disney world jungle cruise boat names

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• Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions
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• Jungle River Cruise

Jungle River Boats

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The Jungle River Boats are the official names for the boats in the Jungle Cruise franchise.

• 1 Description
• 2.1.1 Decommissioned boats
• 2.2 Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions
• 2.3 Jungle River Cruise
• 2.4.1 Decommissioned boats
• 3.1 Background
• 3.2 Development history
• 4.1 Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye
• 4.2 Jungle Cruise
• 4.3 Magic of Disney Animation
• 4.4 Skipper Canteen
• 4.5 Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
• 4.6 Tropical Hideaway
• 4.7 Virtual Jungle Cruise
• 5.1.1 Mickey Mouse
• 5.2.1 Disney Parks Presents: Jungle Cruise
• 5.3.1 Kinect: Disneyland Adventures
• 5.4.1 Jungle Cruise Adventure Game
• 5.4.2 Walt Disney's Adventureland Game
• 8 References

Description [ ]

The vast majority of these boats were small steamboats used by the colonial Jungle Navigation Company . Many of them had canopies (traditionally with colourful stripes though are often with a canvas material).

Disneyland [ ]

• Jingle Cruise name: Jingle Belle.
• Jingle Cruise name: Congo Caroler/Candy Cane Queen
• Jingle Cruise name: Ganges Garland/Gingerbread Gal
• Jingle Cruise name: Hondo Hollie/Hanukkah Hattie
• Jingle Cruise name: Irrawaddy Snowman
• Jingle Cruise name: Yule Kissimmee/Kissimmee Under the Mistletoe
• Jingle Cruise name: Nile Nutcracker/Noël Princess
• Comes equipped with a wheelchair lift.
• Jingle Cruise name: Orinoco Ornament/Navidad Adventuress
• Jingle Cruise name: Suwannee Sleigh/Sugar Plum Lady
• Jingle Cruise name: Ucayali Eggnog/Evergreen Una
• Jingle Cruise name: Yuletide Lotus
• Jingle Cruise name: Peppermint Miss

Decommissioned boats [ ]

• Magdalena Maiden
• Mekong Maiden

Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions [ ]

• Amazon Annie
• Congo Connie
• Ganges Gertie
• Irrawaddy Irma
• Kwango Kate
• Orinoco Ida
• Rutshuru Ruby
• Sankuru Sadie
• Senegal Sal
• Wamba Wanda
• Zambezi Zelda

Jungle River Cruise [ ]

• Wheelchair accessible.
• Lijiang Lady
• Nile Nellie
• Yangzi Ying Ying

Magic Kingdom [ ]

• Jingle Cruise name: Eggnog Annie
• Jingle Cruise name: Brrrrr Bertha
• Jingle Cruise name: Candy Cane Connie
• Jingle Cruise name: Garland Gertie
• Jingle Cruise name: Icicle Irma
• Jingle Cruise name: Mistletoe Millie
• Jingle Cruise name: Noel Nellie
• Jingle Cruise name: Orino-cocoa Ida
• Jingle Cruise name: Reindeer Ruby
• Jingle Cruise name: Sleigh Ride Sadie
• Jingle Cruise name: Poinsettia Sal
• Jingle Cruise name: Yule Log Lolly
• Jingle Cruise name: Vixen Val
• Jingle Cruise name: Wassail Wanda
• Jingle Cruise name: Fruitcake Zelda
• Albatross :
• Amazon Lil :
• Amazon Queen : The boat of Al B. Lost in Kinect: Disneyland Adventures .
• Blown-up Bonita :
• Branco Beauty :
• Burning Bianca :
• Fateless Fiona :
• Hapless Hortense :
• Jungle Princess :
• Kissimmee Kimmy :
• La Quila : This was the ramshackle boat used by Frank Wolff .
• Lost Lucia :
• Missing Mele :
• Molopo Marie : The Molopo Marie was the boat of the Falls family.
• Nabbed Naoko :
• Nile Lady :
• Run Aground Sue :
• Sunken Sonya :
• Troubled Titania :
• Unknown Usha :

History [ ]

Background [ ], development history [ ].

Imagineer Harper Goff was largely inspired by the 1951 adventure film The African Queen which involved a riverboat captain named Charlie Allnut piloting a boat called The African Queen . Originally, the boats of the Jungle Cruise had striped canopies in white and either red, blue or green. These canopies were altered for more realistic canopies in the 1990s, tying into refurbishments made with Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

Appearances [ ]

Indiana jones adventure: temple of the forbidden eye [ ].

Tourists are shown in the Eye on the Globe newsreel as using a jungle cruise boat to travel to the Lost Delta.

Jungle Cruise [ ]

In the queue are blue-prints for the boats.

Magic of Disney Animation [ ]

Skipper canteen [ ], sorcerers of the magic kingdom [ ].

Merlin appeared riding a boat with Rafiki while dressed as a skipper. The boats were also illustrated outside the Amazon River Base on maps of Adventureland

Tropical Hideaway [ ]

Virtual jungle cruise [ ].

One of the boats would appear at the beginning and end of the ride.

In other media [ ]

Television [ ], mickey mouse [ ], printed materials [ ], disney parks presents: jungle cruise [ ], video-games [ ], kinect: disneyland adventures [ ], paraphernalia [ ], jungle cruise adventure game [ ], walt disney's adventureland game [ ].

• The skirt of Chief Nah-mee is implied to be made from the red/white striped canopies.
• In Na'vi River Journey , the boats are paralleled with wicker-boats owned by Alpha Centauri Expeditions .

