jungle cruise ride walt disney world

Jungle Cruise

Magic Kingdom Park

Adventureland

Guests Can Be

Age interest, thrill level.

Accessibility and Other Information - Opens Dialog

Accessibility

• May Remain in Wheelchair/ECV
• Wheelchair Access Vehicle
• Sign Language
• Assistive Listening
• Handheld Captioning
• Supervise children at all times. Children under age 7 years must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.

Chart a course for high adventure on a scenic and comedic boat tour of exotic rivers across Asia, Africa and South America.

Adventure Around Every Corner

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.

Watch for angry hippos, hungry lions and “sleeping” zebras along the Nile and be on the lookout for a missing Jungle Cruise vessel and its helpless passengers. As the cruise continues down the Mekong River, you just might learn that the jungle always gets the last laugh.

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

Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen

Prepare your palate for exotic flavor adventures sure to tame your wildest appetite.

Even More Magic – As You Wish!

Let Disney Genie service summon the attractions, entertainment and dining you love most.

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Wednesday, May 15, 2024

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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

Jungle Cruise

Magic Kingdom Park

Adventureland

Guests Can Be

Age Interest

Thrill Level

Chart a course for adventure on a scenic and comedic boat tour of renowned rivers across Asia, Africa and South America.

Adventure Around Every Corner 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.

Watch for angry hippos, hungry lions and “sleeping” zebras along the Nile and be on the lookout for a missing Jungle Cruise vessel and its helpless passengers. As the cruise continues down the Mekong River, you just might learn that the jungle always gets the last laugh.

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

Jungle Cruise

Adventure Around Every Corner

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.

Watch for angry hippos, hungry lions and “sleeping” zebras along the Nile and be on the lookout for a missing Jungle Cruise vessel and its helpless passengers. As the cruise continues down the Mekong River, you just might learn that the jungle always gets the last laugh.

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.

Disney Park Nerds

Jungle Cruise at Disney World: An Unforgettable Adventure Awaits

The Jungle Cruise at Disney World is an iconic and immersive boat ride that takes guests on a humorous and thrilling journey through the exotic rivers of Asia, Africa, and South America, featuring animatronic animals, engaging skippers, and special effects.

This attraction has been delighting visitors with its blend of adventure and comedy since its inception, making it a must-see for guests of all ages.

• The Jungle Cruise at Disney World is a beloved boat ride adventure through the rivers of Asia, Africa, and South America, featuring animatronic animals, special effects, and humorous skippers.
• Originating at Disneyland in 1955, the ride has evolved over the years, incorporating updates and cultural sensitivity changes while maintaining its core experience of jungle exploration.
• Offering tips for an enhanced visit, such as planning for morning rides, utilizing Fastpass, engaging with the skippers’ jokes, and capturing photos, ensures guests enjoy this iconic and immersive attraction to the fullest.

The Jungle Cruise Disney World Experience

The Jungle Cruise is a boat ride that takes visitors on a journey through the rivers of Asia, Africa, and South America.

The ride is led by a live skipper who provides a lively and humorous commentary throughout the trip. As the boat navigates the simulated rivers, guests are treated to a variety of scenes and attractions, including a jungle temple, a camp of safari explorers, and a raging waterfall. Along the way, guests will also encounter animatronic animals such as elephants, hippos, crocodiles, and even a pair of feuding gorillas.

One of the unique features of the Jungle Cruise is its use of special effects. As the boat travels through the rivers, it encounters various obstacles and challenges, such as a herd of stampeding elephants or a sudden rainstorm. These special effects add an element of excitement and surprise to the ride, making it a thrilling and immersive experience.

In addition to the animatronic animals and special effects, the Jungle Cruise is known for its witty and humorous skippers. Each skipper has their own style and personality, and they are trained to deliver clever jokes and puns throughout the ride.

This adds an entertaining and entertaining aspect to the Jungle Cruise, making it a favorite among visitors of all ages.

Jungle Cruise at Disney World vs Disneyland

The Jungle Cruise, a flagship attraction at both Disneyland and Disney World, offers guests a whimsical voyage through exotic landscapes filled with animatronic animals and engaging skippers.

While the essence of adventure and humor remains consistent between the two parks, there are distinctive elements and updates that differentiate the experiences, highlighting the unique charm of each location.

• Location and Landscape : Nestled in the heart of Adventureland, both versions of the Jungle Cruise immerse guests in a lush, tropical setting. However, the surrounding environment and architectural nuances of each park lend a unique backdrop to the rides, influencing the overall ambiance and thematic details.
• Ride Updates and Cultural Sensitivity : Disney World’s Jungle Cruise has received more recent updates, particularly in efforts to enhance cultural sensitivity and inclusivity. These changes include modifications to scenes and narratives to reflect a more respectful portrayal of cultures, alongside the introduction of new scenes and animatronic characters.
• Route and Narration Variations : While the general path of the river journey shares similarities, each version of the Jungle Cruise has its own specific route, with variations in the sequence of scenes and the specifics of the animatronic animal encounters. The skippers’ scripts also vary, offering location-specific jokes and storytelling that add a unique flavor to each ride.
• Historical Significance and Evolution : Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise holds the title of being one of the original attractions since the park’s opening, carrying a rich history and evolution over the years. Disney World’s version, while equally cherished, has its own timeline of updates and enhancements that reflect changing technologies and guest expectations.

History of the Jungle Cruise Disney World

The Jungle Cruise at Disney World, an original attraction since Disneyland’s opening in 1955, embodies the spirit of adventure that Walt Disney himself cherished.

Inspired by the real-life expeditions of early 20th-century explorers, this ride was designed to transport guests into the heart of exotic landscapes filled with animatronic animals and plants.

Despite numerous updates and enhancements over the years to include new scenes, animals, and cutting-edge technology, the core experience of embarking on an exploratory river journey guided by a humorously narrated tour remains unchanged.

• Original Inspiration : The Jungle Cruise was inspired by the expeditions of early 20th-century explorers, aiming to capture the thrill of discovering uncharted territories and exotic wildlife.
• Walt Disney’s Vision : As a keen adventurer, Walt Disney sought to recreate the excitement of exploration for his theme park guests, leading to the creation of this immersive ride.
• Technological Evolution : Over the years, the Jungle Cruise has seen significant updates, including the introduction of new animatronic animals and scenes, as well as the integration of modern technology and special effects to enhance the guest experience.
• Contribution of Marc Davis : The animatronic animals, a hallmark of the ride, were designed by Disney legend Marc Davis, a key figure among Disney’s “Nine Old Men,” whose work elevated the standard for animatronics in theme park attractions.
• Enduring Popularity : Despite being more than 60 years old, the Jungle Cruise continues to be a beloved attraction at Disney World, cherished by both young and old for its nostalgic charm and engaging storytelling, making it a timeless must-see for visitors.

Tips for enjoying the Jungle Cruise Disney World

Planning your visit to Walt Disney World’s Jungle Cruise can transform a great experience into an unforgettable adventure. This iconic ride, known for its humor-filled journey through exotic landscapes, offers a unique blend of entertainment and exploration.

By integrating these tips into your visit, the Jungle Cruise promises to be a highlight of your Disney World adventure, offering laughter, learning, and lasting memories for everyone involved.

To maximize your enjoyment, consider these strategic tips designed to enhance your expedition:

• Optimal Timing : Aim to embark on your Jungle Cruise adventure in the morning or early afternoon. This timing helps you avoid the larger crowds that typically gather later in the day. Additionally, weekdays often see fewer visitors than weekends, providing a smoother experience.
• Fastpass Advantage : Utilize the Fastpass system to bypass the regular queue, significantly reducing wait times. Fastpasses can be obtained at kiosks near the attraction or through the Disney World app, allowing for advanced planning and convenience.
• Engage with Your Guide : The skippers of the Jungle Cruise are renowned for their witty commentary and entertaining facts about the ride’s sights. Listening closely not only enhances the fun but may also enrich your knowledge of the jungle’s inhabitants.
• Capture the Moment : The vivid scenery and animatronic wonders you’ll encounter make perfect photo opportunities. Keep your camera at the ready to preserve your memories of the journey, and don’t hesitate to ask your skipper for brief stops to snap the perfect shot.

