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PHOTOS: First Look at the Updated Jungle Cruise in Disneyland

The Jungle Cruise has been getting some major updates in both Disneyland and Disney World.

Disney has been working to remove some “outdated cultural depictions ” from the attraction, adding  new characters  and a new storyline , and removing some scenes as part of the update.  The Jungle Cruise has remained open in Disney World  during these changes while Disneyland’s ride has been closed since the park reopened in April. But today, we finally got to sail down the river again with a skipper!

Ahead of its official reopening on July 16th, we were invited to a media preview of the newly updated ride today in Disneyland.

Cast Members said there are still finishing touches being made before the ride officially opens on July 16th.

The ride has a whole new storyline focused on inclusivity. It features Alberta Falls, the granddaughter of Dr. Albert Falls, who founded the Jungle Cruise Navigation Company.

The tale is that she went to live with her grandfather in Adventureland and made quite a few friends, who have now all come back to see her guided tour!

Her friends include VIP tour skipper Felix Pechman XIII, acclaimed Canadian Botanist Dr. Leonard Moss, celebrated Mexican artist Rosa Soto Dominguez, preeminent Japanese entomologist Dr. Kon Chunosuke, and  Siobhan “Puffin” Murphy who’s a Puffin enthusiast. You can find them hanging on for dear life as a rhino waits down below!

Other new scenes include the explorers’ sunken boat (tough luck).

And some chimps taking over another skipper’s boat, the Mekong Maiden!

We also see some more chimps on these crates, rummaging through the campsite.

And there’s a brand new store at the end of the attraction! Check out Trader Sam’s Gift Shop, which replaced the Trader Sam animatronic with the shrunken heads.

To pick up a souvenir, you have to make it past that playful elephant first!

And finally, we made it back to the dock, safe and sound!

Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney news and updates!

Click here to see a behind the scenes look at Disney’s Jungle Cruise Movie

Are you excited to ride the Jungle Cruise again?! Let us know in the comments!

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Disclosure: We were invited by Disneyland to attend a media preview of the updated Jungle Cruise. This did not affect our reporting of the event — our opinions are our own.

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Exploring the Jungle River Cruise at Hong Kong Disneyland

• J. Jeff Kober
• August 5, 2019
• Uncategorized

I’m a big fan of the Jungle Cruise, and no less here than at Hong Kong Disneyland. This is the most unique Jungle Cruise among Disneyland, Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and Tokyo Disneyland. I talk about it in an accompanying post to this one at DisneyatWork.com and in our podcast which can be can be found  here on Podbean  and  here at iTunes .

What sets it off differently from the start is that it’s not heading off down some narrow river, but rather a wide river typical of what Rivers of America looks like in other parks. Here, as it sails away, it passes by Tarzan’s Treehouse, where guests board river rafts to explore this jungle home.

Further on, the river narrows, and this is where the Jungle River cruise looks more familiar to most fans of this attraction.

Many of the same elements stand out, such as menacing hippos, an African savannah, and a lost group of explorers up a tree.

But what makes this tour unique is that here in Hong Kong you can create a jungle that really feels like a jungle. There isn’t a greener, more lush version of Adventureland than you find at Hong Kong Disneyland. It really does feel like you’re in a very tropical place–partly supported by the oppressive heat and humidity that one finds much of the year.

Further beyond, you meet up with the natives. But rather than the traditional surprise attack, these individuals are blowing arrows toward you from behind their shields. The effect is similar to what you experience in the Indiana Jones Adventure. But it’s more impressive here because of the distances involved.

Those elements combined set this river cruise apart from the others. But what they do as a finale is really quite over the top. The boat seems to be heading toward the port, when a large gusher erupts in the middle of the river diverting the boat over to a narrow lane of rocks and caves.

From here the boat is blasted at with water, steam and fire. It’s a very cool ending most guests are not expecting. It’s something you don’t want to miss, especially at night.

Soon you are returning to the dock and going back on shore. Then it’s off to other attractions to include the new Moana: A Homecoming Celebration and a very unique version of Festival of the Lion King .

In creating a video of the Jungle River Cruise, I ended up on the attraction twice in one morning. That video is below, and you’ll want to check it out. But I also had a chance to observe the queuing system for the attraction, and I’ve written about my experience at DisneyatWork.com. Definitely check out this article, which I have titled, “ The Hardest Working Cast Member at Disney .” It offers some thoughts about individuals whose job it is to keep repeating the same experience again and again and again. Check it out!

