Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This article discusses Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Below, we’ll preview show times, what to expect, and the best time to fit this performance into your schedule.
Tale as old as time. The heartwarming tale of Belle and Beast’s romance is worth seeing during your Walt Disney World vacation. This endearing story based on the animated feature film Beauty and the Beast is performed daily at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Fans of the movie or theater, in general, will enjoy this Broadway-style musical featuring gorgeous scenery, charming props, and a lush stage performance. You’ll want to arrive early enough to get a good seat!
Here are a few quick references for seeing Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage.
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage | Hollywood Studios Attractions |
---|---|
Location: | Sunset Boulevard |
Height Requirement: | N/A |
Lightning Lane: | Yes, with Disney Genie+ |
Early Theme Park Hours: | No |
Extended Evening Hours: | No |
Ride Type: | Stage Show |
Seats Per Vehicle: | Theater Rows |
Duration: | 25 minutes |
Good For: | Everyone |
Scare Factor: | None |
Must-Do List: | Medium Priority |
Perfect For: | Beauty and the Beast or Theater Fans |
Special Mention: | Bring a snack to enjoy during the show. |
Additional Info:
Guests may remain in wheelchairs or ECVs for this performance. Audio descriptions, Handheld Captioning, Sign Language, and Assistive Listening are available.
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage is performed at the Theater of the Stars on Sunset Blvd at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The standby entrance is on the right side of the street before you reach the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
A separate entrance is available further down if you use a Lightning Lane for this performance. However, you won’t need a Lightning Lane for this attraction in most instances unless you want to arrive early for better seating. Typically, the first shows and the last are the least crowded.
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage is offered several times per day. Here are the regular showtimes:
- 11:00 a.m.
- 1:00 p.m.
- 2:00 p.m.
- 4:00 p.m.
- 5:00 p.m.
*You’ll want to check the schedule on Disney’s site or the My Disney Experience app for exact times on the day of your visit.
We recommend arriving at least 15 minutes early to ensure you are seated before the performance begins. This is an excellent place to rest and enjoy a snack while you wait.
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage is approximately 25 minutes long. So most will dedicate 45 minutes to an hour of touring to see this performance.
Here is a look at the theater. Guests can sit on either side of the stage or toward the middle. Special areas are roped off for those with accessibility issues.
Since Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage is in an outdoor setting, performances are canceled in the event of inclement weather. However, since the theater is covered, it’s not the worst place to take a break during the heat of the day.
Seating inside the theater consists of metal bleachers with backs. Additionally, food and drinks are allowed in the theater. So you might like to pick up a snack on your way to the performance.
While the first and last shows are often the least crowded, we think the best time to see Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage is at either 2:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. At this point in the day, wait times for other attractions are usually at their highest. Instead of standing in a long line, take a break, grab a snack, and enjoy a performance of Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage.
Beauty and the Beast begins with how a young prince turned away an old beggar woman asking for help. However, the beggar was a beautiful enchantress who punished him by turning him into a hideous beast. She then gave him a rose, warning him that true love must break the spell before the rose’s last petal fell.
Meanwhile, Belle is in her village singing, Bonjour! (Belle/Reprise)
Enter Gaston, who only wants the one thing he cannot have, Belle.
She’s busy reading.
Next thing you know, Belle has ended up in the Beast’s enchanted castle.
Of course, this leads to a song and dance number we all know and love as Be Our Guest.
If you haven’t noticed, the costumes are elaborate, and the performers do an excellent job. Mrs. Pott’s son Chip, the teacup to her teapot, is adorable!
As the story goes, Beast struggles to connect with Belle at first. So his friends, Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth, and Lumiere, step in and offer advice.
Soon, Beast wins over Belle by approaching her in the right way.
Something There plays in the background. There must be something there that wasn’t there before.
Unfortunately, Gaston is still lurking. The setting changes, and The Mob Song is performed.
With that said, even the villainous performances are outstanding.
Gaston didn’t have a chance against the Beast.
Sadly, the Beast doesn’t go unscathed. Belle rushes to his side. But is it too late to break the curse?
At this very moment, the enchantress returns and performs a spell-binding ballet variation.
As the smoke lifts, the Beast has transformed into his former self.
Suddenly, pairs of ballroom dancers flood the stage.
Within moments the entire cast returns to the stage. Then, Belle returns with the Prince for one final dance to the tune of Beauty and the Beast.
Mrs. Potts was right. It did turn out all right in the end.
Fun Facts about Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
The original version of Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage opened the same day the animated movie was released in theaters (November 1991). A second version of the show debuted in 2001, condensing the performance to 25 minutes.
During the performance, you’ll hear the pre-recorded voices of Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Potts), Jerry Orbach (Lumiere), and Robby Benson (the Beast).
Final Thoughts
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage is an excellent performance that’s worth taking the time to see during your visit. If you’ve never seen this performance, you’ll adore it! Additionally, if you are a fan of Beauty and the Beast or have an interest in theater, musicals, or dance, then it’s a must-do.
Since we are privy to visiting the parks often, we don’t always take the time to see these special performances regularly. However, now and then, we’ll stop in to see something, and it never fails. We’re amazed no matter how many times we’ve seen Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage. It’s so good!
So, I hope you’ll take the time to see it. All of the shows at Hollywood Studios are exceptional. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them.
For more information, try our list of Hollywood Studios attractions, or you might like these individual reviews:
- For the First Time in Forever, a Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
- Vacation Fun (An Animated Short with Mickey and Minnie)
- Walt Disney Presents at Hollywood Studios
- Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Slinky Dog Dash
Additionally, if you’re considering staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, you might enjoy one of these nearby resorts:
- Disney’s Riviera Resort Review
- Art of Animation Resort Review
- Pop Century Resort Review
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort Review
In the Comments
Do you plan to see Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage during your next vacation? Have you seen this performance before?