10 Best Performing Arts Venues in Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida

The first collaboration between Cirque and Disney Animation is designed to wow both young and old. The story follows Julie, a courageous and determined girl who discovers an unexpected gift left by her late father: an unfinished animation piece. Guided by a surprising pencil, she embarks on an inspiring quest sprinkled with her Disney childhood memories. As you follow her journey, you'll be dazzled by pixie-dust performances that include fairy unicyclists, an aerial pencil, dancing sheets, gymnasts in perfect synchronicity, and acrobats on double wheels.

Who'd want to miss a parade that delivers 12 entertainment-packed minutes of Disney characters and royalty; a steampunk-inspired, fire-breathing dragon; elaborate towering floats; and handsome pairs of dancers twirling to some of Disney's best tunes? This parade, which runs daily at 3 pm, celebrates Walt's legacy with vignettes highlighting the glamour, drama, and fun of classic films like Beauty and the Beast and Peter Pan while also catering to fans of contemporary box-office hits like Tangled and Frozen. The colorful pageant of floats features inventive technology, a cast of nearly 100 energetic performers in amazing costumes, and a score that invites singing along with familiar medleys.

From the 50-foot-long topiary garden float of Disney royal couples led by dancers in ball gowns with iridescent feathers to the 32-foot-tall airship float finale with Mickey and Minnie, the parade energizes spectators as it rolls past. A Lost Boy from Peter Pan might grab your hand and kiss it. A stilt walker might lean into your camera for a snapshot. You'll hear viewers gasp or shout when the towering 53-foot-long, green-eyed Maleficent Dragon, created with help from Tony Award–winning designer Michael Curry, rears its head and spews flames. Duration: 12 minutes. Crowds: Heavy. Audience: All ages. For people with disabilities: There are viewing areas for guests in wheelchairs along the route; ask any cast member for guidance. A sign-language schedule is available at Guest Relations. The parade runs from Frontierland to Town Square. Find shade beneath a Frontierland porch at least an hour before showtime. If you've seen the parade, this is a good time to head for popular rides in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland while crowds gather along the route. During busy periods, the parade might also take place at noon; try to catch the early showing.

Celebrating the history of cinema, this all-new 12-minute show combines clips of Walt Disney, live-action Disney remakes, Indiana Jones, and other well-loved movies. Fans of Mary Poppins will enjoy the threads throughout the show that tie Disney's masterpiece with more modern films. It often plays before the Wonderful World of Animation show also at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Grab some dessert and watch both presentations to enjoy the nostalgia of the movies.

The Studios' after-dark show wows huge audiences with its special effects and Disney characters. The omnipresent Mickey, in his sorcerer's apprentice costume, plays the embodiment of Good in the struggle against the forces of Evil, personified by Disney villains such as Cruella De Vil, Scar, and Maleficent. Animated clips of these famous baddies, alternating with clips of Disney sweethearts, are projected onto screens made of water—high-tech fountains surging high in the air. New scenes from Moana, Aladdin, and Frozen 2 update this classic show. The epic battle plays out amid water effects and flames, explosions, and fireworks worthy of a Hollywood shoot-’em-up. All this, plus the villainous action, is why small kids may find this show frightening. If your little one is apprehensive, sit toward the back where the special effects aren't as intense.

This show, which is held at the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater opposite the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, often runs twice nightly during peak season; fewer times during nonpeak periods. For people with disabilities: Wheelchair and ECV accessible. Equipped with reflective captioning and for assisted-listening, handheld-captioning, and audio-description devices. Arrive at least an hour early, and sit toward the rear, near the entrance/exit. Or consider the meal package, which includes a special block of seating for the show. If you sit in front rows, you will get wet.

After several programming changes over the past few years, Fantasmic! is back. The nighttime spectacular features fireworks; music; mist projection screens; and appearances by Mulan, Aladdin, Moana and, of course, Mickey. Dinner or dessert packages that include Fantasmic! can be booked by phone or online, in person at a Disney hotel, or at the park's Guest Relations.

New for the 100 Years of Magic celebration across the Disney globe, this nighttime show combines fireworks, fountains, lasers, and music. Its beautifully arranged soundtrack incorporates Disney classics, as well as two new original songs, some underutilized songs from Enchanted and Toy Story, and a dual-language version of "You'll Be in My Heart" from Tarzan. The combination of lights and water can be stunning at times, but, as most of the show is slow and focused around human experiences, small children may find the storyline boring and the fireworks—particularly those that shoot off right by the shore where the audience is situated—too loud. As with anything new, plan for large crowds. Consider booking a Fireworks Dining Package to get the best seat in the house—or, at least, around the lagoon. If the wind is particularly strong, avoid sitting downwind from the center of the lagoon. The high number of low fireworks means there's a lot of smoke.

The Cinderella Castle forecourt hosts several daily performances of this celebration of friendship starring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and their friends. Mickey and pals interact with new Disney characters: Tiana and others from the Land of the Bewitching Bayous arrive, moving to a Dixieland beat, with Goofy; Donald brings a troupe of rowdy Vikings, while Daisy's friends, Rapunzel and Flynn, encourage them to sing instead of carouse; the final newcomers are the popular Frozen characters Elsa, Anna, and Olaf the snowman. For the finale, everyone takes the stage for the new original song “Where the Magic Feels Like Home.” If you want to sit (and don't mind an obstructed view) arrive 30 to 40 minutes before showtime for a seat on the bench. For an unobstructed view, stand on the pavement near the stage.

As night falls, fireflies begin to flicker among the leaves of this iconic tree. The tiny lights expand, and, through the magic of high-tech projections, the animals carved into the trunk—from dinosaurs to gorillas to tropical birds to a deer—begin to awaken in a swirl of color, until the whole tree is alive with light. 

This experience only happens in the winter during daylight savings time and not if the park closes early. Check the My Disney Experience app for times if this is a must-see for your family.

A long-running Disney tradition, this floating parade of illuminated sea creatures on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake rolls past several Magic Kingdom–area resorts. Backed by an electronic score featuring Handel's Water Music, the low-key but always-pleasing show leads up to a stirring finale. Watch it from a resort bar like Narcoossee's, the campgrounds at Fort Wilderness, or the pier at the Grand Floridian.