jungle cruise attraction

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides
• Labor Day sales

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

How long is the Jungle Cruise ride at Disney World closed? What we know

You won't be able to access the only route to the 8th Wonder of the World for a while.

As of Aug. 26, the Jungle Cruise ride at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is temporarily closed for refurbishment.

When will Jungle Cruise reopen at Disney World in Orlando?

The Jungle Cruise will be closed through Thursday, Oct. 17, reopening to guests on Friday, Oct. 18. Just in time for the holiday season!

Why is Jungle Cruise closed at Disney World in Orlando?

The exact reasons for the refurbishment has not been released. WDW Magic previously shared that several permits were filed for the attraction, including one with contractor Underwater Engineering Services Inc. Many speculate that this will be just routine maintenance instead of replacing any show elements.

Theme parks fans know the ride has gone through different "reimaginings," adding new animatronics and details to its backstory. It has not been closed for refurbishment since 2017.

How long is the Jungle Cruise at Disney World? What to know about ride

In its official description , Disney World states that the ride takes guests on a 10 minute scenic and comedic boat tour across Asia, Africa and South America. The ride was one of the premier attractions when Magic Kingdom first opened in 1971.

Theme park blog All Ears shares that early versions of the Jungle Cruise in Disneyland were done without jokes and were based on Disney's True Life Adventure Series. In the 1960s, animator Marc Davis was sought out by Walt Disney to “plus up” some of the attractions.

Davis worked on the Jungle Cruise and liven up the attraction by adding comical safari sequences, which influenced the ride’s skipper narration to what we know today.

Is there a 'Jungle Cruise' movie? How to stream movie starring Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Emily Blunt

For those who already have a trip to Disney's Magic Kingdom set for fall 2024, you can still get your Jungle Cruise fix.

Disney turned its iconic rides into a movie in 2021, joining the ranks of "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Haunted Mansion" and "Tower of Terror."

Set in 1917 during World War I , USA TODAY wrote that the Jungle Cruise movie stars Emily Blunt as Lily Houghton, a British botanist in search of a legendary ancient tree that has petals with amazing healing properties and the potential to change medicine forever. She needs a way to get to it, though, and she heads down to South America where she meets Frank Wolff (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson), a financially strapped riverboat captain who gives tourists jungle rides chock full of groan-worthy jokes and the occasional factoid.

Lily hires Frank and set sail in his dilapidated vessel to find their treasure, dealing with pesky natives, rocky waterfalls and other various obstacles on the way.

The movie also stars Jesse Plemons, Edgar Ramírez and Jack Whitehall.

What other ride, attraction closures are at Disney World resorts in Orlando?

Peter Pan's Flight Reopens at Magic Kingdom with Reimagined Never Land Tribe Scene https://t.co/ntI1cMekXc pic.twitter.com/yVlBSCsCwk — Chip and Company (@chipandcompany) August 16, 2024

Parkgoers saw the return of Peter Pan's Flight at Magic Kingdom earlier this month with one of its scenes getting a major makeover. After the " Never Land Tribe scene " was called out for years for its “caricatures” of native people, officials have removed the stereotypical depictions.

“We consider ourselves constant learners and as we identify ways that can make our attractions and experiences more authentic and relatable, and our stories connect more deeply to our guests, we make thoughtful changes,” Officials said in a statement.

As of Aug. 27, here are the refurbishment closures announced for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida:

Test Track , EPCOT - Until 2025

Stormalong Bay and Shipwreck Pool , Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resort - TBA

Fantasia Pool , Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort - TBA

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Disney's Jungle Cruise is temporarily closed. What else is closed?

Recommended Stories

Best credit cards for cruises for september 2024.

Ready to set sail? Make sure you have one of these best credit cards for booking cruises in your wallet first.

Labor Day sales are happening right now: The biggest and best deals from Amazon, Apple, Walmart and more at up to 70% off

Our editors are scouting the biggest Labor Day deals in real time.

Cardinals notch first Yankee Stadium win since ... the 1964 World Series

The last time the Cardinals beat the Yankees in the Bronx, Bob Gibson was involved.

Ricky Pearsall, 49ers' first-round pick, in stable condition after shooting in San Francisco robbery attempt

Pearsall is reportedly in stable condition.

Chicago Sky's Diamond DeShields responds to toxic fan after hard foul on Caitlin Clark

An incident involving Cailtin Clark and the Sky got ugly. Again.

Bolt reportedly threatens legal action against Silverbear Capital

In the latest twist in Bolt's aggressive fundraising efforts, the fintech company’s CEO appears to have made a veiled threat of legal action against Silverbear Capital, the investment bank whose involvement in the deal remains in some dispute. “We believe there was some internal miscommunication at Silverbear Capital, one of our lead investors, which has caused unnecessary confusion,” CEO Justin Grooms wrote in an email reportedly viewed by Forbes. Silverbear partner Veronica Welch told Forbes that “this never had anything to do with any miscommunications” and that the deal “was never discussed or approved in the company.”

No, a video game spin-off of The Batman is not in the works, James Gunn says

Responding to a question on Threads about whether Warner Bros. has a game in the works based on the Robert Pattinson-led film, DC Studios’ co-head James Gunn said, 'Sadly there is no truth to this whatsoever.'

Hurry! Amazon Warehouse's secret deals — from Apple to Vizio — are selling out

A Ninja for nearly 60% off, anyone? Some items are open-box, some pre-owned; all are guaranteed.

Dragon's Dogma director Hideaki Itsuno says he’s leaving Capcom to start a new project

Hideaki Itsuno, who directed the Dragon’s Dogma series and other major games for Capcom, announced on Saturday that he’s leaving the company.

14 tried-and-true hacks from world travelers — plus their packing essentials

From minimizing checkpoint slowdowns to getting quality shut-eye anywhere, here are the travel secrets we swear by.

Entertainment | Disneyland spends $600,000 to replace Jungle…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Today's e-Edition

Things To Do

• Food & Drink
• Celebrities
• Pets & Animals
• Event Calendar

Breaking News

Entertainment | bird flu spreads to california’s dairy cows, entertainment, entertainment | disneyland spends $600,000 to replace jungle cruise animatronic tiger scene, the jungle cruise will close sept. 16 to oct. 3 for a seasonal refurbishment..

Disneyland has filed building permits valued at $600,000 with the city of Anaheim to replace the audio-animatronic tiger structure on the Jungle Cruise attraction, according to city records.

The permits filed in August call for new electrical, footings, steel frame and cement plaster rockwork on the Jungle Cruise tiger structure.

The Jungle Cruise will close Sept. 16 to Oct. 3 for a seasonal refurbishment, according to MiceChat .

The tiger scene was hidden behind green scrims until a wooden fence could be built around the animatronic animal to hide the necessary repairs. The temporary fence hid a rock shrine arch that frames the tiger. A quartet of animatronic crocodiles remain on the steps below the tiger.

Walt Disney Imagineering did its best to dress up the odd looking “ tiger in a box ” as part of an archaeological dig site with a “Restricted Access” notice warning that no items were to be removed without written permission from the “Board of Regents of the Archaeological Department.”

Jungle Cruise skippers occasionally worked the boxed tiger into their comedic repertoire of bad jokes and witty banter.

• Report an error
• Policies and Standards

More in Entertainment

Review: These 5 must-read books drop in September

Horoscopes | Horoscopes Aug. 31, 2024: Sara Ramirez, concentrate on what’s possible

Entertainment | Column: TV show cancellations are frustrating — but nothing new

Entertainment | Blake Lively's brother-in-law speaks out amid 'It Ends With Us' cast drama

Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw exits early against…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• High School

Los Angeles Dodgers

Subscriber only, los angeles dodgers | dodgers’ clayton kershaw exits early against diamondbacks with toe pain.

The future Hall of Famer faced just seven batters Friday night before leaving with what the team said was pain in the big toe on his left foot. This was Kershaw’s seventh start of the season following shoulder surgery last November.

Subscribe to continue reading this article.

Already subscribed to login in, click here..

• Newsroom Guidelines
• Report an Error

More in Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodgers start strong, have to hold on to top Arizona

Los Angeles Dodgers | Clayton Kershaw returns to Injured List with bone spur on his left foot

Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodgers survive Clayton Kershaw’s early injury exit, hold off Diamondbacks

Los Angeles Dodgers | Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman gets mental break while resting fractured finger

Jungle Cruise

Head Off to Adventure

Embark on a river cruise where dangerous beasts and dry wit abound. Board a canopied tramp steamer piloted by your trusty skipper, who will expertly navigate you through some of the world’s most treacherous waters.

Steam past lush foliage, butterflies and waterfalls on the Amazon in South America. Glimpse an abandoned camp overrun by curious gorillas on the shores of the African Congo. 

Along the Nile, watch for bathing elephants, angry hippos and hungry lions. Be on the lookout for a tribe of headhunters recently spotted in the area. Your cruise continues down the Mekong River in Asia, home to baboons, cobras and other fearsomely life-like creatures. 

It’s a 10-minute, 10,000-mile journey that you won't soon forget!

Related Activities

Jungle navigation co. ltd skipper canteen, even more magic – as you wish, safety, accessibility and guest policies, times for jungle cruise.

Complete Guide to Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom

Grab your suitcase and get ready to set sail on an adventure-filled river tour. Jungle Cruise is one of several fan-favorite classic attractions remaining at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

This water safari is led by experienced Skippers, who navigate your boat through the rivers of Asia, Africa, and South America. Your pun-filled guides will not only make you laugh ’till you cry, but will also make sure you get up close and personal with the eighth wonder of the world — the backside of water!

Now let’s sail into our Jungle Cruise guide .

Before we get too far into it, make sure you check out our guide on the Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for information on every attraction and show at Magic Kingdom.

In this article

Jungle Cruise Quick Facts

• Location : Magic Kingdom, Adventureland
• Height Requirement : Any height
• Suitable for: All ages
• Attraction Length: 10 minutes
• Do We Recommend : Yes. It’s an original opening day attraction and a must-do ride.
• When to Visit : Typically at opening/within the first hour or closer toward park close
• Scheduled Refurbishments
• Tip(s): Ride at night for a unique experience and shorter lines; Holiday season the ride is themed with an overlay called “Jingle Cruise.”

Description: Jungle Cruise is a river boat ride where animatronic animals and dad jokes abound. Every Jungle Cruise Skipper has their own unique “routine”, so every ride is a little bit different. Kids who are easily scared should be told ahead of time the animals they are about to see are not real.

You can find Jungle Cruise in Adventureland across from Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin . Here’s the location on the map:

Download the PDF

How to Ride Jungle Cruise

Jungle Cruise has a Standby Line and Lightning Lane. There is no  Single Rider Line .

The Standby Line for Jungle Cruise is typically the lowest first thing in the morning and at the end of the evening. The middle of the day will see the longest lines with sustained wait times of over 60 minutes.

Jungle Cruise is not available during Early Theme Park Entry or Extended Evening Hours . So, if this ride is a priority for you, planning accordingly is a must.

D o I need to use Genie+ at Jungle Cruise?

Jungle Cruise is available with Genie+  and we highly recommend using it at this attraction.

Aside from Peter Pan’s Flight , the Jungle Cruise is the second most booked ride on Genie+ at the Magic Kingdom. It’s a highly-popular ride that many park guests make a must-do during their park day. Unless you hop on this ride first thing, you should plan to reserve a Genie+ time for later in the day.

Make sure you check out our  touring plans for Magic Kingdom  for more Genie+ advice.

Rider Switch/Child Swap

Jungle Cruise is for all ages and heights. Therefore, Rider Switch , the system that allows guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one, is not offered for Jungle Cruise.

What to Expect When You Ride

The Jungle Cruise queue is completely outdoors, with most of the line covered from the sun. While the ride doesn’t have an interactive queue like many other attractions, there are plenty of sights and sounds to enjoy.

You will find the queue decorated with prior passenger cruise logs and journals to read over. Also as you get closer to the loading station you can watch the tour boats pulling into and leaving the loading dock.

The music in the queue is also fun, including listening to what the announcer has to say.

Ride Vehicles

The ride vehicles for Jungle Cruise are small river boats. There is seating around the entire interior of the boat for guests to sit. Each boat can accompany approximately 30 guests.

There is a small 6 inch gap you must step over and down into the boat. Most guests are able to board with little to no help. There is a pole to grab on to help stabilize your boarding process in addition to Cast Members who will assist guests as needed.

You will ride in the tour boat with other groups, but your party will always be seated together next to — or at least near to one another.

There are no safety restraints, seat belts or life vests. You simply sit down and ride around inside the boat.

Accessibility Information

Guests may remain in their wheelchair/ECV while on the Jungle Cruise. A select number of boats are wheelchair accessible and have space for a single wheelchair. This includes manual, power, or ECV.

The majority of wheelchair sizes have no problem fitting on the boats. There is a separate wheelchair accessible entrance where your party can wait to board their boat.

You’ll want to speak with a Cast Member at the attraction entrance (at the top of the path that leads to the attraction) for details and directions.

Sign language interpretation and assistive listening are also offered on the Jungle Cruise ride on certain days. To obtain a schedule listing exact days and times, visit Guest Relations in the park.

