NEWS: Jungle Cruise Is Closing Temporarily in Disney World

This popular Magic Kingdom attraction is looking at a temporary closure.

So, if you were planning on taking a cruise through the exotic jungle (with the soothing sounds of endless dad jokes and puns), you might want to reschedule!

Jungle Cruise was one of the opening day attractions in Magic Kingdom and has remained a popular classic to this day. Holding one of the longest wait times on any typical park day, this is a must-do attraction for anyone attending Magic Kingdom, but unfortunately, it will not be in operation here soon.

Jungle Cruise will be undergoing a refurbishment on August 26th at the Magic Kingdom, according to the Walt Disney World calendar.  Although there have been slight changes and updates, the attraction has not had one since 2017, so this is a much-needed refurbishment.

UPDATE: Jungle Cruise will reopen on October 17th, 2024!

The good news is that Disney confirmed the attraction is scheduled to reopen before the winter holidays begin at Walt Disney World. We’re hoping it will be available during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, too, but we’re keeping our eyes out for changes there.

This closure does not have an end date yet and there is no reopening date listed on the attraction’s webpage. Additionally, the calendar only shows hours through September 7th at this time.

And for those curious about the beloved attraction, the Jungle Cruise is located inside Adventureland at Magic Kingdom and takes you on a tour of the jungle on a riverboat. This tour takes you through the rivers of Asia, Africa, and South America to view exotic animals (of the animatronic kind, of course) and luscious scenery.

During the tour, you are guided by a skipper (of the non-animatronic kind) who will navigate you through the jungle and share some funny jokes and facts (mostly jokes, though, but they truly make the ride iconic). This attraction gets a holiday overlay during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, during which it is called the Jingle Cruise. All riverboats are renamed with the festive theme in mind and the jungle is decorated for the holidays. Even the animals are decked out in their holiday best!

And if you’re heading to the Magic Kingdom on those dates and are still hoping to experience the Jungle Cruise in some kind of way, you can take your taste buds on an exotic adventure by dining at Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen. This table service restaurant is themed after the skippers’ headquarters and offers a menu full of tropical cuisine, very unique to standard theme park fare.

We can’t wait to be able to ride once the attraction reopens after its refurbishment. For now, there’s still time to get some cruises in before it’s scheduled to close on August 26th. Stay tuned as we bring you all the latest in Disney news and updates!

NEWS: A Popular Disney World Ride Is Officially Closed for Refurbishment

What are your thoughts on the planned refurbishment? We’d love to read about it in the comments!