Photos by Allen Huffman, 2009 (left) and Werner Weiss, 2020 (right)

Head sculpture strangled by a fig tree (Disneyland, left / Magic Kingdom, right)

The Jungle Cruise was an opening day attraction at the original Disneyland in 1955 and Florida’s Magic Kingdom in 1971. They’re similar in concept, but different in execution.

The differences go beyond just the piranha attack in California and the Cambodian temple tunnel in Florida. They include the boat house, the boats, the order of the scenes, and their details.

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2015

Attraction entrance (Disneyland)

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2018

Attraction entrance (Magic Kingdom)

Although Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise is 16 years older than the Magic Kingdom version, the boathouse at Disneyland is much newer. In the mid-1990s, Disney’s Imagineers needed to squeeze the queue for Indiana Jones Adventure into Disneyland’s tiny Adventureland. A new Jungle Cruise boathouse provided a second level that could be used as an overflow queue for the Indiana Jones Adventure or the Jungle Cruise ride. Liberally decorated with artifacts that one might have encountered in a jungle outpost of the 1930s, the boathouse sets the right mood for the ride.

At the Magic Kingdom, the Fastpass signs and time indicators detract from the design of the building. Fortunately, the Jungle Cruise queue itself is full of artifacts of the fictional Jungle Navigation Co.

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2017

Zambezi Miss, ready for boarding (Disneyland)

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2018

Rutshuru Ruby, ready for boarding (Magic Kingdom)

Until the mid-1990s, Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise boats had white hulls with bright red or blue accents, clean red-and-white or blue-and-white striped canopies, gleaming white canopy supports, and jet-black smoke stacks. Then, with plans underway for the Indiana Jones Adventure, the boats took on the appearance of something that Dr. Jones might encounter in a distant jungle of the 1930s.

Even though no Indiana Jones Adventure was coming to the Magic Kingdom, the boats went from neat and tidy to aged and grungy anyway. The positive way of looking at this is that the 1930s look tells a better story. The cynical view is that the unmaintained look requires less maintenance.

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2015

Embarking on the Amazon Belle (Disneyland)

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2020

Embarking on the Nile Nellie (Magic Kingdom)

So let’s board a Jungle Cruise boat at each park and compare some of the show scenes.

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2005

Monkey idol (Disneyland)

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2019

Monkey idol (Magic Kingdom)

At the beginning of the Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland, the boat passes Cambodian ruins, reclaimed by the jungle.

The ride at Magic Kingdom Park has ruins too, although later in the ride. The boat then enters a Cambodian temple where a U-shaped tunnel provides a dark ride experience.

Both versions feature a menacing Bengal tiger, scary cobras, and a serene monkey idol—but in Florida, they are in the tunnel.

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2017

Big Shot (Disneyland)

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2018

Big shot (Magic Kingdom)

“You can always tell the big shot. He’s the one with the private shower.”

He’s also just one of many elephants in the wonderful Indian Elephant Bathing Pools at both parks, located right after their Cambodian scenes. The elephants are simultaneously lifelike and caricatures with exaggerated features.

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2017

Gorilla Camp (Disneyland)

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2020

Gorilla Camp (Magic Kingdom)

Originally designed for the 1971 opening of the Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise, the Gorilla Camp scene also came to Disneyland in 1976. At Disneyland, the gorilla family—the “uninvited house guests” who “finally got the Jeep to turn over”—are all over the campsite.

The gorillas in Florida are all safely under the protection of the tent roof. That’s probably a good idea, considering the frequent and heavy rainstorms in Florida.

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2017

African Veldt (Disneyland)

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2019

African Veldt (Magic Kingdom)

While many Jungle Cruise scenes feature solitary animals or small groups, both parks have an African veldt scene packed with animals—gazelles, gnus, zebras, and giraffes.

With lush landscaping and impressive faux boulders, both veldts resemble jungles rather than open grasslands of Africa. That’s okay. After all, the ride is called the Jungle Cruise.

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2017

Lion Cave (Disneyland)

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2020

Lion Cave (Magic Kingdom)

Both parks have a scene of a lifeless zebra surrounded by lions of various sizes. It’s obviously a family lunch. Vultures wait nearby for leftovers. Depending on your skipper, you’ll hear a variety of explanations:

“This illustrates a basic law of the jungle—never be a zebra.”

“Those lions are protecting that sleeping zebra.”

“See that zebra? He must be dead… tired.”

“Don’t worry kids! That zebra is just sleeping. Those lions are his friends!”

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2018

Schweitzer Falls (Disneyland)

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2018

Schweitzer Falls (Magic Kingdom)

At Disneyland, Schweitzer Falls—named, of course, for that famous humanitarian, Dr. Albert Falls—seems to be the “water saver” version.

At the Magic Kingdom, Schweitzer Falls is a more impressive tribute to Dr. Falls.

Photo by Allen Huffman, 2017

The back side of water (Disneyland)

Photo by Werner Weiss, 2020

The back side of water (Magic Kingdom)

Yes, it’s the “amazing, astounding back side of water.” At Disneyland, it’s the back side of three streams of water. At the Magic Kingdom, it’s the back side of a wall of water.

That’s the end of these comparison photos. Want more? How about the Trapped Safari and Trader Sam before the enhancements announced in January 2021?

Then continue to Good Bye, Old Jungle Cruise (published January 29, 2021).

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Updated February 26, 2021