Motion Sickness

Jungle Cruise’s boats are slow-moving and don’t have any fast turns, so motion sickness seems very unlikely. That said, you are riding in a boat on the water. Feel free to check out our guide on motion sickness  that’s filled with additional information and tips.

On The Ride

Ride spoilers ahead!

Prepare to sail away on an adventure of a lifetime as your cruise boat arrives into the loading dock. After some brief safety guidelines and a clear to go, your Skipper starts the tour sailing your cruise boat away from the dock and into the jungle.

Your first cruise stop in the jungle will be the Amazon rainforest where it rains 365 days a year. Here you will see beautiful butterflies with an impressive wingspan and the rushing waters of Inspiration Falls.

Next the tour will embark to the depths of Africa on the Congo River. You will pass by your Skippers pet python snake and a camp being broken down by Gorillas.

Cruising over to Egypt your Skipper will take you to the infamous Nile River which spans about 4,000 miles. Capture photos of the African bull elephants among the boulders. Long neck cheetahs, zebras, giraffes and lions are seen resting amongst one another. A rhinoceros is seen trying to make his point, chasing a group of explorers up a pole.

Watch out for danger as you enter crocodile country. Sail past the impressive Schweitzer falls which is named after the famous Dr. Albert Falls.

You will enter a hippo pool which will require some expert navigation from your Skipper as you see another tour cruise boat that did not fare so well going through them. A family of chimpanzees is seen taking over another tour cruise boat.

Next up is what everyone came to see, the 8th wonder of the world — the backside of water!

Prepare for dark encounters as your cruise boat enters the Mekong River in the heart of Cambodia. Your Skipper will take you through an Asian jungle shrine where you will pass a 500 pound tiger, several cobra snakes, giant spiders, shiny gold artifacts, and Buddha statues.

As you exit the tunnel you will find yourself in the middle of an Indian elephant bathing pool. Feel free to take as many pictures as you like. Beware — these elephants have been known to spray the boat, so watch out!

There’s no visit to the jungle complete without a stop to see Trader Sam’s gift shop.

As your tour boat approaches the dock again wait on your Skipper to give the word to gather all your belongings and disembark.

Trust us when we say to fully experience this ride, you need to try it yourself because the Skippers add a whole new level to each attraction scene. Their puns and jokes are the point of the cruise.

Is Jungle Cruise Kid-Friendly?

Overall, Jungle Cruise is very kid-friendly, as all ages and heights are permitted to board and ride.

However, keep in mind some of the animals on the cruise are very realistic and may scare little ones. There is also a short scene in which the boat rides through a very dark, almost pitch-black cave with several animatronic snakes and tigers that could be scary for children.

Anyone riding with kids may want to tell them the animals aren’t real prior to riding.

Kids are also required to remain seated completely during the entire tour. There is no exchanging of kids from one parent to another while the ride is in motion. Due to the nature of this ride being open and on the water, the Skippers are very strict about this.

We have a full guide on several other things that might scare little ones at Disney World .

Strollers are not permitted on the Jungle Cruise boats. They can be left in the designated area near the attraction entrance or with a non-rider.

Jungle Cruise was one of the original attractions ready in 1971 on Magic Kingdom’s opening day. It was also an opening day attraction at Disneyland Park in California back in 1955.

Ironically, before becoming known for its laughs and silly jokes, the attraction as a whole was initially more of a serious tone with only a few jokes inserted here and there.

The original script for Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise was written by Winston Hibler and inspired by Disney’s True-Life Adventure African Lion film. This gave the ride its more serious and educational tone, but that all changed in the ’60s when Imagineer Marc Davis took over and turned the ride into what many know and love today.

During the holidays, Jungle Cruise receives a holiday overlay and becomes the “Jingle Cruise.” The ride format stays basically the same with the addition of fun holiday-themed jokes and pretty seasonal decorations.

Believe it or not, but the holiday Jingle Cruise actually hasn’t been around that long — only since 2013!

In January 2021, Disney announced that some much-needed changes were coming to the Jungle Cruise on both coasts. Those updates are now complete.

Some of the enhancements included incorporating an animatronic skipper, new characters (like Alberta Falls), adding new jokes (don’t worry, many of the classics remain), and freshening up the story by adding chimpanzees, new explorers being chased up the pole, and making the Skippers more of a focus.

Here was the concept art for these updates that were previously shared by Disney:

Most importantly, the outdated depictions and problematic scenes have been removed .

As Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Portfolio Executive Chris Beatty told D23, “This is not a re-envisioning of the entire attraction. It’s the Jungle Cruise you know and love, with the skippers still leading the way, and at the same time, we’re addressing the negative depictions of ‘natives.'”

This also means the removal of Trader Sam from the final scene of the ride. But he isn’t totally gone; Trader Sam is still part of the attraction in a unique way.

The final scene features a Lost & Found Gift Shop with a sign indicating that it is managed by Trader Sam (in place of the Trader Sam animatronic). As stated by Disney, “But, while he’s out lost and finding some new inventory, it’s the animals that get the last laugh!”

Other Fun Details

• Rumor has it that when you enter the hippo pool, you’ll see the back half of a plane on the right, and, apparently, the front half was used in the Casablanca scene in the now-permanently closed Great Movie Ride.
• The Jungle Cruise is not based on a movie, but it did inspire one. The new live-action Jungle Cruise starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt was released on July 30, 2021 giving nod to this classic attraction.
• Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen is a nearby Table Service restaurant themed after the Jungle Cruise. It has a unique menu, serves alcohol, and is just as fun as the attraction. Reservations are recommended.

Other Attractions in Adventureland

• Jungle Cruise
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Everything You Need to Know about Disney’s Jungle Cruise Attraction

in Disney , Disneyland Paris , Walt Disney World

BEHOLD! The 8th wonder of the world, the magnificent, the amazing (and so on) BACK SIDE OF WATER!! Disney’s Exotic Jungle Cruise attraction has enchanted visitors since its opening day at Disneyland in 1955. That July 17, dapper Guests boarded shiny new watercraft to see animatronic animals in a leafy safari setting, and as the ride artfully aged, Jungle Cruise Skippers kept it fresh and entertained them with puns, jokes and otherwise gut-busting comments, making the attraction an Adventureland classic.

The Jungle Cruise attraction is an 8-minute boat ride through a lush rainforest-landscaped river where “ Guests can chart a course for high adventure on a scenic and comedic boat tour of exotic rivers across Asia, Africa, and South America.” The river, though it looks dirty, is actually clean water dyed with a mucky green dye to make it look dirty and more like a natural river. (This is also to hide the track the attraction ride boats are guided along). Disney Guests will see assorted animatronic animals set into natural-looking settings, a temple overrun with animals, and hear plenty of jokes from live Cast Members driving the boats forward as Jungle Cruise Skippers.

Guests may note that the elephant bathing pool looks so realistic that many photos of the bathing beauties are passed around on social media posing as real elephant photos. But don’t worry, you can take all the photos you want; all the elephants have their trunks on!

Where is the Jungle Cruise attraction?

Jungle Cruise can be found in the heart of Adventureland in Magic Kingdom (Walt Disney World Resort) at Disneyland Park (Disneyland Resort), Hong Kong Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneyland (where the boats run in the opposite direction!). Nestled behind some Adventureland tikis, you’ll find it in Magic Kingdom across from Aladdin’s flying carpets.

In Disneyland Park, you’ll find a two-tier queue next to the Tropical Hideaway watering hole as you pass into Adventureland. But don’t worry, both queues are fully accessible and Jungle Cruise Skippers will meet you at the front of the queue entrance to assist you on your watery safari.

There is a FastPass queue for this Disney attraction at both U.S. parks. While Walt Disney World utilizes a digital advance FastPass+ system, Disneyland Resort still relies on both the paper FASTPASS system as well as the digital MaxPass system. You’ll want to pay attention while you walk around in the queue for this classic Disney ride. You’ll see all sorts of jokes built into the decor as well as puns you can tell your family back home. The real treat is the queue soundtrack for the Jungle Cruise. It’s a mock-up of an old radio show hosted by Albert Awol, and is plentiful in puns, jokes, and old-timey sound effects.

The History of The Jungle Cruise

At the time of its debut in 1955, Jungle Cruise was a novel attraction and one of the few at Disneyland that was not based on an animated film or an intellectual property. Imagineer Harper Goff was in charge of designing the attraction, most well known for his work on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea . Inspired by the adventure film The African Queen , Jungle Cruise was originally slated to have real-life animals, as requested by Walt Disney himself. When the price and care of live animals exceeded both budget and capability, animatronic animals were chosen as a show-stopping, consistent choice. (Think about how often animals hide from us at the Animal Kingdom Kilimanjaro Safaris !)

According to the Disney Parks Blog , the greenery chosen for the lush jungle scenes at The Jungle Cruise was handpicked by horticulturist and Imagineer Morgan “Bill” Evans. “Rather than create a true-to-life jungle though, Bill’s goal was to develop a “Hollywood Jungle,” a mixture of exotic plants and trees that would give the feeling of traveling through exciting and uncharted territories. To create his Hollywood Jungle here in Anaheim, Bill developed some intrepid techniques, like smuggling plant seeds inside the cuffs of his socks and planting orange trees upside down to resemble mangroves.”

Originally planned for the area where Tomorrowland now stands, Adventureland was moved to the west side of Main Street, U.S.A., in order to use the existing large eucalyptus trees planted there by the orange farmers who previously owned the California land. As the plot developed, the trees became larger and lusher, only adding to the jungle feel. The attraction was such as hit in Southern California that another version was added to Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park and was included on opening day at Walt Disney World on October 1, 1971.

Ride vehicles on Disney’s Jungle Cruise

When taking your very scenic and giggly cruise around the rivers of the world, you’ll be seated in a multi-passenger boat with a Jungle Cruise Skipper at the helm. He or She will be using a microphone and sound system to share amusing factoids, jokes, puns, and fun surprises along the way. But listen carefully: the purposefully dry delivery of the Skippers means you may miss a few jokes. This is why Disney fans want to experience the attraction over and over again. It’s also worth noting that your cruise script and mood will vary from Skipper to Skipper. Try the attraction a few times and find a Skipper near and dear to your heart!

When you board the boat, a Skipper or two will assist you into the boat and direct you to the right or left. It is important not to step over the “boxes” in the center as it is a trip hazard. If you wish to be seated in a certain area, tell the queue manager. There really is no bad seat, as the boat is open to full views on all sides. Pro tip: ride a bunch of times and experience the cruise from all angles! In 2020, clear plexiglass shields were installed in various sections of the boat, keeping passengers apart.

The Jungle Cruise boats do run on a track, similar to the Liberty Belle and Mark Twain Riverboats. But the engines are, indeed, run by the Skippers. You’ll notice the Skippers are in charge of the forward, rear and holding motions of the boat, though they may spin the “steering wheel” quite liberally.

While the boats are plenty seaworthy, mishaps happen. Disney fans may remember in February 2020, a Jungle Cruise boat sank at Magic Kingdom leaving guests with some wet sneakers and a lot of laughs. No one was hurt, and the boat was rapidly repaired and returned to the convoy. There was another boat of lesser memory in 2004, the Sankuru Sadie, that also sank at Magic Kingdom. After Sadie was repaired, she has been seen (even recently) making her way around the bend.

Did you know? The water flowing in the rivers isn’t really as dirty. Disney just adds a dirty looking dye to hide how shallow the river really is (and the track that guides the boat)! Just look at the Backside of Water gushing at Schweitzer Falls… the water is clean!

The Skipper Canteen Restaurant

Explore the bold, flavorful cuisine of Asia, South America, and Africa with the help of daring riverboat pilots. Influenced by the attraction just across the path, The Jungle Skipper Canteen, which opened in 2015 , is a flavorful dive into exotic flavor adventures while also meeting the needs of the pickiest eaters. 

The Canteen has a berth-y waiting area with vintage fans and amusing decor in every corner. There are three dining rooms, each paying tribute to the Skippers who just guided you down ‘de Nile. The crew’s colonial-era Mess Hall (which is not messy at all, thank you); the Jungle Room, the former family parlor of Dr. Albert Falls himself; and the S.E.A. Room, a secret meeting place for the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. (Check out the secret bookshelf door that swings open!)

The most popular dishes on the adult main menu are the Dr. Falls Signature Grilled Steak, a delicious adobo-seasoned New York strip served with vegetables, chorizo farofa, and caramelized onion purée and red wine reduction. The light-fare sustainable fish served on a cassava cake with wilted greens and guava habanero sauce, and this writer’s favorite, Sankuru Sadie’s Seafood Stew: Shrimp, Sustainable Fish, Mussels, Bay Scallops, and Octopus simmered in a fragrant Coconut Sauce and served with Jasmine Rice (yup… this has to be a joke on the 2004 boat sinking…).

We highly recommend ordering the non-alcoholic Schweitzer Slush, which comes in an optional commemorative steel mug. It’s Frozen Apple Juice and Passion Fruit juice topped with Green Apple Boba Balls, first concocted by the noted explorer and humanitarian, Dr. Albert Slush. Finish your meal with the Kungaloosh!, featuring African-inspired chocolate cake with caramelized bananas and cashew-caramel ice cream.