Gallery [ ]

References [ ]

• 1 Lope de Aguirre
• 2 Frank Wolff
• 3 List of Secrets and Easter Eggs in Trader Sam's

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.

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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 Ride at Magic Kingdom (Everything You Need to Know)

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

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

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

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

Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom

Jungle Cruise was an opening-day attraction at Magic Kingdom and an original Disneyland attraction inspired by Walt Disney.

Initially, Walt Disney wanted to add live animals to the attraction. Unfortunately, adding live animals wasn’t possible at that time. However, that dream eventually came to fruition several decades later on the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

An angry matriarch elephant is waiting to stampede.

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

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

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

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

Watch out for the crocodiles.

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

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

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

This shipwrecked boat is an example of what can happen.

It’s been taken over by primates.

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

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

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

Per the Skipper, they are all wearing trunks.

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

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

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

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

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

This holiday overlay provides a festive touch. Cast members decorate the attraction for the holidays, and the jokes get even worse! So, of course, you’ll want to plan to experience this unique version during your visit.

Additionally, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt star in the 2021 movie T he Jungle Cruise, which was based on the Jungle Cruise attraction and the Society of Explorers.

Final Thoughts

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

You might also enjoy these other Magic Kingdom Rides :

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

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

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The Family Vacation Guide

Jungle Cruise at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom: Everything You Need to Know

posted by Charmaine Cortes on January 10, 2023 // last updated on January 13, 2023

There are few rides as iconic to Disney World as the Jungle Cruise. 

The riverboat adventure has been delighting guests since Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Florida first opened up its gates back in the 1970s!

Since then, the ride has only improved– and despite having one of the longest wait times in the Magic Kingdom, guests of the park continue to visit this ride on every trip. That’s thanks both to nostalgia, and the fact that no two rides are ever the same. 

Now, with the release of a major motion picture inspired by the ride, new and regular visitors will be flocking to visit! 

Before heading out to Magic Kingdom and hopping aboard, here’s everything you need to know. 

• What Is Jungle Cruise? 

Where Is Jungle Cruise Located?

Jungle cruise ride experience: what to expect , jungle cruise ride accessibility , jungle cruise ride health and safety advisories , jungle cruise ride age and height restrictions, jungle cruise weather restrictions, jungle cruise faqs, the bottom line on jungle cruise  , what is jungle cruise  .

Jungle Cruise is one of the original Magic Kingdom attractions, running since its opening in Disney World in 1971. 

The real OG Jungle Cruise opened at Disneyland in the 1950s, and versions of the ride exist in all Disney theme parks worldwide. 

The ride was originally inspired by a series of 1950s movies, including ‘The African Queen’ and the ‘True Life Adventures series.

Bill Evans was tasked with creating a jungle within the park on a budget. To achieve this, he used a mix of tropical plants and plants that appeared to be tropical (but were actually local) . 

He even used the trick of planting orange trees upside down, making the roots look like vines!

Marc David later made significant contributions to the design in later versions, including many of the scenes, present today. 

The ride’s early renditions were more of an experience at first, like visiting a zoo or a botanic garden. However, over time the ride has developed into a funny, lighthearted attraction, and as a result, has increased in popularity. 

A comedic script was added, the scenes became more humorous, and the guides were encouraged to have fun with the guests. You’ll now find them cracking jokes with guests, showing their personalities, and ad-libbing along the way!

Audio effects have been improved and modernized, the animatronics updated, new scenes added, and the jungle has grown and expanded throughout the years. 

In 2010, the jungle became a self-sustaining ecosystem, after 45 years of careful care and growth. The ride has also removed elements that were offensive to native cultures.

The Jungle Cruise story was expanded in 2015 with the opening of the Jungle Cruise-themed restaurant, Jungle Skipper Canteen. 

This introduced Dr. Albert Falls as the founder of Jungle Cruise in 1911. He then handed it over to his granddaughter Alberta Falls in the 1930s, where the story of the ride takes place. 

The ride is full of audio-animatronic characters– mostly jungle animals– such as ones found on an African safari. There are waterfalls, a temple to pass inside, and many other scenes along the way! 

All of the scenes can be experienced from within your boat, making you feel as if you’re an explorer from the thirties. 

The ride is suitable for all ages and very accessible to those with disabilities. It’s a smooth, slow ride, but there’s never a dull moment thanks to the story unfolding around you and your skipper’s commentary.

‘Jungle Cruise’ is the latest in a long line of movies inspired by rides at Disney theme parks, the most notable being Pirates of the Caribbean. The 2021 film starred Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt and followed the general theme of the ride. 

The Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise is located in Adventureland. 

You can find it by going to the hub and taking the first left to Adventureland. After passing shops, restaurants, and the Swiss Family Treehouse, you’ll see the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. 

From there, look to your left and you should see the entrance to Jungle Cruise! 

Queue  

The queue has four areas that can be opened up, depending on the size of the line. The average wait time for the ride is about an hour, one of the longest at the park. 

It can get pretty hot waiting in the queue on a summer’s day, so beware if you have anyone in your party that may struggle with this. Don’t forget your water bottle, sunscreen, and hat!

As you wait in line to enter the line, it’ll feel like you’re in a colonial outpost. You’ll pass artifacts, photos, and tools from the theme and period of the ride to get you in the right headspace. 

Your boat will pull up with your guide at the helm when it’s your turn. There are 15 boats in rotation, each with its memorable name (like Wamba Wanda ). 

Jungle Cruise FastPass+

FastPass+ was discontinued and replaced with Disney Genie in 2021. 

However, due to public outcry, it was announced in 2022 that FastPass would be coming back to the parks. At this point, it doesn’t appear to have been reinstated just yet.

