Top 4 Best Live Action Stage Shows At Walt Disney World According to You

By Dustin West

Those of you who watch The DIS Unplugged regularly, you know all about the “Best Of” bracket shows. In this particular show, the DIS Unplugged team comes up with their own tournament style bracket to decide the best live action stage shows at WDW. There were also a series of polls released on The DIS Unplugged Facebook page that let you decide. This top 4 list is comprised of the attractions you at home have chosen as the best live action stage show at Walt Disney World.

Walt Disney World has plenty of Live action stage shows. This list focuses on the ones that have been running regularly instead of seasonally. For example we won’t be discussing the Villains Mix and Mingle castle stage show for Halloween or the Candlelight Processional at Epcot during the Christmas holiday.

4.) Disney Junior Live on Stage

Coming in at number 4 is Disney Junior Live on Stage which defeated the American Idol Experience in the first round of voting. There may be more qualified entries in our bracket, but the random draw left Disney Junior Live on stage with an easy match up.

That being said, don’t overlook the value of Disney Junior Live on Stage. Children love this show. They might as well be seeing famous rock stars at Madison Square Garden. The frequently changing line up of characters in the show currently include ‘Jake and the Neverland Pirates,’ Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,’ Sofia the First,’ and ‘Doc McStuffins.’

The building in Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers an air conditioned escape into a world of all things Disney Junior. This is a puppet show, so children will not be able to interact with the characters. However the wide open floor seating allows children to safely sing and dance with their parents and friends. Disney Junior Live on Stage is a favorite for younger children and exhausted parents.

3.) Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

Simply destroying Lights, Motors, Action in the first round, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular comes in at number 3 on you list for top 4 live action stage shows at Walt Disney World. Again, this randomly selected bracket is a bit unfair to some of the other more widely popular stage shows. However, it beat Lights, Motors, Action with 76% of the votes cast.

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is a Disney Hollywood Studios classic. It opened only a few months after the park in 1989. It has all your favorite scenes from ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ but told from a filmmaking production stand point. If you like boulders, whips, gunshots, and explosions, you’ll love this action packed stunt show.

The technology used for Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular was cutting edge at the time it opened. It still holds up to this day. Rumor has it, however, that this show may be closing  for good to make room for more ‘Star Wars’ based attractions. So check out your number 3 pick, Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, while you still can.

2.) Finding Nemo The Musical

Beating out Voyage of the Little Mermaid in the first round then Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular in the Second Round, Finding Nemo the Musical is your runner up for best live action stage show at Walt Disney World.

Finding Nemo The Musical is considered by some to be the closest thing Walt Disney World has to a Broadway production. The set pieces, costumes and puppets are first rate. The music was written by ‘Avenue Q’ and ‘Book of Mormon’ Tony Award winner Robert Lopez and his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Plus the cast, after opening in 2007, still puts on amazing performances day after day.

Located in the Air condition Theater in the Wild, Finding Nemo The Musical is a great break from the Africa inspired heat of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s highly recommended to get fast passes for this show. Lines can become very long and there’s not much wiggle room once the theater fills. Kids and adults alike can enjoy Finding Nemo the Musical, which is your runner up for best live action stage show at Walt Disney World.

1.) Festival of the Lion King

Your number 1 pick for best live action stage show at Walt Disney World is none other than Festival of the Lion King. This show beat Beauty and the Beast Live in the first round and fought all the way to win the bracket.

If you’re looking for a truly unique Disney stage show, look no further than Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. It’s theater in the round with the award winning music from ‘Lion King’ that you know and love. There’s also massive puppets, animatronics, and live performers in african animal costumes that really set the tone for the story. But one of the real fan favorites is the collection of Vocal performers that sing to ‘Circle of Life,’ Be Prepared,' and so on.

And now Festival of the Lion King has been moved to and all new, more fitting location in Harambe village. This is part of the massive expansion in Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s future. It seems that with the construction of the new theater, Festival of the Lion King isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Make sure you stay connected on Facebook so you can participate on the next bracket poll. And make sure to tune in to The DIS Unplugged live every Tuesday at 1pm.