Jingle Cruise Holiday Overlay

During the festive holiday time, the Jungle Cruise undergoes a decorative refurbishment to become the Jingle Cruise. Nope, it’s not a typo, it’s a winter celebration of burlap Santa hats, Christmas jokes, ride additions, and overall holiday spirit.

In 2013, the Jingle Cruise debuted during the Christmas season, opening at Magic Kingdom on November 8, 2013, and at Disneyland Park on November 12. In its early days, the Jingle Cruise holiday overlay mostly kept to the Guest queue area, the boathouse across the dock, and a script with holiday jokes. Later on, the Jingle Cruise overlay became more elaborate, involving extra queue decorations, a story of Santa’s plane dropping Christmas cargo all over the site, additions to the temple interior, even more jokes and fun Cast Member costume additions.

The yuletide overlay continues to get more creative, and fans continue to become more endeared to the holiday version of the attraction. Walt Disney World fans may remember the outrage that was sparked in 2017 when rumors that Jingle Cruise would not return. Fears were assuaged shortly thereafter when the company confirmed its return. (In 2019, the overlay was not present at Disneyland Resort — be sure to check each park’s holiday lineup every year to see if Jingle Cruise will be available.)

As of the present day, the Jingle Cruise set has become extremely detailed. You’ll see not only additions to the set but also literal overlays to typically existing items. Various rustic Christmas trees dot the queue, and you may see an ethanol dispenser that reads ETHANOL altered to say ETHANOEL EGGNOG.

Observant guests will notice the names of the Jungle Cruise boats are altered with new/changed names like Garland Gertie, Icicle Irma, Poinsettia Sal, Yulelog Lolly, Candy Cane Connie, and Mistletoe Millie. It appears that the skippers made cheap yet heartful changes to the boats for the holiday spirit.

Be watchful as you make your way around the rivers of the world, as you’ll see SANTA STOP HERE signs, Santa’s workshop elements, and even a north pole where the safari group climbs. My personal favorite is the costume additions to Trader Sam, who is now called “Trader Sam-ta” and might bring you a shrunken head for your stocking…

The Jungle Cruise Movie

Disney’s Jungle Cruise movie was filmed in Hawaii and Atlanta, GA in the summer and fall of 2018, but the film’s release has been delayed until 2021 . The film will star Dwyane Johnson as Skipper Frank Wolff, and Emily Blunt as Lily. Billed as a “period piece” set in the early 20th century, the Disney attraction comes to life as a riverboat captain named Frank takes a scientist and her brother on a mission into a jungle to find the Tree of Life. In the African Queen -style film, the trio of newly turned explorers must fight against dangerous wild animals and a competing German expedition with possible supernatural forces and innumerable dangers.

The most groundbreaking news to come out of the creation of the film is that the Disney attraction, Jungle Cruise, will be reimagined with the help of The Rock, hopefully tying the film into the river journey (much like Pirates of the Caribbean did with the film franchise). Disney has yet for provide further details of this.

Disney’s Jungle Cruise has continued to enchant the hearts and minds of Guests from all over the world since 1955. Through its growth and humorous nature, the ride has inspired merchandise , a holiday overlay, mugs , a restaurant, and more. chEARS to the Jungle Cruise, we’ll never take it for granite!

What do you love most about The Jungle Cruise? Leave us a comment below, and HIT IT SKIP!

Jungle Cruise

• Water Rides

Head off to Adventure

Highlights of your unforgettable adventure include:

• Ancient Cambodian Shrine Come face-to-face with leaping tigers, lethal cobras and snapping crocodiles.
• Jungle Cruise Safari Camp Cruise past a former camp overrun by explosively curious gorillas.
• Indian Elephant Bathing Pool Venture into this sacred pool where you'll see bathing Indian elephants. Feel free to take pictures—they have their trunks on.
• The African Veldt Behold angry hippos and hungry lions guarding a sleeping zebra.
• Schweitzer Falls Be awed as you take in a true natural wonder—the back side of water!

Cast off on a thrilling expedition where tigers, gorillas, elephants and maybe even a headhunter await your arrival.

Trek to a dusty tropical jungle outpost—overflowing with cargo nets, wooden crates, rusty lanterns and faded marquee signs—and board a weathered tramp steamer for a tongue-in-cheek adventure through some of the world’s most “dangerous” rivers. Led by your trusty skipper, leave civilization behind as you cross continents and oceans through untamed waters rarely seen by man.

A True-Life Adventure During your lively 7-minute journey, encounter awesome wonders of nature amid some of the world’s most exotic locales. Highlights of your unforgettable adventure include: 

• The Mekong River Explore an age-old shrine, home to baboons, cobras and crocodiles.
• The African Congo Cruise past a camp overrun by explosively curious gorillas and witness the beauty of the majestic Schweitzer Falls.
• The Nile River Behold trumpeting elephants, angry hippos and hungry lions—there’s always something “gnu” to see in the area.
• The Amazon in South America A canopy of green trees opens up to a native shrine, a mammoth anaconda and ravenous piranha!

Throughout the sometimes perilous voyage, take in lively narration from your friendly skipper, known for a brave heart and a clever joke… or two.

Disneyland App

Related Activities

The tropical hideaway, adventureland, a new way to plan your magical day, safety, accessibility and guest policies, times for jungle cruise.

15 Secrets of Disney’s Jungle Cruise You Might Not Know

Photo Credit: Disney Dose.

Ever since opening in Disneyland in 1955, the Jungle Cruise has been one of the “boulder attractions” amongst guests who don't take adventure for “granite.” Due to its popularity at the Anaheim location, the ride was introduced to the Magic Kingdom in Orlando and officially opened with the park in October 1971.

Since its inception, this classic adventure has whisked millions of eager explorers away on a journey through dense, exotic landscapes, teeming with animatronic wildlife. Walt himself called the ride “the waterways of our man-made jungle.” The Jungle Cruise boasts an approximately 10-minute boat ride through “10,000 miles” of river wilderness, encompassing the Egyptian Nile, the African Congo, the Amazon in South America, and the Southeast Asian Mekong River.

In this article:

A Peek Behind the Curtain

Photo Credit: Walt Disney World.

In this exploration of the Jungle Cruise's hidden wonders, we'll delve into the secrets and behind-the-scenes tricks that bring this jungle to life. This includes the meticulous craftsmanship, the clever storytelling techniques that unfold along the riverbanks, and the artistry behind creating an immersive experience that has stood the test of time.

So come aboard, fellow adventurers, as we navigate these waters and discover the enchanting mysteries that make the Jungle Cruise an enduring favorite among Disney enthusiasts of all ages.

It Was Originally the Only Ride in Adventureland

As the gates of Disneyland swung open in 1955, Adventureland made its debut, featuring a lone attraction that stole the show – the Jungle Cruise. Drawing inspiration from Disney's acclaimed True-Life Adventures documentary films and the movie The African Queen , the ride and its surrounding area became a gateway to wild and captivating narratives.

In the early stages, there was a plan to christen the area “True-Life Adventure Land,”  a nod to the documentary series that fueled its creation. However, simplicity prevailed, and the name was gracefully shortened to the now-iconic “Adventureland.”

Above see the current entrance to Adventureland at Walt Disney World!

Real Animals Were Almost Used

In the early days of envisioning the Jungle Cruise, Walt Disney himself dreamt of infusing a touch of authenticity by featuring live animals on the attraction. His passion for creating immersive experiences led him to contemplate the idea of incorporating real wildlife to bring the jungle to life. However, practical challenges and safety concerns soon became apparent. Maintaining the well-being of the animals, ensuring their safety and the safety of the visitors, and the unpredictability and inconsistency of live creatures in a controlled environment posed significant hurdles.

In the spirit of innovation, Disney opted for a groundbreaking solution–Audio Animatronics. This decision not only addressed the logistical challenges but also allowed for a level of creative control that would ensure a consistent and magical experience for every guest. By pioneering the use of animatronics in Jungle Cruise, Disney successfully blended imagination with technology, creating a timeless attraction that captures the essence of the wild in a safe and enchanting manner.

The Skippers Don't Drive the Boat

While the charismatic skippers of the Jungle Cruise may appear to be masterfully navigating the winding rivers with expert precision, there's a delightful secret beneath the surface–the boats are actually on a track! Yes, the magic of Disney extends even to the waterways of this iconic attraction.

Behind the scenes, the boats are guided along an unseen track beneath the surface, ensuring a seamless and controlled journey through the exotic landscapes. What makes the experience truly enchanting is the skillful touch of the skippers. The skippers excel in making you believe they are steering the ship with ease with perfectly timed spins of the captain's wheel. While they can control the speed of the boat and move it forwards and backward, the track guides the boat along the Jungle Cruise's journey. This way, the skippers can focus on bringing the adventure to life with their wit and “niles and niles” of punny jokes.

There's Something in the Water

Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog.

Have you ever wondered why the water on the Jungle Cruise river has such a murky appearance? Personally, I have. Come to find out, it's not a natural muckiness! In fact, it's Imagineers employing a clever technique!

The Imagineers introduced a water-soluble dye, tinted in green-brown hues, to give the water an authentic jungle aesthetic. Located behind the “Eighth Wonder of the World” a large pump disperses the dye into the water.

Beyond its visual impact, this dye serves a crucial purpose—it conceals the boat tracks and wiring essential for the animatronics. It also helps give the illusion that the water is much deeper, like it would be in the wild. In reality, the water is only about 4 feet deep in most areas. This thoughtful technique ensures that guests remain fully immersed in the jungle ambiance.

Sensors Help the Skippers

“Does anyone know what kind of snake that is? Begins with P… not Python – good guess though! Plastic!” – Anonymous Skipper

Personally, I was always curious how the skippers had such impeccable timing with their jokes hitting at the exact right moment with an animatronic. If you’ve ever wondered about this too, wonder no more–it's no mere coincidence!

According to DisneyFanatic.com and TPM Vids , there are sensors in The Jungle Cruise that trigger a specific effect to go off when the boat passes. This clever technological integration allows skippers to synchronize their narration and punch lines perfectly. Harnessing the ability to control the boat's speed, skippers ensure that their witty commentary aligns precisely with the sensor signals preceding each animatronic encounter.

An Animator Added the Fun

“It’s okay to take pictures folks, they all have their trunks on.” – Anonymous Skipper

When The Jungle Cruise initially debuted in 1955, it embraced a more educational tone reminiscent of the documentaries that inspired its creation. However, by the early 1960s, Walt Disney envisioned injecting additional drama and humor into the ride to enhance the overall experience. To bring this vision to life, he enlisted the talents of animator Marc Davis, one of Disney's esteemed “Nine Old Men.”

Starting his journey with Disney in 1935 as an animator for “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” Davis became a crucial collaborator on various iconic rides, including Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, it's a small world, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Walt Disney's request for humorous sketches from Davis marked the beginning of transforming the once-serious wilderness into a “wise-cracking” adventure. Among Davis' notable contributions is the creation of the Elephant Pool scene, leaving a lasting mark on the Jungle Cruise's whimsical evolution.

Too Good for Backstage

In addition to his work on the Jungle Cruise, Marc Davis was enlisted to create entertaining scenes adorning the outskirts of various lands visible from the train, serving as lively advertisements for the attractions within. According to a Marc Davis conversation with Disney Archaeologist Scott Wolf detailed in a Keeping the Magic Alive YouTube video and The Kingdom Insider article , the “Trapped Safari” scene was initially designed as a promotional visual. However, Walt Disney, captivated by Davis' ingenuity, declared that it had to be in the ride.

Fast forward to today, and the once-promotional sketch has evolved into a cherished fan-favorite scene on the attraction. Notably, it has become the “butt-of-the-joke” for many of the skippers' witty punch lines.

Easter Eggs Laid by The Rock

In July 2021, Walt Disney Pictures unveiled the highly anticipated summer blockbuster “Jungle Cruise,” featuring the dynamic duo of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt. While the Jungle Cruise attraction predates the movie, the film drew inspiration from the iconic Disneyland ride. Disneyland's queue, in a stroke of cinematic magic, received some delightful Easter Eggs courtesy of the movie.

Notably, across from Dr. Kon Chunosuke’s insect collection, visitors will discover the map from the film—a map that Dr. Lily (Emily Blunt) reveals to Skipper Frank (Dwayne Johnson), leading them on a quest to find an ancient, powerful healing tree poised to revolutionize medicine.

The Disneyland queue holds additional hidden gems from the movie. Dr. Lily and Skipper Frank's attire is suspended behind Alberta Falls’ office door in the Jungle Cruise boathouse. Frank's coat also adorns Alberta's office, discreetly placed behind a wicker hutch. Further intrigue awaits in the Safari Supply Storage Room, where a Conquistador's helmet serves as another nod to the film's adventurous narrative.

