Yesterland Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Sometimes one theme isn’t enough. Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle parade has two. The first theme involves a collection of large, colorful animals, designed to look as if they were created by folk artists from found objects. Some are giant puppets. Some carry drummers. And some are unusual rickshaw taxis carrying park guests.


The second theme involves safari vehicles, showcasing Disney characters, with one also carrying park guests. The animals and vehicles are interspersed. There are some colorfully costumed stilt walkers, as well as some walking Disney characters interacting with parade audience. The whole thing takes place to the beat of a soundtrack with a distinctly African flavor.

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Jungle Book characters King Louis and Baloo

The parade makes a loop around the Animal Kingdom. Depending on when you visit, the loop could start between Creature Comforts and Pizzafari or at the Tusker House gate Harambe. The parade lasts around 15 minutes.

If you don’t want to see the parade, pay attention to the parade time anyway—because you won’t be able to use the bridges from Discovery Island to Africa and Asia while the parade is going.

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Giraffe puppet

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Park guests in a rickshaw taxi

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Minnie’s polka-dotted Jeep, with a bubble-blowing bathtub atop its trailer

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Camel drummer

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Chimpanzee puppet

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Crocodile rickshaw taxi

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2007

Goofy’s camper

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009

Goofy’s grill, pulled behind his camper

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Amphibian puppet

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Parrot drummer

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Tiger rickshaw taxi

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009

Donald’s duck-billed Jeep pulling his boat

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Frog puppet

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Kangaroo drummer

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2009

More park guests on safari—with Mickey Mouse standing and waving at the rear of the vehicle

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Mickey in his safari outfit

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

The End

The parade is over, but you may still have one question: Who were the 25 or so park guests riding in the opening unit, rickshaw taxis, and the Mickey finale vehicle? They were selected before the parade and each given a Kodak disposable camera to capture the experience. It’s a matter of being at the right place at the right time.


Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade premiered October 1, 2001. Here’s how the official Walt Disney World website described the parade in in 2001:

“New for our 100 Years of Magic Celebration! It’s a rompin’ and rollin’ afternoon event in Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. Mickey and the gang have packed up a caravan of crazy, colorful safari vehicles to blaze some trails through this wildly imaginative world. Adding to the rhythm of the ride is a herd of giant rolling drums cleverly disguised as exotic animals.”

It was one of four parades that premiered that day at the four theme parks of Walt Disney World as part of the “100 Years of Magic” marketing campaign. The “celebration” marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Walt Disney on December 5, 1901.

At Magic Kingdom Park, the new Share a Dream Come True parade featured floats that resembled giant snow globes populated by live Disney characters.

At Epcot, the Tapestry of Dreams parade reused music and many of the giant puppets from the Millennium Celebration’s Tapestry of Nations parade.

At Disney-MGM Studios, the Disney Stars and Motor Cars parade was based on the clever premise that characters from the worlds of Disney, Pixar, and Star Wars travel in cars that reflect who they are.

“100 Years of Magic” should not be confused with “Disney 100 Years of Wonder,” the global marketing campaign of 2023 marking the 100th anniversary of Walt Disney’s arrival in Hollywood and the founding of the Disney Brothers Studio.

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2007

Goofy on the temporary safari vehicle

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Photo by Werner Weiss, 2011

Mickey on the temporary safari vehicle

The safari vehicles had an understudy. Another truck could take the place of one of the character vehicles when maintenance was needed. After all, the show must go on.

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2010

Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade

Beginning with the 2004 holiday season, the parade received an annual holiday overlay, becoming Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade.

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade had its final performance on May 31, 2014. That’s a run of 11 1/2 years. It was one of only two parades at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The first was March of the ARTimals, which lasted just over one year beginning in mid-1998.

The park would soon have heavy construction for Pandora – The World of Avatar and the Rivers of Light arena. Earlier the same year, the park’s Camp Minnie-Mickey had already closed. A parade would just be in the way, especially backstage.

Even after the construction was complete, no parade returned to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Goofy’s vehicle, now at the Volo Museum Volo Museum in Volo, Illinois

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2022

Goofy’s camper with Minnie’s Jeep behind it

You can still see Goofy’s camper and Minnie’s Jeep. They’re now parked at the Volo Museum, a museum campus (with vintage car sales showrooms) in Volo, Illinois, northwest of Chicago.

 

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Updated November 25, 2022