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Jungle River Cruise

Hong Kong Disneyland, there is an outdoor trip to the forest river trip, queues to board the boat began. The floating boats slowly march, and the water or shoal on both sides will appear in various tropical rainforest animals, hippos, orangutans, crocodiles, elephants, zebras, monkeys... and models of the Indy Buddha statue, which has a taste of Mayan civilization.

Recommendations Near Jungle River Cruise

Jungle river cruise reviews: insider insights and visitor experiences.

The baby said that this is the most interesting project in Hong Kong Disneyland, probably because it is really a boat, and there are elements of adventure, which is more attractive. I have to say that the whole scene and atmosphere layout can indeed get high scores.

I miss the old "Forest River Tour". The commentary then had a Mandarin version, which took us in the boat to wave and fire to the elephants along the road. It was wonderful. Now that the Mandarin version is gone, choose English in Cantonese and English. Who knows this English speaking only local girls, rigid and rigid pronunciation and expression, make the journey boring.

an interesting river cruise ride in the artificial jungle. you know it’s fake, but still able to enjoy and got surprised on and off along the journey

森林河流之旅係可以幻想自己係泰山等林林人物，體驗身處於森林中如何生活，坐在船上有演藝人員講解，非常有趣嘅體驗👍🏻

坐船迎風遊覽森林河流，你會遇上淘氣的大象、頑皮的猩猩和脾氣古怪的河馬，旅程充滿驚喜，真實感十足的探險之旅！

这是香港4 d电影的代表作，引人入胜。

这是全港首个5 d立体的室内游乐园。

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Hong Kong Disneyland: Adventureland

Our Photo tour continues into Adventureland. This once remote jungle is now filled with outposts and river cruises, bringing explorers and eager tourists. With the spirit of travel and discovery, this lushly landscaped zone offers park guests with three main attractions – set in the wild and exotic.

According to Hong Kong Disneyland, this is Disney’s largest Adventureland.

Festival of the Lion King is staged within the Theater in the Wild (like you know: Theater-in-the-round). This is a reduced (about half an hour long) version of The Lion King. The classic story and songs are presented in a retelling of Simba’s story. Visually, I find it to be a mix of the Lion King (animated film) and the broadway musical production.

Set List Circle of Life I Just Can’t Wait to be King Be Prepared Hakuna Matata Can You Feel the Love Tonight Grasslands Chant Circle of Life Finale Medley (Hakuna Matata / Can You Feel the Love Tonight / Be Prepared / I Just Can’t Wait to Be King / Circle of Life)

I’ve never really had to plan ahead for this show. However, if you want unobstructed views (first few rows), you have to get into the queue early. It’s also quite a crazy rush once the doors to the theater opens.

Rafts to Tarzan’s Treehouse leads to well, Tarzan’s Treehouse . It’s a walkthrough attraction around an island (which I think is called Tarzan’s Island).

The last attraction here would be Jungle River Cruise . This is a river tour along the Rivers of Adventure , with a cast member on the boat as guide and driver – or more commonly: skipper .

The queue is split into 3 lines – Cantonese, English, Chinese. The actual length of each queue is different, but a boat rotation plan somewhat regulates the wait time for each line. I’ve been on Jungle Cruise several times (all three lanes) and no matter how fluent the cast members were, the Cantonese version is logically, the best. As it is their native tongue, most of the cast members are very confident presenting the Cantonese version of the experience.

That’s mainly because the skippers have a vast library of cheesy lines and cold jokes – and it takes confidence to deliver those lines.

The cruise is somewhat “different” each time due to the skippers’ performances, although it’s ultimately limited by the amount of animated props built at the ride itself.

I’m not sure if it’s because it’s autumn/winter season, but most of the “splashy” effects were toned down or turned off – namely, the piranhas, elephants, gigantic water spout at the end.

With Grizzly Gulch and Mystic Point just beyond a layer of trees, it’s possible to see some parts of the new themed lands from Jungle Cruise!

Jungle River Cruise in Hong Kong Disneyland has a special finale scene unique to this park, where two rock sculptures, depicting gods of water and fire, duel right in front of guests. There are dramatic fire and water effects, which are bound to surprise guests on the right side of the boat.