Recent Changes to the Jungle Cruise Attraction

Returning visitors to Disneyland and Magic Kingdom will notice a change in the Jungle Cruise attraction, as the character known as the “Head Salesman” Trader Sam is no longer present in person. Following a 2021 refurbishment at both parks, which aimed to address concerns about cultural sensitivity, several scenes underwent renovations to ensure they were more respectful to Indigenous people.

In response to criticisms regarding the representation of Indigenous people on the ride, Disney Parks took action in January 2021. The refurbishments were designed to “reflect and value the diversity of the world around us.”

As part of these changes, scenes featuring a war party with spears, native dancers, and Trader Sam selling shrunken heads have been completely removed from the attraction. However, Trader Sam is still part of the ride in a different capacity, as guests can now encounter him within the new “Gift Shop,” where he sells explorers' lost items.

Special Holiday Overlays

During the merriest season of the year, both Disneyland and Disney World once joined in the festive transformation of The Jungle Cruise, giving rise to the enchanting “Jingle Cruise” holiday overlay. While Disneyland stopped doing this festive overlay in 2017, Disney World still partakes in the merriment every year. 

From early November through approximately the first week in January, the classic attraction dons holiday decor, ushering guests into a yuletide wonderland.  This joyous holiday makeover, accessible to all park visitors and not exclusive to Christmas event party-goers, brings a delightful twist to the Jungle Cruise experience. The animatronics and scenes get a festive facelift with whimsical decorations, and even the jokes take on a special holiday flair. It's a seasonal spectacle that infuses an extra dose of magic into the already boisterous attraction, making the Jingle Cruise a must-see holiday treat for all park-goers.

Hungry for More Fun Facts?

Our cruise can't come to an end just yet! Here are some additional fun facts about the Jungle Cruise ride:

• Disneyland's Jungle Cruise queue is two stories tall, while Disney World's queue is only one story.
• In Walt Disney World, the legend is the plane that crashed on the Jungle Cruise is actually the back half of the plane from the Casablanca scene on the former Great Movie Ride attraction in Hollywood Studios.
• The Disney World attraction includes a temple tunnel scene and Disneyland's does not.
• Schweitzer Falls was actually named after Dr. Albert Schweitzer, a famous doctor, humanitarian, and Nobel Prize winner.
• Both Disney World and Disneyland locations have Schweitzer Falls, a.k.a. the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and get to see the “backside of water.”

The Jungle Cruise stands as a true Disney masterpiece, demonstrating that even in the heart of the jungle, magic is very much alive! From the clever storytelling and meticulously crafted animatronics to hidden surprises and festive overlays like the Jingle Cruise, each detail adds to the awe of this iconic attraction.

Whether it's your initial voyage or a return to familiar waters, every twist and turn on this jungle adventure brings forth not just high-seas hilarity and puns, but also reflects Disney's dedication to providing enchanting experiences for visitors of all ages. The next time you embark on the Jungle Cruise, take a moment to appreciate the intricate details that make this expedition a timeless journey into the heart of Disney magic, where the wonder is grounded in the artistry and craftsmanship that brings the adventure to life.

10 Failed Disney Rides That Were so Unsuccessful They Were Removed Swiftly

While several beloved Disney rides have stood the test of time, others have faced issues or declined in popularity to the extent that they were removed. See our list of 10 failed Disney rides and learn why they were removed from the parks.

Worst Dates at Disney: Avoid Visiting Disney Parks At All Costs During These Times of the Year

Certain times of the year draw in huge crowds that can easily make your park experience frustrating. Make sure you're in-the-know about which Disney dates to avoid at all costs if you hate crowds !

Boomers Make These Ten Embarrassing Mistakes at Disney Parks

There are some major Boomer mistakes to avoid in order to make the most of your experience. From ignoring mobile apps to resisting breaking out of the same food routine, be sure to read our list of the biggest mistakes that boomers make at Disney .

Related Posts

Disneyland Fireworks 2024 Guide: Schedule, Where to Watch, Reserved Viewing

When to Visit Walt Disney World? 2024 Disney Crowd Calendar

Buy These Disney Souvenirs at Home Before Your Disney Trip

Do Not Eat This At Disney World – Plus, What to Eat Instead

Disneyland Photos That Will Make You Regret Skipping a Trip This Summer

Most Don’t Expect These Lines at Disney World, They Are Some of the Longest

Previous Post: 10 Secrets of Disney’s Impressive Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Ride

Next Post: Best Disney World Character Meet and Greets

Exclusive Discounts + BREAKING NEWS!

Join our FREE newsletter of 100,000+ readers for exclusive discounts, planning tips, and Disneyland & Walt Disney World breaking news. "Essential for planning your trip!"

- Helen from Portland, Oregon

Jungle Cruise Ride at Magic Kingdom (Everything You Need to Know)

Jungle Cruise is a classic attraction at Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World. This fun-loving cruise sets off through the Amazon Jungle, where you’ll behold the magic of audio-animatronic animals.

Below, we’ll ride through the attraction and share our adventures. In addition, we’ll provide details for experiencing Magic Kingdom’s version of Jungle Cruise and a few tips for the best time to ride. Keep your eyes peeled because you might spot some new characters along the way!

Here’s a chart with quick details for this exotic boat ride.

Accessibility: Guests may remain in a wheelchair or ECV. Additionally, sign language, assistive listening, and handheld captioning are available for this attraction. Details for those with mobility issues (e.g., wheelchairs and ECVs) can be found on Disney’s site.

Additionally, Jungle Cruise is one of a few attractions that offer sign language-interpreted performances twice per week. The schedule changes weekly. Guests can pick up a copy of the schedule at Guest Relations at any park.

Make sure to check our  one-stop Lightning Lane Guide  to plan your attractions.

Subscribe to the Resorts Gal newsletter and we’ll send you a copy of our complimentary planning spreadsheets.

Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom

Jungle Cruise was an opening-day attraction at Magic Kingdom and an original Disneyland attraction inspired by Walt Disney. Initially, Walt Disney wanted to add live animals to the attraction. Unfortunately, adding live animals wasn’t possible at that time. However, that dream eventually came to fruition several decades later on the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise sits toward the back of Adventureland. It’s on the left side of the land, immediately past Swiss Family Treehouse . Jungle Cruise has a standby entrance and an individual Lightning Lane queue. This attraction often has long lines that build fairly early in the day. So it’s not the worst use of a Lightning Lane.

As the sign indicates, you’ll board a jungle boat to travel exotic rivers of the world, guided by a witty and experienced Skipper.

The queue for Jungle Cruise is relatively long and consists of two waiting areas, so it’s difficult to gauge the wait from the outside.

Here is the other portion of the queue you cannot see from the start of the line. When I took photos for this update, the wait time was 60 minutes. Many guests were walking away when they saw the posted wait. So I decided to try it and see. Surprisingly, this portion of the queue was empty, and I waited less than 10 minutes.

What I didn’t mention was that I got in line for Jungle Cruise around the time the Festival of Fantasy Parade had passed through Frontierland. Adventureland is partially blocked off when the parade begins, so fewer guests can enter the land. This causes waits at all of the Adventureland attractions to drop significantly. So, the best time to get in line for Jungle Cruise is immediately during or after the parade.

Jungle Cruise has several fun elements in the queue, like these life preservers with the boat’s name printed on them. Each boat has a fun name, like Bomokandi Bertha, Kwango Kate, Amazon Annie, Ucyali Lolly, Congo Connie, Garland Gertie, Molopo Marie, and more.

Each boat has a decent capacity, which helps the line to move continuously. Cast members load up to 20 guests per boat.

Your adventure starts on the Amazon River in South America. However, you’ll soon find yourself sailing down the Nile River and through a temple that comes out on the Mekong River in Asia!

As Disney puts it, “It’s a 10-minute, 10,000-mile journey that you won’t soon forget.”

As you set sail, you’ll notice that things have gone awry, including your Skipper’s jokes. Each boat comes equipped with a Jungle Skipper escort whose sole purpose is to share terrible jokes throughout the journey.

Seriously, don’t fall for that whole “in denial” or “in da Nile River joke.”

A group of gorillas has taken over a campsite. Did I mention you visit the Congo too?

An angry matriarch elephant is waiting to stampede.

You’ll see more audio-animatronic animals, including wildebeests and giraffes.

Here’s something you would never see on the safari at Animal Kingdom–a lion feeding her cubs. But you might see something like this on an authentic safari in Africa. Wouldn’t that be something?

Make sure to stay in the boat because you don’t want to end up at the bottom of a totem pole or, in this case, even on the pole.

After leaving this area, you’ll see waterfalls ahead.

Watch out for the crocodiles.

Soon, you’ve reached one of the seven wonders of the world–the backside of water! It’s a big deal on the Jungle Cruise.

When Jungle Cruise was last refurbished, this plane from the Casablanca scene in the former Great Movie Ride was added. You can expect a few jokes to crash land in this area.

Your skipper might also mention that a few hungry hippos are looking for dinner below you.

This shipwrecked boat is an example of what can happen.

It’s been taken over by primates.

At this point, you’ll enter a dark temple.

Unfortunately, it’s so dark I didn’t get any photos. But you’ll see a few snakes and tigers before you exit.

A fun surprise awaits when you exit the temple. A parade of elephants is bathing nearby.

Per the Skipper, they are all wearing trunks.

You can’t help but smile as they enjoy their bath. All the while wondering…

Is that one going to pop its trunk and douse you with water? Possibly, but don’t worry, it’s just a splash. They are only animatronics, so no elephant snot is involved.

Finally, we’ve reached the end, where a new scene replaced the former Trader Sam.

Trader Sam’s gift shop and photo opp is available. Those animals will do anything to make an extra buck or two! About this time, you’ll reach the dock, and you’re Skipper will ever-so-politely ask you to–Get Out!

As if we had not already discussed enough fun facts about the Jungle Cruise, one more thing comes to mind. Each year, between mid-November and the first of January, the Jungle Cruise transitions to the Jingle Cruise for Christmas.

This holiday overlay provides a festive touch. Cast members decorate the attraction for the holidays, and the jokes get even worse! So, of course, you’ll want to plan to experience this unique version during your visit. Additionally, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt star in the 2021 movie T he Jungle Cruise, which was based on the Jungle Cruise attraction and the Society of Explorers.

The Resorts Gal Spin on Jungle Cruise

We give Jungle Cruise the red light! While you probably will want to ride it during your vacation, you do not want to wait 45 minutes or longer to ride. Check the wait times and return later in the day for shorter lines!

Our Traffic Signal Guidelines

Green Light:

We give an attraction the green light if it’s something we consider a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also green light any attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime because of a high-load capacity.

We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Jungle Cruise is an endearing attraction that offers plenty of nostalgia. While the jokes are pretty bad, that’s part of the fun.

You might also enjoy these other Magic Kingdom Rides:

• Magic Kingdom Pirates of the Caribbean : This one is a must-do!
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin : Who doesn’t love a good spin now and then?
• Swiss Family Treehouse : The views from the top are worth the climb!
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Review : This one’s worth the wait, a long wait.
• Under the Sea, Journey of the Little Mermaid : This anytime ride is perfect for little ones and fans of The Little Mermaid.
• Tomorrowland Speedway : This attraction is a rite of passage for children.

At Resorts Gal, we prioritize the Walt Disney World Resorts , then the Disney World Characters , and then Disney Dining .

In the Comments

Are you a fan of the Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom? Do you ride this attraction every time you visit? Leave a comment and let us know.

Hi, I'm Amber the owner of Resorts Gal . We have stayed at every single Disney Resort Hotel. Our philosophy? We believe you can have an incredible time at the resorts without ever setting foot in a theme park. We visit the resorts and parks regularly and would love for you to follow along!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Hong Kong Disneyland attractions
• Adventureland
• Adventureland attractions
• Water rides
• Kingdom Keepers locations
• Disney's Fastpass equipped attractions

Jungle Cruise

• Pirates of the Caribbean attractions
• Disney Tsum Tsum
• Português do Brasil

This article is about the Disney Parks ride. For the 2021 film of the same name, see Jungle Cruise (film) .

• Magic Kingdom
• Tokyo Disneyland
• Hong Kong Disneyland

The Jungle Cruise is an attraction located in Adventureland at many Disney Parks, including Disneyland , Magic Kingdom , and Tokyo Disneyland . At Hong Kong Disneyland , the attraction is named Jungle River Cruise. Disneyland Paris and Shanghai Disneyland are the only Magic Kingdom-style Disney parks without Jungle Cruise in their attraction rosters.

The attraction simulates a riverboat cruise down several major rivers of Asia , Africa and South America . Park guests board replica tramp steamers and are taken on a voyage past many different Audio-Animatronic jungle animals. The tour is led by a live Disney cast member delivering a humorous scripted narration.

