We’ve been caution you that Walt Disney Global is most probably going to boost up a number of simultaneous trip refurbishments and reimaginings, and now there’s any other primary venture at the calendar for the post-summer season in Magic Kingdom. This proportion dates & main points of the Jungle Cruise closure, plus what else to be expecting round the similar time-frame in Magic Kingdom.
Let’s get started with the pertinent main points. Despite the fact that nonetheless now not formally introduced, Walt Disney Global has quietly added a closure of Jungle Cruise to the refurbishment calendar that’s slated to start out on August 26, 2024. Despite the fact that that’s technically nonetheless summer season in keeping with the Farmer’s Almanac or season scientists or no matter, Walt Disney Global’s summer season necessarily ends as soon as the calendar turns to August. (I’d say the second one week of August, if we wish to get technical. Some level to Exertions Day, however summer season is lengthy over through then–that’s Halloween season!)
At the present, there is not any reopening date for Jungle Cruise. For those who have a look at the calendar on DisneyWorld.com, it’s nonetheless closed as of September 7, 2024. For those who have a look at the calendar on My Disney Enjoy, Jungle Cruise continues to be closed as of September 17, 2024. Each dates are as some distance out because the respective calendars move (no clue why MDX is going additional into the long run, however no matter), which means that that Jungle Cruise may well be closed longer.
As it’s possible you’ll recall, Jungle Cruise was once reimagined a couple of years in the past. In case now not, the appeal remained open at Magic Kingdom all over the reimagining, as Imagineering applied a “phased method” to the venture. Mainly, they got rid of and put in a host of stuff in a single day–most commonly monkeys.
The best way the Jungle Cruise’s scenes are staged makes it extra conducive to adjustments that may be completed in a single day or within the span of an afternoon or two. That is precisely how the yearly Jingle Cruise overlay for Christmas works. It additionally helped, I suppose, that a large number 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 point of view, the finish outcome with Jungle Cruise reimagining was once a good one. The ones backstory main points are peppered across the queue, and there for the invention of visitors. That’s an asset, because it offers visitors one thing to interact in that in the past fundamental and on occasion very lengthy standby line.
You’ll be able to discover nuggets of knowledge that remove darkness from and connect with different adventurous stories, however aren’t in the slightest degree important to playing the appeal. Or now not. You’ll be able to forget about them and don’t lose anything else from the ride-through enjoy. The jokes are nonetheless humorous (or now not) and the animals are nonetheless there. Enjoyment doesn’t hinge at the backstory.
As for the trip itself, the large alternate to Jungle Cruise is they added a plethora of primates. It would as smartly be referred to as Jungle Cruise: Monkey Insanity. I’m sorry, however for those who dislike that, you’re distinctly unpatriotic. Monkeys doing ape antics are superior, and that’s only a reality. For the entire hand-wringing about converting Jungle Cruise, the outcome is mainly simply that–extra monkeys. Different stuff did alternate for ‘recent audiences,’ however the giant discernible factor is the monkeys. It was once a large win for fans of simian shenanigans, which will have to be everybody.
Given the entire adjustments that already took place, I wouldn’t be expecting a lot to modify with the display scenes in Jungle Cruise. They could be spruced up or enhanced in small tactics with the addition of Easter Eggs and that sorta factor, however we most definitely aren’t getting venture mapping or particular evening lights a l. a. the reimaging at Tokyo Disneyland from a number of years in the past.
It’s our figuring out that it is a regimen refurbishment reasonably than a reimagining, with paintings wanting to be executed on underwater infrastructure in addition to one of the most facades and different parts of the appeal. I do know that’s now not as horny or thrilling as reimaginings, however this sort of paintings may be very important to make sure reliability and longevity. (And who is aware of–possibly they’ll set up a nicer lights package deal–Jungle Cruise may just use one!)
Now let’s flip to the opposite initiatives in Magic Kingdom and the way those items of the puzzle are compatible in combination. As coated in our newest replace to Magic Kingdom Journey Refurbishment Rumors Realities, Peter Pan’s Flight is now closed for refurbishment via August 20, 2024. The appeal is recently anticipated to reopen on August 21, 2024.
That was once an overly last-minute addition to the closure calendar through Walt Disney Global requirements, however development lets in for the paintings had been filed two months ahead of the closure was once added to the calendar. Our suspicion was once and is that Walt Disney Global was once looking forward to different items of the puzzle–the Large Thunder Mountain Railroad closure timeline in addition to Tiana’s Bayou Journey opening and running reliability–and was once subsidized into this nook through the ones timeframes.
Talking of which, there’s additionally a Large Thunder Mountain Railroad closure at the horizon. This has now not been said through the corporate–which means it’s neither introduced nor added to the authentic calendar–however it is occurring. Allows had been filed and it’s an open secret that the curler coaster is last for kind of one-year.
Large Thunder Mountain Railroad wishes a vital refurbishment involving primary paintings at the trip gadget and retracking. This long-planned venture is seen as preventative paintings that’s the most important to increase the helpful lifetime of the curler coaster, making sure the trip’s longevity and operational standing for many years to come back. However in contrast to Jungle Cruise, we additionally be expecting some giant “plussings” to happen to Large Thunder.
