If you’ve ever seen the Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you may have watched Veryl E. Jones performs on that stage. For those who have enjoyed the show repeatedly over the years, this news might be quite emotional. After more than 20 years with Disney, Jones is officially retiring from his role in the production.
Who He Played
Jones portrayed Kiume, the leader of the elephant section and one of the four human hosts who carry the entire production. His big moment in the show was singing Be Prepared, Scar’s villain anthem, and anyone who’s heard him perform it live knows it’s one of the most powerful parts of the whole experience.
His fellow performer Monica Quinn shared a video of the cast and crew celebrating Jones at the Festival of the Lion King theater, giving him the kind of send-off a two-decade run deserves.
Fun fact, if you didn’t know: Jones has some film credits too. He appeared in Bad Boys II, The Punisher, and Out of Time back in the early 2000s, so the man brought real acting chops to that stage every single day.
Happy retirement to the man the myth and the legend, VJ.
— Ethan 💫 (@ThatDisneyBoi) July 2, 2026
This man has been with the show since it opened in 1998, and today he finally celebrates his retirement. Getting to grow up watching you, to sharing a stage with you has been one of the greatest privileges.
Nǎhtǎzū!!! pic.twitter.com/XN5Y6babfX
Why This Show Is Such a Big Deal at Disney
Festival of the Lion King isn’t just another theme park show. It opened with Disney’s Animal Kingdom itself on April 22, 1998, which means it’s been running for nearly three decades. It started out in Camp Minnie-Mickey before moving to its current home at the Harambe Theater in the Africa section of the park.
The show features four human hosts performing songs from The Lion King alongside life-size puppets of Simba, Pumbaa, an elephant, and a giraffe on parade floats. Timon walks around as a full character, and the whole thing is packed with Tumble Monkeys, aerial gymnasts, a fire twirler, and dancers. It’s the kind of show that gives you chills on your first visit and somehow still does on your twentieth.
And people clearly keep coming back. Just last year, the show celebrated its 80 millionth guest, with a young visitor receiving a giant commemorative ticket and celebration button, plus a group photo with the cast after the show. Eighty million guests is a wild number for one theme park production, and performers like Jones are a big part of why that number exists.
Planning to See the Show
If this news has you wanting to catch Festival of the Lion King on your next Animal Kingdom day, a few things to know. Seating is limited and not guaranteed with park admission, so check the My Disney Experience app, the in-park tip boards, or ask a cast member at the Harambe Theater about queue info and availability.
You can also earn a digital achievement for seeing the show through the Play Disney Parks app, which is a fun little bonus if you’re into collecting those.
The End of an Era at Disney
The role of Kiume will carry on, but for guests who’ve spent years watching Jones own that stage, his version of Be Prepared is the one that’ll stick with them. Twenty-plus years of performances, countless standing ovations, and millions of guests who left that theater a little more emotional than they expected to be.
Congratulations on your retirement, Veryl. The Harambe Theater won’t be the same without you.
