Everybody loves a good show and Walt Disney World is filled with show-type attractions.  Show attractions are great heading into the summer season.  They can be used to escape the heat or an afternoon thunderstorm since they are longer than most ride-type attractions.  Show attractions, also, come in all shapes and sizes.  They can be from a Disney movie or from take people back in time.   Fireworks, Illuminations, and Fantasmic are not eligible for this list So, with that in mind, let’s head into the countdown.

5. Voyage of the Little Mermaid

This highly popular attraction is part life-action/part puppet-type show/part scenes from the movie.  The show is located in the Animation Courtyard part of Hollywood Studios and is 17 minutes long.  Even though the shows are almost continuous, it is worth getting a Fast Pass+ reservation for just so you are not waiting with your little Ariel while two or three shows takes place while you are in line.  For hot days, the air conditioning is always running on high to give guests the experience that you are underwater and there are times when the guests will get sprayed with water.

4. Frozen Sing-Along

The newest entry on the list.  The show debuted as part of the Frozen Summer Fun in the summer of 2014.  The show is no longer in the Premier Theater where it was located last year.  It has moved to the former American Idol Theater and has been renamed the Hyperion Theater.  This very popular show is also getting a Fast Pass+ reservation for as opposed to waiting in line to get in.  For the hot summer days, it is great place to get out of the weather.  It’s FROZEN! for gosh sakes…of course, it is going to be cold.  A great place for the kids to sing-a-long with their favorite Frozen songs and everyone gets a chance to cool off.

3. Carousel of Progress

The original Walt Disney World show attraction made its debut at the 1964 World’s Fair.  It’s a 20+ minute show that never has a long wait even when the rains come.  It’s a great attraction to hide from the rain because of that lack of crowds.  If it’s a long thunderstorm, guests can make two or three journeys through the Carousel of Progress’s trip through American family history.  To stay current, the attraction has been refurbished five times.  But be aware, Walt Disney World listed this as a “seasonal attraction” which means it could be closed during low crowd periods.  However, it has been open everyday since 2003.

2. Finding Nemo

The first appearance on the list for the Animal Kingdom.  I saw this show on my last visit to  Walt Disney World.  I will admit I was skeptical of this show before we went and saw it.  It is a Fast Pass+ attraction especially if you have a large group (I saw it with a group of 10).  It has a lot of seating so it lends itself to accommodating large groups.  In the summer, it’s a great way to beat the heat.  In the rainy season, it’s a great way to avoid lingering showers.  It’s a long show (close to 30 minutes) but the show is well worth it.  It is well produced and acting is fantastic.

1. Festival of the Lion King

This is a great show.  The stage production is wonderful.  It is highly interactive as the actors actively seek out audience participation.  I have never seen the show in the new theater in the Africa portion of Animal Kingdom.  I don’t know if the new theater is air-conditioned.  I do recall the old theater was not air-conditioned which would make it a tough watch during the middle of the day in the summer.  That said, it will keep you out of the sun or rain for a good 20-25 minutes while keeping you highly entertained and for those reasons it earns the number one spot on the list.

Honorable Mention: Flag Retreat at Magic Kingdom, Turtle Talk with Crush, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, Ellen’s Energy Adventure

What shows make your top 5?

Thanks for reading!