Disney in a Minute: What is a Pre-show?

Some Disney attractions have what’s called a “pre-show.” The meaning is kind of obvious: it’s the thing before a show – and at Disney World, “show” means “attraction.” Pre-shows are used for a few different reasons, and currently at Walt Disney World you’ll find them at seventeen attractions across the four parks.

Sometimes, the pre-show is just a way to keep guests’ attention while standing in the queue. But often, the pre-show is an amusing way to present a safety warning. For instance, the Soarin’ pre-show is pretty much just Patrick Warburton telling guests to buckle their seatbelts, but it’s so charming that for many families (mine included) it’s one of their favorite parts of Epcot.

It’s not uncommon for a pre-show to provide needed background for the attraction. For instance, the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run pre-show has Hondo Ohnaka explaining your mission. Without the pre-show, the action you’ll see on the ride doesn’t make much sense.

Some pre-shows are so fully integrated into the attraction that it’s hard to tell where one leaves off and the other begins! A great example is the Stretching Room portion of the Haunted Mansion. The Stretching room “show” sets the scene and establishes the atmosphere for the main event – the ride on the doom buggy.

The pre-show concept has taken on galactic proportions in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios. This attraction has so many introductory pieces that the pre-show might be nearly as long – and every bit as much fun – as the attraction itself!

Some pre-shows are so very popular that they develop cult followings and merchandise lines you can find in the gift shops. Whether informative or funny, shorter or longer, the aim of the pre-show is to add a little Disney magic to your experience while helping you pass the time in the queue without becoming bored or restless.

Disney in a Minute is a series of short posts designed to help you better understand a Disney term or planning topic. Enjoy!

Do you have a Disney term that you think needs a bit more explanation? Let us know in the comments.

Thanks to Erin Foster for an earlier version of this post.