1. I love the idea present that because it's a Disney it could sell "anyways". Inglehart is a box office draw for MAYBE five people. Not a marquee name. Whatsoever.
2. I'd say the 16-17 season is accurate, Disney would also benefit from streamlining the show a tad without the pressure to tour it.
3. Re: trapdoors. Why would they need them? That is a very simple thing to redesign. I'd compare the potential to something akin to Mary Poppins. The tour / alternate version if the set was significantly different while maintaining the feel of the original. In fact, with the except of only one effect, I found the tour / alternate set more attractive, more creative, more fluid, and flat out more theatrical.
3. Re: Pride Rock. A singular trap door with revolve is a very different animal than the incredibly complex animal that it Pride Rock, which involves multiple trap doors and sun roofs, elevators and a multistory drum revolve.