Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade is an enjoyable and exciting afternoon parade that will get you in the mood to dance “to the rhythm of one!!” With strong beats and a tropical flair, everyone in your family or group will surely LOVE it. This parade is also the highlight of Animal Kingdom because Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade is the only parade at this theme park. Animal Kingdom does not have evening fireworks, show or parade like the other major parks have because Animal Kingdom closes earlier.
Disney does parades the BEST, with their colorful floats, great theming and incredible cast members that keep up the energy with the crowd. The Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade brings out familiar characters like the Famous Fab Five (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto) as well as characters from movies like the “Jungle book” and “The Lion King”, which you may not see in the other theme parks and their parades.
The Parade starts at 3:45pm everyday, however check your daily times guide for details. Sometimes the parade might get delayed for weather concerns. Once, we were waiting for the parade and it rained so it was cancelled. We were sad about that. If possible also check ahead the weather forecast if the parade is a must-see on your list! The parade is about 15 minutes and I think it is one of the most fun and colorful quarter of an hour we’ve experienced.
Parade Route:
Mickey’s Jammn’ Jungle Parade begins in Africa, in between Kilimanjaro Safari and the Tusker House. It follows down towards Discovery Island, loops up past the outside entrance of Dinoland, over the bridge crossing to Asia and then turns back towards where it began.
Diva tip, the BEST Viewing Location:
In my opinion, our family had the best viewing location for the parade. Even a Cast Member mentioned this to us while we were waiting. This area would be near the tail end of the Parade route, so you would be waiting a bit longer from when the Parade initially starts, but it is worth the wait.
As the parade makes its way towards Africa YOU ARE THE LAST parade viewer they see!
How to get there: If you are coming from Asia, at the Yak and Yeti restaurant, head towards Africa. Go past “Flights of Wonder,” past the washrooms and you will see where the cast members end the rope line (right beside a garbage can, which is clean!!). This is where you want to view. Why? There are trees behind you, so NOBODY will be breathing down your neck or trying to push themselves or their children forward. There is no one to the right of you because it’s the end of the line. There is no one across from you, so all the characters and cast members come to you before heading for their mini break to Africa. (It’s also a great spot to take photos.) And the best part, IT’S SHADED, which is a relief to wait in during the hot afternoons in Animal Kingdom.
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| My husband took this photo of the Tree of Life before the Parade, the unobstructed view was across from our spot. |
We marked this spot about 30 minutes before the parade started (if you are going during peak season, I would say get there 40 – 60 minutes before). We placed our handy colorful dollar store rain ponchos on the ground. We sat there, while one member of our family went to Africa to get FastPasses to Kilimanjaro Safari. And as I mentioned above, since you just passed the washrooms, if you or your little ones need to go, it’s very close by.
Memories:
My daughter and the little girl to the left of us, loved having literally all the characters and cast members turn their attention towards us. The music and the beats are so lively and fun, you will have perma-smile while dancing to the beats. My favorite part was actually seeing the families they choose to be part of the parade on the floats. It was touching to see them so happy, waving to everyone and being part of the Disney Magic of this parade.
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| Families chosen (earlier in the day), feeling like royalty to be part of the parade. |
So get your grove on, and head over for an afternoon filled with Jammn’ Jungle fun at this exploration of a parade in the heart of Animal Kingdom.