Currently, you can use the Disney Genie service to get you through the queues faster with Lightning Lane entrances. However, Genie+ can no longer be pre-purchased– though you can still purchase through the app when you visit the park.

For more information on Disney Genie, be sure to check out the Disney World website .

The ride has a long wooden bench on each side of the boat, so guests face each other and sit side by side. 

The bench doesn’t have a back, so if you lean back you’ll find yourself against the slightly curved side of the boat. 

Plexiglass dividers are placed between sections of the bench, allowing four or five people to fit within a section. If you have small children, you may be able to squeeze a couple more in. 

Once you step onto the boat, the skipper will welcome you and you’ll set sail down the river. 

You’ll encounter giant butterflies, Inspiration Falls, a beach shop called “Boats, Baits, and Bites”, an African rock python, and a Gorilla-raided camp– all before you head down the Nile River. 

In this new area, you’ll find African Elephants along with many other animals. You’ll pass a zebra watching a lion eat a member of its pack, and a group of lost safari goers hanging from a long pole, avoiding a black Rhino. 

After passing gaters, waterfalls, and a plane crash, the boat is threatened by angry hippos. Thankfully, the skipper will frighten them off. After seeing chimps raid a ship, it’s off to the next area! 

There, you’ll find yourself sailing into a temple damaged by an earthquake. Exotic animals like peacocks and a Bengal Tiger await! The ride will end just as you narrowly avoid being sprayed by a group of Indian Elephants. 

While the ride is quite cruisy, the fun of Jungle Cruise lies with the skipper. There is a script, but most skippers will bring their own flare to the show– keeping guests laughing and the energy high. 

The ride duration is about nine minutes long. 

Jungle Skipper Canteen

After experiencing the ride, consider continuing the adventure by stopping at Jungle Skipper Canteen. 

Here you can have a meal inspired by African, Latin, or Asian cuisine. Try Skipper Dan’s Dan Dan Noodles, “Hardy Har Char” Siu Pork, or Panna-Connie’s Congo Lime Delight. 

There’s an extensive kids’ menu with menu items such as Junior Skip’s Macaroni & Cheese, or Chef Tandaji’s Crispy Chicken. 

You’ll also find an extensive allergy-free menu here (as is the case throughout much of the Magic Kingdom), with allergy-free choices on apps, kids’ meals, entrees, and desserts. 

Feeling a little parched? Choose from the selection of fun tropical cocktails, as well as their large selection of beer and wine!

Two of the boats, Bomokandi Bertha and Wamba Wanda, have wheelchair-accessible lifts. Most wheelchairs, including motorized and some ECVs, can be accommodated by these boats. 

Guests in wheelchairs can choose to board the boat without their chair if able, leaving the chair at the dock. Alternatively, they can wait until one of the accessible boats arrives.

There are days when a sign language interpreter and Disney’s Handheld Devices are available. 

These feature Assistive Listening, which will amplify the sound through either headphones or an induction loop. Handheld Captioning is also available on these devices, displaying on-screen text.

Disney’s Handheld Devices are available for a fully-refundable $25 daily deposit at Guest Relations. Devices are on a first-come, first-served basis, and they recommend that you bring your own headphones or an induction loop for use.

All guests should take care as they step down onto the boat from the dock, as it can bob and lean slightly while boarding. The skipper or ride assistant can offer a hand if needed.

There are periods of darkness, and it’s possible to get damp from the mist near the waterfalls. 

There is an instance of gunfire sound effects, but guests can request that it’s not played if this will trouble someone at the party. 

Guests must remain seated at all times, including small children. The boat will bob some, and sea sickness is possible, but it is generally a pretty smooth ride. 

There is no age or height restriction. Babies and toddlers can ride on their parent’s laps or in strollers. 

Children under the age of 7 will need to be accompanied by someone at least 14 years of age.  

Jungle Cruise closes during inclement weather, as most of the attraction takes place outdoors. 

How long is the Jungle Cruise ride at Magic Kingdom?

The entire ride lasts for just over nine minutes. 

How long does the Jungle Cruise line take?

The average wait time is about one hour. It’s a good idea to get to this ride as soon as the gates open to avoid a long queue. 

During very hot days, the line can get uncomfortable and is best avoided if you are sensitive to this. 

What do you do on the Jungle Cruise?

Guests ride along on a river boat with a skipper at the helm and explore various locations. You’ll see plenty of animals up to no good, and people in plenty of trouble! 

The whole experience is fun and comical and suitable for the whole family. 

Is Jungle Cruise a good ride at Disney?

This ride is a classic, and it’s only been made better over the years. It’s great for children and toddlers, as there are no age or height restrictions. 

It’s a slow and steady ride, so its movement is not frightening. However, some young or sensitive children could be startled in the dark temple with snakes present, or by the gunshot sound effect. 

When is the best time to ride Jungle Cruise?

Surprisingly, Jungle Cruise is a great ride at night! You can still see everything, and it looks even more realistic. Some riders report that the skippers tend to have more fun during sundown.

Christmas is another fun time to ride Jungle Cruise– or “ Jingle Cruise” , as it’s called– as it gets a makeover for the season and a snowman attraction is added. 

The script even gets a rewrite, so it’s quite a different experience if you’ve already seen the original version!

Who is Jungle Cruise for?

Jungle Cruise is a blast for children but is also enjoyed by the young-at-heart. Some adults may find themselves rolling their eyes at their skipper’s cheesy lines, but it’s all part of the charm. 

The Jungle Cruise is a delightful ride for the ages of 1 to 100. 

