Tomorrowland at Disneyland is often criticized for its need for a major overhaul, and it’s easy to see why. Much of the land remains dominated by remnants of the defunct PeopleMover track, leaving it feeling dated and uninspired. While this critique is valid, it’s important to recognize that Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland is similarly overdue for a refresh. Despite being home to the legendary Pirates of the Caribbean, the area feels cramped and disjointed, detracting from its overall atmosphere and guest experience.
One of Adventureland’s most popular attractions is the Jungle Cruise, which typically commands a 45-minute wait at Walt Disney World—nearly double the average wait time at Disneyland. This could be attributed to Disneyland’s large local crowd, many of whom have likely experienced the Jungle Cruise numerous times, or perhaps the abundance of attractions at Disneyland spreads the crowds more evenly. The Magic Kingdom’s Pirates of the Caribbean, while enjoyable, is notably less impressive than its Disneyland counterpart, with both versions attracting similar wait times.
In addition to these two headliners, Adventureland is home to three more attractions: the Enchanted Tiki Room, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, and the Swiss Family Treehouse. Let me be clear: the Enchanted Tiki Room is iconic and any renovation to Adventureland should preserve this beloved show. However, the other two attractions are at the core of this discussion.
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is one of the most disruptive elements in Adventureland. Its central location creates a severe bottleneck, making it difficult for guests to move freely through the area. The ride itself is nothing special—a glorified aerial carousel akin to Dumbo, but noisier and more intrusive. Its placement feels awkward and detracts from the land’s overall flow and charm.
Similarly, while the Swiss Family Treehouse has its own nostalgic charm, it’s one of the least popular attractions in the park, yet it occupies an expansive footprint—almost as much space as The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Here are my thoughts on how to improve Adventureland, which I acknowledge are more armchair Imagineering than realistic proposals, but it’s all in good fun.
First, I would remove the Swiss Family Treehouse and expand the Jungle Cruise into this area. This expansion would bring new life to the attraction, allowing guests to experience the excitement of the Jungle Cruise right as they enter the land. The inevitable closure required for this expansion would also provide an opportunity to update the existing ride, particularly the lion pride scene, which feels stale with its overused joke, “Look, the lions are protecting the sleeping zebra.” While it gets a laugh, I’d prefer to see a more dynamic scene with enhanced animatronics that feel more immersive and alive. I know they added some new fun elements to this ride not too long ago, but I think this would take the ride to a whole new level.
Next, I would eliminate The Magic Carpets of Aladdin and replace it with a much smaller central feature, such as a shaded tree or subtle landmark, to reduce congestion without creating new obstacles. This would open up the space and improve crowd flow.
With The Magic Carpets of Aladdin gone, there’s a golden opportunity to introduce a new attraction: Aladdin: The Cave of Wonders. This family-friendly ride would use a trackless system to take guests on a journey through the Cave of Wonders, where they help Aladdin rescue Genie, leading to plenty of humor and adventure. Similar to Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure, this attraction could extend beyond Adventureland’s berm, utilizing the underused land between Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Finally, I’d propose reimagining Pirates of the Caribbean as part of a newly themed area, combining it with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure to create a miniature New Orleans Square. While this might initially seem out of place, it would make sense to remove Tiana’s Bayou Adventure from Frontierland, where it feels disconnected (especially with the potential addition of Cars-themed attractions), and group it with Pirates. Pairing these attractions with the new Pirates Lounge and transforming Pecos Bill into Tiana’s Palace would create a cohesive, immersive New Orleans-inspired experience that ties the area together beautifully.