Updates and Enhancements to Jungle Cruise at Disney World

The Jungle Cruise attraction at Disney World has seen numerous updates and enhancements over the years, aiming to provide guests with an even more immersive and engaging experience. These updates have introduced new features and made significant changes to enhance cultural sensitivity, ensuring a ride that is both entertaining and respectful.

1. Distinctive Features Between Disney World and Disneyland

Although the Jungle Cruise at Disney World and Disneyland shares many similarities, there are notable differences that set them apart. Disney World’s version has been expanded and updated more extensively, incorporating changes for cultural sensitivity and adding new scenes. The rides at both parks have different routes and narrations, offering guests a unique experience depending on the location.

2. Addressing Cultural Sensitivity

Disney World’s commitment to promoting a more inclusive experience is evident in the modifications made to the Jungle Cruise. The ride has removed outdated stereotypes and insensitive jokes, replaced certain animatronic animals, and introduced new scenes to reflect a more culturally sensitive perspective.

3. Duration and Location of the Ride

The Jungle Cruise ride typically lasts about 10-15 minutes, though this can vary slightly. It’s located in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom, a land designed to immerse guests in the mystique of the jungle, tropical islands, and the allure of piracy.

4. Outdoor Adventure Awaits

As an outdoor attraction, the Jungle Cruise takes guests on a journey through an artificial river landscape, complete with animatronic animals and lush jungle scenery. Certain sections of the ride are covered, providing shade and enhancing the overall experience.

5. A Unique Experience at Night

Experiencing the Jungle Cruise at night offers a different atmosphere compared to the daytime. The nighttime lighting can highlight the jungle’s mystique and enhance the visibility of animals and scenes along the route. While some guests prefer the detailed visibility of daytime rides, others find the night ride uniquely enjoyable, thanks to the added ambiance and the entertaining commentary from the boat captain.

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Jungle Cruise Disney World ride review

The Jungle Cruise, nestled inside Adventure Land at the edge of Disney’s Magic Kingdom park, is a classic attraction. The idea for the classic attraction was born in the mid 1950’s and has been a hit ever since. While it’s not the most thrilling or visually stimulating ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, it holds appeal for a lot of different age groups and demographics. 

It’s one of the few rides that Guests in wheelchairs don’t have to transfer out of – many attractions claim to be handicapped accessible but often require the Guest to be able transfer from the wheelchair to the ride vehicle – the Jungle Cruise is able to allow Guests to stay in their wheelchairs but still have the pleasure of experiencing a moving attraction. It also is accessible for children of any age, any height and many languages, including American Sign Language. 

First Impressions

Upon entering Adventure Land from Main Street (where Cinderella’s Castle is located), you will find yourself walking through a jungle themed area. A strong smell of grass washes over Guests as they enter this land, and many consider this part of the experience. Unfortunately, many also find the scent overwhelming and migraine inducing. Either way, this smell can be avoided if Guests enter from the back side of Adventure Land (near the Pirates of the Caribbean ride ), which is connected to Frontier Land. 

If you do end up walking in the main entrance and enjoying (or enduring) the scent, you will be greeted first with lovely tropical plants that lead to the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse before making your way past and down a hill to the left into the queue for the Jungle Cruise attraction. 

The ride is meant to look a bit run down and put together by hand, as if you’ve stumbled across an expedition in the wild jungle. The queue line is mostly covered from the sun and does have large fans, but it is still outside. If you have one of those portable fans that also spray water, you’ll probably want to bring it along for the wait. Tight quarters in the Florida heat can often mean that even if it is well-circulated, it’s still stuffy and humid. 

In addition to environmental discomfort, isn’t much to do in the queue line either. Aside from a few well-themed crates, clever signs and allusions to a grander story, it’s a pretty bare queue. You will probably want to bring a phone to play a game on, especially if you have restless children. As you progress through the line, you’ll see Cast Members who work there, deemed “skippers,” who will direct you with phrases that will even get the dads in your group to groan. As you approach the end of the line, you’ll get sectioned off into another line and boarded onto a boat. 

The boats in the Jungle Cruise are all real boats and while there are some areas that have bumpers, it does not have a track. In addition, the water can get up to 102 inches or 260 centimeters (over eight feet!). Because these are real boats and not simply cars on a track, the Cast Members are extensively trained in safety and will enforce it. Everyone must be sitting on their “back pockets” with their appendages inside the boat at all times. 

They will stop the boat and call you out on it if you don’t. I have ridden this attraction over fifty times and I can personally attest that it’s done for safety. I have seen Guests almost get their arms crushed because they dangle them out of the boats. For a seven-year-old child, the weight of the boat against the dock is enough to break bones. Just be aware of your children and know that if someone mentions something, it’s for your own safety. 

Fast Pass+ Reservation

Whether you should use a Fast Pass+ reservation for this ride will depend entirely upon your preferences. If you prefer thrill rides, save them for the coasters. If you prefer character meet-and-greets, save them for Mickey and the princesses; however, if you prefer classic attractions and want something that is fun for the entire family, Jungle Cruise should be at the top of your list. 

Typically, the wait for this attraction isn’t outrageously long but it can get to be over an hour on a busy day. The queue line isn’t terribly exciting, and the wait is outside so there are better rides that provide more entertainment (and air-conditioning!) for your wait. Also, because this attraction is on the water, there are inevitably more mosquitos and humidity than in the rest of the park. It gets sticky and uncomfortable if you have to wait longer than half an hour. For that reason alone, I would suggest using a Fast Pass+ Reservation on this attraction if you don’t need it for the higher demand rides. 

If it’s a nice day and you go in the morning or evening, a Fast Pass+ Reservation probably isn’t needed; however, if you aren’t able to make it during those perfect conditions, a Fast Pass+ Reservation is going to make the experience much more pleasant. It should be noted that it does occasionally close early on event days like Halloween parties and After-Hours events so getting there in the morning is always the best bet if you don’t want to use a Fast Pass+ Reservation. Also, it is an entirely outdoor, water attraction so if there is any lightening in a certain radius, it will be shut down. Safety first! 

One unfortunate feature of this attraction is how Fast Pass+ Reservation Guests are handled. All standby Guests enter one queue line while Guests who have Fast Pass+ Reservations enter another. This is typical for Walt Disney World Resort; however, eventually, the two lines converge. 

Thankfully, a Cast Member directs the convergence, but it can still make for some nasty stares when a Fast Pass+ Guest walks right in front of a Guest who has been waiting there for an hour. Ideally, the attraction would feature two entirely different lines that do not intersect like many other attractions but for now, you might have to avoid eye contact with some exasperated parents who didn’t choose to secure a Fast Pass+ Reservation for the Jungle Cruise. 

Attraction Features

Once you decide if you’re going to use a Fast Pass+ Reservation on the Jungle Cruise, you can finally enjoy and immerse yourself into the story of the Jungle Cruise. Guests are taken on a boat tour of the Nile River and quickly they find out that things don’t exactly go as planned. The skipper leading your expedition will point out animals, locations and other interesting facts but the best part is undoubtedly the monologue each Cast Member prepares. 

The skippers dive head first into puns, “dad” jokes and other dry witticisms. Each skipper has a unique slant to the story and they will perform their own curated jokes along with the tried and true classics. Along the ride, you’ll see local “headhunters,” camps that have been wrecked by animatronic animals and even their local celebrity, the Rock! 

In addition to the corny humor, if you pay close attention, there is a tale to be unearthed in the attraction. The attraction wasn’t originally based on a Disney film, so it was given a backstory. The atmosphere and props used suggest that it was set in the late 1920’s. It is expedition based and it features a clash between the “modern” world and that of the natives in the Nile River area.

“Modern” men find there is a steep learning curve between the wild animals and crashed planes to hostile natives and ancient tradition. It’s based loosely on the past but mostly uses the past as a jumping off point for the rest of the narrative. For a more thorough history of this attraction, click here . 

