When Disneyland opened its doors in Anaheim for the first time in 1955, it had 33 themed rides of which 13 remain operating in 2026.
These include rides like “Peter Pan’s Flight”, “Mad Tea Party”, “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride”, “Mark Twain Riverboat” and “Jungle Cruise.”
The latter, a slow-moving riverboat that takes riders on a 10-minute ride in which they see different animals from South America, Asia and Africa, became an immediate favorite and was built in Magic Kingdom when Disney World in Orlando followed in 1971. The ride, which was inspired by the “Disney’s True-Life Adventures” collection of films released between 1948 and 1960, was also expanded to Tokyo Disneyland in 1983 and Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005.
In 2021, the two Disney parks in the U.S. updated the ride with new storylines and updated animatronics.
Disneyland Tokyo confirms closure of Jungle Cruise ride until April 2027
As has now been confirmed by the wider Tokyo Disney Resort behind both Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, the “Jungle Cruise” ride in the park will be shut down for an extended closure starting on Jan. 6, 2027. The ride will remain closed until the last day of March 2027 for what is an uncharacteristically long maintenance period.
The park has not elaborated what works will be done during the period when the ride is closed to visitors. As a result, rumors speculating on everything from a permanent closure to a significant reworking of Disneyland Tokyo’s Adventureland park section have been circulating online on different watchdog sites.
Related: Disney World to make long-awaited ride repair after 18 years
These have been fueled by the fact that, in April 2035, Tokyo Disney Resort operator Oriental Land Company released a 2035 Long-Term Management Strategy in which large sections of the park have been reworked while rides including “Jungle Cruise”, “Western River Railroad” and “The Enchanted Tiki House” in Adventureland are missing.
New versions of rides inspired by more recent films like “Up”, “The Incredibles” and “Moana” have been proposed in their place. The Long-Term Management Strategy is a guide for where the operating company envisions taking the park rather than confirmed construction plans.
Disneyland Tokyo
What is happening with Disneyland Tokyo in 2027 (rumors of significant changes to Adventureland swirl)
The Japanese version of the ride, officially named “Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions”, differs slightly from the U.S. version with an indoor temple section and more elaborate lighting and music for the night version of the ride.
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The “Jungle Cruise” ride already went through a large-scale renovation in 2014 to modernize it with a new soundtrack, better lighting, and a new nighttime version that has made it stand out from the U.S. versions.
“Board a boat with a brave, light-hearted skipper who loves the jungle,” Disneyland Tokyo writes in its description of the ride. “You’ll see elephants, crocodiles, lions and other wildlife on this adventure tour where surprises and mysteries await you.”
At the moment, the ride is listed as reopening on April 1, 2027. Oriental Land Company has never confirmed or alluded to any permanent demolishments.
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