Reduced Capacity at Jungle Cruise

[RSoxNo1]

These may need to be moved to the news and rumors forum, but it's probably more appropriate to start it here.

Post covid, something has been going on at the Jungle Cruise and I really haven't heard any of the usual people talking about it. I recognize that the attraction has been updated in recent years, but this shift took place prior to the updates.

Jungle Cruise is regularly one of the hardest to acquire Lightning Lanes in all of Walt Disney World and the Lightning Lane line itself regularly spills out into the walkway. This tells me that this simply isn't a reduction in Lightning Lane distribution but also hourly capacity as well. Initially I thought this was a self-fulfilling prophecy where Jungle Cruise was arbitrarily crowded because Jungle Cruise was arbitrarily crowded, but I don't think that's the case.

What I believe now is that for one reason or another they have decided to operate this attraction at a reduced capacity. I don't know if this is giving Jungle Cruise the 20K treatment or not, but this seems to be a conscious choice. The attraction takes up a significant amount of real estate, and for that reason alone has to be under consideration for removal. I know it also recently received an update and regularly gets the Jingle Cruise seasonal updates, but I can't imagine those costs being otherwise prohibitive for the overall removal of the attraction.

As I often do when I have capacity questions, I reached out to @lentesta who gave me a few pieces of data:

• The operating manual for Jungle Cruise lists a theoretical capacity of 2232 with 16 boats running. They're down to 15 boats and I was always of the impression that the max they would run at once is 10. I vaguely recall being in line and hearing a CM mention adding a 10th boat on a prior trip. FWIW, I don't think 2232 is remotely realistic, but I think half that absolutely is.
• Len had a data point from June of 2022 where 7 boats were running and he measured two separate hours that day at 770 and 870 guests per hour.

I'm curious if anyone with operating insight on the Jungle Cruise knows how many boats they regularly ran pre-covid? Are they not loading the boats as much as they did previously? We're not far removed from Jungle Cruise being the 6th or 7th in demand Fastpass / Lightning Lane in that park. Back in the paper Fastpass days it was an attraction that would often see it's Fastpass machines shut off during low crowd days.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Fun Fact, 20,000 Leagues and Jungle Cruise used to have an annual competition to see who could cycle more guests in an hour.

After being stuck in a lengthily backlog of boats at unload on my last cruise, I think the biggest issue is how slow they are to load and unload the boats. Yes, they could run more of them, but like 20K, if the one at the front of the pack is being held up, it's going to slow everything else down.

The boats are not easy to get in and out of for older guests and those with mobility issues.

I don't see them scrapping JC now. The Disney of the early 2000s could have done something like that, certainly much of the issues that got 20K closed apply to JC too. After the movie and more prominent merchandising, it's clear that like Haunted Mansion, JC is now recognized as its own IP that sells and I think Disney doesn't have the will to commit to the time and money necessary to replace the whole thing with something else.

 

[ohioguy]

The Jungle Cruise isn't going anywhere. It's a beloved ride, a popular classic, with a holiday overlay that's become just as inviting as the Mansion overlay in Anaheim.

 

[Twirlnhurl]

If there is a change, I would expect it to have more to do with staffing limits or potentially operations issues at load. I would also expect a higher proportion of guests in wheelchairs or needing special assistance at load than in the past, as that demographic has increased in the parks gradually over time.

 

[Doberge]

After being stuck in a lengthily backlog of boats at unload on my last cruise, I think the biggest issue is how slow they are to load and unload the boats. Yes, they could run more of them, but like 20K, if the one at the front of the pack is being held up, it's going to slow everything else down.

The boats are not easy to get in and out of for older guests and those with mobility issues.

I would also expect a higher proportion of guests in wheelchairs or needing special assistance at load than in the past, as that demographic has increased in the parks gradually over time.

These things, plus park guests are, on average, bigger. Men, women, children, everyone is bigger and this means fewer fewer can fit today than in 70s, 90s, etc. Fewer boats + fewer guests per boat - - > fewer guests per hour.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Nope, Not going to be removed and replaced. The placement of the attraction also lends for its lengthy line. First one comes to when entering into Adventureland, also carries the overload from Pirates when the line is excessively long.

 

[FutureCEO]

These things, plus park guests are, on average, bigger. Men, women, children, everyone is bigger and this means fewer fewer can fit today than in 70s, 90s, etc. Fewer boats + fewer guests per boat - - > fewer guests per hour.

This is why Disney is cutting down on portion sizes. To get more people on rides.

 

[Andrew25]

It's all cost savings. Reduced capacity... less strain on the boats, costs less to maintain 7-8 boats instead of the 10+ boats it could theoretically run. Also less CMs. Margins matter!

Combine that with all the increased downtime of Pirates, Big Thunder, Haunted, and Space Mountain, it jacks up wait times.

 

[NelleBelle]

When we rode JC in Sept. our boat certainly had more room for people. Not sure what the reasoning was for not putting as many guests in.

 

[JoeCamel]

If there is a change, I would expect it to have more to do with staffing limits or potentially operations issues at load. I would also expect a higher proportion of guests in wheelchairs or needing special assistance at load than in the past, as that demographic has increased in the parks gradually over time.

These things, plus park guests are, on average, bigger. Men, women, children, everyone is bigger and this means fewer fewer can fit today than in 70s, 90s, etc. Fewer boats + fewer guests per boat - - > fewer guests per hour.

So maybe we get a bigger boat?

 

[Minthorne]

Make the Swiss family tree house the extended queue

 

[JoeCamel]

Make the Swiss family tree house the extended queue

With a slide and zip line to the load?

 

[Chef Mickey]

The Jungle Cruise isn't going anywhere. It's a beloved ride, a popular classic, with a holiday overlay that's become just as inviting as the Mansion overlay in Anaheim.

Honestly, it’s in need of something more than an overlay. Of the classics, it’s one of the worst.