• 1 Inspiration and design
• 2.1 Attraction summary
• 2.2 Major changes
• 2.3 Description of specific changes
• 3.1 Attraction summary
• 3.2.1 Boats
• 3.2.2 Major changes
• 4.2 Major changes
• 5.1.1 Major changes
• 5.1.2 Boats
• 6 Gun signals
• 7.1 Television Appearances
• 7.2 Film adaptation
• 10 References

Inspiration and design [ ]

Walt Disney developed the Jungle Cruise alongside Adventureland, inspired by his successful True-Life Adventures nature-film series as Adventureland was originally named, "True-Life Adventureland". Walt originally wanted the attraction to feature live-animals though for many obvious reasons this was opted out for audio-animatronics (though later recycled for Kilimanjaro Safaris ). Imagineer Harper Goff referenced the 1951 non-Disney film The African Queen frequently in his ideas; even his designs of the ride vehicles were modeled after the steamer used in the film. The project was placed on the schedule to open with the July 17, 1955 debut of Disneyland.

When plans began to develop, Bill Evans, the Imagineer responsible for landscaping Disneyland and most of Walt Disney World , faced the daunting task of foresting an entire jungle on a limited budget. Aside from importing many actual tropical plants, he made wide use of "character plants" which, while not necessarily exotic, could give the appearance of exoticism in context. In a particularly well-known trick, he uprooted local orange trees and "replanted" them upside-down, growing vines on the exposed roots. The clean water was dyed brown to prevent visitors from seeing the bottom of the “river”, which varies between three and eight feet deep.

Although Goff and Evans can be credited with the creation and initial design of the ride, Marc Davis , recognized for his work on venerable attractions, such as The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean , added his own style to the ride in later versions and Disneyland updates. The "Indian Elephant Bathing Pool" and " Trapped Safari " were among his contributions. In the 1990s, the ride received theming and aesthetics to imitate the popular Indiana Jones film-series of Lucasfilm as a means of tying into Disneyland's attraction Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye . Later, refurbishments would orient the Jungle Cruise predominately towards campy jokes (most frequently improvised by skippers decades earlier and made part of an official script) and self-referential humor.

Disneyland [ ]

The attraction was in the opening day roster of the park, and has remained open and largely unchanged in theme and story since then. Aside from alterations and maintenance changes, four completely new show scenes have been added to date. In 1995 the river channel was rerouted to make way for the queue buildings and entrance courtyard of the Indiana Jones Adventure.

While the current version and most previous instances have made use of a comedic spiel, filled with intentionally bad puns, the original intent of the ride was to provide a realistic, believable voyage through the world's jungles. The original spiel had no jokes and sounded much like the narration of a nature documentary. Starting with the Christmas season of 2013, Jungle Cruise was given a seasonal overlay called Jingle Cruise and was decorated with various Christmas decorations.

Attraction summary [ ]

The queue and station are themed as the former headquarters and boathouse of the Jungle Navigation Company , located in a British colony within the Lost Delta of India in the year 1938. The queuing area is cluttered with appropriate props, such as pinned insects, an old radio on top of a bookshelf, and a chessboard with miniature animals and decorated shotgun shells replacing the pieces. The extended queue winds upstairs, underneath an Audio-Animatronic hornbill, and then downstairs again. Big band music from the 1930s plays overhead from the Global Broadcasting Service and occasional news breaks by announcer Nigel Greenwater .

In the queue's entrance is company founder Dr. Albert Falls ' map of the, "Jungle Rivers of Adventureland", a series of supernatural rivers connecting locations across the world into the realm of, "Adventureland". Throughout the queue are references to the lost crew of the Kwango Kate consisting of skipper Felix Pechman XIII , Dr. Kon Chunosuke , Siobhan Murphy, Rosa Soto Dominguez, and Dr. Leonard Moss. Guests also pass by the office of company president Alberta Falls containing her portrait and the cage of her pet bird, Kamaka.

Once aboard the boats, guests are introduced to their skipper and they head into the jungle, allegedly never to return. The first rivers simulated are the Irrawaddy and Mekong rivers, representing tropical Southeast Asia. The boats sail through a dense rainforest, and ancient Irrawaddy temple ruins where passengers see a Bengal Tiger, giant spiders, king cobras, and crocodiles. Passing a shrines of the historic King Jayavarman VII (c.1150–1160), a bowing elephant and a metal cobra, the boats enter the Sacred Indian Elephant Bathing Pool where dozens of Indian elephants prance in the water and squirt water at the passing vessels.

The theme transitions to the rivers of Africa, and riders see a family of baboons, and a safari camp that has been overrun by gorillas . The boats careen past the dramatic waterfall, Schweitzer Falls , between two African Elephants, and large termite mounds. A tableau of the African Veldt follows, showing zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes watching a pride of lions feasting on a zebra beneath a rocky outcropping. Beyond the lion's den, an angry rhinoceros has chased the marooned crew of the Kwango Kate up a tree. Antelope and hyenas watch from nearby while hyenas wait at the bottom of the tree for their coming meal.

The skipper then pilots the boat into a large pool, containing the sunken Kwango Kate and belongings of the lost expedition. This disturbs a pod of hippos that signal their intent to attack the boat. Armed with a gun filled with blanks, the skipper fires into the air to frighten them away. The boats narrowly escape and encounter the lost Jungle Cruise boat, The Mekong Maiden being crewed by chimpanzees while chimps along the riverside play with the marooned crew's belongings. The boat also passes another pair of chimps with a magnifying glass and net observing an infestation of butterflies that they had released from their crates.

The boats pass behind Schweitzer Falls (famously referred to as "the Backside of Water") to enter the Amazon River. Skeletal animal remains and warning signs featuring pictures of dagger-toothed fish forewarn the next show scene, where the boats encounter a swarm of leaping piranha. The guests then pass a pool of water buffalo nearby a large python before finding their way to the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Lost & Found . This establishment was left in possession of Indigenous South American, " Trader Sam " who turned the lost & found into a gift-shop to sell of the belongings of guests. In Sam's absence, the shop is overrun by monkeys who snap a photo of guests while they pass by a hornbill (who originally appeared on the rafters of the ride's queue until the most recent refurbishment) and Sam's pet elephant Ellie .

The boats proceed to make their return to the boathouse but not before passing through an uncharted tributary within a Polynesian river. Along the water's edge are Jungle Navigation Company docks along the Enchanted Tiki Room and advertisements for, " The Tropical Hideaway ". A white cockatoo named Rosita appears waiting for a Jungle Cruise boat and turns to sing to and crack jokes at the guests. Finally, the boats return to the Lost Delta where guests disembark.

Major changes [ ]

• 1962 - Addition of Indian Elephant pool
• 1964 - Addition of African Veldt and Lost Safari scenes
• 1976 - Addition of Cambodian Temple and Gorilla Camp scenes
• 1993 - Various minor additions
• 1994 - Addition of boathouse queue
• 1995 - Rerouting of river to accommodate the Indiana Jones Adventure
• 1997 - Replacement of the original ride vehicles
• 2001 - Skippers' guns removed after March 24.
• 2004 - Skippers' guns return starting October 1.
• 2005 - Happiest Homecoming on Earth refurbishment, opened May 4, 2005. Various replacements and reconstructions, addition of piranhas, and updates to Gorilla Camp scene.
• 2013 - Debut of the seasonal Jingle Cruise overlay, which became more elaborate the following year.
• 2016 - The attraction is closed until May for refurbishment to install a new docking system.
• 2021 - New storyline at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom announced on January 25. However, following Disneyland's reopening after being temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Disneyland version of this ride remained closed and the refurbishment was delayed until July 16, 2021. The updated version of the ride soft-opened on July 9, 2021.

Description of specific changes [ ]

The baboons at the safari camp previously sat on the African termite mounds. A total of six lions have been removed since opening day: one that growled when the African Veldt was added, two lionesses from the Veldt that were fighting over a bloody strand of zebra meat, a lion and a lioness that each had a zebra leg in their mouth, and a dead lion hanging on a spit over a fire in the native village. Also removed from the Veldt were African wild dogs laughing at the pride. The native village was originally a dense jungle filled with tikis, masks, and several more natives. Trader Sam previously wore a mask and a gorilla across the channel tried to grab his merchandise.

Starting in 2013, a holiday overlay was added themed to Christmas at both Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom with holiday-themed jokes and decorations on the boats, and holiday music on the radio station in the queue in the aptly-named " Jingle Cruise ". This refurbishment ceased in the January of 2017 but continued to be performed at the Magic Kingdom.

In January 2021 , Disneyland and Walt Disney World both drastically changed their Jungle Cruises to remove overt racism from the attraction.

The changes included removing the headhunter tribe, the original trapped safari, the Buddhist statues, and Trader Sam. The headhunters were replaced with a scene of chimpanzees riding the Mekong Maiden, an allusion to a decommissioned Jungle Cruise boat. This attraction also explicitly featured "Adventureland" as a geographic location in-universe rather than an anachronistic combination of locales.

There are 12 vehicles, with a maximum of 9 in operation at any given time. The boats in 1955 were painted as clean, idealized replicas, but have since been given a more realistic theming reflecting the grunge and wear of actual watercraft due to the addition of Indiana Jones Adventure and its ruggedness.

Names in use:

• Amazon Belle
• Congo Queen (gold-painted for 50th anniversary)
• Hondo Hattie
• Irrawaddy Woman
• Kissimmee Kate
• Nile Princess (Wheelchair lift equipped)
• Orinoco Adventuress
• Suwannee Lady
• Ucayali Una (Wheelchair lift equipped)
• Yangtze Lotus
• Zambezi Miss

Names decommissioned in 1997:

• Magdalena Maiden
• Mekong Maiden

Magic Kingdom [ ]

The ride is set in the year 1938 as guests enter the Amazon River Base of the colonial business, the Jungle Navigation Company . The boathouse's radio broadcasts AWOL Airwaves, the service of one Albert Awol who plays music and relays announcements. Within the boathouse are several allusions to the corruption and negligence of the Jungle Navigation Company including a board of lost boats, an escaped orangutans, crates of damaged cargo, attempts to sell a feral tiger, and the employee of the month dying of disease. Additionally is a map of the Jungle Rivers of Adventureland , a series of mystic waterways which make up the jungle realm of, "Adventureland" mapped by skipper Frank Wolff and gifted to the Falls family before being augmented by Alberta Falls for skipper usage.

Throughout the queue are references to a lost Jungle Cruise tour containing the likes of skipper Felix Pechman XIII, Dr. Kon Chunosuke, Siobhan Murphy, Rosa Soto Dominguez, and Dr. Leonard Moss. Guests proceed to board boats on docks across from the shack of the elusive O.I. Cyhu. The skipper introduces themselves and begins to take the boat full of guests down the tropical rivers of the world. The ride starts out in the Amazon River, where the passengers encounter butterflies with one-foot wingspans, or as the skipper might say, twelve inches.

The boat then passes Inspiration Falls, which transitions into the Congo River in Africa. Here, the boats happen upon an empty mercantile called Boats & Baits AND Bites! run by one, "Skipper Sully". This shop is shown to have originally been called Boats & Baits before being turned into a quick-service dining establishment selling exotic fish such as piranhas. The boats proceed to encounter a giant python before making a getaway. After this, the boat then passes a camp that has been raided by gorillas, which transitions the cruise into the Nile River. The boats also encounter a downed airplane with the words, " The Amazing Hathaway Browne " on it, referencing the vehicle's owner.

While making the transition, the boats pass by Schweitzer Falls, named for the company founder Dr. Albert Falls. After encountering two elephants, the boat passes along the African Veldt, where numerous African animals watch a pride of lions eat their kill. The boat then finds the lost crew of the Kwango Kate, referenced in the queue. They have been chased up a tree by an angered black rhino while hyenas wait at the base of the tree for a free meal. After this, the boats encounter the sinking Kwango Kate which is taken over by chimpanzees, some of whom are eating Dr. Chunosuke's rare butterflies. The group then passes by another waterfall, Schweitzer Falls, and encounters a pool of hippos. They are about to charge the boat until the skipper scares them off, either via yelling or gunshot.

They enter a temple which has been destroyed by a natural disaster. Inside the skipper is silent as they encounter, baboons, cobras, and an Indochinese tiger. After they exit, they come across an elephant bathing pool where numerous elephants are relaxing in the water. The boat narrowly avoids being sprayed by water from one of the elephants. Following this, the boat returns to the Amazon rainforest where they find the Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Lost & Found . This establishment was left in possession of Indigenous South American, "Trader Sam" who turned the lost & found into a gift-shop to sell of the belongings of guests. The guests see the shop overrun by monkeys before making their return to port.

Due to being opened much later than its Disneyland counterpart, the Magic Kingdom's Jungle Cruise had much more involvement by Marc Davis. The plane is the back-half of the Lockheed Model 12 Electra Junior found at The Great Movie Ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the Casablanca scene.

The character of Albert Awol was added in 1991 to the Jungle Cruise during a refurbishment:

Around the time of the opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom , the skippers' guns were removed. They returned around November 2004 in the form of wired props that played gunfire sounds over the boats' PA systems.

Each variety of plant throughout the attraction was carefully selected by landscape architect Bill Evans to ensure that the foliage would be able to endure Florida's unique climate: hot summers and relatively cool winters. The most difficult aspect of this was making sure these plants had the appropriate look and feel of traditional tropical plants in the equatorial jungle. During the Christmas season of 2013, Jungle Cruise was given a seasonal overlay called Jingle Cruise and was decorated with various Christmas decorations.