And we’ve come to the end of our short journey around Adventureland.

Hong Kong Disneyland - Photo Tour series

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5 Can’t-Miss Attractions and Rides at Hong Kong Disneyland

By: Author Leslie Harvey

Posted on Published: May 23, 2016

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(Spoiler alert: This post has a few mild spoilers but I’ve restrained myself from spoiling anything major, as the twists on some of these rides are the best part!)

Mystic Manor

Mystic Manor is the headliner attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland, and it completely lives up to the hype. The ride is meant to be a bit of a cousin to the Haunted Mansion but it is extremely different in the theming and ride experience. No ghosts and ghouls here! Cultural differences necessitated a different approach in Disney’s first Asian park. This also means that the ride is unlikely to be as scary for younger kids, making it one that I’d recommend for the whole family.

The technology is where the ride stands out, using a trackless system to power the ride vehicles with magnets similar to Pooh’s Hunny Hunt in Tokyo Disneyland. Since the ride was built in 2013, the tech is still some of the best on any Disney ride anywhere. The manor is home to Lord Henry Mystic, a Member of the  Society of Explorers and Adventurers , and a mischievous monkey named Albert who acquires a magical music box.

Trackless ride vehicles twirl and twist through Mystic Manor.

For a more detailed look at the ride, I really enjoy Disney Tourist’s Blog’s deep dive into Mystic Manor  (with some gorgeous photos, as always). One final insider tip: pay close attention to the portraits, artifacts, and maps in the queue. You’ll spot some interesting Disney lore and maybe even notice Danny Elfman (he scored the music for the ride) smiling back at you when you least expect it.

Jungle River Cruise

Sure, you can find Jungle Cruise at many Disney parks, but the attraction is truly special at Hong Kong Disneyland. There are three lines for guests to get in so they can end up on a boat where their skipper is speaking the right language: English, Cantonese, or Mandarin.

Here’s the cool twist: the skippers in Hong Kong Disneyland (at least while we we visited) were trilingual. We watched them switch languages boat-to-boat, depending on how quickly each queue was building. The result was an impressive line management technique.

Whether you’re in Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or Hong Kong, there’s always that darn rhino that gets his point across… in the end.

As you can imagine, having a native Cantonese or Mandarin speaker tell corny jokes to you in English sometimes results in a slightly funny cultural exchange. A few of the jokes are definitely lost in translation, but that contributed to the charm of the ride in a strange way.

The ride itself doesn’t disappoint either. Unlike at Walt Disney World or Disneyland where the ride is set on its own canals, the Jungle Cruise in Hong Kong Disneyland is actually set on the Rivers of Adventure, which more closely mirror the Rivers of America in those parks. This waterway is shared with rafts that go to Tarzan’s Treehouse (which plays the role of Tom Sawyer Island in Hong Kong Disneyland). It’s a blending of a lot of Disney attractions and settings from other parks that works well. The end of the ride is one of the highlights too. I won’t spoil it entirely, but let’s just say that I hope you can take the heat!

Toy Soldier Parachute Drop

Festival of the Lion King

I’m not much of a fan of shows or parades at Disney parks in most instances, and my family almost made the HUGE mistake of skipping the Festival of the Lion King as a result. We ended up going simply to escape a super-humid and hot day when rain was threatening. Hurray for air conditioning!

But AC isn’t the reason to pay this show a visit. The Festival of the Lion King was the best Disney show I’ve ever seen, hands down. The performers, singers, and acrobats were world-class and the setting in the round made the show engaging and compelling. The show is mostly in English, with two sidekick characters contributing shortened translations in Cantonese.

Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars

Imagine if you took the best of Big Thunder Mountain and Expedition Everest and combined them into a single ride. You’d get the Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars. Opened in Grizzly Gulch as part of the park’s 2013 expansion, the technology is new, making the ride super-smooth and enjoyable. No Matterhorn bouncing around here!

Our then 5 year old daughter was unsure about whether she would ride it, but finally relented on the second day of our visit. She lived to tell the tale but didn’t want to ride it again, so the thrills here are serious.

Have you been to Hong Kong Disneyland? What are your favorite attractions there?

Hong Kong Disneyland Savings!