Disney has created a fully immersive experience where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show. 

They have taken careful measures to create a living jungle, keep the ride up-to-date, make it appealing to all– and have even hired slapstick skippers to keep you laughing! 

Whether it’s your first or hundredth time on Jungle Cruise, it’s always worth a visit. 

There’s no shortage of things to do when visiting the Magic Kingdom, so maybe it’s time to explore Jungle Cruise and all the other rides, entertainment, and food that Disney World offers!

More about our TFVG Author

Charmaine Cortes

Jungle Cruise

Head Off to Adventure

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

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

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

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

Related Activities

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

The Jungle Cruise at Walt Disney World

The Jungle Cruise is a Disney classic ride where guests take a steam boat ride with The Jungle Navigation Co. through the treacherous water of the Amazon (South America), Nile (Africa) and the Mekong rivers (Asia).  

The ride starts out with guests boarding one of the replica 1930’s British river tramp steam boats that have names like the one below called “Senegal Sal”.  Once greeted by your zany guide, your adventure begins.

Along the way your tour will encounter lions, gorillas, baboons, snakes, alligators, elephants, hippos and the occasional headhunter.  You’ll even see another group that literally gets run up a tree stand.  But don’t be afraid, you guide will take you the safer waters.

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What makes the trip is the guide who are among the most entertaining cast members is all the Disney parks.  They really get into character and their jokes & antics are all part of the fun along this 10-minute ride. 

While the tour it surely based on a general script, the ad-libbing of the different cast members really adds to the character of the ride.  We’ve been on the Jungle Cruise dozens of times over the years and we can easily say that is quite different every time.

As usual, Disney has done an excellent job of theming and guests feel like they are in the middle of a jungle.  One of the coolest parts of the ride is when your tour boat goes behind the waterfall (you won’t get wet).  And about mid-way through the trek you guide takes you deep into a forgotten ancient temple – what out for the tiger that lurks in the darkness.

The Jungle Cruise is located in the Adventureland section of the Magic Kingdom just adjacent to Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room.  This attraction first opened in 1971 as one of the opening day attractions at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

The Jungle Cruise is suitable for all ages (other than seeing the lions eat a zebra) and there are no height restrictions.  It is a fairly slow ride but a bit dark when entering the Asian temple.

FastPass+ is offered and highly recommended as wait times will exceed 30 to 60 minutes on a typical summer day.  There is some shade in the queue line while helps in the heat of the day.  If you can’t get a FastPass+, try to visit this experience early in the morning before the crowd levels get too high.

Jingle Cruise

During the holiday season the Jungle Cruise is transformed into the “Jingle Cruise” and the attraction is fully decorated with the spirit of the season.  There is even a new holiday themed “script” that differs from the traditional one – the skippers really get into the holiday spirit.

So if you find yourself at the Magic Kingdom around Christmas time, make sure you see the “Jingle Cruise” as the holiday decor is only in place for a limited time.

Did the Jungle Cruise Ever Sink?

During early 2020 there were a number of reports that the Bomokandi Bertha sunk during the middle of a Jungle Cruise ride.  While there are rumors that this was a publicity stunt to promote the “Jungle Cruise” movie with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.  

We have seen the photos on Twitter and it does not look like it was staged as the boat is pretty well submerged.  It’s probably a good thing that water is only about 5 feet deep and the shore is just a short distance away!

In addition to the Bomokandi Bertha, we’ve heard that the Sankuru Sadie also had sunk back in 2004 but details on this are a little sketchy as the boat returned to service shortly afterwards.

Learn More about the Walt Disney World Resort with our Theme Park Guides

• The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World
• EPCOT at Walt Disney World
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Disney Springs

 Where Should We Stay When Visiting the Walt Disney World Resort?

The Walt Disney World Resort has a number of great on-site hotels and each and every one of them have their own benefits, characteristics and price points.

There are multiple “categories” of hotels which are as follows:

• Deluxe Resort Hotels
• Deluxe Resort Villas
• Moderate Resort Hotels
• Disney’s Campgrounds
• Value Resort Hotels

Deluxe resort hotels include the Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.  These resort hotels are all located adjacent to a Walt Disney World theme park (Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT and Disney’s Animal Kingdom) and offer easy access to that park as well as superior amenities and accommodations. 

In addition Disney’s hotels and resorts, there are a number of other hotel options including the hotels in the Disney Springs Resort Area and those within the Bonnet Creek Resort .

Click here to learn more about hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort

Jerry Joyce

Jerry Joyce has been a Florida resident since 1988 and has lived in a variety of places in the South Florida area. Jerry is an avid boater & water sports enthusiast, beach aficionado, a lover of great food, muscle car fan and a theme park annual passholder for many years. Some of his favorite places in Florida include the Florida Keys, Walt Disney World, Cedar Key, the Loxahatchee River, St. Augustine and Ten Thousand islands.

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Jungle Cruise

An Attraction in Magic Kingdom

Last updated: May 11, 2024

At a Glance

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

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

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

• Lightning Lane via Genie+
• Handheld Captioning
• Assistive Listening
• Audio Description
• May Remain in Wheelchair/ECV
• Sign Language

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

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

Touring Tips

We think the ride is better at night.

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

The Seas with Nemo & Friends

Tomorrowland Speedway

Hollywood Studios

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

Liberty Square Riverboat

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

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

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

Introduction | Attraction | Ride Logistics | Dining | Interesting Facts

Introduction.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

RIDE LOGISTICS

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

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

Assistive Listening Devices from Guest Services Can Be Used Here.

