Magic Kingdom's Adventureland - Exploring the "World", One "Land" at a Time

Grab your best matey and get ready to explore Adventureland! From jungles to deserts to the high seas, you are sure to have a great time here! 

Our first stop is Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse. This attraction, based on the movie, takes you through the amazing treehouse the family built after being stranded on an island following a pirate attack. The house is filled with cool antiques and items that the family salvaged from their wrecked ship to build their home. To see it all, you need to be able to climb 116 steps! If you can't do it, or are afraid of heights, Disney suggests you skip this attraction.

Next on our adventure, we board the Jungle Cruise. We board our boats and are taken on a guided tour of the world's major rivers. Our skipper points out all the interesting scenes along the way and keeps us laughing with some of the world's corniest jokes! This is one of the original rides at Walt Disney World and features many audio-animatronic animals that Disney is famous for. A relaxing and entertaining family ride! 

Fans of the Jungle Cruise were delighted this August with the announcement of the new Skipper Canteen restaurant to be opened in Adventureland. At the Skipper Canteen, guests will be able to experience "World Famous Jungle Cuisine" in one of several unique dining rooms - including a crew mess hall and a once-hidden secret meeting room of the famed Society of Explorer and Adventurers. The restaurant will also be staffed by Jungle Cruise Skippers, so you know there is fun in store! Currently under construction, this new restaurant is expected to open in late 2015.  

Has anyone NOT heard of the Dole Whip yet? I have to wonder if this is not the most famous attraction in all of Adventureland. You can find them at Aloha Isle and you can try them in Pineapple, Orange, Vanilla or swirl ice cream. Or try a Dole Whip Float!

As we emerge from the Jungles, we are whisked away to the Far East and the markets of Agrabah. You can take flight on the Magic Carpets of Aladdin for a bird's eye view of the market (and a peek at the rest of the kingdom too!). Just beware of the camels...they spit! After this enchanting ride, you can stick around to meet Agrabah's favorite royals, Aladdin and Jasmine. 

The Enchanted Tiki Room was the first attraction at Disneyland to feature audio-animatronics with a cast of over 150 talking, singing and dancing birds. When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, an almost identical show was placed there called Tropical Serenade. It was replaced in 1998 with The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management and featured Zazu and Iago from The Lion King and Aladdin. In January 2011, a small fire broke out in the attic of the attraction and poor Iago was heavily damaged. It was decided that the attraction would be refurbished and return to the original show format, which it was on August 15, 2011. Many Disney purists prefer this version of the show.

After you visit the Tiki Room, you can stop by Sunshine Tree Terrace to grab a refreshing snack. They have soft-serve ice cream, fruit slushes, floats and more to cool off. If it's a chilly day, you can also get coffee, lattee, espresso and more!

Now we have arrived at my favorite section of Adventureland. Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me!! Pirates of the Caribbean was the last ride at Disneyland to be personally overseen by Walt Disney. It was brought to Walt Disney World in 1973. It is housed in a Spanish fort called Castillo del Morro inspired by Castillo de San Felipe del Morro in Old San Juan. Because of the success of the movies, it was refurbished in 2006 to add characters from the movie including Barbossa and the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. The newest changes include Blackbeard replacing Davy Jones in the waterfall and mermaids zooming through the waters near the deserted beach. Mermaids are quick! It may take a few rides to spot them. The also added a mermaid skeleton on the beach in the wrecked boat. I have personally seen all three versions and have to say, it just keeps getting better! Disney has perfectly blended the iconic scenes we all know and love (who doesn't get chills when you hear the echoing "Dead Men Tell No Tales"?) with the lively screen characters that have become such a success. Also, we can usually find some of our favorite pirate characters for meet and greets around this ride and it all ends with (in my opinion) one of the best gift shops in the park, full of booty I just LOVE to buy!

Now you can become one of the crew! After transforming you into a real pirate, you will be trained by Captain Jack's crew and get your new pirate name at The Pirate's League. Choose a pirate makeover or a mermaid makeover. You need to make advance reservations at 407-939-2739.

Another can't-miss attraction in Adventureland is Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial. The captain and his first mate teach us all the basics of being a pirate. Then he chooses some children from the audience and initiates them into the crew. All the children chosen get an official certificate from the captain himself. 

Once you've become a full-fledged pirate, it's time to put your skills to the test. In A Pirate's Adventures: Treasures of the Seven Seas, needs your help to raid 5 treasures throughout Adventureland. You can get your magic talisman at the Crow's Nest to complete your mission. If you're successful, you will be christened and official member of Captain Jack's crew!

In February, 2011 El Pirata Y El Perico became Tortuga Tavern in keeping with the Pirates of the Caribbean movie theme. Most of the decor and menu remained the same. This elusive little restaurant may be best known for rarely being open. I admit that it has always eluded me when I visit. It's a quaint little counter service restaurant offering Mexican favorites if you are lucky enough to find it open.


Now that we've had our fill of adventure, it's time to travel back to the Old West for some of the biggest thrills in Magic Kingdom!

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