Although it only premiered in 2019, the Jungle Book Jive at Disneyland Paris is already considered one of the greatest shows ever of the French resort. This street event is the ideal entertainment for a sunny Summer day at Disneyland Park and you simply can’t miss it!

Inspired by the animated movie “The Jungle Book” by Walt Disney, the Jungle Book Jive at Disneyland Paris shares the theme of the movie. After all, it’s a tribute to India and Hindu traditions, with lots of color, rhythm, music, and dance!

So, do you want to know more about The Show Jungle Book Jive At Disneyland Paris? Keep reading!

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Brief History of Jungle Book Jive at Disneyland Paris

The street show Jungle Book Jive at Disneyland Paris (in French, “Le Rhythme de la Jungle”) opened on June 30th, 2019, as part of a new summer program. This special season was called “The Lion King & Jungle Festival” (in French, “Le Festival du Roi Lion et de la Jungle”) and its themes were the savannas and the jungle.

The “Lion King & Jungle Festival” premiered other very popular shows, such as the musical “The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands” (at Chaparral Theater, Frontierland) or the “MataDance”, an interactive tribal dance class with Timon, Pumbaa, and Zazu.

This new entertainment offer was so successful, that Disneyland Paris repeated it in 2020, although with the necessary measures of security and social distancing. For example, the Jungle Book Jive at Disneyland Paris was moved to the much smaller Walt Disney Studios Park. In addition, visitors now have to use the online booking system Lineberty to secure a seat in the “audience”.

The Jungle Book Jive at Disneyland Paris takes place three times a day, despite being subject to last-minute changes or cancellations. Just to illustrate, it happened on July 25th, 2019, during a “heatwave” that broke records in Europe. I remember that day perfectly because I was at Disneyland Paris and the temperatures exceeded 42ºC! The first show of the day still happened, but the rest were canceled, as well as all meet & greet with characters, outside attractions, and street commerce…

This show has a monumental float and four much smaller ones and lasts for about 30 minutes. Half of the performers arrive from Fantasyland, next to the “it’s a small world” attraction, while the rest arrive from Town Square – the entrance/exit of Disneyland Park. Still, the main performance takes place at the Central Plaza (in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle), on the square’s four central stages.

1. Mickey Mouse & Friends

The Jungle Book Jive at Disneyland Paris is always preceded by a 15-minute countdown to bring people together in the course of the parade. At the same time, a series of percussionists disperse through Central Plaza, inviting children in the audience to play the drums.

Then, “We’re On Our Way” begins to sound, the theme song composed specifically for this street show. And at the first musical notes, there are the four small floats that appear, bringing Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, and Donald Duck. These leave from the big green gate of Town Square and are dressed as explorers, anticipating the “jungle adventure” that will happen.

2. Jungle Animals

Meanwhile, on the other side of the park (in Fantasyland), a parade of giant animals appears. With bright colors and up to 5 meters high, they are used by groups of two or three artists as musical instruments! And although they have wheels, they aren’t exactly parade floats.

The four large animals represented are the best known of the Asian jungles and African savannas: giraffe, elephant, rhino, and hippo. They are joined by a fifth animal: the cow, one of the sacred symbols of India. The musicians who accompany them have tribal clothes and face paintings and dance at the same time.

3. Goofy & Friends

When the two groups arrive at Central Plaza, the four protagonists get out of their floats. Then, Mickey & Minnie and Donald & Daisy go up to two of the central stages, chatting happily in French. As for the giant animals, they continue to go around the square, interacting with the children.

The public quickly realizes that everyone is looking for Goofy, but he appears from inside the Sleeping Beauty Castle! With him comes Chip, Dale, Clarice, and several dozen musicians and dancers!

With rhythms and sounds distinctly Indian, the new group descends to Central Plaza, in an explosion of music and color. Goofy is followed by ten drummers, who came specifically from the state of Rajasthan in northern India for this show! Behind them are eight couples of dancers, dressed in all the colors of the rainbow. Soon after, it’s Clarice‘s turn, accompanied by Chip and Dale on each side.

And at the end of this parade, the main star of the show appears: it’s Ghôldivah, a fictional character represented by a singer. With her, there are still eight dancers and four dancers. The various groups of artists spread quickly through the Central Plaza so that everyone can watch the choreographies.

4. Ghôldivah

In my opinion, the best moment of the Jungle Book Jive at Disneyland Paris is undoubtedly when Ghôldivah sings the theme “Trust In Me”, from the movie “The Jungle Book” (1967).

If you don’t remember this scene from the cartoon, this is the song that Kaa – the python snake – sings to hypnotize Mowgli.

Unlike the vast majority of Disneyland Paris shows (especially those that are outdoors), the singer sings live and is absolutely outstanding!

Not only is the melody of this new arrangement quite difficult, but it also has very high notes. Besides, some parts of the lyrics of her interventions even appear to be in Sanskrit!

5. Baloo & King Louie

The last moment of the Jungle Book Jive at Disneyland Paris show features Baloo and King Louie, from the movie The Jungle Book. The two arrive in the biggest float of the parade, accompanied by two drummers, and go up to the other two central stages.

Here, each one sings their theme song from the animated movie: “The Bare Necessities” (in French) and “I Wan’na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)” (in English), amidst lively and contagious choreographies. During the scene, Donald and Daisy dance with Baloo, and soon after, Chip and Dale join the party. On the other side, it’s Mickey and Minnie‘s turn to interact with King Louie, while they wait for Goofy and Clarice.

In this final section, you’ll hear the main song of the show again, amid shots of multicolor powder to the rhythm of the music. In the end, a big and colorful explosion appears at the top of the highest tower of Sleeping Beauty Castle. These “fireworks” remind me of the Color Run that is, after all, inspired by the Hindu festival of Holi!

After several bows and farewells, the stars of the show descend from their respective stages and return to their places. Now, they go on parade to the ends of the park from where they arrived, waving and interacting with the public.

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