Popular Disney designers and engineers (referred to as Imagineers by the Walt Disney World Company) are mentioned in the story and via props so any Disney history buff is sure to love this attraction. There are lots of hidden Mickeys (more on those here ) and each detail was considered before opening the attraction. Even if you’re not one of the people who is super knowledgeable about Disney history (often affectionally referred to as Disnerds ), it is still an enjoyable attraction and excellent for the entire family to enjoy. 

Child-Friendly

Most children will probably not understand the jokes but it’s a nice rest for ten minutes with plenty for them to look at. Walt Disney wanted his parks to be enjoyable for both old and young Guests and this attraction exemplifies this beautifully. The older Guests will appreciate the wry humor and the younger Guests are likely to enjoy the waterfalls, giant animals and many other sights along the way. 

In addition, there is no height requirement, making it an ideal choice for Guests looking at attractions in Disney World for toddlers . There are no drops or jump scares to startle young children. There also aren’t any harsh or jerky movements to scare Guests; however, there is one section of the tour that goes through an ancient tunnel. 

The tunnel is dark but not pitch black. There are a few illuminated sections featuring golden statues but it’s generally uneventful. If nothing else, it’s one minute of cool air where Guests can actually look around at their surroundings and check in with their youngsters before emerging from the other side of the tunnel with more high energy jokes. If you want more details about accessibility, this is a great place to start. 

Aside from any pictures you take yourself or recordings of your favorite jokes, the options to commemorate your visit to this attraction are not abundant. A few pieces of merchandise are sold in the nearby Agrabah Bazaar but compared to the surrounding rides, the pickings are slim. Fortunately, the company has recently started stationing a PhotoPass Photographer outside the ride. 

The photographer typically has a sign Guests can hold that features the name of the attraction and will pose Guests in front of the ride queue, which is probably the best place to get a themed photo anyway. They are obliging enough to take it with your personal camera or with their very nice professional cameras and link it to a My Disney Experience PhotoPass account. More on Walt Disney World’s PhotoPass Service can be found here.

In general, this ride is a great option for the entire family. It features humor that isn’t inappropriate but is witty enough that the adults will love it (with a few simpler jokes thrown in for the kiddos). It is an enjoyable ten-minute ride where Guests can get a short reprieve from the unconventional amounts of walking Walt Disney World requires. It is accessible for any age and disability and it features ideas directly from Walt Disney. 

In addition, if you’re planning to visit during the holidays, it makes the transition from the Jungle Cruise to the Jingle Cruise! It features new scenery, new costumes, new boats and best of all, new jokes. Because Cast Members are in charge of giving the tour, they have the luxury of changing the theming and do so to reflect the season. 

This brings us to another fantastic aspect of the attraction: humans! As odd as this may seem, very few attractions feature actual humans anymore! Most feature screens or animatronics but there is nothing like having a living, breathing Cast Member with a personal sense of humor to provide a unique experience every time. 

Overall, I give this attraction a rating of four out of five stars. If the queue line was airconditioned or even featured interactive elements, it would receive five stars.

But if you’re still trying to decide if this attraction warrants a visit for your vacation, take a look at my list of reasons why it’s one of the best rides at Disney World:

• Walt Disney himself worked on this ride and was present for the original opening. 
• It is one of the few rides that wasn’t based on a Disney film and has a full backstory.
• It is ten minutes of sitting, which can be welcome in the Florida heat!
• All heights and ages are allowed on this attraction.
• It is entirely handicapped accessible and Guests can stay in his or her wheelchair. 
• It features humans, which means every cruise will be different. 
• During the holiday season it transitions from Jungle Cruise to Jingle Cruise.
• The humor is sure to elicit groans and inspire inside jokes for the rest of the trip.
• It’s close to a lot of other larger attractions so if you’re waiting for a FastPass+ Reservation on Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain or Pirates of the Caribbean, it’s a good way to spend some time without wasting it. 
• The Jungle Cruise sits across from arguably the best treat in Walt Disney World Resort – Dolewhip!

If you enjoyed this article, please “like” our Countdown to Magic Facebook page !

You Also Might Want to Read:

• The 12 Most Popular FastPasses at Magic Kingdom
• The 10 Most Popular FastPasses at Epcot You’ll Love
• The 10 Most Popular FastPasses at Animal Kingdom
• The 7 Best Disney World Souvenirs You’ll Want to Buy
• The Top 10 Disney Resorts Ranked from Best to Worst
• The 7 Best Disney Attractions for 5 Year Olds That Are Super Fun
• The 8 Best Disney World Tips for Toddlers That Parents Will Love
• The 7 Best Disney Hotels for Large Families You’ll Love

Michael has been visiting Disney World since he was a kid. He's also been to Disneyland and sailed on the Disney Dream. Michael is the owner and editor of Countdown to Magic.

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Jungle Cruise Ride Review | Disney World

The Jungle Cruise is one of Walt Disney World’s most iconic and beloved attractions. Located in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom , this boat ride takes guests on a tongue-in-cheek tour through tropical rivers filled with animatronic animals and corny jokes. Since opening in 1971, the Jungle Cruise has become a classic theme park ride that continues to entertain families five decades later.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Jungle Cruise, from average wait times and ride details to a history of the attraction and tips for riders. You’ll learn what makes this adventure a must-do for many Disney guests as we sail through topic highlights like the ride experience, skipper humor, interactive queue elements, seasonal overlays, accessibility information, and more.

We’ll also showcase how the Jungle Cruise has evolved over the years, with updates like the recent removal of negative stereotypes. By the end of this extensive Jungle Cruise review, you’ll be an expert on this beloved boat tour and prepared to take on your own voyage through Disney’s world-famous rivers. So, let’s set sail into the wild and wonderful world of the Jungle Cruise!

Table of Contents

• Average Wait Times
• Height Requirements
• Single Rider
• Ride Duration
• Genie+ and Lightning Lane
• Rider Switch
• Early Entry

Inspiration and Origins

Design and construction, refurbishments and changes, on the ride, disembarking, tips for riders, jingle cruise, comparison to other disney parks, skipper canteen.

General Ride Information

The Jungle Cruise is a classic boat ride located in Adventureland at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

Average Wait Times:  The average wait time for Jungle Cruise is around 30-60 minutes. During peak times, the wait can extend to over 90 minutes. The best times to ride with lower wait times are during early entry, right at park open, and in the evening shortly before park close.

Height Requirements:  There is no height requirement for Jungle Cruise. Guests of all ages and heights can ride.

Single Rider:  There is no single rider line offered for Jungle Cruise.

Ride Duration:  The total ride duration is approximately 10-12 minutes. This includes the boat ride itself along with loading and unloading time.

Genie+ and Lightning Lane:  Jungle Cruise is eligible for both Genie+ and individual Lightning Lane purchases, allowing guests to bypass part or all of the standby queue.

Rider Switch:  Since there is no height requirement, rider switch is not offered at Jungle Cruise.

DAS:  Guests with disabilities can utilize the Disney Disability Access Service (DAS) to receive a return time with shorter wait.

Location:  Jungle Cruise is located in Adventureland, just across from The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Guests must take the path along the left side of the Carpets queue to access the Jungle Cruise queue and loading area.

Early Entry:  Jungle Cruise is not included as one of the early entry attractions for Magic Kingdom. It opens at the regular park opening time.

History and Design

The idea for the Jungle Cruise originated from Walt Disney’s love of adventure and nature documentaries. After traveling to South America and Africa in the 1940s, Walt was inspired to recreate the excitement of adventure tours down exotic jungle rivers.

In the late 1940s, Walt Disney Pictures began producing the True-Life Adventures documentary film series showcasing wildlife and nature. This inspired Walt to include a jungle river boat ride as the centerpiece of a new Adventureland themed land planned for Disneyland. Originally, Walt imagined that live animals would populate the river banks. However, animal specialists advised that real animals would be unpredictable and likely asleep during park hours.

