We’ve been warning you that Walt Disney World is probably going going to speed up a number of simultaneous experience refurbishments and reimaginings, and now there’s one other main challenge on the calendar for the post-summer season in Magic Kingdom. This share dates & particulars of the Jungle Cruise closure, plus what else to anticipate across the identical timeframe in Magic Kingdom.
Let’s begin with the pertinent particulars. Though nonetheless not formally introduced, Walt Disney World has quietly added a closure of Jungle Cruise to the refurbishment calendar that’s slated to begin on August 26, 2024. Though that’s technically nonetheless summer time per the Farmer’s Almanac or season scientists or no matter, Walt Disney World’s summer time basically ends as soon as the calendar turns to August. (I’d say the second week of August, if we wish to get technical. Some level to Labor Day, however summer time is lengthy over by then–that’s Halloween season!)
At current, there isn’t a reopening date for Jungle Cruise. In case you have a look at the calendar on DisneyWorld.com, it’s nonetheless closed as of September 7, 2024. In case you have a look at the calendar on My Disney Expertise, Jungle Cruise continues to be closed as of September 17, 2024. Each dates are as far out because the respective calendars go (no clue why MDX goes additional into the longer term, however no matter), which signifies that Jungle Cruise could possibly be closed longer.
As you may recall, Jungle Cruise was reimagined a couple of years in the past. In case not, the attraction remained open at Magic Kingdom throughout the reimagining, as Imagineering utilized a “phased method” to the challenge. Mainly, they eliminated and put in a bunch of stuff in a single day–largely monkeys.
The best way the Jungle Cruise’s scenes are staged makes it extra conducive to adjustments that may be achieved in a single day or within the span of a day or two. That is precisely how the annual Jingle Cruise overlay for Christmas works. It additionally helped, I suppose, that lots of “adjustments” to the Jungle Cruise had been copious quantities of backstory and lore that had been added for no specific objective. Doesn’t take a lot doing to “set up” backstory.
From my perspective, the finish consequence with Jungle Cruise reimagining was a optimistic one. These backstory particulars are peppered across the queue, and there for the invention of company. That’s an asset, because it offers company one thing to have interaction in that beforehand fundamental and generally very lengthy standby line.
You may uncover nuggets of data that illuminate and connect with different adventurous experiences, however usually are not in the slightest degree essential to having fun with the attraction. Or not. You may ignore them and don’t lose something from the ride-through expertise. The jokes are nonetheless humorous (or not) and the animals are nonetheless there. Enjoyment doesn’t hinge on the backstory.
As for the experience itself, the massive change to Jungle Cruise is that they added a plethora of primates. It would as nicely be known as Jungle Cruise: Monkey Insanity. I’m sorry, however should you dislike that, you’re distinctly unpatriotic. Monkeys doing ape antics are superior, and that’s only a truth. For all the hand-wringing about altering Jungle Cruise, the tip result’s mainly simply that–extra monkeys. Different stuff did change for ‘modern audiences,’ however the large discernible factor is the monkeys. It was a giant win for lovers of simian shenanigans, which ought to be everybody.
Given all the adjustments that already occurred, I wouldn’t anticipate a lot to vary with the present scenes in Jungle Cruise. They is likely to be spruced up or enhanced in small methods with the addition of Easter Eggs and that sorta factor, however we in all probability aren’t getting challenge mapping or particular evening lighting a la the reimaging at Tokyo Disneyland from a number of years in the past.
It’s our understanding that this can be a routine refurbishment slightly than a reimagining, with work needing to be completed on underwater infrastructure in addition to a few of the facades and different parts of the attraction. I do know that’s not as horny or thrilling as reimaginings, however this kind of work can also be very needed to make sure reliability and longevity. (And who is aware of–perhaps they’ll set up a nicer lighting package deal–Jungle Cruise may use one!)
Now let’s flip to the opposite initiatives in Magic Kingdom and the way these items of the puzzle match collectively. As coated in our newest replace to Magic Kingdom Experience Refurbishment Rumors Realities, Peter Pan’s Flight is now closed for refurbishment by means of August 20, 2024. The attraction is presently anticipated to reopen on August 21, 2024.
That was a really last-minute addition to the closure calendar by Walt Disney World requirements, however building permits for the work had been filed two months earlier than the closure was added to the calendar. Our suspicion was and is that Walt Disney World was ready for different items of the puzzle–the Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad closure timeline in addition to Tiana’s Bayou Journey opening and working reliability–and was backed into this nook by these timeframes.
Talking of which, there’s additionally a Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad closure on the horizon. This has not been acknowledged by the corporate–which means it’s neither introduced nor added to the official calendar–however it’s taking place. Permits have been filed and it’s an open secret that the curler coaster is closing for roughly one-year.
Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad wants a major refurbishment involving main work on the experience system and retracking. This long-planned challenge is seen as preventative work that’s essential to increase the helpful lifetime of the curler coaster, making certain the experience’s longevity and operational standing for many years to come back. However in contrast to Jungle Cruise, we additionally anticipate some large “plussings” to happen to Massive Thunder.