In January 2021, Disneyland and Walt Disney World both drastically changed their Jungle Cruises to remove overt racism from the attraction.

The changes included removing the headhunter tribe, the pygmy camp, the previous trapped safari, and Chief Nah-Mee . This attraction also explicitly featured, "Adventureland" as a geographic location in-universe rather than an anachronistic combination of locales.

There are 15 vehicles, with a maximum of 10 in operation at any given time.

Current boats

• Amazon Annie
• Bomokandi Bertha (Wheelchair lift equipped)
• Congo Connie
• Ganges Gertie
• Irrawaddy Irma
• Mongala Millie
• Nile Nellie
• Orinoco Ida
• Rutshuru Ruby
• Sankuru Sadie
• Senegal Sal
• Ucyali Lolly
• Wamba Wanda (Wheelchair lift equipped)
• Zambesi Zelda

Retired boats

• Kwango Kate (Retired in 2000)
• 1973 - Expansion of boathouse queue, frogs removed from Amazon River scene.
• 1986 - African Veldt is enclosed by trees to hide views of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa .
• 1991 - Queue updates, introduction of the Albert Awol music loop. New scripts give Trader Sam the alternate name of Chief Namee.
• 1994 - Crashed Airplane scene is added.
• 1996 - Several figures on the Lost Safari are replaced.
• 1998 - Skippers' guns removed around the time Disney's Animal Kingdom opened.
• 2000 - A canopy structure is removed from the Amazon River scene for safety concerns. Queue is reconfigured for Fastpass and the boats receive a rustic makeover.
• 2004 - Skippers' guns return around November.
• 2016 to 2017 - "Crocs eating children" joke briefly removed after toddler was killed by a real alligator at the Grand Floridian Resort [1]
• 2021 - New storyline added over the course of several months from January through the summer. New Trapped Safari, Chimpanzee Boat scenes, Pygmy Village is turned into a boat and bait shop, and the crashed airplane is turned into an Adventurers Club tribute. Frogs returned in October.

Tokyo Disneyland [ ]

The Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland attractions are very similar to each other, with the exception of a few minor differences. While the boats in the Magic Kingdom's attraction travel counter-clockwise, the boats at Tokyo Disneyland travel in a clockwise direction. The current incarnation of the attraction is known as Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions . This version includes unique effects in the temple, a full musical score, and an alternate experience for nighttime cruises.

The station and surrounding area are themed to a more upscale African city, as opposed to an isolated jungle outpost. This version shares a station building with the park's steam train ride, Western River Railroad . Within the boathouse, voices of Jungle Navigation Company personnel give instructions to guests. The spiels in Tokyo Disneyland are delivered in Japanese and skippers bow to the audience after each joke.

The story focuses on establishing a "friendship with nature", with the Skipper keeping three animal totems in their boat: The Tiger of Courage, the Elephant of Wisdom, and the Monkey of Cleverness. Using one of these three totems and calling upon their matching animal spirits, the Temple's carvings are brought to life in a celebration with man's connection with nature. The first lines from the song " Circle of Life " from The Lion King can be heard when the boat passes through the African Veldt scene. At the end of the attraction, guests encounter Chief Nah-mee (also known as "Salesman Sam") and Ellie who are trading fruit and the three medallions which the skippers have in their boats.

There are 13 vehicles, with a maximum of 12 in operation at any given time.

All boat names, except Orinoco Ida, are alliterations.

• Kwango Kate
• Wamba Wanda
• Zambezi Zelda
• Mid-1990s/Early 2000s - The blank-firing guns are replaced with wired props that play gunfire sounds when used.
• 2008 - Chief Nah-mee (Salesman Sam) offers bananas instead of shrunken heads starting March/April.
• 2014 - The original Jungle Cruise closes on January 6 to undergo a revamp. It reopens on September 8 as Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions. The skippers' guns and the skulls/skull imagery were removed during the revamp.

Hong Kong Disneyland [ ]

The shape of Jungle River Cruise 's route is significantly different compared to the others, and circumnavigates Tarzan's Treehouse . A grand finale is included with a battle between angry fire and water gods. Three languages are regularly available: Cantonese, English, and Mandarin. Each language has a separate queue, allowing visitors to experience the journey in their preferred language.

The queue takes place in a small boathouse less elaborate than the boathouses found at the other parks. After winding through the queue, guests board one of the boats and meet their skipper who speaks either English, Cantonese, or Mandarin, to accompany the park's guests who speak many different languages themselves.

The boats then depart and head down the river, past Tarzan's Treehouse where the skipper tells guests to wave goodbye to the guests traversing the treehouse, for they will never see them again. The boats then drift past a mother Indian elephant and her calf playing in the water, followed by another elephant showering in a waterfall. A large bull Indian elephant emerges from the water squirting a plume of water at the boats with the guests narrowly avoiding the free shower.

The vessels then drift down a narrow stream past ancient Cambodian ruins which have been claimed by the jungle. Giant spiders and king cobras watch the boats as they move on. Up ahead several crocodiles are seen resting on a small beach, while a school of hungry piranha are jumping in the hopes of attacking the guests. The boats escape into Africa and they pass a large safari camp where several curious gorillas have discovered clothes, guns, hammocks, and books, as " Trashin' the Camp " plays on a nearby 1930s radio. The African Veldt comes into view where antelope, giraffes, zebras, and African elephants stare at the boats. The vessels then drift into a small pool where a pod of hippos try to tip the boat. Several feet ahead a rhino is seen chasing a safari group up a tree while several hyenas look on laughing.

Skulls and cloth impaled on broken bamboo sticks appears as tribal drums and horns fill the air. The skipper tells guests that they have entered head hunter country and must quietly sneak by. The boats slowly pass through the main village where several upright shields rest in the tall grass. A native notices the boats and all the shields now revealed to have head hunters behind them begin firing spears and poison darts at the boats as they narrowly escape into a rocky canyon. In the rocky canyon, the boats stop near two unusual rock formations that look like faces, revealed by the skipper to be the fire god and the water god who constantly feud over their differences. The fire god sets the river ablaze while the water god vomits a water bomb, causing the flames to die and the whole canyon to become a cloud of steam. The boats escape the canyon and pass a baby elephant before returning to the boathouse.

• 2006 - Piranha Attack and Trapped Safari scenes added, enhancement of Gorilla Camp, African Veldt, and Headhunter's Territory
• 2007 - Temporary scene added during the " Pirate Takeover " summer event (from May to August); attraction name changed to "Jungle River Cruise: Pirate Takeover!"
• 2015 - Seasonal overlay added during Halloween event; attraction name changed to " Jungle River Cruise: Curse of the Emerald Trinity "
• 2024 - Trapped Safari redone, S.E.A. references added throughout. [2]

There are 9 vehicles, with a maximum of 8 in operation at any given time.

• Congo Queen (Wheelchair Accessible)
• Lijiang Lady
• Yangzi Ying Ying

Gun signals [ ]

The Disneyland version of the attraction uses live revolvers firing blanks. They are always fired at the Hippo Pool scene, but are also used to signal to the dock in the event of an emergency. Each signal has a different meaning, and is signified by the amount of shots fired using the louder emergency blanks:

Live guns were used at the Magic Kingdom until 2001, when they were replaced with fake props and an on-board sound effect.

In popular culture [ ]

• In the Disney's Sing-Along Songs video Disneyland Fun during "Following the Leader", Jungle Cruise made an appearance.
• In the film Tarzan , gorillas in Tarzan's troop homage the gorillas of the jungle cruise when they hold a rifle to their eye.
• Jungle Cruise was parodied as Timon and Pumbaa's Virtual Safari on The Lion King Special Edition.
• A stand up comedy show featuring only Jungle Cruise Skippers, called The Skipper Stand Up Show, has been doing shows in Fullerton, California since May 2006.
• Disney's "Fab Five" characters, cruise boat and the "River Expedition Company" boathouse were incorporated into an original painting and limited edition print offering by artist Randy Souders entitled "Jungle Cruise" created for the 1999 Official Disneyana Convention at Disneyland .
• In Australia's Disneyland special: The Wiggles Live at Disneyland Park , Greg and Murray are on this ride thinking they're in the wrong place.
• In the " Mickey Monkey " episode of the 2013 Mickey Mouse shorts, the "Fab five" ride a Jungle Cruise boat and accidentally abandon Mickey in the jungle. In the later episode " Wish Upon a Coin ", Goofy briefly appears dressed as Chief Nah-mee.
• A Chibi Tiny Tales short involved the characters of the DuckTales reboot riding the attraction.
• The ride was the subject of the Weird Al Yankovic song Skipper Dan

Television Appearances [ ]

• A behind-the-scenes look at Jungle Cruise was featured in the Disney+ Original series Behind the Attraction .

Film adaptation [ ]

The film adaptation , originally scheduled for release in 2007, has experienced various delays and changes. The shooting of the film, originally scheduled for 2006, was cancelled. Moreover, the original screenplay by Josh Goldstein and John Norville was reportedly rewritten by Al Gough and Miles Millar. This original screenplay followed a group's riverboat journey through a jungle in search of a cure and was to have featured a contemporary setting. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen were set to star as a Skipper and a frustrated passenger respectively until this version was cancelled.

A new version of the project starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt was announced in 2017, with a planned shooting time in the Spring of 2018. This version of the project is described as a comedic action-adventure film in the vein of Indiana Jones and the attraction's original inspiration, The African Queen . Jack Whitehall joined the cast as "Disney's second openly gay character". [3] Said character was criticized due to being a campy gay character portrayed by a heterosexual actor who is also subject to coded jokes by Dwayne Johnson's character about his sexuality. The film was eventually released on July 30 , 2021 .

• Jungle Cruise is one of the few original rides at Disneyland that is still open today.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom has two attractions inspired by the Jungle Cruise. One is Kilimanjaro Safaris which reuses Walt's original plans for a faux environment with real animals while the other is the alien jungle cruise of Na'vi River Journey which is an Avatar-themed reimagining of the attraction.
• Both Kevin Costner and John Lasseter worked there as captains of the boats in Disneyland. [2]
• In a popular story recounted by Jeff Lange, a writer for weblogging site Jim Hill Media, an experience at the Jungle Cruise helped bolster John Lasseter.
• Disneyland Paris used to have a Jungle Cruise themed gift-shop called Trader Sam's Jungle Boutique but this was replaced with the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost .
• The name of the Jungle Cruise's most famous boat The Congo Queen was likely a tribute to Charlie's boat The African Queen from the film.
• The Magic Kingdom's Jungle Cruise featured a container of, "Rose's Leech Salt" referencing a scene in the Jungle Cruise where Rose Sayer helped Charlie Allnut recover from leeches. Also in this queue was a map of the Congo with the words, "Follow the Route of the Jungle Queen" and highlighted route passing Ponthierville where a church was illustrated. This alluded to how the film of the African Queen was partly filmed in Ponthierville, most notably within its cathedral and by using, "The Jungle Queen" as a surrogate name for the African Queen of the film.
• One of Chief Nah-mee's heads was allegedly made to resemble the head of Katherine Hepburn as a tribute to her character Rose Sayer.
• In Bengal Barbecue is a (photoshopped) photograph of Charlie Allnut and Rose Sayer riding the Zambezi Miss past the original lost safari in the African veldt.
• In Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar is a post-card sent to Trader Sam from Charlie Allnut, offering his advice and services.
• The Jungle Cruise film takes influence from the African Queen with Frank Wolff even being modeled after Charlie Allnut.
• The Minnie Mouse section of Magic of Disney Animation featured the poster for a film called, "The Jungle Cruise" modeled after the poster for the African Queen albeit with Mickey Mouse as Charlie Allnut and Minnie as Rose Sayer.
• The clothes of Frank Wolff and Lily Houghton are hung up in Alberta Falls' office in Disneyland. The map of the Amazon river is framed in the boathouse and a conquistador hat seemingly references the villainous Lope de Aguirre. While difficult to see, the chimp's map aboard the Mekong Maiden is signed by, "F.W." AKA Frank Wolff from the film.
• During the world premiere of the Jungle Cruise, one of the boats was turned into Frank's boat La Quila.
• In the Magic Kingdom, there is an office with Frank's hat, Lope de Aguirre's helm and the map of the Amazon in Alberta's office. The map of the Rivers of Adventure is also signed, "F.W." for Frank Wolff, a major character from the film.
• During the Jingle Cruise, a crate addressed to Rosita's owner Nilo Nemolato from the film was added to the African Veldt.

Gallery [ ]

References [ ]

• ↑ https://www.disney-magical-kingdom-blog.com/2024/07/The-Society-of-Explorers-and-Adventurers-SEA-Connection-Added-To-Hong-Kong-Disneyland-Jungle-River-Cruise.html
• 2 The Emotions

TouringPlans

GUIDE ME THROUGH—

Questions? Our community can help!

Forums Thoughtful, engaging talk

Chat Quick answers while in the parks

Subscribe now to create a customized Touring Plan for everything you want to do.