So instead, Disney Imagineers led by Harper Goff designed audio-animatronic animals and indigenous villages to showcase along the river journey. The ride vehicles were also inspired by the 1951 film “The African Queen”, with boats designed by Harper Goff. The jungle foliage and landscaping was expertly crafted by Disney legend Bill Evans to resemble a lush, tropical jungle.

Construction on the Jungle Cruise began in 1954, with the ride building housed in a large boathouse situated along the man-made jungle river. The boathouse was themed to resemble an old British outpost and queue for the Jungle Navigation Company’s river tours. Bill Evans carefully selected tropical plants and trees to create a lush backdrop around the river, while animatronic animals were incorporated into various scenes.

Some early technical problems with animal figures led Walt Disney to bring on board legendary Disney animator Marc Davis in the early 1960s to enhance some scenes, including the addition of the elephant bathing pool and rhino chase up a tree. These helped inject more humor and whimsy into the ride experience. The skipper narration also gradually transformed over the years from a straight documentary style to a more humorous, pun-filled spiel.

Since opening at Magic Kingdom in 1971, the Jungle Cruise has seen a few refurbishments to upgrade show scenes as well as a seasonal holiday overlay called Jingle Cruise. In January 2021, Disney announced upcoming changes to remove negative depictions and instead highlight the skipper role as ambassadors of the Jungle Navigation Company. New scenes and characters were added in summer 2021 focused on a more positive portrayal of indigenous people. The new scenes expanded on the backstory of Alberta Falls, granddaughter of the company founder, as she takes the helm to lead adventures through the world’s exotic rivers.

The Ride Experience

The total experience of Jungle Cruise encompasses the queue, boarding, actual boat ride, and disembarking.

The Jungle Cruise queue is completely outdoors but has cover overhead from the sun in most parts. The line winds extensively through the boathouse so guests can take in the various artifacts, photos, gear, and journals depicting past Jungle Navigation Company expeditions. Nearer to the loading dock, guests can observe boats pulling in and skippers delivering their spiels. Music from the 1930s plays overhead throughout the queue, setting the adventure mood. The queue length varies greatly based on crowd levels. At peak capacity, it can take over an hour just to navigate through the queue from entrance to loading.

At the loading dock, guests board the 12-person Jungle Cruise boats after an announcement from the skipper. There is a small gap in between the dock and the boat to step over and down into the boat. Cast members are stationed to assist any guests needing extra help. The boats have bench seats running lengthwise along each side. Parties sit together, though specific seats cannot be guaranteed. Safety spiels remind guests to remain seated during the ride with arms and hands inside. No food, drinks, selfie sticks or flash photography are allowed since they can be distracting to the skipper and other guests.

As the boat departs the dock, the skipper introduces themself and begins their memorized, yet often ad-libbed, script full of cheesy puns. The boat passes through the man-made rivers of Asia, Africa and South America encountering animatronic animals and scenic views along the way. The silly gags continue with the skipper pointing out sights like the backside of water or Trader Sam the head salesman. Guests sail past a herd of elephants at a watering hole, hungry hippos, lions snacking on a zebra, angry rhinos, and snakes, gorillas, butterflies and more. The 10-minute journey culminates floating through a ruined Cambodian temple with tigers, cobras, and chanting ancient voices overheard in the darkness before returning to civilization at the dock.

Once the boat pulls back into the loading dock, the skipper instructs guests when it’s safe to gather any belongings and carefully disembark the vessel. This concludes the total experience, spanning anywhere from 12-15 minutes on average.

Here are some helpful tips for making the most of your Jungle Cruise experience:

• Arrive early. Ride first thing in the morning or late evening for lowest waits. Utilize early entry if eligible.
• Bring mini fans/misters for the queue or umbrellas for shade. Hydrate before and during waits.
• Engage with the queue theming. Read posted journals and notices throughout the line.
• Listen to the safety spiel before riding and supervise children to avoid any incidents.
• Position small children where they can best see the animals but won’t be scared.
• Go along with the skipper’s script and laugh at the corny jokes. Playing along enhances the experience.
• For the best view, sit on the right side on the way out and the left side on the return trip.
• Ride multiple times and enjoy different bits of commentary each trip.
• Visit at night for a different vibe and to see flickering firelight reflecting off the water.

Walt Disney World Railroad Ride Review

The Jingle Cruise overlay first debuted at Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in 2013 for the holiday season. It has returned seasonally since then, except for 2017 when Disneyland did not run it. The ride experience remains largely the same, but with the addition of Christmas decorations throughout the queue and on the boats. This includes garlands, wreaths, holiday lights, presents, trees, etc.

The skipper script is updated to include new holiday-themed jokes and puns. For example, pointing out a “gift-wrapped” crocodile or a “fruitcake disaster.” Some animatronic animals are given festive accessories like Santa hats or reindeer antlers. The trapped safari scene at the pole becomes a nod to the North Pole. Holiday music is added to the ride’s soundtrack, including Christmas carols and instrumental Disney songs.

The backstory is that the homesick skippers have decorated the ride to get into the holiday spirit and spread some seasonal cheer. While the overlay has expanded and improved over the years, the 2018 version at Walt Disney World is considered the most detailed and immersive one yet. The Jingle Cruise brings a delightfully festive seasonal twist to a classic Disney ride that many guests look forward to each holiday season. It runs from early November through early January.

The Jungle Cruise appears at several Disney Parks worldwide with varying differences.

Disneyland:  The original Disneyland version features a similar layout but with more show scenes crammed into their compact Adventureland. The indoor portion features a unique tiger attack and dynamite explosion not found in Florida. Their holiday overlay is also more extensive. However, Walt Disney World’s ride feels more immersive with the expanded jungle landscapes between scenes.

Tokyo Disneyland:  Tokyo’s version has a unique queue and station set inside an elaborate boathouse. Their ride includes an eruptive volcano scene and elaborate ancient temple absent from the Magic Kingdom attraction.

Hong Kong Disneyland:  Hong Kong’s Jungle River Cruise queue and boathouse are more basic in design. Their ride is performed in three languages and features a unique giant spider scene. However, the narration delivers information more straight, lacking the humorous skipper jokes.

Theme and Ambiance

• Highly themed to the Jungle Cruise ride with lots of references and puns throughout
• Three themed dining rooms: Crew’s Mess Hall, Falls Family Parlor, Secret Meeting Room of S.E.A. (Society of Explorers and Adventurers)
• Decor includes artifacts, souvenirs, gear, carved animals, tribal masks, adventure maps, etc.
• Music from the 1930s plays throughout

Menu and Food

• Serves “World Famous Jungle Cuisine” with dishes inspired by Asian, African, and South American flavors
• Unique and adventurous menu compared to standard Disney fare
• Appetizers, entrees, desserts, kids’ meals, specialty non-alcoholic drinks and alcoholic drinks
• Popular dishes: Char Siu Pork, Tastes Like Chicken, Falls Family Falafel, Skip’s Macaroni & Cheese (kids)
• Skippers serve as hosts, servers and runners, delivering lots of corny jokes and puns
• More laidback service compared to fine dining
• Regular tables and chairs plus booths
• Can request specific rooms but seats not guaranteed

In conclusion, the Jungle Cruise at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom takes guests on a pleasantly entertaining boat tour through pun-filled jungles showcasing audio-animatronic animals and scenic views. As one of the few opening day Disneyland attractions ported to Florida, the ride retains nostalgic vintage charm with recent refurbishments helping to keep it relevant for modern audiences.

The richly themed queue sets the adventure mood before embarking on a 10-minute journey encountering silly gags and wildlife along four exotic rivers. While ride experiences vary trip-to-trip thanks to live skipper spiels, the corny jokes and family-friendly thrills ensure the Jungle Cruise remains a classic theme park favorite at the Magic Kingdom.

