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All Images Credit DisneyBeing inside a Disney theme park can truly transport you to a world of magic and endless possibilities. Whether you are flying on one of Aladdin’s magic carpets, or traveling to the planet of Batuu and battling Kylo Ren, there are just so many places to go. However, maybe you don’t want to fly on a carpet or travel to another planet. Maybe you want to go on a river journey that takes you to a variety of amazing places.
If so, Disney has you covered there too! Disney’s world-famous Jungle Cruise will take Guests from the Amazon to the Nile and more. Here is everything you need to know about Disney’s Jungle Cruise attraction!
What is the Jungle Cruise?
Disney’s Jungle Cruise ride takes Guests on a “10,000-mile” river journey, complete with angry hippos, elephants, and the eighth wonder of the world — the backside of water! Skippers who are full of punny quips and dad jokes will guide you along your tour of some of the world’s most beautiful locations.
Here is more information on the fun attraction from the Walt Disney World website:
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. 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!
Different Versions of the Jungle Cruise
While Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Tokyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland all have the Jungle Cruise ride, they are not all the same. Disney loves to make each experience its very own, and that is no different when it comes to its famous attractions. However, each attraction does last about 10 minutes.
For example, at Magic Kingdom Park at Disney World, Guests on the Jungle Cruise enter a large temple, where danger could be lurking around any corner. However, that temple cannot be found at the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland.
Below is each different Jungle Cruise ride experience you can have at Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland (the Magic Kingdom description is written above).
Disneyland Resort
Board a canopied tramp steamer and leave civilization behind on a tongue-in-cheek journey through the globe’s most “treacherous” rivers—and oldest gags.
Highlights of your unforgettable adventure include:
- Ancient Cambodian Shrine
Come face-to-face with leaping tigers, lethal cobras and snapping crocodiles.- Jungle Cruise Safari Camp
Cruise past a former camp overrun by explosively curious gorillas.- Indian Elephant Bathing Pool
Venture into this sacred pool where you’ll see bathing Indian elephants. Feel free to take pictures—they have their trunks on.- The African Veldt
Behold angry hippos and hungry lions guarding a sleeping zebra.- Schweitzer Falls
Be awed as you take in a true natural wonder—the back side of water!Throughout your voyage, you’ll enjoy lively narration from your brave and trusty skipper. It’s a sometimes perilous, always hilarious 10,000-mile journey you won’t soon forget!
Hong Kong Disneyland
Cast off on a thrilling expedition where elephants, gorillas, hippos and maybe even a headhunter await your arrival.
Trek to a dusty tropical jungle outpost—laden with hanging cargo nets, wooden crates, timber canoes and rusty anchors—and board a weathered tramp steamer for an exciting adventure along a remote tropical river. Led by your trusty skipper, leave civilization behind as you navigate through treacherous waters rarely seen by man.
A True-Life Adventure
Encounter awesome wonders and startling surprises along the river route. Highlights of your unforgettable 8-minute journey include:
- A pool of playful elephants
- King cobras and giant spiders
- Mischievous gorillas ransacking a camp
- Wading hippos
- An encounter with headhunters
- The legendary Canyon of the Gods
Throughout your amazing voyage, take in lively narration from your friendly skipper, known for a brave heart and a clever joke… or two.
Native Languages
Upon entering the covered boathouse dock at the front of the attraction, choose one of 3 queues indicating the language spoken by your skipper—Cantonese, Putonghua or English. Please note, all lines advance at approximately the same rate.
Tokyo Disney
Board a boat with a brave, light-hearted skipper who loves the jungle. You’ll see elephants, crocodiles, lions and other wildlife on this adventure tour where surprises and mysteries await you. There’s also a nighttime cruise that takes you through the jungles wrapped in an even more mystic and thrilling atmosphere.
Where Can You Find Disney’s Jungle Cruise Attraction?
Walt World Resort
At the Walt World Resort, the is found in the area of the . is on the left side of the and is the first land on the left that Guests will encounter as they walk down Main Street U.S.A.
Guests walking into will find next to Pirates of the Caribbean and across from The Magic Carpets of Aladdin and Walt ‘s Enchanted Tiki Room.
Disneyland Resort
Just as with Walt World, can also be found in the area of the . is located between the Tropical Hideaway and next to another popular , Indiana Jones Adventure.
Tokyo Disney Resort
Also located in Adventureland, Tokyo Disney’s Jungle Cruise Wildlife Expeditions attraction can be found next to Thunder Mountain Railroad, which is technically located in Westernland. Unlike other Disney theme parks, Adventureland is very small and is mainly taken up by the Jungle Cruise.