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

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

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

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

Magic Kingdom Restaurants At A Glance

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

INTERESTING FACTS

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

Jungle Cruise opened at the Magic Kingdom in 1971 .

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

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

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

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

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

How long is Jungle Cruise?

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

Is Individual Attraction Selection available for Jungle Cruise?

No Jungle Cruise is not eligible for Individual Attraction Selection Find Individual Attraction Selection attractions

Is Jungle Cruise included in Genie+?

Yes Jungle Cruise is included in Genie+ Find more Genie+ attractions using our search

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Jungle Cruise

What is Jungle Cruise?

The Jungle Cruise is a boat ride themed after the book. On this 10 minute laugh-filled journey you will travel “10,000” miles through Asia, Africa, and South America. During the Holiday season, it transforms into the Jingle Cruise which is a fun seasonal switch up.

Where is Jungle Cruise Located?

The Jungle Cruise is located in Adventureland across from the Magic Carpets and right next to the Swiss Family Treehouse.

What Is The Queue for Jungle Cruise Like?

The queue can be long at times and it has a lot of fun decorations to look at while you are waiting to board your boat.

What Are The Boats Like On Jungle Cruise?

The boats are open-air and covered. You sit on bench-style seats around the edge of the boat and down the center. The max capacity of the boat is around 30 people.

How Long Is The Jungle Cruise?

The boat ride is around 10 minutes as you wind around the waterways of Asia, Africa, and South America.

Is Jungle Cruise Scary?

No, this is a fun family-friendly ride. Your skipper will tell several dad jokes and bad puns that will leave you laughing around each corner.

Is Jungle Cruise Wheelchair and ECV Accessible?

Yes, you can stay in your EVC or wheelchair while on the boat. They have special boats that will accommodate 1 EVC/wheelchair along with other guests.

What are the Height Restrictions for Jungle Cruise?

There are not any height restrictions for this ride.

Take a Hidden Cruise down De-Nile, Revealing Disney World Jungle Cruise Secrets

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The Disney World Jungle Cruise ride is a Disney classic. It goes back to the days of Walt Disney, and is one of his original creations. Being an original ride, the Jungle Cruise holds many secrets.

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What is Disney World’s Jungle Cruise?

On Disney World’s Jungle Cruise, inside of the Magic Kingdom, you board a boat for a “multi week” journey through rivers of Asia, Africa, and South America.

Through your journey, you’ll see animatronics of various animals including elephants, zebras, lions, monkeys, gorillas, and more. All while taking in the sights, your boat skipper will tell a slew of punny jokes.

Jungle Cruise Inspiration

While Disney World’s Jungle Cruise is based off of the original inside of Disneyland. The Disneyland original inspired Walt to keep things changing and forever improving inside the parks.

After hearing a mother tell her son they were not going to ride the Jungle Cruise again because they had already experienced it, Walt decided to always change, evolve, and improve the parks he built.

Water Color of Disney World’s Jungle Cruise

Have you ever ridden rides at Walt Disney World and noticed the color of the water? Disney often adds dye to the water rides to fit the theming as well as cover the ride tracks below.

In the Jungle Cruise, the water is dyed, and the color has changed over the years. Originally it was more green, then brown, and today it is a greenish/ brown color.

What is Under the Water?

Under the water of the Jungle Cruise ride are not alligators, hippos, or even fish. Instead, the dark water hides the track for the boats.

The skippers do drive the boats forwards and backwards, but they do not actually steer them.

Nighttime Rides on the Disney World Jungle Cruise

When riding Disney World’s Jungle Cruise ride, don’t just take the tour during the day. A nighttime ride can be just as much fun, or even more.

In the dark, the skippers shine flashlights at the views in the tour. You’ll also get different jokes that only work at night.

The Jingle Cruise

The Disneyland and Disney World Jungle Cruise become the Jingle Cruise each holiday season. The boats and many of the animatronics are decked out for the holidays, and even the queue changes. Holiday themed jokes are added by the cast members during the boat trip as well.

Be sure to check out the new holiday names on the boats for a laugh.

Real Animals and Plants

When Walt Disney designed the Disneyland Jungle Cruise, which was later recreated as the Disney World Jungle Cruise, he wanted to utilize real animals and authentic plants to the location.

Unfortunately, the animals would be very costly to care for and purchase and ship to the park. Instead, the animatronic animals were used as a cost friendly alternative.

Later on, the idea of exotic animals on display for guests became the Animal Kingdom park.

Additionally, Walt wanted authentic plants inside of the Jungle Cruise. These plants were very costly and many did not grow well in the climate the park was in.

Instead, the Imagineers created a “Hollywood Jungle” using native and authentic plants that mimicked the real thing.

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Guest Skipper

Caste members working at Disney World’s Jungle Cruise can give guest the opportunity to become a Guest Skipper. This comes with a specialty souvenir card and the opportunity to skip the line.

Cast members typically pick a guest who has a birthday or anniversary pin, or is celebrating something.

True Life Scenes of the Disney World Jungle Cruise

Many scenes from the opening day Walt Disney World Jungle Cruise, and Disneyland version were based off of some short films produced by Walt Disney Productions.

The True Life Adventures were a series of short documentary films about wildlife and nature. Many of the ideas for scenes depicted in the original Jungle Cruise come from scenes in these films.

Disney World’s Jungle Cruise and The Great Movie Ride

Disney World’s Jungle Cruise ride shares a secret with the now defunct Great Movie ride which used to reside in Hollywood Studios. The Great Movie Ride was a slow moving ride which took guests through scenes from classic movies, and even had some guest and cast member interaction in those scenes.

