Changes
/* 2021 Attraction Overhaul */
So if you think of the famous rhino pole scene, with the team of explorers who have somehow camped that night and then been run up the pole by the rhino and a group of other animals… that will really kick off the storyline. Did you ever wonder who those explorers were or where they came from? What’s their backstory? As part of the enhanced storyline, each one of them will have their own story and cultural heritage. There’s a birdwatcher, an entomologist, a wildlife painter, and a photographer, and each one will have a different reason for being on the expedition. And, of course, they did one of the things you’re never supposed to do, which is leave the boat. And one of the things we’re adding to the attraction is an animatronic skipper, who’s been chased up the pole by the rhino, along with the other explorers. They each have great personality, and I think our guests will connect with these characters in new ways. So we’re not really re-envisioning that scene, we’re just adding a narrative and storytelling to bring things to life and connect that moment with other happenings along the river.
And you may ask yourself, Wait, what happened to their boat? And we find out that the front of the boat has been beached upon these rocks. We wanted to put something here that feels like Marc Davis had a hand in it, that has a bit of humor in it. And we wanted the animals to have the last laugh. So you’ll see that the family of chimpanzees has moved in. And we don’t currently have chimps on this attraction—all of these amazing animals have been brought to life through the years on the Jungle Cruise and yet we’ve never had chimpanzees. The family of chimpanzees jumps on the wreckage of the boat and they are almost making fun of us. One is wearing the skipper’s hat and is on the microphone. The mother chimp has opened up all the maps and it looks like she’s reading them. A little chimp has gotten into the wildlife painter’s supplies and has made a mess with paint everywhere. It’s the animals really getting the last laugh in this cute scene—these silly explorers really came in and invaded their world<ref> https://d23.com/enhancements-coming-to-the-jungle-cruise/ </ref>.}}
Subsequent to the announcement, the first major change came to the Jungle Cruise on April 5, 2021, when the Trader Sam figure was removed from the ride<ref> https://wdwnt.com/2021/04/photos-trader-sam-removed-from-jungle-cruise-at-walt-disney-world/ </ref>. Although still unfinished, a new scene depicting Trader Sam's Gift Shop is expected to debut in 2021. Concept art for the upcoming scene shows that Trader Sam has turned the Jungle Navigation Company's Lost and Found into his own gift shop<ref> https://attractionsmagazine.com/trader-sam-animatronic-jungle-cruise-replaced-with-trader-sams-gift-shop/ </ref>. Unfortunately for Sam, while he is out in the jungle looking for inventory a group of monkeys appears to have raided his shop.
The second Jungle Cruise scene to be reworked was the "trapped safari" scene, where a hunter and his porters had been run up a pole by a rhinoceros<ref> https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/jungle-cruise/news/07jun2021-skipper-felix-gets-animated-as-the-trapped-skipper-scene-is-completed-at-the-jungle-cruise.htm </ref>. The original safari figures (which had already been altered in 1996) were replaced by new characters- Skipper Felix Penchman XIII and his crew. As part of the attraction's new backstory, Felix Pechman XIII is introduced as a Jungle Cruises skipper from Silver Springs Florida<ref> https://attractionsmagazine.com/trader-sam-animatronic-jungle-cruise-replaced-with-trader-sams-gift-shop/ </ref>. After signing on with the Jungle Navigation Co., Pechman was tasked with piloting a group of Alberta Falls' VIP guests aboard the Kwango Kate (a boat that had previously been in the Jungle Cruise fleet until being retired in 2000). Members of the VIP party include:
Dr. Leonard Moss- An acclaimed Canadian botanist who is known for photographing and cataloging every plant in the Novia Scotia peninsula.
Dr. Kon Chonusuke- A Member of the Society of Explorers and Adventures (S.E.A.), and Japan's preeminent Entomologist. Chonusuke joined the Jungle Cruise party in hopes of adding to his famed collection of insects.
The next Jungle Cruise scene to be overhauled was the "Pigmy Beach" scene. Here, a new set was constructed with a shack that reads "Boats and Baits AND Bites"<ref> https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/jungle-cruise/news/07jun2021-third-new-scene-installed-at-the-jungle-cruise---boats-and-baits---and-bites.htm </ref>. While native canoes that lined the beach in the previous incarnation of the scene are still present, the polls adorned with skulls have been removed, as has the original pigmy hut.
====Jingle Cruise====
'''Main Article: [[Jingle Cruise]]'''