With the Jungle Cruise closure, we begin seeing how those items of the puzzle are compatible in combination. Peter Pan’s Flight reopens, Jungle Cruise closes. Jungle Cruise reopens and, probably, Large Thunder Mountain Railroad is going down for its lengthy closure. As discussed ahead of, I wouldn’t be stunned if Walt Disney Global tries to squeeze as many important closures in entrance of the the BTMRR closure as imaginable to keep away from having different key sights down all over top dates of the Large Thunder venture.
I additionally wouldn’t rule out the potential of overlap between the Jungle Cruise and Large Thunder Mountain Railroad refurbishments. September is traditionally the low season, despite the fact that the final couple of weeks will most definitely see spikes on account of the price tag offers finishing. (The object is, whoever is doing Magic Kingdom scheduling most definitely is oblivious to that.)
Given all of this, I believe it’s imaginable that BTMRR closes round mid-September and Jungle Cruise does now not reopen till after that. It truly will depend on how lengthy each and every venture is anticipated to take, and when Walt Disney Global desires each operational.
So far, Jungle Cruise has been got rid of from each the Mickey’s Now not So Frightening Halloween Celebration and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Celebration appeal lists. We don’t generally put an excessive amount of inventory into inclusions and omissions from those lists, as they’re infamous for “one hand now not figuring out what the opposite is doing” syndrome.
However, it’s value bringing up that this variation took place as of late with each lists. This may well be the particular occasions workforce erring at the aspect of warning till they have got an authentic finish date for the refurbishment. It is also an issue of them having more information that signifies Jungle Cruise gained’t reopen in time for Celebration Season.
Given the timing of the alternate, 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 checklist). Jingle Cruise continues to be discussed as a Magic Kingdom vacation providing, so I be expecting that the trip will reopen ahead of 2025.
This additionally explains Walt Disney Global’s method with Lightning Lane Multi Passes. I believed it was once more or less bizarre that Large Thunder Mountain Railroad was once a most sensible tier variety, however now that more or less is sensible. There’s at all times going to be one tier 1 trip out of fee for the following 12 months.
Regardless, this makes trying out Lightning Lane Multi Cross in Magic Kingdom more or less a misplaced reason till Jungle Cruise reopens, as ‘effects’ in overdue July via August gained’t be consultant of the next 12 months when BTMRR is down. (Now not most effective that, however Celebration Season throws a monkey wrench into issues, anyway, so no matter you spot for the rest of this 12 months gained’t practice to 2025, anyway.)
In the long run, it’s attention-grabbing that Peter Pan’s Flight, Jungle Cruise, and Large Thunder Mountain Railroad will all move down for prolonged closures (of various levels) within the coming months. As we’ve been pronouncing for months now, we’d be expecting extra reimaginings and refurbishments of this nature for a few causes.
The primary is that there was once a large number of deferred upkeep and proportionately fewer closures in the previous couple of years because of pent-up call for and finances cuts. So a number of sights are past due for refurbishments and can most definitely get them later this 12 months or in 2025.
2nd, the cash spigot is ready to be grew to become on for Parks & Inns, making an allowance for extra initiatives of this nature to (in the end!) occur. Positive, it’s now not as thrilling as brand-new sights–and lots of of you could lament extra rides being closed all over your holiday–however refurbishments are very a lot a need for keeping up suitable appeal requirements and making sure that breakdowns don’t proceed to occur at a extra common fee. So right here’s hoping we see extra in this entrance!
From my point of view, it was once the deferred upkeep that was once dangerous–now not the present and upcoming closures. Walt Disney Global has intensive downtime and reliability woes within the final couple of years, and that is exactly why. That completely must be addressed, and that is the way in which that occurs.
I’m rather sympathetic to Walt Disney Global fan lawsuits about trip closures. It sucks when it occurs to your go back and forth, particularly those closures that aren’t added to the agenda till the final minute. For those who inquire from me, the announcement protocol is what wishes to modify, so folks can plan accordingly, now not the collection of closures. (If anything else, there want to be even extra simultaneous refurbishments!)
I additionally know that Walt Disney Global enthusiasts envy Tokyo Disney Lodge and frequently ask why our parks can’t be like the ones, or why Disney doesn’t do such things as OLC. Smartly, that is how OLC does issues–right here’s the present Tokyo Disney Lodge refurbishment calendar. Spoiler: there are lots of, many extra appeal closures on that checklist than at Walt Disney Global. American enthusiasts can’t have it each tactics–we will be able to’t be expecting upkeep requirements of Tokyo Disney Lodge…with out the closure calendar of Tokyo Disney Lodge. That’s how upkeep will get executed!
Making plans a Walt Disney Global go back and forth? Know about lodges on our Walt Disney Global Accommodations Opinions web page. For the place to devour, learn our Walt Disney Global Eating place Opinions. To save cash on tickets or resolve which sort to shop for, learn our Pointers for Saving Cash on Walt Disney Global Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at artful pieces to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney Global Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most efficient position to start out is our Walt Disney Global Go back and forth Making plans Information for the whole thing you want to understand!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider the trip refurbishments/reimaginings of Peter Pan’s Flight, Large Thunder Mountain Railroad, and now Jungle Cruise? Hope those classics are up to date to make sure their longevity for many years to come back? Do any sights at Walt Disney Global strike you as being top applicants for trip reimaginings? Do you settle or disagree with our alternatives? Any questions we will be able to let you resolution? Listening to your comments–even whilst you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please proportion your ideas beneath within the feedback!