Nearby Attractions

• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin – Located directly across from the Jungle Cruise entrance, this is a spinning aerial carousel ride.
• Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room – An indoor musical show featuring singing animatronic birds and tiki totems, located next door to Jungle Cruise.
• Swiss Family Treehouse – An outdoor walkthrough attraction allowing guests to explore the Robinson family’s treehouse, located behind Jungle Cruise.
• Pirates of the Caribbean – A boat ride through scenes depicting pirates and their exploits, located one land over in Adventureland near the Jungle Cruise area.

Jungle Cruise Reimagining Info & Reopening Date

Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World and Disneyland will receive a reimagining in 2021 with new characters, a continuous storyline, changes to show scenes, and more. This post will share timeline info & details, concept art, and commentary with our thoughts. ( Updated May 27, 2021. )

Per the Disney Parks Blog, these new adventures will stay true to the Jungle Cruise experience fans know and love. The ride reimagining will add more humor, wildlife, and skipper heart, while also reflecting and valuing the diversity of the world around us.

The new creative concept for our river’s journey will be original to Walt Disney Imagineering, just like the attraction itself. Here’s a first look at some of the new things Disney is adding to the iconic Jungle Cruise…

Imagineers are adding more humor, wildlife and skipper heart to the classic attraction, and as part of a much larger effort, this update to Jungle Cruise will welcome new characters from around the world. The new scenes will be interconnected, and be heightened by Jungle Cruise Skippers’ legendary comedic tone.

Last month, Disney released new info about what this will entail. First, the attraction will remain open at Magic Kingdom during the reimagining, as Imagineering utilizes a “phased approach” to the project. This is not a huge surprise, as this is exactly how the annual Jingle Cruise overlay is accomplished each year at Christmas.

Disney has since announced that the Disneyland version of Jungle Cruise will reopen on July 16, 2021. The Magic Kingdom updates are progressing swiftly (with the Trader Sam Gift Shop scene described below now installed) and all changes will be completed this summer.

The way the attraction’s scenes are staged makes it more conducive to changes that can be accomplished overnight or in the span of a day or two. It’s likely many of the new scenes won’t be overly elaborate or substantial departures from what’s currently there, but rather one-for-one exchanges of figures and props. Most of that can be fabricated off-site, with old props removed and new ones installed overnight.

Above is concept art for the replacement scene, where Trader Sam has opportunistically “reimagined” lost & found as a gift shop as a quick and easy way to make some extra cash from tourists.

In this scene, Trader Sam is betting on an established reputation as the best merchant in the jungle, and while he’s out lost and finding some new inventory, the animals are getting the last laugh and “reclaiming” the jungle. Personally, I love this scene. It’s on-brand with the Jungle Cruise humor and self-deprecating, as Disney pokes fun at its commercialism and opportunism with rides exiting into gift shops.

There also appears to be a lot to see in this scene, which is always great for re-rideability as guests will want to revisit the attraction to spot all of the gags. Also, it’s tough to argue with any scene that features five (5) monkeys. Finally, and slightly ironically, the very scene that pokes fun at Disney’s commercialism also extends it via a new on-ride photo. All wins in my book!

I’m guessing some fans might object to Trader Sam no longer being a visible character, but I like it. For one thing, the two versions of Trader Sam looked very different at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom. For another, he’s also an invisible presence at the bar bearing his name, so this works as an extension of that. There’s a certain mystique about a character who has an outsized presence, but is never seen. Reasonable minds might disagree with that assessment, though.

Next, Imagineering has released a 1938 issue of The Daily Gnus about Alberta Falls and the World-Famous Jungle Cruise to tease the upcoming project. There are fun tidbits in there that reflect how Imagineering will be expanding the Jungle Cruise’s backstory. This will be centered around Alberta Falls, granddaughter of world-renowned Dr. Albert Falls, as the proprietor of the Jungle Navigation Company Ltd.

The article also introduces a number of new characters, including Victoria Marie Falls, Siobhan “Puffin” Murphy, Dr. Leonard Moss, Rosa Soto Dominguez, and S.E.A. Member Dr. Kon Chunosuke. If you’re interested in more info about these characters, check out the My Disney Experience app, which will give you detailed bios.

Most notably, this establishes a direct connection to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, or S.E.A. That’s a secret society of fictional and real-life explorers that began at Tokyo DisneySea two decades ago and has grown into a shared universe of characters and story points that has spread as far as Typhoon Lagoon.

Notably, a Society of Explorers and Adventurers show was just announced for Disney+ as the first project for the Magic Kingdom Universe. Previously, an S.E.A. connection to Jungle Cruise was implied via other attractions and restaurants, but this will be the organization’s first appearance in Jungle Cruise itself (at least, to my knowledge).

It’s likely there will be plenty of other plot modifications beyond the S.E.A. connection. Here’s how Kevin Lively, Imagineer and former Jungle Cruise skipper described the storyline changes: “As part of this story update, we’ll get to follow a skipper and his passengers as their journey goes awry.

That’s right, for the first time ever, the skipper role will not only be that of a live, experienced, and witty guide, but also represented by a show figure within the attraction itself. In fact, the expedition will be up a tree (literally!) after their sunken boat splits apart and chimps board the wreckage, with monkey business ensuing.”

“But that’s not even half of the hull story. Fans of the Jungle Cruise attraction may recall some boats that used to make their way around the river but haven’t been seen for a while–specifically the Mekong Maiden and Kwango Kate. Ever wonder what happened to them? Well, you might go ape when you find out! Ultimately, the jungle gets the last laugh.”

The reimagined storyline will begin with a trapped safari party that finds itself up a tree after their journey goes awry. Unexpected scenarios along the way will give the jungle and animals the last laugh!

Disney has stated that more details about the enhancements will be revealed soon, and that the Jungle Cruise reimagining is coming later in 2021. Kevin Lively also shared this video:

In an interview with D23 , Imagineer Chris Beatty further clarified the nature of the Jungle Cruise update: “I want to make sure people know we are not changing the whole Jungle Cruise . 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.’ So that’s one of the scenes we’re going to go in and change.”

“And for the first time, we are actually linking scenes together…So we’re not really re-envisioning that scene, we’re just adding a narrative and storytelling to bring things to life and connect that moment with other happenings along the river.”

Chris Beatty explained that Jungle Cruise would be relying and building upon the hilarious scenes added by future Disney Legend Marc Davis and skippers’ spiels: “We’re keeping a lot of the classic jokes that the fans know and love, like the backside of water. But it will give our skipper some new material to play off of.”

Additionally, the changes won’t be inspired by the upcoming film, said Beatty. “I’m excited about the movie, and having Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt be a part of that film. But these adjustments are really focused on enhancing the existing attraction storyline and addressing some areas that needed refreshing along the way. I’m sure the film is fantastic and we’re very excited about it, but integrating the film into our classic Jungle Cruise is not part of this effort.”

After the backlash and fan petitions in response to last summer’s announcement that that Splash Mountain will be rethemed to the Princess and the Frog at Walt Disney World and Disneyland , the company is undoubtedly aware that any changes to an iconic attraction will be controversial, even ones done carefully and with thematic integrity.

Accordingly, Disney has provided “testimonials” about that changes from Imagineers:

As with Splash Mountain at Tokyo Disneyland , it seems unlikely that Jungle Cruise will change in Japan. In part this is because Oriental Land Company–and not Disney–owns those parks, but also because that incarnation of the attraction changed a few years ago. It now has a different storyline, plus different day and night versions, unique lighting schemes, and projection mapping effects.

Hong Kong Disneyland could change eventually, although the story and show scenes there are also very different.

We don’t have a ton of commentary about the Jungle Cruise story rewrites and scene changes. In fairness, we are also most definitely not Jungle Cruise purists who view it among the pantheon of all-time classics. (Honestly, we prefer the Tokyo Disneyland version–even though we can’t understand it–thanks to superior visuals and effects.)

To the contrary, our view is that Jungle Cruise is way too taste-specific and skipper-dependent. It has a cult following among longtime fans and has achieved iconic status via longevity, but doesn’t have as much mainstream appeal . While that’s obviously not the impetus for these changes, we’re cautiously optimistic about anything that makes the attraction more coherent, consistent, and enjoyable to first-timers.

