Festival of the Lion King closes January 5th

[ford91exploder]

Well - trying not to succumb to false notalgia now that the area is going away - I for one found the CMM area very pleasant.
I think the area picked a great setting and atmosphere and does a very fine job of creating that setting with very limited means. In many ways, especially in its simplicity and warmth, CMM puts several of DAK's convulated, overly themed areas too shame.

To me, if I had to pick between Beastly Kingdom, or AvLand, or CMM developed into North America Land, I'd pick the last one in a heartbeat. Start with CMM, add Grizzly River Run, some North America exhibits and a Natural Park hiking trail, and you've got the best DAK area since Africa. Then you can close Kali's Rubbish Run and install a proper Tiger river ride in its place there and solve Asia.
*dreams on *

CCM should culminate into something like this, not sci-fi Blue Pocahontas Land:

THIS

I like the 'Blue Pocahontas' I've been using 'Blue Cat People' but that is far better, I also find it rich in irony that one of the greediest corporations on earth is building an attraction around one of the most anti-capitalist movies in decades.

 

[drew81]

Last show starts in 1 minute.

R.I.P. Camp Minnie Mickey

 

[themarchhare]

As a former Theater Ops CM, I'm going to miss this place dearly.

Glad the show will live on, but Camp Minnie-Mickey was truly a special place (a lot of people don't understand the specialness of it).

Farewell, campers.

 

[CDavid]

To me, if I had to pick between Beastly Kingdom, or AvLand, or CMM developed into North America Land, I'd pick the last one in a heartbeat. Start with CMM, add Grizzly River Run, some North America exhibits and a Natural Park hiking trail, and you've got the best DAK area since Africa. Then you can close Kali's Rubbish Rapids and install a proper Tiger River Run in its place there and so fix Asia too.
*dreams on *

CMM should culminate into something like this, not sci-fi Blue Pocahontas Land:

This idea would have made far more sense, held far greater guest appeal, and been much more marketable than blue aliens. If only reason had prevailed over ego and personal agendas...

 

[JenniferS]

As a former Theater Ops CM, I'm going to miss this place dearly.

Glad the show will live on, but Camp Minnie-Mickey was truly a special place (a lot of people don't understand the specialness of it).

Farewell, campers.

In all my trips to DAK, we never once ventured into CMM.
My husband and 2 teenage sons had ZERO interest in seeing FotLK, and we just assumed the rest of it was geared toward little kids.

Were we wrong?

 

[tirian]

In all my trips to DAK, we never once ventured into CMM.
My husband and 2 teenage sons had ZERO interest in seeing FotLK, and we just assumed the rest of it was geared toward little kids.

Were we wrong?

FOTLK was a great show, and you'll be able to watch it again in Africa. You didn't miss anything else.

 

[Bolt]

In all my trips to DAK, we never once ventured into CMM.
My husband and 2 teenage sons had ZERO interest in seeing FotLK, and we just assumed the rest of it was geared toward little kids.

Were we wrong?

You were very wrong. FOLK is amazing - it's rated the #1 show on property.

 

[JenniferS]

FOTLK was a great show, and you'll be able to watch it again in Africa. You didn't miss anything else.

Better than Nemo?

We saw Nemo this year, and it was a big giant meh!

(Recognizing of course, that YMMV.)

 

[tirian]

Better than Nemo?

We saw Nemo this year, and it was a big giant meh!

(Recognizing of course, that YMMV.)

I watched Nemo twice.

That's enough for the rest of my life.

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Better than Nemo?

We saw Nemo this year, and it was a big giant meh!

(Recognizing of course, that YMMV.)

We skip Nemo on many trips, but never FotLK. That show is amazing.

 

[Slowjack]

Better than Nemo?

We saw Nemo this year, and it was a big giant meh!

(Recognizing of course, that YMMV.)

Yeah, FOLK is much better than Nemo. As someone for whom the shows at WDW are just a nice extra, I would recommend seeing every show at least once. I thought FOLK would be a waste of time, too, but it's great. Heck, I only saw the previous occupant of the Nemo theater, Tarzan Rocks, because some CMs shanghaied us right as the show was starting, because the concept sounded so idiotic. Guess what? It was a good show, one I also prefer to Nemo. You might not like FOLK, but if you get the chance, don't skip it -- you might be surprised.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

In all my trips to DAK, we never once ventured into CMM.
My husband and 2 teenage sons had ZERO interest in seeing FotLK, and we just assumed the rest of it was geared toward little kids.

Were we wrong?

CMM has always been temporary. A cheap filler. But, like Mickey's Brirthdayland, it is amazing what good design can achieve with limited means. In fact, I think limited means often forces creativity, while abundance results in creative laziness. The cleverness and craftsmanship of CMM's design is underrated.

No need for false nostalgia, CMM was not a must see land. But it was quite pleasant, one of the finer strolls in DAK. A little stream, some Duck displays, and a National Park / summer camp theme. It worked well enough. Apart from FoTLK there were m&g's and a Pocahontas show. This show, like CMM itself, was temporary, small and modest, but fun enough.


