright reasons.