Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at the Animal Kingdom

Published: 06/09/2012 04:12:58 PM

Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade is a celebration of color, spectacle and all things wild. Visitors to the Animal Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World can watch this 15 minute parade at least once daily during daylight hours. Viewers can expect to see many of their favorite Disney characters taking part in this lively and exciting diversion.

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Dance and Sing Along

This Animal Kingdom parade is loaded with toe tapping songs that encourage visitors to get up and dance and participate in a sing along with some highly recognizable Disney characters. The parade travels the circumference of Discovery Island and begins near the Tusker House restaurant in Africa. To get the best viewing opportunity, guests should position themselves along the path between Africa and Asia. This spot affords some welcome shade and is generally not as crowded as other parade viewing locations. To get the best possible viewing, aim to get there at least 10 minutes prior to parade time. Because much of the entertainment takes place at street level, it makes sense to get there early so small children will be able to fully participate.

Variety of Live Performers

The parade involves no fewer than 60 live performers, all of whom are decked out in original and outrageous costumes. Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade features dancers, drummers and stiltwalkers who never fail to impress with their talent. Among the most interesting elements in the parade are the eight animal puppets. These exquisite creatures were designed by master puppeteer Michael Curry who designed puppets for Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway and Finding Nemo – The Musical, which can also be seen at the Animal Kingdom Park. The grace and imagination built into each puppet is truly remarkable to behold. Many guests consider the puppets alone worthy of lining up early to get the best seats.

Guest Family Invited for the Ride

The Animal Kingdom parade begins with the mandrill Rafiki from the Lion King leading the way. He’s riding in a highly decorated Adventure Rover, one of several such vehicles used in the parade. Rafiki invites a guest family to ride along with him for every parade. Being selected for this honor is particularly memorable for every member of the family. The other Rovers each carry a beloved Disney character including Goofy, Donald Duck and Minnie Mouse. The characters’ Rovers are each carefully decorated to reflect the personality of the character and to celebrate the parade’s animal theme. As usual in a Disney parade, Mickey Mouse is the ultimate spectacle and he closes out the parade with a wave from his own personalized Jeep. Of course, Mickey doesn’t traverse the parade route alone. Every day a different guest family is selected to ride along and join in on the fun. Mickey’s Jeep also tows the Bon Voyage Caravan, a spectacular float featuring various safari themes.

Disney Characters

Also included in the parade are other Disney characters like Chip ‘n’ Dale, Baloo and Brer Rabbit. Timon and Pumbaa put in an appearance along with Pluto and Terk. Percussive drum sculptures keep the beat alive and random party patrols encourage everyone to get involved in the singing and dancing. Rickshaw taxis inhabited by lucky guests and pulled by cast members are another highlight of this Animal Kingdom parade. Because of the high level of guest involvement, this is easily a favorite entertainment attraction for visitors to the park.

Viewing the Parade

Check the daily schedule to plan ahead for viewing this parade. Times often change with the season, but the parade is performed on most afternoons. Guests should plan to line up early to take full advantage of this lively, colorful entertainment. With a little luck, some families will also be selected to participate in the festivities. Plenty of opportunities to sing along and dance make this parade a favorite with kids of all ages. Throw in a huge number of Disney character favorites and some truly innovative puppets, and it’s easy to see why so many guests are making it a point to see Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade .

Be sure to visit the Disney World Website for more information.

By Jeff Collins

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