With the Jungle Cruise closure, we begin seeing how these items of the puzzle match collectively. Peter Pan’s Flight reopens, Jungle Cruise closes. Jungle Cruise reopens and, presumably, Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad goes down for its lengthy closure. As talked about earlier than, I wouldn’t be shocked if Walt Disney World tries to squeeze as many needed closures in entrance of the the BTMRR closure as potential to keep away from having different key sights down throughout peak dates of the Massive Thunder challenge.
I additionally wouldn’t rule out the potential for overlap between the Jungle Cruise and Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishments. September is traditionally the low season, though the final couple of weeks will in all probability see spikes due to the ticket offers ending. (The factor is, whoever is doing Magic Kingdom scheduling in all probability is oblivious to that.)
Given all of this, I feel it’s potential that BTMRR closes round mid-September and Jungle Cruise doesn’t reopen till after that. It actually relies upon upon how lengthy every challenge is predicted to take, and when Walt Disney World needs each operational.
So far, Jungle Cruise has been faraway from each the Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Get together and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Get together attraction lists. We don’t usually put an excessive amount of inventory into inclusions and omissions from these lists, as they’re infamous for “one hand not figuring out what the opposite is doing” syndrome.
However, it’s value mentioning that this alteration occurred at present with each lists. This could possibly be the particular occasions staff erring on the aspect of warning till they’ve an official finish date for the refurbishment. It is also a matter of them having more information that signifies Jungle Cruise gained’t reopen in time for Get together Season.
Given the timing of the change, I believe this isn’t coincidental. As such, it’s my wager that Jungle Cruise isn’t reopening till someday after November 8, 2024 (the primary MVMCP, which might be sufficient to get it pulled from the listing). Jingle Cruise continues to be talked about as a Magic Kingdom vacation providing, so I anticipate that the experience will reopen earlier than 2025.
This additionally explains Walt Disney World’s method with Lightning Lane Multi Passes. I assumed it was form of bizarre that Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad was a prime tier choice, however now that form of is sensible. There’s at all times going to be one tier 1 experience out of fee for the following yr.
Regardless, this makes testing Lightning Lane Multi Cross in Magic Kingdom form of a misplaced trigger till Jungle Cruise reopens, as ‘outcomes’ in late July by means of August gained’t be consultant of the next yr when BTMRR is down. (Not solely that, however Get together Season throws a monkey wrench into issues, anyway, so no matter you see for the rest of this yr gained’t apply to 2025, anyway.)
In the end, it’s fascinating that Peter Pan’s Flight, Jungle Cruise, and Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad will all go down for prolonged closures (of various levels) within the coming months. As we’ve been saying for months now, we’d anticipate extra reimaginings and refurbishments of this nature for a few causes.
The primary is that there was lots of deferred upkeep and proportionately fewer closures in the previous couple of years as a result of pent-up demand and finances cuts. So a number of sights are overdue for refurbishments and can in all probability get them later this yr or in 2025.
Second, the cash spigot is about to be turned on for Parks & Resorts, permitting for extra initiatives of this nature to (lastly!) occur. Certain, it’s not as thrilling as brand-new sights–and lots of of you might lament extra rides being closed throughout your trip–however refurbishments are very a lot a necessity for sustaining acceptable attraction requirements and making certain that breakdowns don’t proceed to occur at a extra frequent price. So right here’s hoping we see extra on this entrance!
From my perspective, it was the deferred upkeep that was dangerous–not the present and upcoming closures. Walt Disney World has in depth downtime and reliability woes within the final couple of years, and that is exactly why. That completely must be addressed, and that is the best way that occurs.
I’m considerably sympathetic to Walt Disney World fan complaints about experience closures. It sucks when it occurs in your journey, particularly these closures that aren’t added to the schedule till the final minute. In case you ask me, the announcement protocol is what wants to vary, so individuals can plan accordingly, not the variety of closures. (If something, there should be even extra simultaneous refurbishments!)
I additionally know that Walt Disney World followers envy Tokyo Disney Resort and infrequently ask why our parks can’t be like these, or why Disney doesn’t do issues like OLC. Nicely, that is how OLC does issues–right here’s the present Tokyo Disney Resort refurbishment calendar. Spoiler: there are a lot of, many extra attraction closures on that listing than at Walt Disney World. American followers can’t have it each methods–we are able to’t anticipate upkeep requirements of Tokyo Disney Resort…with out the closure calendar of Tokyo Disney Resort. That’s how upkeep will get completed!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you concentrate on the experience refurbishments/reimaginings of Peter Pan’s Flight, Massive Thunder Mountain Railroad, and now Jungle Cruise? Hope these classics are up to date to make sure their longevity for many years to come back? Do any sights at Walt Disney World strike you as being prime candidates for experience reimaginings? Do you agree or disagree with our decisions? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!