UPDATE: As of August 23, 2022, the show is up and running smoothly again.
If you LOVE Beauty & the Beast or you simply love Disney shows, be warned.
Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage is a popular offering at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The show returned to the park back in 2021, and has since undergone some changes, bringing things closer to its pre-pandemic form. But on August 22nd, seeing the show at all became a challenge.
On August 22nd, we were walking through Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the afternoon when we saw that the sign for Beauty & The Beast Live on Stage had ALL showtimes removed from it. Though showtimes can change, we’ve often seen this show offered at 11AM, 1PM, 2PM, 4PM, and 5PM.
We spoke with a Cast Member to see what was going on. According to the individual we spoke to, the show experienced technical issues so they had to shut it down for the day.
So if you were hoping to see this show in the afternoon on August 22nd, unfortunately, that simply wasn’t an option.
Unexpected show or ride closures like this one can happen at Disney World. Not too long ago, we encountered a situation where the PeopleMover had been down all day in Magic Kingdom. Sometimes these unexpected closures can be very short, with the rides reopening soon after temporarily going down. Other times, they can last all day or even several days.
So what can you do if something like that happens to you? It’s not as if these are the types of closures you can prepare for.
The first thing to do is repeatedly check the My Disney Experience app. If a ride goes down or a show temporarily closes, the app could provide you with information as to whether something has reopened or will be offered again later. You can also go speak with the Cast Members in the area. Cast Members near the closed attraction may have a better idea of estimated times at which the attraction may reopen.
While you can’t “officially” prepare for these specific closures, one thing you can do is sort of prepare in advance for any and all unexpected closures by building flexibility into your day and discussing the possibility of closed rides with your family and travel group.
Let’s say a particular ride is a must-do for one kiddo. What happens if that ride closes for the whole day due to technical issues? If you discuss the possibility of a closure ahead of time, you could talk to that kiddo and see what their backup must-do ride would be. Then, if you do encounter a closure, you’ll be prepared with a Plan B, and (hopefully) your kiddo will also be prepared to handle the shift in plans a bit better.
If something is truly a non-negotiable, no-Plan-B type of ride, you may want to plan to visit the park on 2 separate days. That’ll give you the best chance of hitting that ride even if it is closed on one of the days that you visit.
Ultimately, the best thing you can do in those situations is make the best of the time you have in the park with the attractions that are open. In Hollywood Studios, that could mean seeing another show (like the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular), grabbing a special snack, or hopping on another ride. Just keep in mind that closures of big rides can lead to longer lines at other spots, so keep an eye on those wait times!
For more information on how to handle big ride closures, click here to see our guide on what to do when Rise of the Resistance goes down. You can also click here to see the planning tips you need to know about before your next Disney World trip, or click here for our page FULL of hints, lists, videos, and more to help you plan your trip.
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