The Lion King on Broadway helps Disney reach milestone, offer flexible tickets

Disney’s The Lion King just celebrated its 5,462nd performance last night and climbed the charts to become the seventh longest running show on Broadway. That move bumps Disney Theatrical’s inaugural show, Beauty and The Beast, down to eighth. Raise your hand if you’d like to see Disney bring Beauty back to the stage.

Fans of Disney’s Broadway shows will be happy to learn that Disney is now testing new flexible tickets for their shows. If you have tickets for either The Lion King or Marry Poppins and can’t make it for any reason you can reschedule for another show before March 10th. Be sure to check with Disney theatrical if certain exclusions and restrictions apply to you, I’ve included the full press release is below the jump:

SNEY THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS (Thomas Schumacher, producer and president) announced the launch of a revolutionary pilot ticket exchange program for its Broadway musicals THE LION KING and MARY POPPINS, a co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh.  From now until March 10, 2011, customers can exchange their Disney on Broadway show tickets for performances between January 3, 2011 and March 10, 2011 into any performance currently on-sale after January 3.  Tickets can be exchanged at the original point of purchase via Ticketmaster (phone, web, outlets) or in-person at the respective show box offices (Minskoff and New Amsterdam Theatres).  This service is available only to Disney on Broadway customers.

This new policy represents an unprecedented breakthrough in flexibility for theatergoers.  It allows Disney on Broadway ticketholders in advance, without penalty and for any reason whatsoever to change the date they see the show, any time in advance of their scheduled performance, up till noon on the day of the performance for which they are holding tickets.  If a winter storm threatens, the anniversary trip can be postponed a week; if the boyfriend has to travel, the birthday present can be enjoyed a day or a week earlier; if the kids game gets rescheduled to evening, the Broadway family outing can be shifted to the matinee.  Moreover, there is no limit to the number of times the tickets can be exchanged.

Disney Theatrical Productions charges nothing for this added service at any point of purchase.  Ticketmaster convenience charges apply on phone, internet and outlet orders.

“People have busy lives and need more flexibility when the unexpected happens and plans change.  We recognize the time is right to reduce restrictions and put more power in the hands of the customer, so now our MARY POPPINS and THE LION KING ticketholders can change plans just as they can change airline and hotel reservations,” said David Schrader, executive vice president and managing director of Disney Theatrical Productions. “Making plans to attend a Broadway show is about escaping for an evening’s entertainment or celebrating a special event our aim is to make advance planning simple and worry free.”

Under Disney’s ticket exchange program, the following terms and conditions will apply:

• Guests purchasing tickets for any performance between January 3, 2011 and March 10, 2011 may exchange their tickets for another performance after January 3, 2011 on sale at the time the exchange is made (certain blackout dates apply), provided the exchange is made no later than 12 Noon on the day of the performance for which they are holding tickets.
• Exchanges may be made over multiple performances and the number of tickets may be changed provided the total amount of the face value of the new tickets is equal to or greater than the total amount of the face value of the originally purchased tickets.
• Exchanges will be valued at the same price as the original face value of the ticket purchased; guests may chose a performance or section at a higher cost than the original purchase and pay the difference; originally discounted tickets being exchanged into a non-discounted performance may require additional cost.
• Ticket exchanges will only be made through the original point of purchase: Ticketmaster Customer Service for phone and on-line orders, Ticketmaster retail outlet locations, or the applicable theatre box office. Exchanges for tickets purchased via third parties may be made at the discretion of the original third party provider.
• For any Ticketmaster purchase, the new performance will be subject to standard Ticketmaster Convenience Charges and applicable Delivery Fees; the one-time Order Processing Fee will be waived.
• Guests holding tickets for performances after March 10, 2011 and/or for productions of THE LION KING or MARY POPPINS outside of New York City are not eligible for an exchange.
• Special Offers, Discounts and Promotion Codes may not be applied retroactively and are subject to the same restrictions of the original purchase.
• Complimentary tickets are not eligible for exchange.
• No refunds (full or partial) will be allowed. Other restrictions may apply.  Offer may be revoked without notice.  Performance dates, times, prices and cast subject to change without notice.