The Jungle Cruise reopened at Magic Kingdom on October 15 after closing on August 26 for a refurbishment. We took a ride to see if there was anything gnu.
Jungle Cruise Reopens After Refurbishment
No changes were confirmed beforehand, and it was expected to be a standard refurbishment ahead of the busy holiday season. We saw no changes during our ride and Cast Members confirmed nothing was changed.
Elements of the attraction do look refreshed, like paint on crates. Did you know there are S.E.A. references in the Jungle Cruise queue?
Signage and props throughout the ride have also been repainted and repaired. But are still thematically faded or “broken.”
The temple was refurbished in January 2024 and the docks were refurbished in April.
Some of the jungle rocks were refreshed and are now more of a tan color than reddish-orange. Walt Disney Imagineering shared a video about the paint process, which we’ve embedded below.
Walt Disney World recently confirmed the return of the festive overlay, Jingle Cruise, which will begin on November 2.
Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise also recently reopened after a refurbishment. Reportedly, they spent $600,000 to fix the temple scene with the tiger, which had been in disrepair. However, when the ride reopened, scrim and scaffolds were still in place around the scene.
About the Jungle Cruise
The Jungle Cruise was an opening day attraction at Magic Kingdom on October 1, 1971. The ride puts guests on a boat with a Cast Member, called Skippers, who narrate the expedition with a healthy dose of puns. Since the spiel is done live, the Skippers have the ability to interact with the guests, and each Cast Member brings their own spark to the role.
The entrance for the Jungle Cruise is in Adventureland, across from Aladdin’s Flying Carpets. Stroller parking is to the left, near the ride’s exit.
Guests depart the Jungle Navigation Co. base on the docks of the Amazon River and travel down the Congo River, the Nile River, and the Mekong River before returning back. The different areas have appropriate flora and fauna, including animatronic animals.
The ride is approximately ten minutes long and does offer Lightning Lane access through the Multi Pass and soon the Premier Pass. It is part of the first tier of Multi Pass attractions, meaning if you select a Lightning Lane for Jungle Cruise, you cannot book one for Space Mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, or Peter Pan’s Flight.
The Jungle Cruise underwent a hefty overhaul in 2021 to address cultural sensitivity concerns. The depictions of indigenous persons from the areas featured on the ride were considered outdated and there was concern about perpetuating stereotypes. Imagineering took the opportunity to introduce new characters and storylines into the ride while mostly maintaining the classic attraction.
Major changes included the removal of Trader Sam in favor of his gift shop, a new version of the Trapped Safari scene, a new sinking boat scene, and more.
Are you glad to see Jungle Cruise reopened at Magic Kingdom? What do you think of the ride post-refurbishment? Share your thoughts with us in the comments and on social media.
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