Entrance to the Harambe Village expansion
One of the most fantastic parts of Disney’s Animal Kingdom has always been how nature and the man made interacts throughout the park. Disney’s Imagineers carefully crafted buildings down to the tiniest crack to make it look like there is a battle between construction and nature and that nature has the edge. No where is this more evident than Harambe Village.
In my opinion Harambe Village is Disney’s most fully realized creation in Orlando. Now, with the opening of the Harambe Theatre, it’s almost like the village has doubled in size. In fact, putting aside a few unfinished bits of landscaping, the themeing is so wonderful, the theater looks like it’s always been a part of the village.
Harambe Theatre, of course, is home to the relocated Festival of The Lion King show. It is back with only a few very minor changes. Once you’re inside the theater itself, you have to look close to tell we’re no longer in Camp Minnie Mickey.
There is one change that is worth noting–a much longer Fastpass+ line. The old location did have Fastpass, but it was only a few dozen people a show. The new location fills about 1/3rd the theater with Fastpass+ holders. Therefore, if a seat close to the floor is important to you, make sure you are holding a Fastpass+ for your show. Once the rabble is allowed in, all the remaining seating is in the back.
A gallery with images from the area is below the jump in case you can’t watch the video above:
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- Stroller parking for both the show and Tusker House
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- The fastpass queue and free wi-fi sign
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- One of the many posters that adds details to the area
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- New restrooms, great themeing.
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- This sign is made of ‘recycled’ tin
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- Beautiful steel drum and tin lanterns. Sadly too far away to get a close look at
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- the queue entrance. There is some shade, but little rain protection
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- Sadly the budget did note extend to fixing the bubbling pots section of the river
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- Looking back toward the main part of the Village
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- Looking toward the backstage bridge and the old fire cave. Not the path that may one day lead to Avatar
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- Inside it’s the almost exactly the same