“A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King,” a modified version of a long-time favorite show, officially opened today. With the official reopening comes a change: guests are now being seated in every row.
![PHOTOS: Guests Being Seated in Every Row, Space Between Guests Reduced at "A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom 1 celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-1-6357551](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/05/celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-1-6357551-1200x800.jpg)
As we saw at the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, guests must put on masks when they enter the queue proper, but don’t need it in any external, extended, outdoor queue. Cast members will tell you when you need it.
![PHOTOS: Guests Being Seated in Every Row, Space Between Guests Reduced at "A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom 2 celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-2-3420824](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/05/celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-2-3420824-1200x800.jpg)
Once inside the theater, guests are seated in every row now.
![PHOTOS: Guests Being Seated in Every Row, Space Between Guests Reduced at "A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom 3 celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-3-4005885](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/05/celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-3-4005885-1200x900.jpg)
Markers allow space for parties of four.
![PHOTOS: Guests Being Seated in Every Row, Space Between Guests Reduced at "A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom 4 celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-4-2719815](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/05/celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-4-2719815-1200x900.jpg)
The markers are staggered from row to row. Doing so prevents one party from sitting directly in front of another, maintaining some physical distancing.
![PHOTOS: Guests Being Seated in Every Row, Space Between Guests Reduced at "A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom 5 celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-5-3842332](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/05/celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-5-3842332-1200x800.jpg)
In our estimation, seating guests in every row has increased capacity inside the theater to approximately 50%. During last week’s soft opening, theater capacity was at 33%.
![PHOTOS: Guests Being Seated in Every Row, Space Between Guests Reduced at "A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom 6 celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-6-5821854](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/05/celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-6-5821854-1200x800.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Guests Being Seated in Every Row, Space Between Guests Reduced at "A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom 7 celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-7-4613124](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/05/celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-every-row-7-4613124-1200x800.jpg)
Once seated, the larger crowd was in for a show.
![PHOTOS: Guests Being Seated in Every Row, Space Between Guests Reduced at "A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom 8 celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-1-7661871](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/05/celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-1-7661871-1200x800.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Guests Being Seated in Every Row, Space Between Guests Reduced at "A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom 9 celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-2-6709198](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/05/celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-2-6709198-1200x800.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Guests Being Seated in Every Row, Space Between Guests Reduced at "A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom 10 celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-3-4517189](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/05/celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-3-4517189-1200x800.jpg)
![PHOTOS: Guests Being Seated in Every Row, Space Between Guests Reduced at "A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King" in Disney's Animal Kingdom 11 celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-4-5957189](https://media.wdwnt.com/2021/05/celebration-of-festival-of-the-lion-king-4-5957189-1200x800.jpg)
You can check out the full show by watching our video below:
What do you think of the increased capacity at “A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King”? Sound off in the comments.
They gotta do fantastic next. It’s outside. smh.