Headed to Hong Kong Disneyland? There’s no need to pay full price for your ticket and many of the food and entertainment offerings in and around the park! Klook offers discounted tickets for Hong Kong Disneyland (much like trusted travel agency partners Get Away Today and Undercover Tourist do for the US Disney parks). Save up to 14% on 1 and 2 day park tickets , get discounted meal vouchers , or save even more by purchasing a ticket and meal package. You can even lock in a discount for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique !

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Jungle River Cruise

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Jungle River Cruise

Hong Kong Disneyland, there is an outdoor trip to the forest river trip, queues to board the boat began. The floating boats slowly march, and the water or shoal on both sides will appear in various tropical rainforest animals, hippos, orangutans, crocodiles, elephants, zebras, monkeys... and models of the Indy Buddha statue, which has a taste of Mayan civilization.

Recommendations Near Jungle River Cruise

Jungle river cruise reviews: insider insights and visitor experiences.

The baby said that this is the most interesting project in Hong Kong Disneyland, probably because it is really a boat, and there are elements of adventure, which is more attractive. I have to say that the whole scene and atmosphere layout can indeed get high scores.

I miss the old "Forest River Tour". The commentary then had a Mandarin version, which took us in the boat to wave and fire to the elephants along the road. It was wonderful. Now that the Mandarin version is gone, choose English in Cantonese and English. Who knows this English speaking only local girls, rigid and rigid pronunciation and expression, make the journey boring.

an interesting river cruise ride in the artificial jungle. you know it’s fake, but still able to enjoy and got surprised on and off along the journey

The forest river trip department can fantasize about the forest characters such as Mount Tai, experience how to live in the forest, sit on the boat and have entertainers explain, very interesting experience 👍🏻

Take a boat ride through the forest river and you will meet naughty elephants, naughty orangutans and quirky hippos, a journey full of surprises and authentic adventures!

This is a representative work of Hong Kong's 4D films, which is fascinating.

This is the first 5-D indoor amusement park in Hong Kong.

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Everything You Need to Know about Disney’s Jungle Cruise Attraction

in Disney , Disneyland Paris , Walt Disney World

BEHOLD! The 8th wonder of the world, the magnificent, the amazing (and so on) BACK SIDE OF WATER!! Disney’s Exotic Jungle Cruise attraction has enchanted visitors since its opening day at Disneyland in 1955. That July 17, dapper Guests boarded shiny new watercraft to see animatronic animals in a leafy safari setting, and as the ride artfully aged, Jungle Cruise Skippers kept it fresh and entertained them with puns, jokes and otherwise gut-busting comments, making the attraction an Adventureland classic.

The Jungle Cruise attraction is an 8-minute boat ride through a lush rainforest-landscaped river where “ Guests can chart a course for high adventure on a scenic and comedic boat tour of exotic rivers across Asia, Africa, and South America.” The river, though it looks dirty, is actually clean water dyed with a mucky green dye to make it look dirty and more like a natural river. (This is also to hide the track the attraction ride boats are guided along). Disney Guests will see assorted animatronic animals set into natural-looking settings, a temple overrun with animals, and hear plenty of jokes from live Cast Members driving the boats forward as Jungle Cruise Skippers.

Guests may note that the elephant bathing pool looks so realistic that many photos of the bathing beauties are passed around on social media posing as real elephant photos. But don’t worry, you can take all the photos you want; all the elephants have their trunks on!

Where is the Jungle Cruise attraction?

Jungle Cruise can be found in the heart of Adventureland in Magic Kingdom (Walt Disney World Resort) at Disneyland Park (Disneyland Resort), Hong Kong Disneyland, and Tokyo Disneyland (where the boats run in the opposite direction!). Nestled behind some Adventureland tikis, you’ll find it in Magic Kingdom across from Aladdin’s flying carpets.

In Disneyland Park, you’ll find a two-tier queue next to the Tropical Hideaway watering hole as you pass into Adventureland. But don’t worry, both queues are fully accessible and Jungle Cruise Skippers will meet you at the front of the queue entrance to assist you on your watery safari.

