Disney News

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park to Celebrate 30th Anniversary of “The Lion King” This Summer

Hi everyone!

Disney’s Animal Kingdom park will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of “The Lion King” this summer from June 10th through September 6th, 2024. This is one of four new, limited time summer celebrations that will happen across the resort.

Read below for more information on Disney’s Animal Kingdom park celebrating “The Lion King” in Summer 2024 as announced in the Disney Parks Blog.

Summertime at The Most Magical Place On Earth is going to be extra magical this year! Not only will you be able to join the party in The Big Easy when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens at Magic Kingdom, I’m also here to tell you that there will be four new, limited-time summer celebrations happening across the resort! 

I’ll be sharing a little about each piece of summertime fun throughout the day today, so keep an eye out here on the Disney Parks Blog.

"The Lion King" 30th Anniversary Roars Into Disney's Animal Kingdom

There’s no better way to start this announcement than with … NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANTS INGONYAMA BGITHI BABA!!! 

That’s right – get ready to roar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park where the celebration for the 30thanniversary of “The Lion King” animated film will prowl throughout the entire park from June 10 through Sept. 6. (How has it been 30 years?! I feel like I just went to see it in theaters yesterday… and begged my mom for Lion King-themed wallpaper in my room. She said no.) But even better than wallpaper, there is a whole new merchandise collection so you can see the iconic Disney’s Animal Kingdom stage show, Festival of The Lion King, in style. 

Ready to rustle up some grubs?  There will be special menu items to snack on … and this adorable Pumbaa popcorn bucket to add to your pride! Stay tuned, because our friends at Disney Eats will have more to share on delicious treats later.

To fully embrace that “Hakuna Matata” lifestyle, head on over to Rafiki’s Planet Watch where you can once again meet Timon and Rafiki. Figuring out when these furry friends are available for hugs or advice on finding the most delicious bugs is as easy as checking out My Disney Experience. Now that’s a problem-free philosophy I can get behind! 

And, while you’re at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, you can visit Animation Experience and learn to draw characters from “The Lion King.”

It’s going to be an awesome summer at Walt Disney World – and in addition to this limited-time experience (and those others I haven’t told you about… yet!), you can cool down with H2O Glow After Hours at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and kick your feet up during a Disney Resort Hotel stay.

Like I said – it’s going to be an enchanting summer. See you at Walt Disney World!