Disney Confirms Jungle Cruise Reopening Timeline After August Refurbishment

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Posted: Friday July 12, 2024 11:30am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World has today provided a brief update on the upcoming refurbishment of the Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom.

Disney confirms that the refurbishment will begin on August 26, 2024, and will reopen "before the winter holidays begin." Disney's holiday season begins on November 8 this year.

The Jungle Cruise will reopen before the winter holidays begin

The Jungle Cruise has also been removed from the list of attractions available during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

The Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom is set to close for refurbishment beginning August 26, 2024

While we don't expect any show changes during the closure, several permits were recently filed, including one with contractor Underwater Enginerring Services, Inc.

New Jungle Cruise chimp scenes

Although the Jungle Cruise's show scenes have recently been updated, the ride has not been closed for refurbishment since 2017.

Jungle Cruise overview

We also expect Big Thunder Mountain to close soon for refurbishment, which could leave the Magic Kingdom without two of its major high-capacity attractions in September. Dates for the Big Thunder closure are not yet available.

View all current and upcoming Walt Disney World refurbishments.

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DCBaker16 days ago

According to an update to the refurbishment calendar, Jungle Cruise will be closed from August 26 through October 17. While this could change, the calendar currently reflects a reopening on October 18.

EricsBiscuitJul 17, 2024

If you maintain something, it lasts. Same goes for the monorails. They have refurbished almost all of them in recent years.

Disstevefan1Jul 16, 2024

The current monorails were put into service in 1989, so these are in service 35 years and counting. The previous version ran 1971 to 1991 (so there was overlap I guess?) so that was 20 years. I thought the intended lifespan was supposed to be 20 years, so our current monorail is not 20 years past their lifespan, they are only 15 years past their lifespan today. I suspect they will not be replaced anytime soon, so they will hit the 20 year past due state in 5 years. WDW monorails by 2030:

MisterPenguinJul 16, 2024

Six years ago, Bob Gurr and insiders were telling of WDW buying new monorails. Then that money got shunted into refurbishing what they had.

Disstevefan1Jul 16, 2024

I have no idea. The manufacturer I think. We know the WDW monorails are well past their lifespan. FYI, Tokyo is replacing their monorails after 24 years I think it is?

ToTBellHopJul 16, 2024

Disstevefan1 does. He’s an actuary.

castlecake2.0Jul 16, 2024

Who determines what their lifespan is?

Fido ChuckwagonJul 14, 2024

Re-tracking BTMRR IS maintaining it. Or do you think that a roller coaster that operates 14-16 hours per day, 365 days per year, in the harsh Florida climate can just stay as-is forever without a track replacement?

Disstevefan1Jul 14, 2024

I want to think they can still maintain things even when they are really old. The WDW monorails are like 20 years past their lifespan?

Fido ChuckwagonJul 13, 2024

The longer they put it off the more likely that something goes catastrophically wrong, including but not limited to someone getting hurt. It’s not like they have a spotless safety record with other BTMRR’s as it is…

ToTBellHopJul 12, 2024

Given their wording, I presume they mean “before the parties” and you’ll be able to jungle all the way.

PhicinfanJul 12, 2024

I just got tickets to Mickey’s Christmas in November(12), hope it’s back by then

JohnDJul 12, 2024

So, while technically no thematic changes to the "regular" version, its reasonable to assume that when it re-opens, it could re-open directly as Jingle Cruise for the holiday season. ("before the winter holidays begin").