PHOTOS: We’re Happy to Celebrate Festival of the Lion King

This week, one of Animal Kingdom’s most beloved attractions returned — mostly. Called “A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King”, this show in the Africa section of Animal Kingdom features the music and high-energy performances you know and love, with a couple of COVID compliance modifications. For this show, there’s no tumble monkey segment, nor is there the flying bird segment for Can You Feel the Love Tonight. Other changes include some rows closed in the theater to allow for distancing, and no more kids participating in the finale. The segment of making the sounds of animals has also been temporarily halted. But even with these changes, the show is still fun, the theater is air conditioned, and the music is, well, music to our ears.

Wait times for Celebration of Festival of the Line King can get lengthy. Some guests lining up for the 12:30 show were told that they wouldn’t be able to get in until the 2:30 p.m. show. Showtimes today ran at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30, 5:00, 6:00, and 7:00.

But enough talk — here’s what you came to see, photos from today’s 12:30 show!

And for an added bonus, we spotted Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto on a character cavalcade while we waited to get in!

Are you excited to see Festival of the Lion King return? Let us know what you think in the comments.