This appears to be part of Disney’s new focus on inclusion, but the changes also pretty clearly go well beyond that. As we’ve been saying for months now, there are a variety of updates in store for older attractions, many of which are small scale and could be accomplished overnight or with a brief closure.

No matter how much fans protest or petition, this was an inevitability for some of the scenes and script in Jungle Cruise. You might also recall the outrage to the Auction Scene Changes in Pirates of the Caribbean when that was announced a few years ago; the update happened anyway. Expect the same for other attractions in the not-too-distant future.

The bigger surprise to me is not that Jungle Cruise changing, but that there’s an accompanying announcement from Disney. I thought they would’ve learned their lesson on that one–but maybe the hope here is that hardcore fans will see there’s more substance to this overhaul (and it’s not outright replacing a fan-favorite with something different entirely), and will give Disney the benefit of the doubt or take a “wait and see” approach.

My expectation was that Jungle Cruise would close with mentions of “synergy” or enhancements related to this year’s Jungle Cruise featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and the problematic aspects would quietly change along with movie tie-ins being added. It’s pretty clear from the announcement my guess widely missed the mark with the Jungle Cruise changes. As much as I love the Rock, I’m not particularly eager to see him in Audio Animatronics form, so I’m happy that isn’t happening.

Between dodging that bullet and based on what we know thus far about this Jungle Cruise reimagining, I’m perfectly willing to withhold judgment until seeing the finished product. There’s definitely promise to the ideas, and plenty of potential for Jungle Cruise to improve.

The other interesting aspect of this announcement is that Imagineering indicates the changes (presumably for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World) will be added to the attraction in 2021. Given everything else, that means it’ll almost certainly be finished by October 1, 2021. That’s a fast turnaround time, and it also comes during a year when there’s no guarantee that physical distancing or barriers will be removed from boats. As it stands, the guest experience on Jungle Cruise is significantly impeded. (To the point that it’s the one attraction we avoid right now.) I’m surprised Disney would want to debut the changes with all of that still potentially in place.

Moreover, there’s still no timeline set for the Splash Mountain reimagining, and rumors that the finished project could be years away. Jungle Cruise being announced much later but being finished much earlier suggests to me that perhaps the changes aren’t as substantive as implied. Then again, the tone and appearance of Jungle Cruise can be dramatically changed in a limited amount of time–just look what happens each year literally overnight for Christmas with Jingle Cruise! We’ll keep you posted on future developments with Jungle Cruise, and other attraction updates at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews . To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you think of Jungle Cruise being reimagined ? Excited for new show scenes and some script rewrites? Are you likewise cautiously optimistic, or apprehensive about the changes? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Written by Tom Bricker

The Disney Company is ate up with White guilt. I’m going to miss Coca-Cola and Disney. As a White person, my money is no good there.

@Maggie enjoy your self-loathing, while the rest of us go on. And no, no matter what you think in any twisted acrobatic line of reasoning, the is nothing whatsoever racist about historical facts. What happened, happened. Depictions of the real world are not racist and not offensive, unless you’re embarrassed by your own past or behavior. Most people claiming offense have never been to any of these places and really don’t know what they are talking about. And no, no person can claim that if you don’t agree with them 100% even though they cannot explain what they think is racist, that then in turn you are racist. It seems that most folks don’t even know the difference between race, ethnicity, nationality, etc.

I came in here to leave a comment lamenting the fact that I’m leaving Disneyland on July 16th and won’t get to see the new attraction….

But after reading a few comments by MrNico and Tom Thompson I really can’t stay silent and be part of their statements by complicit consent. Although it takes a lot of strength to acknowledge it, it IS racist to believe that just because you aren’t bothered by a scene or because historical research was done means that it isn’t offensive. It took me a long time to understand this despite my diverse group of friends, and it is even harder for it to be absorbed if there aren’t many dissenting voices (such as in traditionally white, upper-class spaces). Now, I cannot judge anyone who posts here because all of our backgrounds are different, and I do not know where you come from or what your status is, and because judging people is wrong. But unfortunately, so are phrases like ‘I don’t see color’ and ‘we need to move past this.’ People of color do not have the luxury of moving past this, and those phrases contribute to the problem. As an alternative, what would be more appropriate to say is that you DO see color, that you acknowledge that you may come from a historically advantaged perspective, and that you will work in your life to make small differences so that others who did not will have less challenges ahead of them. You don’t need to run out and donate to a local charity group to do this (though that would be amazing). All you have to do is support positive changes like this re-imagining by enjoying the nostalgic memories you have of the ride, and feeling good that the next generation’s nostalgic memories of the ride won’t leave them embarrassed in 50 years time to have been on it.

Frank V: What is even more disappointing is that with Reimagining Tomorrow, Disney has embraced Critical Race Theory. Instead of just starting from square one, they are going back to hundreds of years ago to make more victims and make more people to blame for those victims. Just like with Coca Cola, I’m far too white for them even though I think like Martin Luther King that it shouldn’t be the color of our skin, but what’s inside us. That just makes me feel like they don’t want my money any more. We may be selling our DVC points. We’ve already given up all Coca Cola products. That makes going to WDW tough since nearly every non-alcoholic beverage they sell (other than milk) is made by Coke.

From The Washington Post today

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2021/05/06/disney-woke-snow-white-fox/

@Mickey1928, I like it! We all bleed the same red blood, after all. Let’s enjoy the parks and buy each other a beer to toast to Walter E Disney in thanks for all the joy he’s given the world.

To my fellow Disney fan Mom-o-twins First I agree totally with you about people talking about how much they spend while threatening that Disney will lose their business. Quite frankly I find it vulgar and disappointing. Where I disagree is I don’t think we need to see racism everywhere. It’s wrong to assume it’s “angry white people”. This isn’t a racist thing. I’m sure there are those of all colors who are offended and many from all colors who aren’t offended. I know people on both sides and they don’t break down by color. There are too many sides of this issue (updating rides) to do a fair and full discussion about why someone would or wouldn’t want a ride changed. But we all must take a breathe and not get caught up with this racism witch hunt the media and the politicians would have divide us so they can attain /hold wealth and power. It’s only pigmentation. They want us at each others throats at a time when we should be working together preparing for that giant asteroid with our name on it out there. We need to unite the world over so we’re ready for those visitors from another universe in case they’re not so friendly and come looking for cheap labor. Those are some of the truly serious problems ahead. Submitted with love for all my Disney friends. True Disney fans are the best people on the planet.

@Sarah_best, NO, asking someone why they are offended is the only way to understand it and empathize with them. Being condescending and insipid like you’re doing is the biggest part of the problems we are having these days. Far too many folks think they can just claim offense at anything random and be showered with gifts and special treatment. In sorry you don’t understand what the word racism means, but seems like so many don’t… But if we meet in the parks some day, I’ll be happy to buy you a Dole Whip or a churro.

@MrNico No, I’m saying you’re intentionally being rude and offensive by not believing a person of color when they tell you something is racist.

@Sarah_Best that’s a long-winded way for you to say “I don’t know”. But I’m not surprised.

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Disney World’s Biggest Ride is Averaging Waits Close to 100 Minutes!

By Brian Delpozo Leave a Comment

Waits increased pretty much across the board at Walt Disney World this week.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

The major attractions at the magic Kingdom and EPCOT both saw quantifiable increases in average wait times over the first full week of May. Not to be outdone, Animal Kingdom’s Flight of Passage – the ride with the highest average wait time in the whole resort – leapt up close to 100 minutes.

Take a look at this week’s average wait times — going from highest to lowest!

Magic Kingdom Wait Times

After seeing decreases last week, the Magic Kingdom’s “Big Four” (Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, Space Mountain, and Jungle Cruise) all saw wait times jump up this week. (NOTE: Since Tron Lightcycle/Run does not currently use a standby queue, it’s not included here.)