• Crowd Calendar
• Disney Springs
• Transportation

• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Early Theme Park Entry
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Extended Evening Hours
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Front-of-Line Service: Lightning Lane
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Character Greetings
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Rider Switch for Small Children
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Special Needs Guests (DAS)
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Live Entertainment & Show Schedules
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Refurbishment Schedule
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Lines Mobile App
• Attractions, Parades, & Fireworks
• Height Requirements
• Touring Plans
• Attractions & Fireworks
• Neighborhoods
• Attractions
• Cheapest Disney Tickets
• Park Reservations

• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Basics
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Build-Your-Own Plans

Magic Kingdom

• Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Disney's Animal Kingdom
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Ratings for All WDW Restaurants
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Overview
• Magic Kingdom Restaurants
• EPCOT Restaurants
• Hollywood Studios Restaurants
• Animal Kingdom Restaurants
• Disney Springs Restaurants
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Hotel Restaurants
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Reservations
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Tipping (Gratuities)
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Menu Search
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Disney Dining Plan
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Benefits
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Room Finder
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Compare Hotels
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House)
• Disney's Beach Club Resort
• Disney's BoardWalk Inn
• Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Disney's Yacht Club Resort
• The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort
• Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
• Disney's All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney's All-Star Music Resort
• Disney's All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney's Art of Animation Resort
• Disney's Pop Century Resort
• Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
• Disney's Beach Club Villas
• Disney's BoardWalk Villas
• Disney's Old Key West Resort
• Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
• Disney's Riviera Resort
• Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
• The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort

• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Early Park Admission
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Tickets
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Front-of-Line Service: Universal Express Pass
• Halloween Horror Nights
• Rock the Universe
• Gradventure
• Special Needs
• Kids and Babies

• Universal Studios Florida
• Universal's Islands of Adventure
• Universal Epic Universe
• Universal Studios Florida Restaurants
• Islands of Adventure Restaurants
• Volcano Bay Restaurants
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> CityWalk Restaurants
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Hotel Basics
• Hard Rock Hotel
• Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
• Loews Royal Pacific Resort
• Universal Helios Grand Hotel
• Universal Stella Nova Resort
• Universal Terra Luna Resort
• Universal's Aventura Hotel
• Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort
• Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
• Universal’s Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn and Suites
• Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn and Suites
• Downtown Disney

• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Early Entry
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="block text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Rider Switch
• Lunar New Year
• Food & Wine Festival
• Disneyland Park
• Disney California Adventure Park
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Ratings for All DLR Restaurants
• Disneyland Restaurants
• California Adventure Restaurants
• Downtown Disney Restaurants
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Disneyland Hotel
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> Pixar Place Hotel
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
• sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo mouseover->sidemenu#activeChildLayerTwo" class="text-black text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-start gap-2 pt-[20px] leading-18"> The Villas at Disneyland Hotel
• sidemenu#activeChild" class="text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-between pt-3 md:pt-14 leading-30"> Planning Your Cruise
• sidemenu#activeChild" class="text-base font-eucliarSemiBold flex items-center justify-between pt-3 md:pt-14 leading-30"> Tips for During Your Cruise

• common-navbar#activeTab">At a Glance common-navbar#activeTab"> -->
• common-navbar#activeTab">Touring Tips common-navbar#activeTab"> -->
• common-navbar#activeTab">You Might Also Like common-navbar#activeTab"> -->
• common-navbar#activeTab">Wait Times common-navbar#activeTab"> -->

• common-navbar#activeTab">At a Glance
• common-navbar#activeTab">Touring Tips
• common-navbar#activeTab">You Might Also Like
• common-navbar#activeTab">Wait Times

Jungle Cruise

An Attraction in Magic Kingdom

Last updated: September 1, 2024

At a Glance

Jungle Cruise is an outdoor group boat ride through some of the world’s best-known simulated tropical waterways. You’ll pass through forest and jungle populated entirely by animatronic animals.

Jungle Cruise was the park’s signature ride when it opened at Disneyland. With the advent of modern, highly themed, real zoo environments such as Animal Kingdom, the Magic Kingdom’s version would surely have faded into obscurity were it not for one thing: The skippers tell jokes. OK, jokes is a stretch—the skippers do the cheesiest, most groan-inducing stand-up you’ve ever heard. If you dig that sort of thing, it’s glorious.

The best Jungle Cruise experience we’ve ever had began with all the passengers agreeing beforehand to laugh enthusiastically at whatever jokes we heard. It took about two puns for the skipper to catch on and play along. The ride ended with us chanting the skipper’s name during thunderous applause, to which the skipper said, “Is this what unconditional love feels like? Take that, Mom and Dad!”

• Lightning Lane Multi Pass - First Group
• Handheld Captioning
• Assistive Listening
• Audio Description
• May Remain in Wheelchair/ECV
• Sign Language

modal#open click->video-modal#modalVideo">Jungle Cruise Ride Through

modal#open click->video-modal#modalVideo">Jingle Cruise Video

Touring Tips

We think the ride is better at night.

Other attractions you might like Users who like Jungle Cruise, generally also like:

Hollywood Studios

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

The Haunted Mansion

Frozen Ever After

Journey Into Imagination With Figment

Here's roughly how many minutes you'll wait for Jungle Cruise at each Magic Kingdom Crowd Level.

Top Premium Touring Plans That Include Jungle Cruise

All Premium Touring Plans with Jungle Cruise

Disney Dish with Jim Hill Podcast

Learn more about the latest doings at Disney with Len Testa of TouringPlans & Jim Hill of JimHillMedia.com

Learn more about the latest doings at Disney with TouringPlan's Len Testa & Jim Hill of JimHillMedia.com

Copyright ©2024 TouringPlans.com. All rights reserved.

Accommodations

Theme parks, disney cruise line – what you need to know, cruise line ships, disney private islands, recent walt disney world, recent disneyland, disney world reviews, other park reviews, recent reviews, allears style, newsletter home, jungle cruise – adventureland – magic kingdom, {"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org","@type":"breadcrumblist","itemlistelement":[{"@type":"listitem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/allears.net\/attraction\/","name":"attractions"}},{"@type":"listitem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/allears.net\/attraction\/search\/walt-disney-world\/all\/all\/all\/","name":"walt disney world"}},{"@type":"listitem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/allears.net\/attraction\/search\/magic-kingdom\/all\/all\/all\/","name":"magic kingdom"}},{"@type":"listitem","position":4,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/allears.net\/attraction\/search\/adventureland\/all\/all\/all\/","name":"adventureland"}},{"@type":"listitem","position":5,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/allears.net\/magic-kingdom\/jungle-cruise-adventureland-magic-kingdom\/","name":"jungle cruise"}}]} attractions > walt disney world > magic kingdom > adventureland > jungle cruise, recommended by, ride length, lightning lane single pass, lightning lane multi pass, ride seating photos & advice, jungle cruise highlights:, disney genie+ attraction.

• Sail the world’s most exotic rivers in a river boat
• Hear iconic “punny” jokes from the Skippers on this family-friendly Disney classic!

Introduction | Attraction | Ride Logistics | Dining | Interesting Facts

Introduction.

Travel on the world’s most exotic rivers to see mechanical animals and ancient ruins. Be prepared for surprises along the way, including some very punny jokes! Jungle Cruise is located in Adventureland, across from the Enchanted Tiki Room, just beyond the Swiss Family Treehouse.

Queue — As you wind your way around a deceptively long queue through theJungle Cruise offices, be sure to note the fun details. For example, there’s a chalkboard with a list of missing boats and persons, with names like “Ilene Dover” and “Anne Fellen.” There’s also a Menu Board that’s good for a laugh!

Also listen to the overhead chatter of the Cast Members to help while the wait time away. The really bad jokes they tell give you an idea of what you’re in for on the cruise itself!

Jungle Cruise — You board canopied launches patterned after the boat in the movie The African Queen that have whimsical names like “Bomokandi Bertha”, “Irrawaddy Irma,” and “Amazon Annie.”

After the launch leaves the dock, the skipper then pilots you through the dangerous waters of four “rivers”: the Amazon in South America; the Congo in Africa; the Nile in Egypt; and the Mekong river in Cambodia in Southeast Asia. Along the route, a variety of mechanical animals and explorers are encountered, including a herd of bathing elephants in the Elephant Pool, some lions enjoying their dinner, angry hippos who might attack at any moment, and the infamous Trader Sam’s Gift Shop 

The launch also passes by a waterfall  (the notorious backside of water!) and several spraying fountains, so you may get a just a little damp on this 10-minute excursion .

In addition to being sprayed, you will also be peppered by a barrage of bad jokes and puns from your skipper! The cruise concludes with more funnies as guest disembark at the same point from which they started.

During the holidays, Walt Disney World decorates the Jungle Cruise with an overlay, turning it into the Jingle Cruise.  Look for decorations and Santa hats along the river, plus they even renamed the boats with a Christmas theme!

RIDE LOGISTICS

Lightning Lane access for the Jungle Cruise  is available with the purchase of  Genie+ . This is a very popular attraction, with standby lines usually 45-70+ minutes long.

Accessibility:  Riders in wheelchair/ECV may remain in them at this attraction but will need to wait for the “Bomokandi Bertha” boat.

Assistive Listening Devices from Guest Services Can Be Used Here.

Ears to the World, Disney’s show translators, are available here for guests with limited English fluency. Guests may choose from one of five languages: French, German, Japanese, Portuguese and Spanish. Ask at Guest Relations at the park entrance.

The cruise takes on a whole different feel when ridden in the evening in the dark — this is also a less crowded time to take the ride.

This attraction has one very dark patch during which you cruise through a cave. It may not be advisable for folks with a fear of the dark or claustrophobia .

Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen is located across from the entrance to the Jungle Cruise. Experience “World Famous Jungle Cuisine” in one of several unique dining rooms – including a crew mess hall and a once-hidden secret meeting room of the famed Society of Explorers and Adventurers. This table-service restaurant is staffed by Jungle Cruise Skippers.

Magic Kingdom Restaurants At A Glance

The Agrabah Bazaar  across from Magic Carpets of Aladdin may sell some Jungle Cruise themed merchandise, along with Disney merchandise from The Enchanted Tiki Room and “adventure” movies such as Aladdin and Moana.

INTERESTING FACTS

Hidden Mickey Alert : In the cave Temple, look for the Mickey-shaped arrangement of three plates.

Jungle Cruise opened at the Magic Kingdom in 1971 .

The first version of the Jungle Cruise was very serious , based on Walt Disney’s True Life Adventure series. It wasn’t until a few years later that the Jungle Cruise “skippers” began adding jokes and funny stories.

Rumor is that the beached plane you see while on your jungle tour is really just half a plane — the other half was in the Casablanca scene in the Great Movie Ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The Jungle Cruise boats are 27 feet long, and reach a top speed of 3.2 feet per second , using a 4-cylinder Chevrolet engine.

Just outside the attraction, there is a small lake that used to be the home of Shrunken Ned’s Junior Jungle Boats, which allowed wannabe skippers the ability to pilot miniature boats via radio-controlled remote controls. Captains would pilot their boats through a number of obstacles and of course, try to ram other boats while in the process. This attraction was not included in the basic admission price and required additional funds to play. The Junior Jungle Boats were installed in 1997, and discontinued September 20, 2012.

After the launch leaves the dock, the skipper then pilots you through the dangerous waters of four “rivers”: the Amazon in South America; the Congo in Africa; the Nile in Egypt; and the Mekong river in Cambodia in Southeast Asia. Along the route, a variety of mechanical animals and natives are encountered, including a herd of bathing elephants in the Elephant Pool, some lions enjoying their dinner, angry hippos who might attack at any moment, and a shrunken head salesman: the infamous Trader Sam. 

How long is Jungle Cruise?

The ride takes 8 Minutes Find all the attractions by their length

Is Lightning Lane Single Pass available for Jungle Cruise?

No Jungle Cruise is not eligible for Lightning Lane Single Pass Find Lightning Lane Single Pass attractions

Is Jungle Cruise included in Lightning Lane Multi Pass?

Yes Jungle Cruise is included in Lightning Lane Multi Pass Find more Lightning Lane Multi Pass attractions using our search

Follow us on Social!

Trending now.

A popular international food is coming to U.S. McDonald's.

These organizers are the best way to pack a Loungefly!

Planning a trip to Disney California Adventure soon? We've got everything you need to start...

Flying United Airlines soon? Here are the unspoken rules you need to know!

There are 11 brand new limited-time perks that Disney Visa Cardmembers can take advantage of.

Padawan, your new drinkware has arrived.

Take a look at the map for California Adventure's 2024 Oogie Boogie Bash.

A new Orlando Primark is OPEN and it's dedicated an entire floor to Disney merch!

We love Animal Kingdom Lodge, don't get us wrong, but here's the one MASSIVE problem...

This new system is actually enforcing long-established protocol at Disney World.

The holidays are going to be EPIC in Disneyland.

We're pretty sure these memes will ONLY be funny if you're a Disney expert --...

These Disney-inspired looks could be great options for the upcoming Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!

The eight episode of 'WandaVision' was full of important details that you may have missed...

We have some SECRETS to spill about Disney World's popular rides.

Parking in Disney World is a little more involved than you may think -- here's...

Let's talk about the bizarre things we love about Disney's Port Orleans Resort!