There is a FastPass queue for this Disney attraction at both U.S. parks. While Walt Disney World utilizes a digital advance FastPass+ system, Disneyland Resort still relies on both the paper FASTPASS system as well as the digital MaxPass system. You’ll want to pay attention while you walk around in the queue for this classic Disney ride. You’ll see all sorts of jokes built into the decor as well as puns you can tell your family back home. The real treat is the queue soundtrack for the Jungle Cruise. It’s a mock-up of an old radio show hosted by Albert Awol, and is plentiful in puns, jokes, and old-timey sound effects.

The History of The Jungle Cruise

At the time of its debut in 1955, Jungle Cruise was a novel attraction and one of the few at Disneyland that was not based on an animated film or an intellectual property. Imagineer Harper Goff was in charge of designing the attraction, most well known for his work on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea . Inspired by the adventure film The African Queen , Jungle Cruise was originally slated to have real-life animals, as requested by Walt Disney himself. When the price and care of live animals exceeded both budget and capability, animatronic animals were chosen as a show-stopping, consistent choice. (Think about how often animals hide from us at the Animal Kingdom Kilimanjaro Safaris !)

According to the Disney Parks Blog , the greenery chosen for the lush jungle scenes at The Jungle Cruise was handpicked by horticulturist and Imagineer Morgan “Bill” Evans. “Rather than create a true-to-life jungle though, Bill’s goal was to develop a “Hollywood Jungle,” a mixture of exotic plants and trees that would give the feeling of traveling through exciting and uncharted territories. To create his Hollywood Jungle here in Anaheim, Bill developed some intrepid techniques, like smuggling plant seeds inside the cuffs of his socks and planting orange trees upside down to resemble mangroves.”

Originally planned for the area where Tomorrowland now stands, Adventureland was moved to the west side of Main Street, U.S.A., in order to use the existing large eucalyptus trees planted there by the orange farmers who previously owned the California land. As the plot developed, the trees became larger and lusher, only adding to the jungle feel. The attraction was such as hit in Southern California that another version was added to Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park and was included on opening day at Walt Disney World on October 1, 1971.

Ride vehicles on Disney’s Jungle Cruise

When taking your very scenic and giggly cruise around the rivers of the world, you’ll be seated in a multi-passenger boat with a Jungle Cruise Skipper at the helm. He or She will be using a microphone and sound system to share amusing factoids, jokes, puns, and fun surprises along the way. But listen carefully: the purposefully dry delivery of the Skippers means you may miss a few jokes. This is why Disney fans want to experience the attraction over and over again. It’s also worth noting that your cruise script and mood will vary from Skipper to Skipper. Try the attraction a few times and find a Skipper near and dear to your heart!

When you board the boat, a Skipper or two will assist you into the boat and direct you to the right or left. It is important not to step over the “boxes” in the center as it is a trip hazard. If you wish to be seated in a certain area, tell the queue manager. There really is no bad seat, as the boat is open to full views on all sides. Pro tip: ride a bunch of times and experience the cruise from all angles! In 2020, clear plexiglass shields were installed in various sections of the boat, keeping passengers apart.

The Jungle Cruise boats do run on a track, similar to the Liberty Belle and Mark Twain Riverboats. But the engines are, indeed, run by the Skippers. You’ll notice the Skippers are in charge of the forward, rear and holding motions of the boat, though they may spin the “steering wheel” quite liberally.

While the boats are plenty seaworthy, mishaps happen. Disney fans may remember in February 2020, a Jungle Cruise boat sank at Magic Kingdom leaving guests with some wet sneakers and a lot of laughs. No one was hurt, and the boat was rapidly repaired and returned to the convoy. There was another boat of lesser memory in 2004, the Sankuru Sadie, that also sank at Magic Kingdom. After Sadie was repaired, she has been seen (even recently) making her way around the bend.

Did you know? The water flowing in the rivers isn’t really as dirty. Disney just adds a dirty looking dye to hide how shallow the river really is (and the track that guides the boat)! Just look at the Backside of Water gushing at Schweitzer Falls… the water is clean!

The Skipper Canteen Restaurant

Explore the bold, flavorful cuisine of Asia, South America, and Africa with the help of daring riverboat pilots. Influenced by the attraction just across the path, The Jungle Skipper Canteen, which opened in 2015 , is a flavorful dive into exotic flavor adventures while also meeting the needs of the pickiest eaters. 

