Everyone knows that Disney is home to some amazing rides, incredible food and fun characters. What you might not know is that Disney World is also home to some intriguing attractions and stage shows. These range from family-friendly singing fish to 3-D bugs and 4-D special effects. There's something for everyone in the family to love!
1. The Tiki Room (Adventureland, Magic Kingdom)
In a little hideaway near Aladdin’s Magic Carpets is nestled this bird-filled paradise. Exotic birds sing for you (their theme song might actually be catchier than “It’s A Small World”) as you relax in paradise. Though the show no longer features Lago and Zazu (from Aladdin and The Lion King, respectively) as hosts, it’s still a cute escape from the heat. It’s only ten minutes long, and there’s no scary special effects that would scare any little ones who might be traveling with you.
2. Stitch’s Great Escape (Tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom)
Though this attraction has it's fair share of critics, it’s a must do for many. Animatronics and TV screens help to introduce you to your new job as a guard for all the intergalactic criminals. Your training is halted when Stitch arrives to wreck havoc. The show takes place in a dark, circular room, and Stitch appears in the center. There are also TV screens that show what happens when he heads to a familiar castle not so far away. Each seat has a harness that comes over your shoulders and it’s equipped with speakers, so even when Stitch is out of sight, you always know what he’s up to. He “jumps” on you and lets out a loud, smelly burp. This attraction is definitely not for everyone, but it is humorous and a welcome break from the heat.
3. Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor (Tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom)
Right across from Stitch’s Great Escape is the world of Monstropolis, where monsters no longer get their energy from screams. Instead, they rely on human laughter to power their cities. Mike Wasoski, the green one-eyed monster from the movie, is your host in this comedy show, but he and all the other monster acts also need audience participation to fill their quota. This show is absolutely hilarious, and you will never see the same show twice. Just make sure you don’t end up being “that guy!”
4. Mickey’s Philharmagic (Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom)
Finally, a show where Donald Duck is the star! When tasked with preparing for a concert, Donald tries on Mickey’s sorcerer hat and gets lost in the world of Disney movies. He goes under the sea with Ariel and high above the clouds with Aladdin and Jasmine in an attempt to recover the hat. It’s a humors show that also employs mild 4-D effects, like drops of water, and provides you with “opera glasses” to view the screen.
5. Voyage of The Little Mermaid (Hollywood Studios)
This is an absolute must for any Ariel fan. This stage show takes the viewer through a shortened version of the classic movie. Though most of the work is done by the actors on stage, there are a lot of loud special effects when Ursula makes an appearance, and her image appears lit up around the theatre. It can be a little frightening for some younger kids, but if they can make it through, they will end up loving it. Additionally, here’s a bit of trivia for grown-up Ariel aficionados: this show is the only place in the park where you can see Ariel in her human form. Her meet and greet spot is in her grotto, therefore, she’s still sporting a tail.
6. The Festival of The Lion King (Animal Kingdom)
This show is absolutely incredible. The theatre seating is divided into four sections, and each of the four actors represent one of the sections. Viewers are asked to roar like lions or grunt like warthogs in order to greet King Simba and his traveling entourage. Kids will love seeing familiar faces such as Timon and Pumba, and everyone will get a laugh out of the monkey’s incredible acrobatic antics. This show also features a beautiful ballet to “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?” and an appearance from Scar. You absolutely will be encouraged to sing along!
7. It’s Tough To Be A Bug (Animal Kingdom)
In the iconic Tree of Life, Flik the ant presents us with an informative show about some of the creatures we share our planet with. Stinkbugs, grasshoppers, and all kinds of other friendly bugs make an appearance on the 3-D screen. You do get poked and prodded quite a bit, and you may get sprayed with “acid” after an act goes awry, but this show is perfect for the kid who likes to get down and dirty! Just be sure to hold your nose when the stinkbug come on stage.
8. Finding Nemo: The Musical (DinoLand, Animal Kingdom)
This extraordinary show recalls the story of Marlin the blowfish and his search for his son. The fish are all puppets controlled by cleverly concealed actors and held aloft in ingenious ways (a personal favorite: Mr. Ray is controlled by an actor riding a bicycle). The show also features songs based on the movie, such as “Just Keep Swimming,” “Go With The Flow,” and “The Big Blue World” (the latter is featured on the Finding Nemo ride in EPCOT). It’s definitely a gem in DinoLand, a section of the park that needs some updating. It is a bit long (total run time is about 40 minutes), so please keep that in mind before you enter. However, it’s forty minutes in the air conditioning, and in Disney, it wouldn't be wise to turn that down.
9. PIXAR’s Short Film Festival (Future World, EPCOT)
This adorable show presents three of PIXAR’s animated short films, such as Piper, La Lune, or Get A Horse. These shorts are usually shown before PIXAR films such as Finding Nemo or Monsters Inc. In this moving theatre, located near The Land section of Future World, you can watch the films in 3-D with 4-D special effects, such as gusts of wind, a sprinkling of water, or the theatre seats themselves shifting slightly. The effects aren’t very extreme, so younger princes and princesses will love it.
10. Star Wars: Path of the Jedi (Echo Lake, Hollywood Studios)
Hollywood Studios has had an influx of Star Wars-related attractions following the release of the latest movie. “Path of the Jedi” shows iconic scenes from all the movies (yes, even the prequels) to show the development of the characters we love today. There is another show in a different theater, located in the Star Wars Launch Bay attraction, which shows the creative minds behind the latest installment talking about their first experiences with the franchise and how it inspired them as filmmakers. No Jedi should miss either one.
11. Fantasmic (Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Studios)
This nighttime show is the perfect way to end your day at Hollywood Studios. The open arena overlooks a mountain with a moat around it, and takes us through the dreams of Mickey Mouse.
Though this show is definitely a dream come true, it’s not the best idea for little ones. The front rows will get sprayed with water, and the villains (a giant snake and dragon, among others) can be frightening. It’s also only shown at night, which may be past certain viewers’ bedtimes. However, if you’re traveling with older kids (or even better, just adults!), you should absolutely stick around for this fantastic show.
12. For The First Time In Forever: A Frozen Sing-a-Long Celebration (Echo Lake, Hollywood Studios)
Finally, a safe place for you to belt out “Let It Go” without being judged! Meet Princess Anna in Arendelle and allow her to introduce to you the Royal Historians, who will take you through the story of Anna and her sister, Queen Elsa. The screen behind them shows clips from the movies and, of course, the words to all the songs. The historians are absolutely hysterical, and they will definitely make the adults present laugh too. Kristoff also makes an appearance to help them out in retelling the story, and both Anna and Elsa appear at the end to lead everyone in an encore of “Let It Go” as “snow” falls on the audience. I’m sure every little princess will want to make this show a priority, and thankfully, it is
Obviously, this list is far from complete. Walt Disney World has so much to offer, you will definitely find the perfect show to see while on vacation. Show times are featured on maps of the park and on the Times Guide, both of which can be picked up at any gift shop and upon entering the parks.