4 Best Performing Arts in Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida

After a nearly two-year, pandemic-prompted delay, this entirely new Cirque du Soleil experience—the first collaboration between Cirque and Disney Animation—replaced long-running La Nouba. It's designed to wow both young and old by bringing timeless Disney stories to life in fresh, unforgettable ways. 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. During her journey, she learns to imagine new possibilities and animate the story of her future.

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.

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.

The Cinderella Castle forecourt provides the perfect location for several daily performances of this celebration of friendship starring Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and their friends. In their 50th anniversary costumes, 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) try to arrive 30 to 40 minutes before showtime to snag a seat on the bench. For an unobstructed view, you can stand on the pavement near the stage.