The ride was recently replaced by Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. But, during its run, the Great Movie Ride had a scene from Casablanca, featuring an airplane.

The airplane is a Lockheed Model 12 Electra Junior plane, and the front half was used for the Casablanca scene. Airplanes are expensive, so to get more bang for their buck, Disney placed the back half of the plane in the Disney World Jungle Cruise ride.

Pirates are Nearby

During parts of the Jungle Cruise ride, the show building for Pirates of the Caribbean can be scene through the foliage if you look closely. Most guests do not notice this because the skippers draw attention to animatronics and scenes in the opposite direction.

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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!

15 Facts About Disney's Jungle Cruise

By stacy conradt | may 9, 2018.

Everyone turn around and wave goodbye to the folks back on the dock … they may never see you again. But then again, you probably never saw them before, either. Here are 15 facts about Disney's Jungle Cruise.

1. WHEN IT DEBUTED, IT WAS A VERY SERIOUS TRIP THROUGH EXOTIC LOCATIONS.

For the first few years, the Jungle Cruise was more of a documentary-style attraction. All of the funny scenes and jokes were added years later—and thank goodness. The ridiculously bad jokes delivered with perfect apathy (“And now, we’re approaching beautiful Schweitzer Falls, named after the famous African explorer, Dr. Albert Falls.”) are the best part of the ride for many people.

2. WALT DISNEY WANTED TO INCORPORATE LIVE ANIMALS.

When the ride was still in development, Walt Disney wanted to use live animals. When a zoologist explained that many of the animals were nocturnal, which would leave daytime guests gazing at catnapping creatures, Walt opted for creatures he could control. For a time, however, the ride queue did feature live alligators.

3. DISNEY DROVE A CAR THROUGH THE DRY "RIVERBEDS" TO PROMOTE THE RIDE.

As Disneyland was being constructed, Walt often gave TV viewers a preview of what was being built. Before the Jungle Cruise had water, he drove a Nash Rambler (one of the show’s sponsors) through the “riverbeds” to show off Schweitzer Falls and the crude mechanics of the animals.

4. IT'S THE RIDE THAT LED DISNEY TO VIEW HIS PARKS AS NEVER BEING COMPLETE.

It may be apocryphal, but the story goes like this : Walt was strolling through Disneyland when he heard a young boy asking his mom to take the eight-minute trip through the jungle. Not even slowing her stride, the mother replied something to the effect of, “No, we did that last time we were here.” Hearing that, Walt decided he had to keep changing and improving things in order to keep guests coming back.

5. SOME JUNGLE CRUISE SKIPPERS HAVE GONE ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS.

Famous wisecracking skippers include Kevin Costner and Ron Ziegler (Richard Nixon's press secretary). 

6. MOST OF THE "EXOTIC" JUNGLE PLANTS AREN'T EXOTIC AT ALL.

How do you get the tropical aesthetic provided by exotic plants without shelling out the big bucks for shipping and maintaining them? Just use Disney’s tactic: “ plant ” an orange tree upside down and let vines grow and twine around the exposed roots.

7. THE WATER IS CLEANER THAN IT LOOKS.

That murky water passengers sail through is dyed brown, dark green, or muddy blue. The coloring serves two purposes: It provides a more realistic portrayal of swampy waters, of course, but it also conceals the fact that the cruise ships are on a track in a pool that’s less than four feet deep in most areas.

8. DISNEY WAS THRIFTY WHEN IT CAME TO THE AIRPLANE USED IN THE RIDE.

If you pony up the cash for a Lockheed Model 12 Electra Junior airplane, you might as well get your money’s worth, right? Disney used the back half for the scene near the Jungle Cruise's hippo pool at the Magic Kingdom, and the front half for the Casablanca scene in "The Great Movie Ride" at Hollywood Studios. 

9. SOME OF THE SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE PRETTY LOW-TECH.

You might think that getting the animals’ eyes to glow as you make your way through the Asian temple is a high-tech trick, but it’s really just the opposite. Their eyes are really just marbles painted with a reflective coating.

10. LOOK FOR INSIDE JOKES HIDDEN IN THE QUEUE.

At the Magic Kingdom at Disney World, a pair of crates sits bundled with some barrels as if they’re cargo ready to be shipped. A close look at the addresses reveals that one is going to “Thomas Kirk, Esq., M. Jones, Cartographers Ltd. Field Office, Island of Bora Danno.” The other is addressed to “Kenneth Annakin, Director of Imports, Wyss Supply Company, Colony of New Guinea.”

This is a reference to the Disney movie Swiss Family Robinson . Tommy Kirk played Ernst Robinson in the 1960 film, then went on to play the title character in the 1964 movie The Misadventures of Merlin Jones. James MacArthur, the actor who played Fritz Robinson, later played Danny Williams—you know, “Book ‘em, Danno” on Hawaii Five-O. So that’s the first crate explained. The second crate refers to Ken Annakin, the director of Swiss Family Robinson, and “Wyss Supply” is a little wink to the author of the original book, Johann Wyss.

11. A JUNGLE CRUISE MOVIE STARRING TOM HANKS AND TIM ALLEN WAS PLANNED, AND SCRAPPED.

Buzz and Woody meet Jumanji ? It almost happened. Entertainment Weekly  first reported on a Jungle Cruise movie starring Tom Hanks and Tim Allen back in 2011, which clearly never came to be. But that doesn't mean that a movie isn't happening: Though no release date has been set, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Emily Blunt, and Jesse Plemons have all signed on for starring roles in the film.

