Guests boarding the Jungle Cruise on Sunday encountered an alarming sight that resembled something from a horror movie, rather than the Happiest Place on Earth. The Disneyland Park attraction’s normally murky green water had transformed into a shocking blood-red color, prompting concern on social media.
Startling Visual Greets Jungle Cruise Riders
Reddit user u/zazerite documented the bizarre scene, posting a photo showing vibrant crimson water flowing through sections of the iconic Adventureland attraction:
Red River on Jungle Cruise
The unsettling visual raised immediate concerns among Disney Parks fans, particularly because Disneyland Resort continued to operate the Jungle Cruise despite the blood-red water. Guests floated through the attraction, likely wondering if something had gone terribly wrong with the ride’s water treatment system.
Simple Explanation for Shocking Color
Despite the alarming appearance, the crimson water resulted from routine maintenance rather than any safety incident. Reddit user u/Legokid535 explained the phenomenon in the comments: “Give it a few days. This is I [believe] the dye they use on [the] water. …It will clear up in a few days.”
The red dye is just one component of the chemical treatment process Disneyland Resort uses to maintain the Jungle Cruise water. When first added, the dye appears bright red, but over several days, it mixes with other chemicals to form a darker shade. The combination eventually produces the swampy, green color that has become synonymous with the Disney Park attraction.
Seven Decades of Adventure
The Jungle Cruise opened alongside Disneyland Park on July 17, 1955, making it one of the resort’s original attractions. Over 70 years of operation have brought significant changes to the experience. The ride evolved from Walt Disney’s vision of a serious, educational tour through international waterways into today’s comedy-focused adventure, packed with corny puns and skipper humor.
Walt Disney’s creation proved immediately popular with theme park guests. The attraction’s success led Walt Disney Imagineers to build versions of the Jungle Cruise at Magic Kingdom Park, Tokyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland. Its cultural impact extended beyond theme parks when Disney released a 2021 film adaptation of the ride starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt.
What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever seen on a Disney Park ride? Let Disney Dining know in the comments!
