Best Shows at Walt Disney World
Nobody tells stories as well as The Walt Disney Company.
That’s a fact, and it’s been true for more than a century now.
Photo:visitorlando.com
As proof, you should look no further than Disney theme parks, where Cast Members retell many of your favorite stories daily.
These show-based attractions distill classic Disney animated fairytales into about 15 minutes of pure joy.
Photo: Disney
Let’s talk about the best shows at Walt Disney World.
Country Bear Musical Jamboree
Last year, Disney did the unthinkable.
At Magic Kingdom, management willingly chose to alter an attraction that Walt Disney had touched.
Now, I’m not talking about your casual, run-of-the-mill plussing here.
Disney canceled Country Bear Jamboree, the longest-running show at Walt Disney World. It had been there since day one.
Even more remarkably, Walt Disney himself had planned an entire ski community with this attraction as its centerpiece.
So, you can imagine how touchy this conversation must have been for Disney.
Replacing Country Bear Jamboree was the right call. It’s that simple.
The new version celebrates Disney’s iconic music library by reinventing several Disney tunes as country and western songs.
Plus, the show has been modernized as well, a change that was sorely needed. Check out the new experience:
Festival of the Lion King
You can’t go wrong with The Lion King.
Disney has told this classic story twice over the past 30+ years, and each movie has become a blockbuster.
Recently, Disney added Mufasa: The Lion King to fill out the back story a bit, and it was a $700 million box office hit as well.
Festival of the Lion King
Simply stated, people love Simba, Nala, Mufasa, and their friends.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, guests celebrate this fandom with an energetic show that includes ample crowd participation.
Festival of the Lion King is a must during any park visit here, as the following video will prove:
Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond!
I obviously love when Disney modernizes its classic show-based attractions.
After leading with Country Bear Musical Jamboree, I’m now mentioning the updated Finding Nemo show.
This portends well for the upcoming replacement at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure.
Also, let’s be honest that Disney Villains: Unfairly After probably would have made this list if I’d waited a couple of months.
Lately, Disney has been on fire in creating/reenvisioning its shows, and The Big Blue…and Beyond proves it. Look at this!
That’s 25 minutes of pure joy right there. It’s enough to have you singing In the Big Blue World during the rest of your park visit.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
In terms of production values, nothing else even approaches the Frozen Sing-Along except possibly Finding Nemo.
Photo: Disney
Disney spared no expense in bringing the world of Arendelle to life on stage.
While I’d argue that brevity would be Disney’s friend when it comes to the attraction’s name, the presentation itself is stunning.
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
At one point, snow falls in an indoor auditorium, immersing guests in the illusion that Elsa’s powers are just that strong.
There’s also an improv element to this show that delights me, and the music is obviously the gold standard.
I love everything on this list, but only two shows are at the top of it. Frozen is definitely one. Here’s a clip:
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
How many movies have you watched in your lifetime? And how many times have you wondered how stunts work?
Generally, movie magic remains a mystery, but that’s not the case at Hollywood Studios.
For generations now, the Indiana Jones stunt show has revealed the secrets of action scenes.
Cast Members dazzle with their athletic prowess as Indy showcases fights, traps, and explosive sequences.
Some of my fondest park memories involve taking a break at Indy to watch these stunt actors do their thing. Take a look:
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
We all love Disney movies, and that’s one of the reasons why Mickey’s PhilharMagic is such a crowd-pleaser.
Disney has distilled some of the most memorable animated movie moments ever into this 15-minute show.
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
You’ll watch some of your favorite moments featuring Ariel, Aladdin, and Simba.
Donald Duck ties them all together, as he has, as usual, done something he shouldn’t have.
Photo: Disney
He winds up stuck in a wall because of it, and that delightful finish always leaves ghosts walking away smiling.
Mickey’s PhilharMagic is legitimately one of the best experiences at Magic Kingdom, the best theme park in the world.
Turtle Talk with Crush
Improvisation is a challenging talent at the best of times. Now, imagine trying to do it in a room full of children!
That’s the idea behind Turtle Talk with Crush, which allows children to engage in live conversations with Crush.
You should remember him as the parental surfer dude turtle in Finding Nemo.
Since Crush is more than a century old, he’s super-wise and witty, but he remains a laid-back dude.
Disney
Importantly, Crush is fascinated by humans, especially the little ones. So, he asks plenty of questions and then cracks wise.
The whole experience is equal parts mesmerizing and hysterical. Better yet, every visit is different.
Here’s a show with a kid getting waaaaay too specific about where they live.
How could anyone not love a show like that?!
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
My elderly mother was recently telling me a Grandpa Simpson-ish story about how she used to carry potatoes in her pockets.
While she was explaining the specifics, I must admit that my mind wandered a bit as I experienced an epiphany.
My mother’s experiences mirror those of Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.
Carousel of Progress animatronic
A technology enthusiast, Uncle Walt marveled at how much the world had changed during his lifetime.
So, he created this show to demonstrate four different eras of society, starting with the early 20th century, which was his childhood.
Imagineers lovingly update the final segment of Carousel of Progress to keep it modern.
The stories from Walt Disney’s life remain the same, though. Disney reveres them and wouldn’t dare change them.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
The same statement can’t be said of the Enchanted Tiki Room, another attraction that Disney himself helped to create.
At one point, Disney tried to re-theme this show with characters from Aladdin and The Lion King. It…didn’t work at all.
So, management decided to return to the original, which was named Tropical Serenade.
Photo: D23
However, Disney sagely trimmed the show a bit and gave it a statelier name to honor its history.
I’ll readily admit that this is the most outdated show on this list, but Disney already tried but failed to modernize it.
Enchanted Tiki Room
The reality is that there’s no beating the original, a charming classic with a shockingly catchy song. Here, listen!
These are the best shows at Walt Disney World. Agree? Let us know in the comments!
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