Disneyland Resort

Haunted or Hazard? Classic Disney Attraction’s Water Turns Red, Hazmat Crew Onsite

Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise is known for its adventurous charm, playful skippers, and animatronic wildlife, but this week, visitors were greeted with a scene that felt more dystopian than whimsical. Guests reported an unusual sight: cast members in hazmat suits and murky red water.

Jungle Cruise has been a staple of Disneyland since the park’s grand opening on July 17, 1955. Originally conceived as a serious river expedition through dense jungles in Asia, Africa, and South America, the ride quickly evolved into a comedy-driven experience.

A group of Disneyland guests sit on the Jungle Cruise with their skipper stood at the front of the boat
Credit: Disney

The transformation was largely credited to the introduction of the now-famous Jungle Cruise skippers, whose witty banter and rapid-fire puns have become an essential part of the attraction’s legacy. Over the years, Disney has carefully modernized the ride while preserving its nostalgic appeal, most notably in 2021 when certain culturally outdated elements were removed in favor of a more inclusive storyline.

Versions of the ride also exist at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland, each offering slight variations – especially at the latter park, where the grand finale includes a battle between angry fire and water gods.

Guests ride Jungle Cruise at Hong Kong Disneyland
Credit: Disney

Guests Report Unnatural Ride Waters

This week, the OG version of the ride underwent a surprise makeover.

One visitor took to Reddit, sharing an image of the attraction’s water appearing in an ominous red hue, accompanied by skippers clad in protective suits. The accompanying caption read, “Something is going on at Jungle Cruise. Skippers dressed in hazmat suits and the water is purple/pink.”

Jungle Cruise turned pink
byu/DizneyDux inDisneyland

Speculation quickly ran wild, with some joking that a skipper had fallen foul of the piranhas, an overly enthusiastic Disneyland guest had conducted a gender reveal, or that the water “runs red with the blood of people who pirate Disney movies.”

Safe to say, the reality is far less dramatic.

The Truth About Jungle Cruise Turning Red

This isn’t the first time the Jungle Cruise waters have taken on an unnatural hue. In 2022, a similar incident occurred, prompting Disney to clarify that the color change was the result of a routine water treatment process.

The treatment typically lasts only a few hours before the water returns to its normal shade. During this time, guests are kept off the ride.

A monkey scene from Jungle Cruise
Credit: Disney

Some speculation suggested the cleaning this time around was unscheduled, possibly linked to a sewage leak. The user who posted the original image claimed to have heard this from a cast member, though this remains unverified. However, previous reports suggest that the Jungle Cruise undergoes a major cleaning roughly every three years, making it plausible that this was part of standard maintenance.

Have you ever spotted Jungle Cruise in its pink era?

Chloe James

Chloë is a theme park addict and self-proclaimed novelty hunter. She's obsessed with all things Star Wars, loves roller coasters (but hates Pixar Pal-A-Round), and lives for Disney's next Muppets project.

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