Looking Back at Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade

Parades seem to be a staple in Disney World. There’s no shortage of parades including the Festival of Fantasy Parade, the Electric Water Pageant, and the Main Street Electrical Parade. Recently, though, certain parades have been cancelled to make room for expansions.

Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade

One parade that suffered such fate is Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade, which began at 3:45 every day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The first showing of this parade was in October 2001, and the final show was May 31, 2014. This 12-minute parade began at the Tusker House Gate, made a complete circle around the park, and ended at the Tusker House Gate.

Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade was a favorite among Animal Kingdom guests.
Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade was a favorite among Animal Kingdom guests.

This parade celebrated the magic and beauty of nature as well as the art and craftsmanship of Africa and Asia. It also featured five character vehicles, four drum sculptures, and three rickshaw taxis to transport and guide puppets, Disney characters, stilt walkers, and party patrols totally 63 Cast Members each day. These Cast Members invited up to 23 guests to participate in each parade!

Check out this unique Donald Duck-themed truck!
Check out this unique Donald Duck-themed truck!
The Imagineers were certainly creative when making the vehicles for this parade!
The Imagineers were certainly creative when making the vehicles for this parade!
If this camel reminds you of something you've seen in Broadway's The Lion King, that's because they share creators!
If this camel reminds you of something you’ve seen in Broadway’s The Lion King, that’s because they share creators!
The parade celebrates the art of African and Asian countries as represented in this parade vehicle.
The parade celebrates the art of African and Asian countries as represented in this parade vehicle.

The Future of Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade

It is unfortunate that Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade has been cancelled, but new things are coming to Animal Kingdom.

For now, we can only hope that a new parade will make an appearance once Avatar Land is completed.
For now, we can only hope that a new parade will make an appearance once Avatar Land is completed.

In 2017, Avatar Land will open in Animal Kingdom completing the original dream of incorporating mythical creatures in the park alongside natural animals. The area that will become Pandora will interfere with the parade’s path as well as guest’s viewing areas.

At this point, there is no plan to replace the Jungle Parade, but we can hope that a new parade might begin once the Land of Pandora has made its debut.

Do you miss Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade at Disney’s Animal Kingdom?

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