Disney's THE LION KING at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Welcomes Its One-Millionth Guest With Ultimate Summer Vacation Package

LAS VEGAS, May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Disney's THE LION KING at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas welcomed its one-millionth guest this weekend during "Fan Appreciation Month" as part of its two-year anniversary celebration. THE LION KING's run in Las Vegas marks the production's longest sit-down engagement off Broadway in North America.

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The Welch family of Las Vegas was named the lucky winner and received an ultimate summer getaway. The family – comprised of parents Robert and Shaneka, and daughters Rachael, 7, and Kaitlynn, 6 – saw THE LION KING for the first time as their Mother's Day gift to Shaneka. The 16-year Vegas residents' prize package includes an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City where they will enjoy Disney's Mary Poppins and THE LION KING on Broadway. Before jetting off to the Big Apple, the family will celebrate with a relaxing two-night staycation at Mandalay Bay in a luxurious suite.

"I saw THE LION KING for the first time [today], and it was fantastic," said winner Robert Welch. "It's unbelievable [to be the millionth guest]; I'm shocked and amazed; I can't believe it. Shaneka added, "The stage, the settings, the costumes - everything was just so beautiful and beyond what I would've imagined at all. It was great how they transformed you into the world, and the music was beautiful; it was an amazing show."

Thomas Schumacher, producer of THE LION KING and president of Disney Theatrical Group said, "We'd like to thank the Las Vegas locals and tourists who've embraced THE LION KING at Mandalay Bay, helping us to reach this significant milestone."

Mandalay Bay's production of THE LION KING is virtually identical to the other companies seen around the globe and is staged with all of the same spectacular music, sets and costumes that have made it a worldwide phenomenon. The Las Vegas production features an international cast of performers who have won acclaim in productions of THE LION KING around the world including Broadway, Taipei, South Africa, London, Los Angeles, Australia, Toronto, Shanghai, Paris and Holland. Within nine weeks of its Las Vegas debut, Disney's THE LION KING broke the Mandalay Bay box office record and continued to break its own record four more times within two years.

The smash hit has been seen by more than 55 million people in 18 different productions worldwide since its 1997 premiere. THE LION KING productions have grossed more than $4.3 billion to date and have cumulatively run 83 years. Newsweek calls the Tony® Award-winning sensation "a landmark event in entertainment" and The New York Times says, "You will gasp again and again at the visual majesty of the show…There is simply nothing else like it."

About THE LION KING

Mandalay Bay's production of THE LION KING continues to reign as a landmark musical event, winning audiences over with extraordinary musical score, breathtaking costumes and a heartfelt story, while earning record-breaking numbers at the Mandalay Bay Theatre. The show is performed Monday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday shows at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.  THE LION KING Las Vegas will perform its final show Dec. 30, 2011. For additional information, visit www.lionkinglasvegas.com.

ABOUT MANDALAY BAY RESORT & CASINO

Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino is a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning destination resort set on 60 lush acres and offers 3,635 newly remodeled rooms and suites, including 424 accommodations managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. Mandalay Bay Beach, an 11-acre tropical pool environment, features real California sand, a wave pool and the only climate-controlled poolside gaming in the city. The property also features the 12,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center, award-winning restaurants, Shark Reef Aquarium and the 1.5-million-square-foot Mandalay Bay Convention Center – the largest convention center on the Las Vegas Strip. Mandalay Bay's brands include THEhotel, an all-suite hotel featuring 1,117 luxurious one-bedroom suites, the BATHHOUSE Spa, and Mandalay Place, a collection of unique boutiques and restaurants. Mandalay Bay is a wholly owned subsidiary of MGM Resorts International™ (NYSE: MGM). For more information and reservations, visit the website at www.mandalaybay.com or call toll free at (877) 632-7000.

SOURCE THE LION KING