Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along at Epcot

In this article, we visit the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along in the France Pavilion at Epcot. We’ll discuss how this timeless tale has been drastically changed and whether or not it’s worth taking the time to see on your vacation.

You’ll find the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along in the Palais du Cinema Theater toward the center of the France Pavilion. This is also where you can see Impressions de France in the evening.

The Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along runs daily from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on a half-hour schedule. It has a duration of 15 minutes.

While you’re waiting for the next show, you are welcome to browse the exhibit in the theater’s lobby. That exhibit is called ‘Tale as Old as Time: French Storytelling On Stage and Screen.’

Below, we’ll preview the exhibit first, then take a look at the film.

This article was updated on February 9, 2023.

Tale as Old as Time Exhibit in the Palais du Cinema

If you are a fan of Disney’s live-action films, the theater, or opera, you’ll want to take a few moments to see the exhibit, whether or not you see the film attraction.

Each gallery features a significant piece of French literature that’s been transformed by modern media like film, opera, plays, ballet, and musicals.

First, we see artwork and pieces from the musical version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Next, we have an exhibit with pieces from The Three Musketeers and the live-action Cinderella.

Here is a photo of the display.

Cinderella’s peasant dress is part of the exhibit. All of the pieces from Disney are on loan from the Walt Disney Archives.

You can also see Cinderella’s glass slipper.

Next, we see a gallery featuring the famous opera, La Boheme. If you enjoy fun facts, the display below discusses how this opera was adapted into one of the most popular musicals of all time, Rent.

Here are the pieces on display.

Across the room, there are three more displays. One pays tribute to the longest-running show in Broadway history, The Phantom of the Opera.

Here are a few of the pieces.

This exhibit features the phantom’s mask and hat.

Next, we have a gallery featuring Beauty and the Beast.

This gallery features several unique props, including a few pieces played by voice actors in the live-action movie. Those pieces include Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts with Chip.

Belle’s red dress and cape are also part of the gallery.

The last of the exhibits feature Sleeping Beauty with pieces from Maleficent.

This gallery includes Maleficent’s costume, staff, and headwrap.

Here is a closeup.

Overall, it’s worth taking the time to step inside and see some of these pieces. As for seeing the sing-along–let’s see.

Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along at Epcot

Unfortunately, I have mixed feelings about the sing-along. Generally, I like to state the facts and deliver expectations about an attraction before your visit. That way, you can discern if it’s right for you.

For starters, I am by no means an alarmist. But I find this attraction alarming. Let’s take a closer look.

Here are a few quick references for the sing-along.

Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along	Epcot Attractions
Location:	France Pavilion
Height Requirement:	None
Type:	Theater/Cartoon
Duration:	15 minutes
Good For:	Questionable?
Scare Factor:	Cringe-worthy
Must-Do List:	No
Special Mention:	Gaston’s Sidekick Lefou somehow becomes the hero.

Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along

Since this film debuted, we revisited it to provide an updated overview. As you probably guessed, I didn’t care for it so much the first time. So I thought I would give the attraction another chance to see if maybe I was just in a bad mood on that initial visit.

When you enter the Palais du Cinéma, you’ll choose a row and find a seat.

When everyone is seated, a cast member from the pavilion welcomes you and provides an overview. Then the story begins.

The Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along is narrated by Angela Lansbury.

Early on, the narrator relays that this Beauty and the Beast story is not the same as we remember it. She goes on to share how none of this would have happened without the efforts of Lefou.

On our initial visit, I presumed this was probably a cute film that would interest children in the World Showcase. It starts off with Belle’s mundane life in the village.

A few minutes into the film, I noticed part of the audience was into the sing-along. A good many others were scrolling their phones, which seems to be the norm these days.

However, it is notable that many love the film and were interested in singing along.

As the story goes, Belle goes in search of her lost father Maurice and ends up in the beast’s castle. Somehow, Lefou finds out, shows up, and prepares her dinner.

The Beast is nowhere to be seen. However, we can all enjoy singing along to the tune of Be Our Guest.

Meanwhile, Lefou has to rush back to Gaston’s side to….keep him distracted. He is angry about his failed marriage proposal to Belle.

The story’s hero then travels back to the castle, for another “enchanting twist.” He releases a few love birds from a cage while Belle and the Beast play in the snow.

It’s time for the classic tune, Tale as Old as Time, which seems ridiculous at this point.

After that, Gaston storms the castle, and the Beast, with the help of Lefou, defeats him. As Beauty and the Beast’s love story unfolds, the Beast nearly dies. But Belle breaks the curse and the Beast transforms.

The story ends with the ballroom scene and a nod to Lefou, now an angel looking down from above. Other angels are looking on questionably.

By this point, a few eager members of the audience were still singing. However, I overheard the guest behind me state, “Well, this was not what I expected.”

And that’s how I would sum up the entire attraction. On my first visit, I wrote the following:

Unfortunately, I left thinking if I had a daughter, I wouldn’t care for her to see it. Most people probably wouldn’t bat an eye at the cartoon in today’s modern times. However, I am a bit old-fashioned and believe that children should be allowed to be children.

A cartoon sing-along, I think most would agree, is intended primarily for children to enjoy. No matter how much we adults love and belong at Disney.

My major issue with the film happens toward the end of the cartoon. It appears that not only did Belle get ready for the ball, but she also swung by the plastic surgeon’s office and got a botox injection along with a bit of a chest enhancement.

Probably, most people wouldn’t notice it. But these are precisely the things that little watchful eyes pick up on while adults are oblivious. The problem is that these kinds of things keep making their way into our children’s lives unnoticed.

They show up in cartoons, video games, and all over the internet. And we leave our children with the impression that it’s normal to go to extremes to alter their appearance. While we are all really beautiful people the way we were made.

It is said that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Do we really want our children to grow up with the kind of pressures that modern-day technology is adding to be considered young and beautiful?

And while that small clip was enough in my book to ruin the show, there are a few other issues. Mainly, the storyline is absolutely terrible. Lefou comes out clean as roses (and then some), playing the hero of the story.

Of course, you might visit the show and sing a few songs and never notice any of those things. It’s just my takeway.

With that said, if you have the opportunity, Impressions de France runs nightly from 6:00 p.m. until park closing. While it is an older film, I think most would agree, it’s still as excellent as the day it debuted.

For more Beauty and the Beast at Disney World, we have a few better recommendations:

Other film attractions at Epcot include:

Or you might also enjoy browsing our list of Walt Disney World Resorts. There you’ll find reviews of all the different hotels near Epcot and the Skyliner Resorts including these:

In the Comments

If you take the time to see the Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Tale as Old as Time Exhibit in the Palais du Cinema

Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along at Epcot

Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along

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