The Canteen has a berth-y waiting area with vintage fans and amusing decor in every corner. There are three dining rooms, each paying tribute to the Skippers who just guided you down ‘de Nile. The crew’s colonial-era Mess Hall (which is not messy at all, thank you); the Jungle Room, the former family parlor of Dr. Albert Falls himself; and the S.E.A. Room, a secret meeting place for the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. (Check out the secret bookshelf door that swings open!)

The most popular dishes on the adult main menu are the Dr. Falls Signature Grilled Steak, a delicious adobo-seasoned New York strip served with vegetables, chorizo farofa, and caramelized onion purée and red wine reduction. The light-fare sustainable fish served on a cassava cake with wilted greens and guava habanero sauce, and this writer’s favorite, Sankuru Sadie’s Seafood Stew: Shrimp, Sustainable Fish, Mussels, Bay Scallops, and Octopus simmered in a fragrant Coconut Sauce and served with Jasmine Rice (yup… this has to be a joke on the 2004 boat sinking…).

We highly recommend ordering the non-alcoholic Schweitzer Slush, which comes in an optional commemorative steel mug. It’s Frozen Apple Juice and Passion Fruit juice topped with Green Apple Boba Balls, first concocted by the noted explorer and humanitarian, Dr. Albert Slush. Finish your meal with the Kungaloosh!, featuring African-inspired chocolate cake with caramelized bananas and cashew-caramel ice cream.

Jingle Cruise Holiday Overlay

During the festive holiday time, the Jungle Cruise undergoes a decorative refurbishment to become the Jingle Cruise. Nope, it’s not a typo, it’s a winter celebration of burlap Santa hats, Christmas jokes, ride additions, and overall holiday spirit.

In 2013, the Jingle Cruise debuted during the Christmas season, opening at Magic Kingdom on November 8, 2013, and at Disneyland Park on November 12. In its early days, the Jingle Cruise holiday overlay mostly kept to the Guest queue area, the boathouse across the dock, and a script with holiday jokes. Later on, the Jingle Cruise overlay became more elaborate, involving extra queue decorations, a story of Santa’s plane dropping Christmas cargo all over the site, additions to the temple interior, even more jokes and fun Cast Member costume additions.

The yuletide overlay continues to get more creative, and fans continue to become more endeared to the holiday version of the attraction. Walt Disney World fans may remember the outrage that was sparked in 2017 when rumors that Jingle Cruise would not return. Fears were assuaged shortly thereafter when the company confirmed its return. (In 2019, the overlay was not present at Disneyland Resort — be sure to check each park’s holiday lineup every year to see if Jingle Cruise will be available.)

As of the present day, the Jingle Cruise set has become extremely detailed. You’ll see not only additions to the set but also literal overlays to typically existing items. Various rustic Christmas trees dot the queue, and you may see an ethanol dispenser that reads ETHANOL altered to say ETHANOEL EGGNOG.

Observant guests will notice the names of the Jungle Cruise boats are altered with new/changed names like Garland Gertie, Icicle Irma, Poinsettia Sal, Yulelog Lolly, Candy Cane Connie, and Mistletoe Millie. It appears that the skippers made cheap yet heartful changes to the boats for the holiday spirit.

Be watchful as you make your way around the rivers of the world, as you’ll see SANTA STOP HERE signs, Santa’s workshop elements, and even a north pole where the safari group climbs. My personal favorite is the costume additions to Trader Sam, who is now called “Trader Sam-ta” and might bring you a shrunken head for your stocking…

The Jungle Cruise Movie

Disney’s Jungle Cruise movie was filmed in Hawaii and Atlanta, GA in the summer and fall of 2018, but the film’s release has been delayed until 2021 . The film will star Dwyane Johnson as Skipper Frank Wolff, and Emily Blunt as Lily. Billed as a “period piece” set in the early 20th century, the Disney attraction comes to life as a riverboat captain named Frank takes a scientist and her brother on a mission into a jungle to find the Tree of Life. In the African Queen -style film, the trio of newly turned explorers must fight against dangerous wild animals and a competing German expedition with possible supernatural forces and innumerable dangers.

The most groundbreaking news to come out of the creation of the film is that the Disney attraction, Jungle Cruise, will be reimagined with the help of The Rock, hopefully tying the film into the river journey (much like Pirates of the Caribbean did with the film franchise). Disney has yet for provide further details of this.