12. ONE OF THE BOATS ACTUALLY SANK.

Perhaps its name was prophetic, because “Sankuru Sadie” at the Magic Kingdom did, in fact, sink. In 2004, the boat took on more water than it could hold and went under—though, given how shallow most of the water is, it probably didn’t go far. The boat was refurbished and put back into rotation.

13. THERE USED TO BE A KATHARINE HEPBURN CAMEO.

The ride was largely inspired by the movie The African Queen, starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. As a somewhat macabre homage to the film, the Florida Jungle Cruise once featured a little nod to Hepburn—literally. Near the end of the ride, Trader Sam the headhunter cheerily holds up a couple of shrunken heads. “Trader Sam has a deal for you. Two of his heads for one of yours,” is how the joke typically goes. Riders who looked closely would have noticed that one of Sam’s shrunken heads looked an awful lot like Hepburn.

14. ED SULLIVAN RODE THE JUNGLE CRUISE IN A 1959 KODAK COMMERCIAL.

If you want to see what the Jungle Cruise looked like just a few years after Disneyland’s opening day, check out this commercial for Kodak’s innovative new Brownie camera, available for just $74.50!

15. DISNEYLAND'S JUNGLE CRUISE FEATURES A PALM THAT PRE-DATES THE PARK.

Located just outside the entrance of the Jungle Cruise in California is a large palm tree. Referred to as “the Dominguez Palm,” this bit of vegetation has been around way longer than Mickey has been; it dates back to 1896. It’s named after the family who lived there before the land became a theme park. The rancher who sold the land to Disney requested that this particular tree be spared, and Disney obliged, moving all 15 tons of tree from the parking lot area to Adventureland.

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Have you noticed these details on the jungle cruise.

Posted by: Caitlin Kane August 5, 2022

One of the most iconic attractions at the Walt Disney World Resort is the world famous Jungle Cruise which can be found in the heart of the Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland. This beloved attraction brings Guests back in time for an exotic journey down some of the most beautiful and mysterious rivers in the world and even has sister versions in the Disneyland Resort, Tokyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland.

Credit: Disney

Many Guests consider the Jungle Cruise to be a must do on any visit to the Magic Kingdom, and who can blame them with memorable scenes including favorite animals and the unforgettable back side of water, all set perfectly to groan worthy jokes from the skippers. While many Guests love to enjoy a ride on the Jungle Cruise, there are many small details that often go unnoticed. Be sure to slow down and check out these amazing details on your next visit to the Jungle Cruise in Walt Disney World!

Credit: junglecruise.fandom.com

Bill Evans Tribute

When the Jungle Cruise was originally being conceptualized and constructed for the opening of the Disneyland Resort in 1955, there was one Imagineer and landscape architect who was given the monumental task of recreating lush jungles from around the world in the middle of Southern California. Bill Evans more than fulfilled this role by getting creative and using unique techniques like planting orange trees upside down so that their roots would mimic authentic jungle growth. Evans’ work was obviously a huge success and he was again tasked with the same job when the Jungle Cruise was being constructed for Walt Disney World’s opening in 1971. To honor his legacy, Guests today can spot a large planter in the plaza in front of the attraction which features a crate advertising Evans Exotic Plant Exporters Ltd.

Credit: wdwradio.com

Harper Goff Tribute

Another Imagineer who was instrumental in the development and creation of the Jungle Cruise was Harper Goff who took great inspiration from the art direction of the film The African Queen . Goff was the driving artistic force behind the overall theming and feel of the Jungle Cruise, and he can even been seen in The Imagineering Story on Disney+ driving an actual car through the dug out trenches that represented where the river for the attraction would ultimately be placed. Similar to Bill Evans, Harper Goff is honored today with a crate that advertises “Crocodile Resistant Goff’s Brand” with an address on Main Street in Fort Collins, Colorado also paying homage to the town that he was born in.

Hidden Minnie

A suspenseful moment of the Jungle Cruise is when each boat plunges into near darkness inside of an ancient temple that looks as though it is partially collapsed due to time and neglect. The Shir Lee Temple (groan!) features hidden riches, a menacing tiger, playful monkeys, and a Hidden Minnie that is very hard to spot. Just before exiting the temple, Guests should look to the left hand side of the boat where they can spot a series of stone pillars, one of which features a large portion of rock that has crumbled away. The eroded rockwork actually forms a Hidden Minnie featuring her large bow and head tilted slightly to the side so that her nose is visible. This Hidden Minnie can be very hard to spot, but once Guests see it they will never miss it again!

RELATED: Hidden Mickeys in the Magic Kingdom

Credit: societyofexplorersandadventurers.fandom.com

Crash Landing

Just before getting to the world famous backside of water found at Schweitzer Falls, the Jungle Cruise boats glide past a crashed plane along the banks of the right hand side of the river. The plane has obviously been there for a long period of time as the lush jungle has started to grow around it, and only the back half can be seen leading to the mystery of where the front ended up. While, thanks to Imagineering’s resourcefulness, the front half of the plane was previously featured in the Casablanca scene of the Great Movie Ride which ran on the end of Hollywood Boulevard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios until 2017 when it closed to make way for Mickey & Mickey’s Runaway Railway.

RELATED: Don’t Miss These Tributes to Former Attractions in Walt Disney World

Credit: yesterland.com

Hidden Mickey

Guests who look closely at the rear half of the crashed plane as they move past can also spot a Hidden Mickey formed by three small dents in the siding of the plane. The three circles come together to form a classic Hidden Mickey which is more easily spotted at certain times of the day when the shadows help to showcase their depth.

