Jungle Cruise - fast pass or standby?

[MJ6987]

Hi All,
My plan is almost done for our first ever trip to WDW from the UK, hence I'm down to really minor details like this (but I'm a bit of a perfectionist!).

On my touring plan for MK I have us getting a fast pass for Jungle Cruise, but now I've heard something about the line (or queue as we call it) on Jungle Cruise "starting to tell the story". So, I'm thinking, will we miss out by going in the fast pass line? Is it worth the extra time to go in the standby line?

Also, are there any other attractions where fast pass should be avoided for similar reasons?

Thanks again,
Matthew

 

[MomtoGKC]

Fast pass! We waited in line this weekend and it was torture. (I planned on getting a FP but once we got there my kids and DH convinced me to just wait in line) Then again we had to wait over 30 minutes. I wouldn't have minded the line if it was 15 minutes or so.

 

[cassmat]

The line up is 45-90 minutes....yuk..no story would make it worthwhile!

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

It depends on when you are going and what time of day you will be at the Jungle Cruise and if it's really worth your time standing in line. We went at the beginning of Jan. and late morning there was minimum wait (10 minutes) and in the afternoon on another day it was 20 minutes. We waited in the standby lines both times although I had thought about fast pass for the afternoon, but I really didn't want to back track.

If you are going at a very busy time and you will be there in the afternoon, the waits could be very long. Are you willing to wait that long? The announcer has some very funny things to say (you really have to listen because everyone around you is talking) but I wouldn't say that it would be worth standing in line for 40 minutes or more to hear it. But that's just my personal opinion.

 

[TravelinMommy]

We didnt have to wait in line for it last week ....so it depends on when you are going...that ride isnt worth a wait in line.. IMHO

 

[RMulieri]

FASTPASS. When we went in Sept the whole park was dead quiet no waits on Splash or Space or Big thunder...Jungle Cruise 40 min wait

 

[ChelleinNC]

I wouldn't wait extra time for it, but most of Disney's lines (queues) are heavily themed. That's one of the things I love about Disney as opposed to other places, all the extra attention to detail Among my favorites, Jungle Cruise, Expedition Everest, Kali River Rapids

 

[AustinTink]

We always ride at night and never have to wait more than 10-15 minutes. Hope that helps!

 

[MJ6987]

Thanks v much. Fat pass it is then unless we fall lucky

 

[POB14]

Thanks v much. Fat pass it is then unless we fall lucky

I wish that's what it really was; I'd get on everything first!

Anyway, what we do is go by the ride. If the wait is 15 minutes or so, we go standby (15 minutes posted usually means ten, in our experience, for JC); if it's more, we Fastpass it and go see Pirates or something until the time rolls around.

This last time, we went on Pirates AND JC while waiting for our BTMRR Fastpass time to roll around.

 

[jngwright]

Fastpass!! We always walk down there and think the line doesn't look so bad, then get in the line to wait. THEN we remember that there are hidden areas of the queue that make it much longer than it looks! Not this trip, though. Lesson learned (and remembered!) We are also going to try it at night, as I have heard it is very neat after dark!

 

[mdoc]

The Jungle Cruise line is a miserable one if it's longer than 15 minutes or so, and I can't think of any story or other reason to wait in it. I don't like to wait in lines, but this is a ride that is particularly not worth a wait, so definitely Fast Pass!

 

[btuftee]

For something like Jungle Cruise, which is not a super-headliner, I wouldn't get in the Standby line unless the posted wait was 15 mins or less. If the wait is more, grab a FP and then head to POTC or grab a Dole Whip, walk through the Swiss Family Treehouse, etc. Because Jungle Cruise isn't as huge of an attraction, your FP return times are usually pretty reasonable, at least before lunchtime, and there's a good selection of non-FP rides in Adventureland to pass the time on.

While the queue is themed, it's not really that great, and it's very crowded. Nothing at all like Expedition Everest's queue. And it's outdoors, unlike POTC, though there's shade at least. There's a lot of other queues I'd wait in before Jungle Cruise!

 

[kaffinito]

My youngest likes to ride it twice so if the line is short enough -15 minutes or so then we grab a fast pass before getting in line to see it. Then we do POTC and AMC before heading back to Jungle Cruise again. If the line is too long we just grab a Fast Pass and we "have" to go see it another day too.

If I had my way I'd just Fast Pass it and see it once!

 

[rosiejo]

Fast pass - sure the line has some cute crates and stuff in but the ride is so not worth the wait if you have to stand in line - plus it is the complete definition of the Disney Shuffle - just when you think you're nearly at the front the line switches back on itself and you end up miles away from the boat

 

[The Hendies]

I agree with pp. We ride at night and wait 5 - 10 minutes tops! Besides, we like the ride better at night. Somehow it doesn't seem as 'fake'. Don't get me wrong, we LOVE the ride, but let's face it, it IS fake!!!

 

[~Kik-Kik~]

FP is the way to go. I never remember the line being so long, but the last 3 times (with one exception) it was a 20-30 minute wait. We did it, but that's a long line for something that's not Splash, Space, Peter Pan, BTM, EE, ect...

 

[CheshireSmile]

Please be advised, the Jungle Cruise is an attraction whose FastPass service is based on the day's anticipated park attendance. If the park attendance is not above a minimum number, FastPass will not be available for the entire day, and the Standby queue will be all that is available. Typically the Jungle Cruise has short waits early in the morning, around parade time in the afternoon, and later at night when it's dark out.

 

[baby1disney]

Ok..I'll probably get flammed for this, but we don't do Jungle Cruise anymore because of Kilamajaro Safaris!!! This is THE best way to interact with the animals!!

Now the first time I rode Jungle Cruise, I liked it. But then I rode Kilamajaro and that was awesome!!!

If you have little ones and you think they might be afraid of the real thing, then the cruise is awesome for them. They're not in any kind of "danger" in any way, shape, or form.

Either way, have an AWESOME trip and have fun!!!! It's Disney World after all!!!!

 

[DisBride2009]

I would pick the FP because the line gets so long you would have to go threw two big rooms in order to get to the loading dock. It was a pain in the but when me and my mother got stuck doing that. So your much better off using the FP, unless you decide to go right before it closes or right when it opens.