Festival of the Lion King

[DisneyNeighbor]

Are there only 4 main performers for this show. I have been to Animal Kingdom dozens of times over the past seven years and don't ever recall different performers. Do they have back up performers if one of the main ones are sick or is it just the same ones. Do they cancel the show if they can't perform.

 

[SteveUK]

I don't actually know the answer for definite, but I would be very surprised if there wasn't several back-ups. You can't run a show without plenty of performers. Can you expect the same people to never be sick, or even want a day off?

 

[myhappyplace]

I think everytime I have gone since 2001, the deep-voiced guy has been the same. However, the others have sometimes been different, and once, they did the performance without the "giraffe girl"-just the other 3.

 

[DisneyNeighbor]

I have seen the show over a dozen times and all 4 performers have been the same. I even think the bird lady is the same person also. I guess they are always there when I goto Disney

 

[sbkline]

If WDW runs this show several times a day, 7 days a weeks, 52 weeks a year, then I can't imagine that the performers would work this constant schedule without a day off. There would have to be other performers that play these roles and, by coincidence, you must always show up on the days when the same people are working. At least I would think that this would be the case. :shrug:

 

[Bug715]

I have a friend who is a stilt walker and I know that they have an A cast and B cast. I think this is mainly for really crowded times of the year but it would make sense to have the basic 4 people have backups.

 

[MaxsDad]

I used to see a bigger guy (think James Earl Jones)playing the lead male role, with a taller skinnier guy (think, aaaaa ...Sidney Portier) playing the second. Last two times I watched it, said skinnier guy was playing the lead.

 

[raven]

When I performed in shows at Six Flags years ago, we had around 8 shows a day. We all got at least 1 show off. In those cases a swing would stand in for that role. There were a male and female swing and after filling in for each role they had their own performances off.

Disney could be applying the same principal but I know they have at least 2 casts for their shows. Sometimes they do different days though.

 

[kcw]

When I performed in shows at Six Flags years ago, we had around 8 shows a day. We all got at least 1 show off. In those cases a swing would stand in for that role. There were a male and female swing and after filling in for each role they had their own performances off.

Disney could be applying the same principal but I know they have at least 2 casts for their shows. Sometimes they do different days though.

they do that for the dancers and have the A/B cast, but I think they rotate the 4 main singers differently. I know I've seen back-ups for all of the normal 4, but not all at the same time- so their days off are staggered. I know there's a few different people who do the birds as well

 

[Mikester71]

I remember a couple of years ago when Regis & Kelly were broadcasting from WDW, they had a shortened version performed on Main Street in Magic Kingdom just for the show and it was all the same actors we had seen the year before when we were there (the bigger guy as the lead and smaller, skinnier guy as the second). The lady was the same too if I recall. When we were down there last March, I noticed they were the exact same ones again. Busy, busy, busy people!

 

[dolbyman]

I taped the show in 2005 and on all other vids I saw since then there was never the same constellation..

btw .. I just uploaded the HK DL version to mousebits if anyone wants to know what that show looks like

 

[Bug715]

Was the Regis & Kelly thing the christmas parade? The way you describe the set up it sounds like it was. For that I think they have the "best" that are in the show. It seems like the people I recognize from years past are the ones I see most offen at the show.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Yes they do have backups. I have seen differant people playing all of the 4 major roles in FotLK. There is no way they would have a show without backup for all who participate in the show.

 

[Mikester71]

Was the Regis & Kelly thing the christmas parade? The way you describe the set up it sounds like it was. For that I think they have the "best" that are in the show. It seems like the people I recognize from years past are the ones I see most offen at the show.

Actually, it wasn't. They were there for a week, but I can't remember when or why (might have been the anniversary because it was right after we got home in 2005 I think). Each day it showed them goofing around in a different park, but their main stage area where the show was filmed each day was right after you enter MK, before you head down Main Street. They would have a condensed version of some of the shows each day right on Main Street. I remember Angeline Lily from LOST being a guest the one day for some reason.

 

[tcwickings]

I also recall that Mike . I like the show so I check it out when I can.Got to like Kelly.

 

[Mikester71]

I also recall that Mike . I like the show so I check it out when I can.Got to like Kelly.

The funny thing is I hardly watch the show, but happened to see or hear that they were LIVE from WDW for the week, so tuned in. It was cool to see them hitting up all the attractions and that, especially Kelly .

 

[rainfully]

I personally know many of the performers in this show... and they do change quite often. They have multiple casts who perform two or three shows a day.

My favorite Kiume went off to Hong Kong last year and is currently performing in their version. And two of my good friends are currently playing Nakawa.

I also know at least 6 fire knife dancers who have performed in the show over the past 2 years.