We're sharing the list of EPCOT shops that we AVOID!

We've got the full lineup for the Eat to the Beat concerts happening at the...

We dare you to look at this adorable new Disney Loungefly collection and NOT say...

Shop the Disney Store | AllEars® Merchandise | Shop Amazon | Press Room | Contact Us

Read more About us or Advertise with us . We respect your right to privacy. Please take a moment to review our privacy policy and terms of use .

Copyright ©1996-2024 AllEarsNet, LLC, All Rights Reserved. AllEars.Net, AllEars® Newsletter and any other properties owned by AllEarsNet, LLC are not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with, The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any of their affiliates. All Disney artwork, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, and trade names are proprietary to Disney Enterprises, Inc. or, its subsidiary, affiliated and related companies. For official Disney information, visit http://www.disneyworld.com

• Account Settings
• The Disney Bundle
• Parks & Travel
• Walt Disney World
• Disney Cruise Line
• All Parks & Travel
• Movies Anywhere
• 20th Century Studios
• Accessories
• Disney News
• Disney on Broadway
• Disney on Ice
• Disney Live!
• Walt Disney World Resort
• Disneyland Resort
• Aulani - A Disney Resort and Spa
• Adventures by Disney
• Disney Vacation Club
• D23: The Official Disney Fan Club

News Disney

Interviews on the set of disney’s jungle cruise with the cast and crew.

We had the incredible opportunity to visit the set of Disney’s Jungle Cruise as the production roared to life with intricate locations, costumes, and characters, shot on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. We watched a scene being filmed, toured the set, and interviewed members of the cast and crew, including stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt. Afterwards, we could not wait to see the final film, and the wait is almost over! The film lands in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 30, and it’s sure to be action-packed, hilarious, and heartfelt. 

In case you missed the latest , Disney’s Jungle Cruise is inspired by the Disney Parks attraction and is an exciting adventure that takes place on the Amazon River with skipper Frank Wolff (played by Johnson) and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton (played by Blunt). Lily travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s help to guide her downriver on his boat, La Quila. The unlikely duo encounter innumerable dangers and supernatural forces on their journey, and they are so fun to watch together! Jaume Collet-Serra directs the film, which also stars Edgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall, Jesse Plemons, and Paul Giamatti. 

We sat down with Emily Blunt, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Whitehall (who plays Lily’s brother, MacGregor Houghton), Paul Giamatti (who plays Nilo, Frank’s rival), costume designer Paco Delgado, and producers Glenn Ficara and Hiram Garcia. We learned so much about the process and incredible journey during the making of Jungle Cruise! Here’s an exclusive behind-the-scenes look:

We started our visit with a tour of the set, which included the docking area shown above, a marketplace, a hotel, a tavern, Nilo’s landing, Frank’s living quarters, and of course, Frank’s iconic boat, La Quila. We learned on our tour that the film takes place around the year 1916 in Porto Belo, Brazil. The sets revealed that while Frank runs a one-man operation, lives in a modest shack, and built his boat by hand, Nilo practically owns the town and runs a large fleet of boats. Some of the sets (like Nilo’s landing) could only be accessed by water! We even got to step aboard La Quila and stand at the helm:

And here’s a closer look at La Quila during our tour, and a view of the water around the set:

After our tour, we watched a scene being filmed on the tavern set, including some incredible character work by Johnson, Blunt, Whitehall, and Giamatti. It was so exciting to watch them all in action together!

When we spoke to producers Glenn Ficara and Hiram Garcia, they noted that they jumped aboard the film two or three years previous. Ficara and Garcia read the script at the same time as Johnson, and all three loved it. Ficara noted, “I think you’ll be very surprised by the tone of the movie — by the scale, the scope, the set pieces, but most importantly the core of Dwayne and Emily Blunt.” They noted that the chemistry between Johnson and Blunt on screen will make audiences feel like the two have known each other forever. As far as the plot, Ficara and Garcia teased that what triggers the story is Blunt’s character Lily showing up to search for a legend that “may or may not exist.” Whitehall’s character MacGregor also joins Frank and Lily on the adventure and adds some incredible comedy, according to the producers. 

Ficara and Garcia were also working very closely with Disney Imagineers as the film progressed. Garcia noted that throughout the film, “There are nods to the world of Disneyland in subtle ways.” Ficara added, “It was important for us to transport the audience and transport this iconic [attraction].” They also noted that as the journey through the Amazon progresses, we’ll see some beautiful wish-fulfillment scenes for Disney fans, as well as danger, excitement, and animal encounters. “Because the ride is now over 70 years old, you have three generations of families that have all experienced it… so, it’s really deep-rooted… when you hear the name it brings back memories of you and your family going there,” Ficara said. For fans of the Disney Parks attraction, they also confirmed we will get to see the “backside of water” in the film, as well as some excellent puns delivered by Johnson. 

Costume designer Paco Delgado talked about what inspired him to create the costumes for the film. Of starting his work on the film, Delgado said, “I always think that when you design a movie, you are almost like a reader. It’s exactly the same process as a person who reads and starts to imagine things in their head. That’s the way I normally try to work.” For Blunt’s character, Delgado was excited to depict a woman in trousers in the time period that the film takes place, and took inspiration from Amelia Earhart and other female icons of the early 20th century. 

Delgado noted, “I always find that in order to be free to create, you have to have a really huge foundation. I believe that everything comes from the research.” He and his team looked at library records and photographs of the time period to see how expeditions and clothing might have looked. “Costumes and clothing are so intermingled with society,” Delgado said, and that heavily influenced his work.

Giamatti was incredibly excited to be a part of Jungle Cruise and to portray Nilo. He said of the script and story: “There’s lots of really interesting stuff going on in there. It’s got some fantasy elements in it that are very cool. And it’s surprising and I just thought it was unexpected.” For his character, he was given a lot of opportunity to explore traits and props, and even chose for his character to have a pet cockatoo. When asked about filming on a set built in Kauai, Giamatti noted, “Working here is unbelievable. It’s beautiful.”

Whitehall was equally excited to join the cast of Jungle Cruise and shared, “I love Disney. I read the script and it just instantly appealed to me. It was so much fun and it was exactly the kind of movie that I’d go and watch in the cinema. Added to that you’ve got Dwayne and Emily who I’ve been a huge fan of for a long time. And Jaume the director was great. I met him and I thought he was superb and really had a distinct idea for what he was going to do with it. So, I was on board very easily.” He explained that his character MacGregor is a very savvy, dapper gentleman who is “really dragged on this cruise by his sister and is a reluctant party on it.” He also noted, “probably not a million miles from how I would behave if I was in the situation that the character is in.” He went on to joke, “MacGregor might just be the worst person you can throw into this environment.” 

Whitehall noted that Lily is very head first, asking questions “on the way down,” while MacGregor balances that out. When asked about building the brother-sister relationship with Blunt’s character, Whitehall said, “We grew up a couple of streets away from each other in London… we instantly got on and had a natural chemistry.” As far as MacGregor’s relationship with Johnson’s character Frank, Whitehall noted, “Over the course of the movie, I think he realize[s] you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and there’s a lot more depth and surprising aspects to Frank’s character than he probably suspects when he first met him.” Regarding working with Johnson, Whitehall said, “He’s incredible. He’s exactly the kind of person you want him to be.”

Between scenes, we also interviewed Blunt and Johnson — in their amazing costumes — as a light rain drizzled over the set. Holding umbrellas, the hilarious duo answered questions about working on the film. Blunt said of taking on her character Lily, “There was something about this character… she just was so tenacious and exciting, determined, completely free-spirited. And kind of weird. A really interesting character.” She also noted, “She is very unusual and at the time she’s kind of a trailblazer.” On Frank and Lily’s scenes together, Blunt noted, “At the core of it is this relationship, this unlikely duo… there’s this chemistry between them and this rapport between them.” 

Both Johnson and Blunt are incredibly excited about the film, and grew up as Disney fans as well. “I was just so amazed because I’d always dreamed about going to [ Walt Disney World ]... I finally went and I fell in love with the ride just like I fell in love with the Park,” Johnson said. Johnson also noted that he took inspiration from the fact that Walt Disney was the very first skipper for the Jungle Cruise attraction at Disneyland . Blunt added, “I think that the experience for me, and I know for Dwayne as well, is just really personal and it feels really exciting. And I think that Disney films are those kind of films that are seared into your nostalgia. Certainly as a child I have such lasting memories of Disney movies. Those were the films I grew up watching, so it’s completely surreal to be now in a few of them.” Of the film itself, Johnson said, “There’s heart, there’s universal [themes], there’s fun, there’s adventure, and there’s also a good lesson with that as well.” When asked about the filming experience, Blunt said, “I’m having the time of my life.” Johnson chimed in, “It’s a dream come true.”

Visiting the Jungle Cruise set was a Disney dream come true, and we can’t wait to see the film come to life!

Disney’s Jungle Cruise is in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access on July 30. (Additional fee required.) For more Disney+ news and updates, follow @DisneyPlus on YouTube , Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook . 

Related Articles

Now on disney+ — week of august 30, 2024.

August 30, 2024

Now On Disney+ — Week of August 23, 2024

August 23, 2024

Now On Disney+ — Week of August 16, 2024

August 16, 2024

Now On Disney+ — Week of August 9, 2024

August 9, 2024

Now On Disney+ — Week of August 2, 2024

August 2, 2024

DINUS » Disney Attraction » Magic Kingdom Park » Jungle Cruise 

Jungle Cruise | Disney World

Last Updated on: August 26th, 2024

Posted By: Craig Smith

Jungle Cruise is a classic attraction located in the Adventureland area of the Magic Kingdom park at Walt Disney World Resort . It is an immersive boat ride that takes guests on a simulated journey through various exotic jungles and rivers.

Inspired by adventure-filled expeditions along the rivers of Asia, Africa, and South America, Jungle Cruise offers a humorous and lighthearted exploration of the wild. Guests board riverboats captained by witty and entertaining skippers who navigate the waterways while providing entertaining commentary and jokes.

As the boats cruise through the lush jungle environments, guests encounter a variety of audio-animatronic animals, dramatic scenes, and special effects. From animatronic elephants and hippos to playful scenes of tribal natives and humorous encounters with dangerous creatures, the attraction offers an engaging and immersive experience.

Jungle Cruise captures the spirit of exploration and adventure while embracing a sense of humor. The skippers’ scripted spiels are filled with puns, jokes, and playful banter, adding to the entertaining and memorable nature of the attraction.

While the specific scenes and dialogue may vary slightly over time, the Jungle Cruise experience remains rooted in its original concept and design. It has become a beloved and iconic attraction that has been entertaining guests since the opening of Disneyland in 1955.

Jungle Cruise has also inspired a feature film adaptation released in 2021, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, which adds a new layer of adventure and storytelling to the beloved attraction.

Overall, Jungle Cruise offers a delightful and light-hearted journey through exotic jungles, providing guests with an entertaining mix of adventure, comedy, and imaginative storytelling.

At a Glance

• Disney Resort: Walt Disney World Resort
• Disney Park: Magic Kingdom Park Info News and Attractions
• Park Area: Magic Kingdom Adventureland
• Attraction Type: Disney Rides
• Official Page
• Year Opened: 1971
• Replaced: Original Attraction
• Location on Map

Helpful Reviews

Related news:.

• Jungle Cruise Closed for Two Month Refurbishment at Walt Disney World , August 26, 2024
• Reopening Date Announced for Jungle Cruise at Walt Disney World , August 9, 2024
• Reopening Timeframe Announced for Jungle Cruise Refurbishment at Magic Kingdom , July 13, 2024
• Jingle Cruise 2023 Return Date Announced for Magic Kingdom , November 2, 2023
• Discover ‘Jungle Cruise’ Film Easter Eggs at Newly Enhanced, World-Famous Jungle Cruise Attraction , July 30, 2021

Related Disney Character(s):

Related movie(s):.

Jungle Cruise

Related apps and games(s):.

Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour

More Walt Disney World Quest: Magical Racing Tour facts and stats than you will ever need to know including news, release dates and more.

Related Products:

Jungle Cruise Congo Queen Boat Vinyl Pop

Jungle Cruise Congo Queen Boat Vinyl Pop Description: Excursions on the world famous Jungle Cruise will be departing daily from your collection when you add…

GET A FREE DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Book your 2024 or 2025 Disney vacation package now! With availability at great rates, don't miss out on the opportunity to experience the magic of Disney.

Contact us today to see what options are available to you!

About the Author

Craig Smith

• Disney Parks Featured Articles
• Walt Disney World
• Disneyland Paris
• Shanghai Disneyland
• Hong Kong Disneyland
• Tokyo Disneyland
• Disney Cruise Line
• Disney Vacation Club
• Upcoming Disney Movies
• Pixar Movies
• Disney Movie Featured Articles
• Disney Movie News
• Disney+ Upcoming Movies and Shows
• Hulu Upcoming Shows and Movies
• Disney TV & Streaming Articles
• Disney TV News
• Marvel Characters
• Star Wars Characters
• Disney Products
• Disney Songs
• Disney News