Space Mountain

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — 67 minutes
• Peter Pan’s Flight — 53 minutes
• Space Mountain — 48 minutes
• Jungle Cruise — 46 minutes
• Haunted Mansion — 35 minutes
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — 31 minutes
• Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — 30 minutes

You can hear the song can’t you?

• Enchanted Tales with Belle — 26 minutes
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — 25 minutes
• Pirates of the Caribbean — 24 minutes
• Astro Orbiter — 22 minutes
• “it’s a small world” — 18 minutes
• Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini — 16 minutes

Barnstormer

• Mickey’s PhilharMagic — 15 minutes
• Liberty Square Riverboat — 14 minutes
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant — 13 minutes
• Tomorrowland Speedway — 12 minutes
• Enchanted Tiki Room — 11 minutes
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin — 11 minutes
• Mad Tea Party — 9 minutes
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel — 9 minutes

Carousel of Progress

• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover — 8 minutes
• Tom Sawyer Island — 6 minutes
• Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse — 4 minutes
• Carousel of Progress — 4 minutes
• Hall of Presidents — 0 minutes
• Country Bear Jamboree — ( This attraction has now closed for refurbishment — read all about the changes here )

REMINDER: Magic Kingdom Fireworks Times Change SOON!

Epcot wait times.

Both Frozen Ever After and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure both saw increased this week, with the former nearing the 70 minute mark . (NOTE: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind does not currently use a standby queue, it’s not included here.)

EPCOT’s animatronics

• Frozen Ever After — 69 minutes
• Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure — 68 minutes
• Test Track — 55 minutes
• Mission: SPACE — 37 minutes
• Soarin’ — 36 minutes

Soarin’ Around the World is back

• Turtle Talk with Crush — 15 minutes
• Spaceship Earth — 14 minutes
• Journey into Imagination — 12 minutes
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends — 11 minutes
• Gran Fiesta Tour — 10 minutes
• Living with the Land — 10 minutes

Imagination Pavilion

Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China  had no wait times this week.

13 Essentials for the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival

Animal kingdom wait times.

Animal Kingdom’s Flight of Passage trained its title of highest average weight time at the resort, increasing to an an average of 95 (!!) minutes, easily clearing the competition. 

Flight of Passage (Yep, it’s in there)

• Avatar Flight of Passage — 95 minutes
• Na’vi River Journey — 51 minutes
• Kali River Rapids — 38 minutes
• Expedition Everest — 35 minutes

That’s our dino

• Kilimanjaro Safaris — 34 minutes
• Dinosaur — 19 minutes
• It’s Tough to Be a Bug — 10 minutes
• TriceraTop Spin — 7 minutes
• The Boneyard — 0 minutes

Not To Be Dramatic, But This is The BEST Part of Disney World’s Animal Kingdom Expansion

Hollywood studios wait times.

Slink Dog Dash and Rise of the Resistance continue to duke it out for the title of highest average wait at Hollywood Studios. This week the former feel slightly, while the latter rose to close the gap to a minute. 

Slinky Dog Dash

• Slinky Dog Dash — 75 minutes
• Rise of the Resistance — 74 minutes
• Tower of Terror — 57 minutes

Alien Swirling Saucers

• Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway — 45 minutes
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — 52 minutes
• Toy Story Mania — 42 minutes
• Alien Swirling Saucers — 29 minutes

Muppet Vision Entrance

• Walt Disney Presents — 16 minutes
• Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy — 14 minutes
• Star Tours — 11 minutes
• Muppet Vision 3D — 10 minutes

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is currently closed for refurbishment and is set to reopen this summer.

Getting EVACUATED on This Disney’s Hollywood Studios Ride is Kind of Cool and We Have the Pictures to Prove it!

Stay tuned to DFB for more updates from Disney World!

NEWS: A Disney World Hotel Restaurant Is Undergoing Refurbishment SOON!

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Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.

Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!

GET YOUR GUIDE NOW

How long would you wait for your favorite ride? Let us know in the comments below! 

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Tiana's Bayou Adventure, Splash Mountain replacement, opening soon at Disney World Florida

Almost there, it's almost there. The grand opening date for the new "Tiana's Bayou Adventure" attraction, which replaced the classic Splash Mountain ride, was finally announced Sunday night on "American Idol."

Right after Jenifer Lewis — the voice of Mama Odie from the Disney movie "The Princess and the Frog" — and Terance Blanchard performed a rollicking version of "Dig a Little Deeper" for Disney Songbook Night, with a full New Orleans-style jazz band complete with Louis the alligator on trumpet, host Ryan Seacrest joined them to announce some exciting news.

"The new attraction 'Tiana's Bayou Adventure' will be opening at Walt Disney World in Florida June 28," he said, to applause. "Inspired by 'The Princess and the Frog.' So bring our crew and join Princess Tiana and friends on a thrilling adventure in the bayou where anything can happen."

The attraction also will be opening at Disneyland in California later this year, he said.

What is 'Tiana's Bayou Adventure'?

The new attraction is based on the animated Disney movie "The Princess and the Frog" where a New Orleans girl in the 1920s named Tiana gets caught up in a wild chase of magic, parties, princes and powerful voodoo practitioners when all she wants to do is open a restaurant. The setting takes place after the event of the movie.

"Join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis on their journey through a shimmering bayou as they prepare for a spirited celebration during Mardi Gras season," Disney's site said about the ride. "Along the way, you’ll see familiar faces and make new friends as you’re brought into the next chapter of Tiana’s inspiring story."

While waiting for the ride, guests will learn about Tiana's efforts to give back to her community through a food co-op as they enjoy the wafting scent of fresh beignets. Then it's off along the bayou to enjoy Zydeco, Rara, and Afro-Cuban music and see some familiar animatronic faces and some new friends as Tiana prepares to throw a big Mardi Gras party.

You must be 40" high or taller to ride the attraction.

Will I get wet on Tiana's Bayou Adventure?

"Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will also feature original music and some familiar tunes from the beloved movie, and so much more … including an incredibly thrilling 50-foot drop!" said Sarah Riles, Magic Kingdom Park Vice President, in a blog post about the attraction .

When is 'Tiana's Bayou Adventure' opening at Disney World?

'Tiana's Bayou Adventure' is opening on Friday, June 28, 2024.

Where is 'Tiana's Bayou Adventure' in Disney World?

'Tiana's Bayou Adventure' is replacing the Splash Mountain log flume ride in Frontierland.

Why did Disney replace Splash Mountain?

Disney announced in 2020 that one of its classic rides, Splash Mountain, was going to be closed and reworked into an attraction based on the entertainment giant's first Black princess, Tiana.

Splash Mountain and its Br'er Rabbit theme was based on the 1946 Disney film "Song of the South," which critics said glorified plantation life and glossed over the horrors of slavery . James Basket, who won an Oscar for his role as Uncle Remus, an elderly Black man who told stories depicted in colorful animations, did not attend the film's Atlanta premiere because Black people were forced to sit separately in the theater's balcony.

Disney has not publicly connected the change to the controversy over the movie, although a Change.org petition that year called for a change. The company just said the move had already been in the works, although when Disney CEO Bob Iger was asked at a shareholders meeting that year if "Song of the South" was going to be added to Disney+ he said, "I've felt, as long as I've been CEO, that 'Song of the South' was – even with a disclaimer – was just not appropriate in today's world." 

"Song of the South" was never released on home video in the U.S. and is not included in Disney+.

In 2021, controversy over the controversy erupted when a loyal Disney fan's guest column in the Orlando Sentinel bemoaned the company's change in values and the alterations to park attractions that have been criticized as racist such as Splash Mountain and the Jungle Cruise , which was criticized for its depictions of indigenous peoples. The column went viral and triggered a nationwide response.

"I love Disney World, but wokeness is ruining the experience," Jonathan VanBoskerck wrote. " The next time I ride Jungle Cruise I will not be thinking about the gloriously entertaining puns of the skippers, I will be thinking about Disney’s political agenda. That’s a mood killer."

VanBoskerck said he also was concerned about Disney's announcement that the company was adding inclusion as one of its core principles , allowing gender-neutral hairstyles and costuming for cast members, and providing adaptive costumes to accommodate employees in wheelchairs.

