Cirque du Soleil La Nouba at Downtown Disney

“Haven’t you done everything yet?”  The response—NO!  I’m referring to a typical conversation that happens when friends, family, and acquaintances learn that we are once again returning to Walt Disney World.  There’s just too much to do!

An area outside the theme parks that draws guests is Downtown Disney—a retail, entertainment, and dining area.  Click here to read more about Downtown Disney.

A treat for Disney guests tucked away at the far end of the West Side of Downtown Disney is a special theater designed for Cirque du Soleil  La Nouba.  This avant-garde performance designed especially for Walt Disney World is a must see.

We attended a performance of Cirque du Soleil  La Nouba a few years ago.  While it’s true that there is no bad seat in the house, it is better to sit a bit farther back, as performers use the ENTIRE space to perform—land and air.  A view from a bit farther back gives show goers a vantage point to take it all in.  We had seats in the last row of the lower portion of the theater on the middle right.  Excellent seats!  The show begins at those seats. . . and that is all I’m going to say about that.  You have to go to Cirque du Soleil  La Nouba to find out what I mean.  If you have already seen the show, then you know what I’m talking about.

 (In looking at the seating chart, we were in the last row of the purple section on the far left side.)

Performances are typically at 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm Tuesday through Saturday.  Check the Walt DisneyWorld web-site for exact dates and times of performances.

Since we were traveling with a youngster, we selected the 6:00 pm show.  We were staying at Port Orleans Riverside, so we took a boat to Downtown Disney.  I recall that we walked through the Marketplace and ate at what was then McDonalds before the show.  Then it was time to walk to the West Side and the theater that houses Cirque du Soleil  La Nouba.  Trust me, it is the last building on the West Side and walking means you go through Pleasure Island and then all the way to the end of the West Side.  It was late afternoon, so the sun was in our faces and I remember feeling a bit heated by the time we arrived at the theater.  Our recommendations—take a boat from Marketplace to the West Side—they are offered regularly.  If you are driving, park on the West Side.  If you are taking a Disney Bus, wait and get off at the West Side stop rather than at Marketplace.

Inside, the theater is a treat and the seats comfy.  There are snacks and beverages for purchase.  We bought drinks and a souvenir tub of popcorn.  There were adult beverages available for purchase as well.

The atmosphere inside the theater is a combination of typical Disney visitor—shorts and t-shirts—and the more upscale traveler in dressier clothing making an evening of it by going to the theater.  We were in shorts and t-shirts and didn’t feel out of place at all.  But since we had been touring the parks for days, it surprised me to see people in non-touring clothing.

When the show was over, we looked for the boat launch on the West Side and rode it to the Marketplace, then switched boats to head back to Port Orleans Riverside.  It was much better than walking the entire distance.  And, since the sun had gone down, the views of all the lights and the water were great from the boat.

We would consider Cirque du Soleil  La Nouba a once every few years event, not an every trip occurrence.  And, if you haven’t seen it before, we highly recommend taking the time and spending the extra money for tickets.

We have joined the Cirque du Soleil  Club on-line.  Membership is free and there are regular updates as well as special offers.  If you think you are going to a show, it might be beneficial to join the club!

In the meantime, we are going back to Disney again!  We haven’t done everything. . . yet!  And, even if we had, there are too many things we would want to do again!