Please remember that this article was written prior to the CoVid-19 pandemic and some items discussed may not currently be available. We are anticipating most, if not all, experiences and attractions to return to the parks when Disney fully reopens.
Disney offers some of the best live entertainment around. From spectacular night shows to Broadway caliber stage shows, Disney has multiple options for those who are trying to escape the ride crowd. Don't get me wrong, there is still a large following for everything Disney puts in front of their fans.
In this post, we are going to break this up into 3 sections.
First, we will look at some of the attraction style shows. These will be shows that have queues similar to the rides and can have a FastPass+ used for entry.
Then, we will look at the live shows and parades. This section will include open entertainment offered including fireworks, roaming shows, and stage areas.
Last, we will talk about character meet and greets. These happen in many different ways through out the parks.
Disney Offers Something for Everyone - Again
Just like when it comes to rides, Disney offers a wide array of shows and entertainment. Many of these offerings are set up on a continuous schedule through the day and housed in their own building or theater. In this section, we will look at many of the options available. Again, it would be exhausting to list every single one, but will highlight what we feel are the best uses of your time. If you are looking for a full list, look for our park overviews later this year.
Magic Kingdom - Disney showcases some great animatronics in their shows and they are put on full display in the Hall of Presidents and Country Bear Jamboree. If you're looking for some Disney History, check out the Carousel of Progress or the Enchanted Tiki Room and step into the past. To finish off this park, Enchanted Tales with Belle and Monsters Inc Laugh Floor put you, and maybe some other guy in the show, literally (maybe).
EPCOT - When it comes to this category, EPCOT doesn't have a lot past Turtle Talk with Crush and the Disney/Pixar Short Film Festival. It does offer many theaters around World Showcase that feature short films about the host, but these usually do not have long lines and do not offer FastPass+. Believe us, it makes up for it in many ways.
Hollywood Studios - What EPCOT currently lacks in entertainment attractions, Hollywood Studios picks up the slack. From live stunt shows like Indiana Jones to dance parties and sing-a-longs, this park has entertainment covered. With the addition of Lighting McQueen's Racing Academy, Hollywood Studios now offers 6 unique, housed entertainment offerings through the day.
Animal Kingdom - This park may offer the 2 best shows of any park at any time of the year. Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo the Musical are Broadway caliber productions shrunk down to half hour offerings. UP! A Great Bird Adventure, again, offers a unique Disney twist to learning. As with EPCOT, Animal Kingdom has numerous exhibits and trials that provide information on different animals, opposed to cultures in EPCOT.
Battle of the Nighttime Spectaculars
Disney does night shows right and, especially if it is your first trip, we advise to try and see all of them at least once.
We'll start at Magic Kingdom with Happily Ever After. It is an amazing fireworks and projection show on and behind Cinderella's Castle. Unfortunately, it is the show that is impacted the most by holiday upgrades and special parties. Make sure that you are looking at the schedule, or book with us and we can look at it, before you miss out on this show. After the main show prior to the park closing, Once Upon a Time lights up the castle again to cap off the night.
EPCOT's night show is going through a transition to eventually end up being called HarmonioUS. The sketches of the show look fantastic and it is slated to open sometime in 2020. Currently the EPCOT Forever show is shooting off from the World Showcase every night and is a great throwback to some of the past shows that have occupied the space. It incorporates fireworks and props to light up the World Showcase.
Hollywood Studios has a couple of shows each night. Fantasmic is their flagship show and it is a character driven stage show with projection and fireworks to enhance the entertainment. To find this show, head all the way down Sunset Blvd and past Tower of Terror. This show seems to be the most affected by the weather, so make sure you are prepared if it is a wet night. This show can be cut down to protect the performers or canceled all together due to weather. The other show is up by the Chinese Theater and is called the Star Wars : A Galactic Spectacular. This fireworks and projection show lights up most nights at the same time as Fantasmic, so you have to choose. Additionally, during the holiday season, Jingle Bell Jingle Bam will take over the Chinese Theater area and provide some festive cheer each night.
Animal Kingdom's night show is on the water between Asia and Dinoland and is called Rivers of Light. It debuted in 2017 after a lengthy delay and has been retooled a couple of times already. It incorporates floating props and water projection to tell it's story. On top of that, though it's not really a "show", the Tree of Life awakening each night is really cool and uses projection technology the make the park's landmark come to life.
Many More Chances to be Entertained
Around all of the parks there a numerous entertainers performing though out the day. From gifted performers and musicians to highly trained acrobats, all of the parks offer more entertainment options than you can get to. Knowing your touring plan is important to know what you can fit in and what may need to be seen the next time you go.
Magic Kingdom is currently the only park that has parades that come through daily. They start in the back of Frontier Land, coming through Liberty Square to the Castle, and then up Main Street. These change a little bit seasonally, but the mainstay currently is the Festival of Fantasy Parade. Also, look for shows on the Castle stage that include Mickey and friends scheduled each day. If you are looking for more, there are seasonal dance parties in Tomorrowland, musical acts on Main Street, and a marching band.
At EPCOT, many of the nations represented in the World Showcase have performances scheduled through the day showing skills associated with their culture. Also, there is a large stage in front of the American Pavilion that is home to the Candlelight Processional during the holidays. This stage will also host numerous bands and shows throughout the year in association with the many festivals held in this park. Speaking of the festivals, they are an attraction all to themselves popping multiple temporary buildings and experiences up each time. Whether you are into art, food, music, or the outdoors, EPCOT has a festival for you.
Hollywood Studios is home of the shows and continues that with the Star Wars : A Galaxy Far, Far Away show in front of the Chinese Theater and roaming entertainment throughout each of the distinct areas each day.
Animal Kingdom not only offers many zoo inspired animal encounters, but also many culturally inspired entertainment options. There are tumblers in the Harambe Market, drummers in Pandora, and Bollywood dancers in Asia to add life to your visit. Also, there are many different and unique musical entertainers in each area as well. If you are looking for more animals, check out the walking trails in Africa and Asia.
Amazingly There is More
Characters are what we love about Disney movies and the parks do a fantastic job of bringing them from the screen to real life throughout the parks. We like to make sure that this last group of entertainers is associated with the main entertainment groups, as they will end up providing many of the memories that you and your family will cherish. You can run into them in a number of ways, but there are a couple that will make sure that you do not miss your favorites.
The first is character dining. We have a whole separate blog here concerning this option. They continue add opportunities at different restaurants to dine with your favorite movie friends. For our Dining Plan users, all but one of the character meals are now on the dining plans.
Next, are brick and mortar locations. Each park has areas where there are the same characters throughout the day and many of them will have FastPass+ entrances. If this is your trip goal, find these options. You will find many of your top characters and princesses in these locations and many of them have fantastic decor to make for great pictures.
Last, but not least, are the open outdoor locations. These areas may have a rotating schedule of characters through the day, so make sure that you are consulting your park map or the handy, dandy My Disney Experience app on your phone to make sure you are there for the right times.
As you can see, there is a lot to do when you get to the parks. Are you ready to take the next step? Fill out our information form on the Booking Your Trip page and let's talk about your Disney adventure. If you are looking for more information, the Disney Planning Insights Podcasts and Princesses and the Mouse Blogs provide more information to help you plan your next Disney vacation.