When most people think of Orlando, they’re thinking about Disney and Universal. The theme parks dominate the conversation when it comes to central Florida, and a lot of people don’t consider the other opportunities there are for entertainment in the greater Orlando area.
One of those is the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center. The venue hosts all sorts of arts performances, ranging from concerts to Broadway musicals.
The Broadway musicals are the main draw, as the theater hosts the traveling cast of many musicals straight from New York City. I have been to a couple of shows, the most recent being the Aladdin Musical.
Here are my thoughts on the Aladdin show, and on the venue as a whole.
Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center Venue
The building is located near downtown Orlando and is within walking distance of many of Orlando’s top-visited spots.
Lake Eola is a few blocks to the north, while the Amway Center is a few blocks to the east. Orlando isn’t the most walkable city, but this side of the city isn’t too difficult to navigate.
The venue is close enough to shopping and dining destinations to easily make a nice night out on the town. When buying tickets for any show, you can easily add on a reserved spot in one of three different parking garages nearby, which are all within a couple of minutes of the theater. I parked in the farther lot option, which saved me a couple of dollars, and had no trouble walking a block and a half over to get to the theater.
Dr. Phillips is a massive theater. There are four (maybe even five) stories of seating surrounding the main stage. Having recently attended the Drawn to Life Cirque Du Solei show at Disney Springs prior to my first visit to Dr. Phillips, the massive scale of the theater surprised me. I sat near the back, which left me very far away from the stage and the performers.
The sound and visuals (particularly of the musical dance patterns during the show) were excellent, but I was too far to really appreciate the subtle expressions and movements of the starring cast throughout the show. If you happen to be a bit afraid of heights, be sure to select a seat closer to the stage.
When you go to buy tickets, you’ll be able to select the exact seats you want and see a map of where they’re located. Keep in mind that the rows of seats are very steep, making those top rows distant from the stage.
When you first enter the Dr. Phillips center, you get a good sense of how large the building is. It has great architecture and a spiraling staircase which winds its way from the lobby area up into the seating areas. If you arrive early, there are opportunities to get a few nice photos before finding your seats.
Finally, it’s common for shows to have intermissions, allowing you to head back to the lobby areas for a snack or drink. The venue features a chiming sound to notify you of when it’s time to return to your seats, which is helpful in keeping you on schedule.
However, when I went, it seemed to me that the intermission was fairly short. There were many people still waiting in lines for their drinks as the chime sounded, leaving guests a choice between refreshments and missing a bit of the show. Be warned to move quickly during the intermission to make sure you return in time!
Aladdin: The Musical
My most recent visit to the Dr. Phillips center was to see the Aladdin Broadway show. The musical follows along the plot of Disney’s Aladdin closely, without too many deviations.
However, the show was exciting and features many sequences that translated well to the musical setting. For example, Genie steals the show in his performance while in the Cave of Wonders. Aladdin and Jasmine also have a great moment when they sing “I Can Show You the World” while soaring above the stage on their magic carpet.
Some of the most impressive parts of the performance were the choreographed movements in the larger musical numbers, including a new song from Aladdin’s friends. These characters are unique to the musical and help set up a bit more backstory for Aladdin and Jafar. They serve as both comic relief and a way to help narrate the story. Their “buddy” song is a hoot and was definitely a highlight of the show.
The only real possible drawback to the Aladdin show is that it doesn’t have any surprises. That’s not a fault of this show in particular, as many of Disney’s musicals follow the movies closely.
At the end of the day, this isn’t a bad thing either. The stories told are classics for a reason, and there is not a true need to change the plot just to try to make it interesting. This point is just something to consider for visitors looking for a more unique experience. If you want to be surprised, it might be a better idea to pick a show that you’re less familiar with.
The Bottom Line
All in all, my experience seeing the Aladdin musical at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts was great. The tickets were reasonably priced. For my next show, I’ll definitely sit a bit closer to the theater. If visiting for a concert, the back/top of the venue would work just fine.