WDW doesn't need $500 million state-of-the-art movie tie-in lands, Better to leave that to UNI. It creates great theme parks, but lacking in real soul and Disney sentiment. I'd trather CMM's Natural Park theme was further developed into a proper North America area. WDW always gets that sort of Americana exactly right, whether it is River Country, or Fort Wilderness, or Tom Sawyer Island, and even - in a more modest way - CMM's theme and atmosphere.

 

[JenniferS]

Yeah, FOLK is much better than Nemo. As someone for whom the shows at WDW are just a nice extra, I would recommend seeing every show at least once. I thought FOLK would be a waste of time, too, but it's great. Heck, I only saw the previous occupant of the Nemo theater, Tarzan Rocks, because some CMs shanghaied us right as the show was starting, because the concept sounded so idiotic. Guess what? It was a good show, one I also prefer to Nemo. You might not like FOLK, but if you get the chance, don't skip it -- you might be surprised.

We also enjoyed Tarzan Rocks. Ran into the theatre just as the Heavens opened up.

FotLK is a tough sell to 2 teenaged boys.

This year I am determined to make it to Disneyland, so FotLK will have to wait until 2015.

 

[JLipnick]

We also enjoyed Tarzan Rocks. Ran into the theatre just as the Heavens opened up.

FotLK is a tough sell to 2 teenaged boys.

This year I am determined to make it to Disneyland, so FotLK will have to wait until 2015.

Tarzan Rocks was a much better show than Nemo, but Nemo is still pretty good. However, i would think even two teenage boys would like FOTLK. Amazing show no matter what age, sex or species you are!

 

[disneypearl]

Was anyone at the last show today? I would have loved to have been there for it.

 

[Cesar R M]

Yeah, FOLK is much better than Nemo. As someone for whom the shows at WDW are just a nice extra, I would recommend seeing every show at least once. I thought FOLK would be a waste of time, too, but it's great. Heck, I only saw the previous occupant of the Nemo theater, Tarzan Rocks, because some CMs shanghaied us right as the show was starting, because the concept sounded so idiotic. Guess what? It was a good show, one I also prefer to Nemo. You might not like FOLK, but if you get the chance, don't skip it -- you might be surprised.

I think the difference is how Nemo is always the same again and again and again.. identical as it is.
The "surround" show of FOTLK always seems to have some silly thing (be timon's sillyness or other CM) and also is a non stop show.. not slow like Nemo.

 

[Seabasealpha1]

I always thought a North American section would be fantastic...especially if they brought in some animals you don't typically find...such as Bison, Timberwolves, Elk, Moose, Beavers (do they have those already?), and stuff like that...

I know aside from all the theme parkage...it'd be nice to see an increase in the variety of animals...Africa and Asia are done well...and I know animal care is expensive, but there's still a few other continents and types of critters to choose from...

I could have been cool with CMM if the above had happened...probably would have welcomed it...though I'm still quite bitter over Beastly Kingdomme...at least someone finally made the connection that perhaps the friggin' LION KING show just might belong in AFRICA...

On with the aliens I guess...

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Was anyone at the last show today? I would have loved to have been there for it.

Yes, it was a great send off for the cast. Very high energy and extremely enthusiastic audience, filled with members of the other cast, friends of the cast, and alumni.

In fact, it's already up on you tube. Here ya go!! http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=...esktop_uri=/watch?v=KbsrHOzBnAo&feature=share

 

[donsullivan]

Was anyone at the last show today? I would have loved to have been there for it.

I had the opportunity to see 2 performances on Sunday including the final one at the original location. My initial plan was just to catch one more chance to photograph the show from the old location. After experiencing the astonishing emotion of that 4:30 performance, I hung around for the final at 6:30.

I took a mountain of photos from 2 different locations but a couple that really stuck with me came from the 4:30 performance. For those who have seen the show, the Circle of Life sequence at the end of the show can be among the most amazing and emotional of the show. The lead performer singing that sequence at the 4:30 show gave it absolutely everything she could possibly give. I've had the pleasure to hear some truly amazing performances in this show over the years but this one was special. She gave 150% and was clearly emotionally spent when it was over. And the audience reacted in kind.

During the final show at 6:30 a good portion of the audience was packed with WDW Entertainment CM's and former performers from this show in it's many years in this theater. Nearly every sequence of the show closed with a standing ovation from the crowd and the ovation at the end was really deafening.

I'm looking forward to the new edition of the show when it moves to it's new home this summer but also really glad I had the opportunity to catch the final performance in it's original home.

 

[Atomicmickey]

In all my trips to DAK, we never once ventured into CMM.
My husband and 2 teenage sons had ZERO interest in seeing FotLK, and we just assumed the rest of it was geared toward little kids.

Were we wrong?

Let me add my voice to the chorus--FotLK is the best show on property. No matter who you are. Next time you return, make it your top priority, and go on an early day--because you will want to return to see it again while you are there. You are fortunate that it's going to reopen again in Africa, so you haven't missed your opportunity to see it.

In the meantime, go see Yehaa Bob at Port Orleans. He is not under refurbishment, lol.