While vacationing in Orlando last week, I dropped by to see the status of my favorite live Walt Disney World show – the Lion King.  The popular show was moved to make room for the construction of Avatar, WDW’s gigantic attraction which will make Animal Kingdom a night park in 2016..

I am happy to report that that Lion King’s new habitat, just across the river from the new project, is a larger square structure with the performances still encircled by audience.  There isn’t a bad seat in the house and Disney was able to maintain the tremendous singing professional cast, the Olympic caliber acrobats, and skilled dancers and stunt performers.

Lion King is the best live show at WDW, but the amazing Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review at the Pioneer Hall at the Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground just celebrated its 40th year (1974) of production.  The show has the same corny script all these years and won’t change.  

Why should they? With 35,000 performances to ten million guests, Hoop Dee Doo is perhaps the longest major professional show in the history of American musicals.  Despite, shows three times a night seven days a week, WDW visitors must reserve seats weeks in advance.