Hong Kong Disneyland
At Hong Kong Disney, the Jungle Cruise is not simply known as the Jungle Cruise — it is called Jungle River Cruise. At Hong Kong Disneyland, the Jungle River Cruise is located next to Liki Tikis and on the same river as Tarzan’s Treehouse, which is located on its own island.
Ride Vehicles on the Disney Jungle Cruise
Since the Jungle Cruise takes Guests on a 10,000-mile river journey, the only way to travel is by Jungle Cruise boat. Guests will board the Jungle Cruise boats — which all have their own fun names — and it on benches along the sides of the boat. There is also a bench for seating in the middle of the boat as well. Each boat can hold around 32 Guests.
Jungle Cruise boats are handicapped accessible and Guests who are traveling in wheelchairs or electric scooters may remain in their wheelchair and scooter as they enjoy the attraction.
Guests with hearing impairments can also receive assistive listening devices or even a sign language interpreter upon request.
Reimagining a Classic
The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland has been around since the theme park opened in July of 1955. At Walt Disney World, the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971 and received the Jungle Cruise attraction in 1983. Things have changed a lot in the 50 and almost 40 years, respectively, including people’s attitudes and sensitivities towards other cultures.
Both Disneyland and Disney World Jungle Cruises had the character of Trader Sam, as well as a native welcoming tribe. Over the years, many have deemed the scenes and Trader Sam to be culturally insensitive. Disney has reimagined both attractions and is, as Disney says:
“building on the story of the Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland park at Disneyland Resort and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort to include new adventures that stay true to the experience we know and love – more humor, wildlife and skipper heart – and also reflect and value the diversity of the world around us.”
Fun Facts About Disney’s Jungle Cruise
It Recently Became a Blockbuster Movie
The Jungle Cruise has been a must-ride attraction since it opened at all four Disney theme parks. It is so popular that on July 24, 2021, Jungle Cruise starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt sailed into theaters. Fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise will love all of the action and adventure of the Jungle Cruise movie, while fans of the ride will love the puns that absolutely could not be left out.
Hong Kong’s Version Has Fire
Each version of the Jungle Cruise attraction has its own spin, and Hong Kong is no different. Guests riding Hong Kong’s Jungle Cruise will find themselves right in the center of a battle between a fire God and a water God and water and fire will shoot up around them. Who will win? You’ll need to ride to find out!
Walt Disney Originally Wanted Live Animals
While building Disneyland in Anaheim, California, Walt Disney wanted to keep things as authentic as possible. For the Jungle Cruise, this meant bringing in real live animals. Eventually, Walt and his Imagineers discovered that such a plan was just not feasible, so they improvised and built the animals that you can see along the Jungle Cruise today.
Some Versions Receive a Christmas-themed Overlay
Disney loves to go all-out for the holiday season, and sometimes the rides can get in on the fun. Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland and Disney World have been themed into the Jingle Cruise for Christmas. However, the overlay isn’t always guaranteed, so Guests visiting the Resorts during the holidays should continuously check both Disneyland and Walt Disney World websites to see if Jungle Cruise will become the Jingle Cruise that year.
It Has a Great Connection to Tarzan
Disney loves to connect films and attractions through Easter eggs, although they are sometimes more obvious than that. Guests riding the Jungle Cruise will be able to see the incredible Schweitzer Falls — which is named after Dr. Albert Falls. In reality, Dr. Albert Schweitzer was a real humanitarian who traveled deep into the jungles of Africa to help the indigenous peoples there.
Dr. Albert Schweitzer was also the inspiration for Dr. Archimedes Q. Porter, Jane Porter’s father in the 1999 film Tarzan.
Some Pretty Famous People Have Been Skippers
Disney has been known to employ some famous actors and actresses before they become the stars we know today. Steve Martin, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Wayne Brady all call themselves former Cast Members. There are also some A-List celebs who call themselves a former Jungle Cruise skipper — including Robin Williams and Kevin Costner.
There is so much to see once you board the attraction, each Guest may have their own favorite aspect. Maybe you love seeing all of the elephants — don’t worry, they all have their trunks on. Perhaps you like the skippers pointing out all of the wildlife, and maybe giving them a name or two. Whatever you love about the Jungle Cruise, there is always something to love about the world-famous Jungle Cruise!
What do you love about the Jungle Cruise? Which Disney Park has your favorite version? Let us know in the comments!
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