FIRST LOOK: Disneyland’s Jubilant Tale of the Lion King Show

Live entertainment has been flooding back into Disneyland. In the last few weeks we’ve seen the returns of blockbusters such as the Main Street Electrical Parade, Disneyland Forever Fireworks, World of Color, and numerous smaller performances and character meet and greets. This weekend will bring the epic return of what we think is Disneyland’s best show ever, Fantasmic! But there’s another show opening this weekend which is sure to be overlooked in the shadow of Mickey’s imagination, so we’re going to give you a little preview today of Disneyland’s joyful Tale of the Lion King show in the Fantasyland Theater. 

Tale of the Lion King (Opens May 28th)

The Fantasyland Theater, where Mickey and the Magical Map played before park shutdowns, will get an updated version of a show originally performed in Disney California Adventure, Tale of the Lion King.

The familiar Lion King show is retold by the Storytellers of the Pride Lands, who don’t just act as narrators, but also as the characters through an energetic mix of live music and dance. And new for its Disneyland debut is a coloring craft activity before every performance from May 28 to July 4.

For its grand return to the stage, the show has been refreshed with all-new costumes, set pieces, and choreography. A live band and a cast of over 20 performers help push the energy over the top. This version of the show uses specially-created projections to further enhance the settings of the scenes. Everything looks hand-painted or carved, as though created by African craftspeople.

The aesthetic of the show pays homage to the story’s roots. You’ll see this in the designs of both the costumes and the backdrops, hear it in the Swahili dialogue woven into the script and song lyrics, and experience it through the choreography in the dance numbers.

Moving this show to the Fantasyland Theater was a brilliant idea — and one that we had suggested during its debut run in 2019. Its original location was out in the unshaded area of Paradise Bay and though the show is a gem, many guests were unable to watch due to the inhospitable conditions of heat and a lack of shade. But that won’t be a problem in the Fantasyland Theater. Plus, an actual theater gives this show a chance to spread its wings with an actual set, improved lighting and improved sound.  

We were able to get an early preview of the show and wanted to share a few photos and thoughts.

While we weren’t allowed to take video, since this was a technical rehearsal, we do have a short teaser video from a dress rehearsal. The music is mostly the same, but the staging and sets have been completely redesigned. 

(We’ll have more photos and video for you this weekend, so please be sure to check back.)

Our Thoughts on Tale of the Lion King at Disneyland

We loved the original version on this show when it was in California Adventure and were disappointed when it was first reduced in scope and then quietly canceled. Well, as they say, everything old is new again with this rethinking of the show in its new Fantasyland Theater location. 

Just about everything in the show has been enhanced or improved in some way, with a larger cast, new costumes and set, and all-new staging and choreography. A live band featuring incredible percussionists sets the mood right off the bat in a way a recorded track just can’t do. The cast enters the theater from the aisles, dancing their way toward the stage. It was an instant breath of life and energy that put me in the mood for a show. They had me from the very first moments.  

While the music and story will feel familiar from the many times you’ve seen the movie and Broadway versions, the approach that this version takes is quite different. There are no performers dressed as animals, no puppets, it doesn’t look or feel manufactured or animated… Rather, this show has the intimacy of a storytellers relating a tale and then stepping into the roles themselves. The director of the show, Paul Bryant, calls the style “Story-Theater.” That’s an apt description and a refreshing change from the montage style performance of the Fantasyland Theater’s previous show, Mickey and the Magical Map.

At 25 minutes in length, the show has just enough time to tell its story without overstaying its welcome. I loved just about everything about this show. It was pure joy and exuberance.

There’s another element to the Tale of the Lion King that makes it feel so fresh, it’s been almost entirely produced by African-American performers, musicians, designers, choreographers, and directors. While still distinctly Disney, it also looks and feels culturally authentic as well. It reminded me of Viva Navidad at Disney California Adventure, a joyous cultural celebration that uplifts even as it informs and represents. 

Fantasmic and the Electrical Parade are massive over-the-top performances that just can’t be beat for your entertainment dollar, but the much smaller and more intimate Tale of the Lion King is sure to develop a following as well. There’s so much heart to this performance, it’s a wonderful change of pace and I hope it doesn’t get completely overshadowed by all the other returning entertainment at Disneyland. Don’t miss it! 

Tale of the Lion King Inspired Food

The Troubadour Tavern snack stand just outside the theater will offer a host of new sweets and savories.

Here’s what’s on the menu: 

Chicken-coconut Curry Sweet Potato – This is an interesting dish with a heavy curry flavor. Adventurous guests may really enjoy this one.   

Berbere-spiced Popcorn – I’m curious to see how guests respond to this one. It was certainly an unfamiliar flavor for me, heavily spiced (but not hot) . Not unpleasant, but different enough that many guests may not take a liking to it.  

Plantain Crisps – Less sweet but similar to banana with spices. I was not a fan of this one. It was fine for a nibble or two, but would be hard to finish the whole thing. 

Pride Rock Punch and Cardamom Cold Brew

There are also some special drinks which will debut this weekend. The fruity punch leans to the sweet side, as so many Disney drinks do.  And the Cardamom Cold Brew has a brown sugar and spice taste to it I’m told (though I did not get the chance to try it myself). 

Hakuna Matata Sweets – This cookie plate was really the highlight of the new menu. The macaroon, pineapple-orange thumbprint cookie, and chocolate chunk butter cookie are all frosted in animal prints. Very good. 

Overall, the menu has been simplified here. Here’s the menu and current prices: 

Let’s Hear From You

While this show is smaller and less elaborate than Mickey and the Magical Map, it’s a delightful bit of honest stagecraft with phenomenal music and joyous uplifting dance numbers. Let us know if you were a fan of the previous DCA version and if you are looking forward to seeing the new incarnation in the Fantasyland Theater.