Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
What it is
Venue for live shows.
Scope and scale
Major attraction.
When to go
After exper-
iencing DCA's rides.
Special comments
Great venue; not to be missed.
Duration of show
50
minutes.
Probable waiting time
30 minutes.
DESCRIPTION AND COMMENTS
This 2,000-seat theater is DCA's premier venue for live
productions, many of which are based on Disney-animated films and feature Disney char-
acters. Shows exhibit Broadway quality in every sense, except duration of the presenta-
tion, and alone are arguably worth the price of park admission. In 2011 the Hyperion was
supposed to debut
ToyStory—TheMusical,
an adaptation of the first Pixar film crafted for
Disney's cruise ships. That plan hasn't happened yet, nor have rumors of an indoor lobby
replacing the theater's current false front. For now,
Aladdin—A Musical Spectacular
is
continuing its run as the most elaborate show staged at any stateside Disney theme park. A
breezy stage version of the
Aladdin
story, it features familiar film tunes (“Friend Like Me”
and “Prince Ali”) plus one newly written ballad, along with jaw-dropping overhead flying
carpet effects. If
Aladdin
is still running when you visit, we rate it not to be missed, thanks
largely to the actors playing the Genie, who are given remarkably long leashes to ad lib
up-to-the-minute pop-culture references that sail right over younger audience members'
heads. In the evening the Hyperion is sometimes used as a stage for separate-admission
concerts and special events.
TOURING TIPS
The lavish productions hosted by the Hyperion Theater are rightly very pop-
ular and commonly sell out on busier days. Presentations are described, and showtimes
listed, in the park
Times Guide.
The theater is multilevel. Though all the seats provide
a good line of sight, we recommend that you sit on the ground level relatively close to
the entrance doors (if possible) to facilitate an easy exit after the performance. Finally, be
forewarned that the sound volume for Hyperion Theater productions would give heavy
metal concerts a good run for the money.
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