"original work" was the main marketing spiel for the Lion King. And the rest before that sound pretty identical to the statements made by Disney people. Then it follows it up with some truly suck-up language. When someone is backing you up, but they also sound like they're repeating your PR points, it doesn't come across as really authentic.
And the fact that Disney themselves put a Cease and Desist order on the Kimba movie that came out around the same time (and which was completely based on part of the 1950s comic series that hadn't been adapted before) suggests
Disney doesn't actually believe their "they're totally different" argument. There's also the fact that Roy Disney (Walt's brother) was online referring to the character as "Kimba" not "Simba" during early pre-production, which is historical documentary evidence.
This lists some of the similarities, i'll cite a few less-known ones:
http://www.neatorama.com/2015/04/06/The-Lyin-King/* The main characters’ names are remarkably similar: Simba and Kimba.
* Both are orphaned as cubs and destined to become rulers.
* Each lost their father in treacherous circumstances.
* In The Lion King, Scar enlists the aid of three hyenas (Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed). In Kimba the White Lion, Claw enlists the aid of two hyenas (Tib and Tab).
* One of Simba’s friends is a hysterical yet comical bird (named Zazu). One of Kimba’s friends is a hysterical yet comical bird (named Pauley).
* In The Lion King, Simba turns to a wise but eccentric baboon (named Rakifi) for guidance. In Kimba the White Lion, Kimba turns to a wise but eccentric baboon (named Dan’l Baboon) for guidance.
* Simba has a cute girlfriend cub named Nala. Kimba has a cute girlfriend cub named Kitty.
* Simba’s chief nemesis is Scar, an evil lion with a scar over his left eye. Kimba’s primary nemesis is Claw, an evil one-eyed lion with a scar over his blind left eye.
* Kimba and Simba each speak to the spirit of their father, who appears in the clouds.
The image of Simba standing on Pride Rock in The Lion King is almost identical to an image of Kimba as a grown lion, standing on a jutting rock surveying his kingdom in Kimba the White Lion.