Reaction to his column was mixed but passionate, with some people supporting him and complaining about wokeness but most criticizing him for wanting to embrace the idealized, mythological antebellum South.

Meanwhile, Disney went on to wage a two-year war with Gov. Ron DeSantis over the then-Disney CEO's public objections to the state's "Parental Rights in Education" bill banning instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, which critics referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" law. DeSantis lashed out in return, hammering the company as a bastion of wokeness in campaign speeches and moving to strip the company's 55-year-old self-governing status and put it under the control of a DeSantis-appointed board. After months of lawsuits and failed appeals the war was called off and the lawsuits dropped , for now.

Eve Chen, USA TODAY, contributed to this article.

Services for Guests with Mobility Needs

Discover helpful services and access options available throughout walt disney world resort for guests with mobility disabilities., featured services, disability parking.

Parking fees are nonrefundable, including preferred parking fees. Parking is limited and subject to availability. Paying a parking fee does not guarantee parking availability if a Guest leaves and returns to the same theme park later in the day or if a Guest visits a different theme park.

Theme Park Disability Parking Lots Guests with mobility disabilities—including those traveling with personal wheelchairs, electric scooters or other mobility devices—should park in our Disability Parking Lots, located a short distance from the main entrance to each of the 4 theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort.

For further directions on parking options, Guests should inquire at the theme park Auto Plaza (at the entrance to each Walt Disney World theme park). Additonally, you can call Guest Services at (407) 824-2222. Guests younger than 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call.

Courtesy trams are available at all 4 theme parks. If necessary, Guests may ask for a space at the end of a row closest to the courtesy tram pick-up and drop-off locations. Courtesy trams will transport Guests to theme park Main Entrances and the Transportation and Ticket Center.

Wheelchair & ECV Rental

For Guests requiring assistance, wheelchairs are available for rent at all Walt Disney World theme and water parks as well as Disney Springs.

Wheelchair & ECV Transportation Accessibility

All  bus  routes are serviced by buses equipped to accommodate wheelchairs and ECVs/scooters within the following guidelines:

• The mobility device must fit the lift without being forced.
• The mobility device must be securely fastened in the onboard restraints.

Most buses can hold up to 2 mobility devices in the securement areas. It is recommended that Guests using an ECV/scooter transfer to a bus seat while onboard. Guests using canes, walkers, crutches or who have difficulty walking can board via the rear door. Guests should share their request to use the ramp or rear door with the bus driver before boarding.

Minnie Van™ Service

Accessible Minnie Van service is also available through the Lyft app. Any Guest can order an Accessible Minnie Van. Guests do not need to use the vehicle’s accessibility functions in order to book a ride in an Accessible Minnie Van.

Accessible Minnie Vans include the following:

• Seating for 5 people
• One complimentary car seat (which can be used by one of the 5 passengers)
• 2 spaces for mobility devices (Guests may remain in their mobility devices for the duration of the ride)

There is a maximum capacity of 7 Guests per Accessible Minnie Van.

Please note that Minnie Van service is not a complimentary transportation option and requires payment through the Lyft app on your mobile device.

Learn more about Minnie Van service at Walt Disney World Resort.

Watercraft Access

Watercraft  access varies depending on the type of watercraft and the existing water levels and conditions. Please contact a Disney Cast Member at the watercraft dock for information and assistance.

Monorail Access

Guests may access the Walt Disney World  monorail  system by using the elevators or ramps at the following locations:

• Transportation and Ticket Center

Magic Kingdom park

• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
• Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney's Contemporary Resort

Disney Skyliner Access

Guests with mobility disabilities may access this aerial gondola for a bird’s-eye view of various locations around Walt Disney World Resort! This grand, state-of-the-art system conveniently connects  Disney’s Hollywood Studios  and the International Gateway at  EPCOT  to the following Disney Resort hotels:

• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort
• Disney’s Riviera Resort

The Disney Skyliner station at International Gateway at EPCOT is conveniently located just a short stroll away from  Disney’s BoardWalk  entertainment district,  Disney’s Yacht Club Resort ,  Disney’s Beach Club Resort  and  Disney’s BoardWalk Inn .

Cushions on Attractions

Portable cushions must fit reasonably within the attraction or experience without obstructing the attraction’s safety features.

The use of portable seat cushions due to a disability is permitted at the following locations:

• Astro Orbiter
• Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Haunted Mansion
• "it's a small world"
• Jungle Cruise
• Liberty Square Riverboat
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Main Street Vehicles
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Peter Pan's Flight
• Prince Charming Regal Carousel
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• Under the Sea – The Journey of The Little Mermaid
• Walt Disney World Railroad
• Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
• Journey into Imagination with Figment
• Living with the Land
• Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
• The Seas with Nemo and Friends
• Spaceship Earth

Disney's Hollywood Studios

• Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
• Toy Story Mania!

Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park

• Kilimanjaro Safaris
• Na'vi River Journey
• TriceraTop Spin
• Wildlife Express Train

Experiencing Attractions with a Mobility Device

• Dedicated Guest with disabilities Load and Unload areas .
• Wheelchair Access Vehicles (WAV) allows Guests to remain in a wheelchair to experience the attraction without transferring.
• Transfer Access Vehicle (TAV) accommodates Guests requiring assistance in entering and exiting the vehicles (e.g., seat with folding bolster, door with swinging threshold).
• Transfer Devices assist Guests transferring between a wheelchair and a ride vehicle seat.

Learn more about accessing attractions queues.

May Remain in Wheelchair/ECV

Review a list of attractions that allow Guests to remain in their wheelchair or Electric Conveyance Vehicle (ECV).

Must Transfer from ECV to Wheelchair

Review a list of certain attractions Guests may be required to transfer from their ECV to a wheelchair , or from their ECV to a wheelchair and then to a ride vehicle .

Must Transfer from Wheelchair/ECV to Ride Vehicle

Review a list of certain attractions Guests must transfer from their wheelchair or EVC, either by themselves or with assistance from someone in their party.

Must Be Ambulatory

Review a list of attractions that require Guests to walk by themselves or receive assistance from members of their party while enjoying an experience.

Guest Health Care Services Presented by AdventHealth

AdventHealth is here to help prepare your family for an unforgettable Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Services include first aid, urgent care and video consultation.

Accommodations

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NEWS: Disney World Files Permit for Carousel of Progress in Magic Kingdom

No two Disney World trips are alike — trust us, we’re there every day!

But, it’s especially true right now when so many of the parks, hotels, and more are changing ! No matter when you’re planning on visiting Disney World next, it’s important to stay up to date on the latest changes. But don’t worry, that’s where we come in.

We search permits recently filed by Disney around the parks and hotels to get an idea of what sort of projects might be coming up in Disney World — and we recently spotted a new permit for the Carousel of Progress in Magic Kingdom!

The permit description lists “general construction,” which means this could be major work or something like installing a new sign. This ride originally debuted at the 1964 New York World’s Fair — so it is a bit older than Disney World itself and could need some love.

No closures are listed on the Disney World website, so we’re hopeful this is just routine maintenance and not a long refurbishment!

We also noticed that a new permit was filed over at Port Orleans French Quarter for the recently reopened Doubloon Lagoon pool, so there may be some unfinished business to attend to.

And keep an eye out at Swirled Showcase in EPCOT for any potential changes — we spotted a new permit for that spot too!

If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!

Stay tuned to AllEars for the latest news from Disney World and more!

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3 Replies to “NEWS: Disney World Files Permit for Carousel of Progress in Magic Kingdom”

I think its about time to update the last scene of the show. The “future” in that scene has already past!

I, too, hope this is just general maintenance. Although the ride is old, it is a classic and overseen by Walt himself. No need to improve on perfection regarding the show; just keep the carousel machinery working as smoothly and without glitches as it used to.

Who wants to bet that the further destruction of Walt’s dream will be a more “inclusive” family scene. I will not be “included” with the attendance!

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