Disney’s Jungle Cruise has continued to enchant the hearts and minds of Guests from all over the world since 1955. Through its growth and humorous nature, the ride has inspired merchandise , a holiday overlay, mugs , a restaurant, and more. chEARS to the Jungle Cruise, we’ll never take it for granite!

What do you love most about The Jungle Cruise? Leave us a comment below, and HIT IT SKIP!

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Pictures of the jungle river cruise.

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River View Cafe Afternoon Tea Review

River View Cafe is a table service restaurant in Hong Kong Disneyland, overlooking Adventureland and the Jungle River Cruise. This review covers Afternoon Tea and features photos of the experience, our take on ambiance, and other assorted tidbits. River View Cafe serves Southeast Asian and Chinese dishes in an open-air restaurant. Some regular menu options including River View Cafe’s signature braised beef in Nanjing style, sweet and sour fish fillets with pineapple, Fujian fried rice, wok-fried noodles with beef tenderloin, and Singaporean vermicelli with scallops.

Since we were going specifically for the Afternoon Tea Set, we didn’t have a chance to try these, but our experience with Hong Kong Disneyland restaurants has generally been that counter service is the better option, as quality at counter service restaurants is really high, whereas you don’t see much of a gain at table service restaurants–except in the prices.

As for the Afternoon Tea Set, a little background might be in order for those of you who might be puzzled as to why a Chinese park is serving high tea. Until 1997, Hong Kong was actually a British colony (it’s now a partially-autonomous Special Administrative Region of China), and as such, many of its customs have been heavily influenced by the British. Setting aside politics and all that, this had at least one undeniable benefit for Hong Kong, and that was making it a true “world city” that formed a bridge between the East and West.

This may seem irrelevant to a Hong Kong Disneyland restaurant review, but I mention it because, by extension, Hong Kong Disneyland is also a “world theme park” in the sense that there’s really no language barrier for English-speakers. Anyway, one of the customs that the British brought to Hong Kong was high tea ( here’s some background on afternoon high tea in the United Kingdom ), a social event that remains popular in Hong Kong to this day.

With that background, let’s take a look at the Afternoon Tea Set at River View Cafe…

There are several places at Hong Kong Disneyland that offer an Afternoon Tea Set, with two of those spots being in the park at Main Street Corner Cafe and River View Cafe. We have done Afternoon Tea at both, and while it’s not a strictly traditional High Tea, we have really enjoyed the unique experience these sets offer. Main Street Corner Cafe is the more traditional, Victorian setting for High Tea, with River View Cafe sort of offering its own “East Meets West” experience in terms of the High Tea itself in the jungle environment that is reminiscent of Lantau Island (Hong Kong) just outside of Hong Kong Disneyland.

In terms of ambiance, there really isn’t much to say about River View Cafe. It’s very simple, and actually feels a lot like a counter service restaurant. The setting area is fairly large and the decor is simple, with only some posters and random decorations that comprise the theming.

The main draw is the open air views into the Jungle River Cruise, but even those views aren’t all that much of a draw, as the restaurant is located across a walkway from Jungle River Cruise. Most views in the Cafe are of lush vegetation rather than the river.

As for the Afternoon Tea Set itself, we are both fans. While I don’t really go out of my way to have tea, this set isn’t really about the tea. In fact, I don’t order tea to drink with it. Rather, it’s about the spread of finger foods that accompany the drinks, and this spread is pretty good.

The highlight is absolutely the dim sum, which Hong Kong Disneyland does very well. If you’ve seen our Crystal Lotus Review, you know that they make some really, really cute dim sum , and the same is true of the River View Cafe. My only complaint here is that the dim sum at River View Cafe are generic pigs…it would be cooler if they were Disney characters from the Jungle Book or something. That’s hardly a knock, though, as the dim sum tastes good and is photogenic.

Dim sum is not the only thing included in the Afternoon Tea Set. There’s also nicely presented little gelatins…

Plus egg rolls, wontons, and other assorted items…

As is the case virtually everywhere you go, there’s something edible (I believe this was a pineapple chunk?) shaped like Mickey Mouse. Kawaii definitely isn’t as big in Hong Kong Disneyland as it is at Tokyo Disney Resort, but it’s still big. The kawaii dim sum should be evidence of that.

