Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney celebrates second anniversary with new finale act

Dec 20, 2023 in "Cirque du Soleil"

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Drawn to Life new finale

Posted: Wednesday December 20, 2023 1:33pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney is celebrating its second anniversary at Disney Springs with a new finale honoring the relationship at the heart of its story, between a father and his daughter.

Drawn to Life new finale

The new ending features a swing-to-swing act with artists who soar across the stage between two swings performing new awe-inspiring stunts, acrobatics and choreography. The act is the culmination of the show’s story of its heroine, Julie, and her father, who was a Disney animator. The artists, representative of Julie and her father, perform in costumes inspired by the art of drawing and animation created by noted costume designer Philippe Guillotel.

Watch the video below for a look at the new finale.

“The new finale Swing to Swing act celebrates the completion of the triumphant journey of Julie as she finishes the lines started in an animation left to her by her father to forever link them to one another,” said Justin Sullivan, artistic director for Drawn to Life. “The daring acrobats in the number are kaleidoscopic animated renditions of Julie and her father soaring, flying, and swinging through the air in a touching and thrilling display of amplitude, connection and skill.”

Drawn to Life new finale

Earlier in 2023, the show introduced new acts including Icarian Games acrobatics, aerial hoops, and a flying guitarist.

The family-friendly show tells the story of the love between a father and a daughter, drawing inspiration from Walt Disney Animation Studios’ 100-year heritage of storytelling. The show shares joy as it celebrates iconic Disney stories and characters through innovative design, acrobatic performances, brilliant choreography, musical scores and brand-new animation lovingly created by Disney Animation artists.

Guests can experience Drawn to Life Wednesdays through Sundays at Disney Springs, with shows at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets are available through December 2024.

For more information on tickets, dates and prices, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/drawn-to-life.

Discuss on the Forums

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Jon81uk23 days ago

A lot of people don't visit regularly. I don't think changing the show often would make a difference to most peple

WondersOfLife23 days ago

I'd say yes actually.

wdwmagic23 days ago

Big Bang Theory Star Johnny Galecki Visits Cirque du Soleil's Drawn to Life at Disney Springs https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/cirque-du-soleil/news/22oct2025-big-bang-theory-star-johnny-galecki-visits-cirque-du-soleils-drawn-to-life-at-disney-springs.htm

BocabearOct 01, 2025

Ahhh Joe Hayes' Surflight Theater.... My childhood... Weekly shows in the summer... The showplace for singing Ice Cream waiters... ( I remember when it was Margot's Ice Cream parlor before Surflight took it over as well.... That was always a great thing to have on the island.... It was so dead in the winter when they turned the traffic lights off and only kept one movie theater and one Grocery store open.....

Basil of Baker StreetOct 01, 2025

Absolutely. Also, an orchestra preforming Disney songs would be a nice change up. When in Disney, I would at least look to see who's in town. Plus I think you would get more local interest.

MisterPenguinOct 01, 2025

There's a theater in NJ (Surflight on Long Beach Island) that used to put on a new musical (reprises) every week. While they're performing one show during a week, during the day, they're rehearsing for next week's musical. They've cut back since the pandemic. But... There could be a troupe performing a revolving slate of Disney musicals year round. There's also space in the unused national pavilion expansion pads for an indoor theater...

Basil of Baker StreetOct 01, 2025

I would much prefer an assorted lineup of traveling Broadway shows in that space.

Animaniac93-98Sep 30, 2025

Perhaps this is part of the reason the previous Cirque show lasted so long. It was a Cirque show that happened to be in Disney, not a Disney Cirque show. It could appeal to those in the area for other reasons than WDW looking for something to do. More Cirque shows existing elsewhere may have diminished the uniqueness of this particular location. But we've talked about this broader issue on the forum before. That WDW ticket prices are now so expensive that people feel obligated to spend every hour of the day touring them and don't have the time/interest for other aspects of the resort.

WondersOfLifeSep 30, 2025

I'd say yes. Specifically the night crowd.

Sir_CliffSep 30, 2025

Very strongly agree on all points. I'm kind of surprised Cirque has hung on as long as it has at WDW. Disney already has very high quality live entertainment around the resorts, including shows based on their animated features. They would be better off including higher quality shows like this within the parks, as they at least briefly tried to be doing with the Aladdin show at DCA. I am already booked to go and see the Hercules musical in London in December, so I am certainly up for seeing Disney Broadway musicals. I cannot ever imagine choosing to spend the time and money required during a WDW vacation to do so, though.

TrainsOfDisneySep 30, 2025

Exactly - the parks already provide that type of experience. And ideally - the parks would provide closer to broadway level shows (the Hyperion shows were very close in quality). Even Cirque is a bit of a stretch. While the show is great - if I want to see acrobats to Disney music I can go to festival of the lion king. Epcot has a juggler and an acrobat. Even the boardwalk has circus acts. I think any investment to broadway level shows should be inside the parks - plus the parks. People are tired of cash grabs. I honestly wish drawn to life was in the parks - a shorter version of it would be perfect.

Sir_CliffSep 30, 2025

Yes, I tend to think a Disney Broadway show at the resorts is one of those things that sounds logical in theory but doesn't work in practice. I don't know quite why that is, but perhaps the appeal of a Broadway show is partly in its novelty and as an escape from daily life or whatever urban environment in which it's showing. People at these Disney resorts are basically immersed in a giant escapist experience all day, usually for several days. So, it stands to reason they don't want to shell out a large amount of money on top of their theme park tickets and put aside an evening for a form of escapism designed for a completely different environment and based more or less around the source material of the escapism they've already paid to experience.

TrainsOfDisneySep 30, 2025

you think the Disney springs crowd likes Blue Man Group more than Citywalk?

WondersOfLifeSep 30, 2025

With Cirque owning Blue Man Group now, I think it was a bit of a missed opportunity to throw BMG into Disney Springs instead of that other new location.