Credit: Complex.com

Unique Boat Names

While all of the boats at the Jungle Cruise look the same, each features its own unique name that plays with alliteration and pairs a woman’s name with a river from around the world. Guests should be on the lookout for boats named Congo Connie, Nile Nellie , Ganges Gertie, Senegal Sal, Orinoco Ida, Irrawaddy Irma, Wamba Wanda, and more.

Credit: flickr.com

Chicken- It’s What’s for Lunch!

A great detail that often goes overlooked on the Jungle Cruise due to its location right at the loading dock is a humorous sign displaying the Crew Mess Lunch Menu for the week. Guests who do take the time to check out the menu will certainly feel sorry for the Jungle Cruise skippers who are ‘treated’ to items like Barbecued Three-Toed Skink, Filet of Rock Python, Consomme of River Basin Slug, and Fricassee of Giant Stag Beetle. The chef obviously is at least trying to help make things slightly better by advertising the meals as “poultry like,” “chicken-esque,” and “tastes a bit like chicken.” Thankfully the skippers are finally treated to actual chicken on Fridays and the joke even makes the jump over to the nearby Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen where an entrée option is “Tastes like Chicken” Because it is!

About Caitlin Kane

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Jungle cruise: the meaning behind frank’s boat name, “la quila”.

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In Jungle Cruise , Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt adventure down the Amazon River in La Quila, a boat with a meaningful name.  Jungle Cruise, a movie based on Disney's ride ,  finds Dr. Lily Houghton (Blunt) and her brother, McGregor (Jack Whitehall), on a quest to find Tears of the Moon, a tree with magical healing petals that's hidden somewhere in the Amazon. To get there, Lily needs the help of a wise-cracking jungle cruise skipper (Johnson) and his boat, La Quila. But they're not the only ones after the magical tree. In addition to Lily, cursed immortal Spanish conquistadors are hot on the trail of the tree, and Prince Joachim (Jesse Plemons) is in search of the magical petals to bring glory to Germany during World War I.

A twist in the film reveals that La Quila's skipper, Frank , isn't what he claims to be. While fighting the Spanish conquistadors, Frank takes a blade through his chest and falls in the rainforest. Lily believes he's dead, but surprisingly Frank makes a return. The skipper reveals that he's one of the cursed Spanish conquistadors as well. He's been searching hundreds of years for the Tears of the Moon, hoping the petals could release him from the curse and finally put him to rest.

Related:  Jungle Cruise: Why The Reviews Are So Mixed

It turns out Frank's boat has a deeper meaning to its name. Following the twist showing Frank was a cursed conquistador, he tells Lily about his history. According to Frank, Aguirre (Edgar Ramirez)  led Spanish conquistadors to search for Tears of the Moon after his daughter fell ill. Aguirre's men were dying until an Amazonian tribe saved them with Tears of the Moon petals. Since the tribe wouldn't tell Aguirre where the tree was, he and his men attacked them. Frank switched sides to help the tribe, but they were all cursed to live forever along the river. Frank was obsessed with finding the tree, even naming his boat La Quila, which is similar to the name of the Incan moon goddess, Mama Quilla.

The meaning of Frank's boat name was one of the clues to his identity. Frank insists on taking Lily down the river after realizing she possesses an arrowhead that could supposedly locate Tears of the Moon. But his true identity and intentions are largely hidden. After all, there's nothing in the Disney theme park ride about The Rock being an undead Spanish conquistador. By naming Frank's boat after the goddess of the moon,  Jungle Cruise subtly hints at the character's obsession with the Tears of the Moon and his secret identity. In addition to the boat clue, Frank has a pet jaguar named Proxima, which is Spanish for " next ." As an immortal, he's had plenty of jungle cats over hundreds of years, so the name always works.

The boat's name also reveals that Frank's quest is noble. Unlike the other adventurers, Frank doesn't want to exploit the tree. Instead, he wants to end his curse so he can finally be at peace. By naming his boat after the moon goddess, Frank shows his reverence for the Tears of the Moon. His intentions contrast with other  Jungle Cruise characters, such as  Plemons' Prince Joachim , who wants to use the tree to win a war. La Quila shows there's more to Frank than meets the eye. The pun-loving skipper is genuinely deeper than the Amazon.

More:  Jungle Cruise 2: What To Expect

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Jungle Cruise

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

• Magic Kingdom
• Tokyo Disneyland
• Hong Kong Disneyland

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

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

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

Inspiration and design [ ]

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

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

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

Disneyland [ ]

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

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

Attraction summary [ ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Major changes [ ]

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

Description of specific changes [ ]

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

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

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

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

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

Names in use:

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

Names decommissioned in 1997:

• Magdalena Maiden
• Mekong Maiden

Magic Kingdom [ ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Current boats

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

Retired boats

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

Tokyo Disneyland [ ]

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

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

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

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

All boat names, except Orinoco Ida, are alliterations.

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

Hong Kong Disneyland [ ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gun signals [ ]

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

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

In popular culture [ ]

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

Television Appearances [ ]

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

Film adaptation [ ]

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

A new version of the project starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt was announced in 2017, with a planned shooting time in the Spring of 2018. This version of the project is described as a comedic action-adventure film in the vein of Indiana Jones and the attraction's original inspiration, The African Queen . Jack Whitehall joined the cast as "Disney's second openly gay character". [2] Said character was criticized due to being a campy gay character portrayed by a heterosexual actor who is also subject to coded jokes by Dwayne Johnson's character about his sexuality. The film was eventually released on July 30 , 2021 .

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

Gallery [ ]

References [ ]

• 1 Lyn Rakish
• 2 Johnny Worthington III
• 3 Randall Boggs

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!

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