Overall, it’s a nice little spread, and while it’s not filling enough to be a full meal for 2 people, it definitely accomplishes the goal of high tea in providing a bridge between lunch and a late dinner. At around $40 US for the set, I wouldn’t say it offers particularly great value–you can get something more filling from a counter service restaurant for about $15 per person–but the presentation is excellent. Also, and most importantly, there’s something to be said for having High Tea in a Disney theme park. It’s that unique experience, and the quality of the Afternoon Tea Set that really makes me recommend it. Having an Afternoon Tea Set is a nice way to relax and reflect in the middle of the day in Hong Kong Disneyland, and it is a fun offering that you won’t find at any other Disney park. If you’re on a tight budget or are interested solely in value, you should probably skip the Afternoon Tea Set, but I think the experience is well worth the money for everyone else.

If you are planning a trip to Hong Kong Disneyland, make sure to check out our Hong Kong Disneyland Park & Attraction Guide for reviews, strategy, and other information about every attraction at Hong Kong Disneyland! For more photos and a look at what we did during our first visit to HKDL, check out our Hong Kong Disneyland Trip Report (I know there has been some delay, but I’ll be finishing this report next week).

Overall Score: 8.5/10

To read other Disney restaurant reviews from Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Resort, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland, organized by location, check out our Disney Restaurant Reviews Index .

Your Thoughts…

Have you tried an Afternoon Tea Set at Hong Kong Disneyland? What did you think of it? Is it something you’d like to try? Are you a fan of High Tea, in general? If you have any questions or thoughts to share, please post them in the comments. We love hearing from readers!

Written by Tom Bricker

Thank you for the information as it is incredibly sparse on Hong Kong Disney. We LOVED this place. I would give it a ten from a family perspective with picky eaters and a family of five of us ranging from 6 to 50. We did high tea both English and Chinese and it was a hot day. Thankfully we sat in front of a fan that kept us cool. We sampled a variety of beverages from the tea to the beer along with a variety of dishes and desserts. This was one of the best dining places we have been with only two parks to go and the price was incredible. The portions weren’t huge but plenty for us left me full the rest of the day!

We are going to HKDL later this year. My first ever trip to any disney park so loving your reviews especially on HKDL. Excited :))

Do they accept octopus cards in the parks and the restaurants within the parks?

We never tried to use our Octopus cards, and I’m pretty sure that’s because they don’t accept them. I know I didn’t see any of the scanners. Have a great trip!

Actually, I remember seeing signs indicating that the Octopus card was accepted at the vending cart in Grizzly Gulch (Lucky Nugget Saloon?). I didn’t try to use mine though 🙂

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• Jungle River Cruise
• Hong Kong Disneyland

Set sail for high adventure during a guided tour of the mysterious and untamed Rivers of Adventure.

Cast off on a thrilling expedition where elephants, gorillas, hippos and maybe even a headhunter await your arrival.  Trek to a dusty tropical jungle outpost—laden with hanging cargo nets, wooden crates, timber canoes and rusty anchors—and board a weathered tramp steamer for an exciting adventure along a remote tropical river. Led by your trusty skipper, leave civilization behind as you navigate through treacherous waters rarely seen by man. 

A True-Life Adventure!

Encounter awesome wonders and startling surprises along the river route.

Highlights of your unforgettable 8-minute journey include: 

• A pool of playful elephants.
• King cobras and giant spiders.
• Mischievous gorillas ransacking a camp.
• Wading hippos.
• An encounter with headhunters.
• The legendary Canyon of the Gods.

Throughout your amazing voyage, take in lively narration from your friendly skipper, known for a brave heart and a clever joke! 

Native Languages!

Upon entering the covered boathouse dock at the front of the attraction, choose one of 3 queues indicating the language spoken by your skipper— Cantonese, Putonghua or English .

Please note, all lines advance at approximately the same rate. 

Supervise children at all times. Children under age 7 years must be accompanied by a person age 16 years or older.

1-Day Ticket: Standard Day: 589 HKD (Ages 12 - 64) 1-Day Ticket: Standard Day: 419 HKD (Ages 3 – 11) 1-Day Ticket: Standard Day: 100 HKD (Ages 65+)

Telephone number

+(852) 1-830-830

How to get there?

How To Get There:

• By MTR: ride MTR to Disneyland Resort Station on the Disneyland Resort line
• By bus. See  route information
• By car or coach (parking facilities available)