Changes
/* Main Ride */
| duration=9:05
| Maximum Speed= 2.18 mph
|custom_label_2= FastPass Disney Genie +
|custom_value_2= Yes
}}
==Attraction History==
The genesis of what would eventually be known as the Jungle Cruise began in the 1950s with Walt Disney's True Life Adventures. Walt wanted to create an attraction for his Disneyland Park that would take inspiration from the films series, particularly from the "African Lion" installment <ref> http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20150821/30496/jungle-cruise-amazon-adventure-orange-grove </ref>. Disney enlisted the help of Harper Goff (who had worked on the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) to help design the attraction. Goff used not only the True Life series for inspiration, but also the 1951 film, ''The African Queen'' <ref name= "Spence"> http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2009/11/jungle_cruise_1.html </ref>. That film featured the two main characters traveling down a river in Africa aboard a steam boat. Goff took the movies basic premise, and expanded it to also include rivers in South America and Asia <ref name= "Spence"/>. According to Goff:
{{Quotation|""Walt and I had both seen the film 'The African Queen' and the animals were never completely visible, they were partially hidden in the underbrush on shore or just under the water. So we began to think of hippos and other animals whose mechanics and tracks could be hidden and still have animated elements"<ref> http://allears.net/ae/issue743.htm </ref>.}}
[[Image:Junglewalt.jpg|400px|thumb|Walt Disney surveying Disneyland's Jungle Cruise]]
During the Jungle Cruise's early stages, Walt Disney had hoped to use real animals in the attraction <ref> http://www.florida-project.com/walt-disney-world-photos/magic-kingdom/adventureland/jungle-cruise </ref>. After researching the issue and consulting with animal specialists however, it was decided that live animals would not be feasible for a number of reasons. For starters, Disney decided that the animals would be too unpredictable to center a scripted show around, and that the passing guests would agitate the animals. Furthermore, it would cost Disney a lot of money, land, and man power to take care of the animals <ref name= "Spence"/>. After weighing these issues Walt decided to use artificial (Audio Animatronic) animals instead of real ones. The Audio Animatronic animals used in the attraction were sculpted by Chris Mueller and built at the Disney Studio in Burbank (although some of the animals were built on site) <ref> http://matterhorn1959.blogspot.com/2009/11/making-jungle-cruise-animals-1954_03.html </ref>. Engineer Bob Mattey was responsible for the effects that made the animals move <ref> http://allears.net/ae/issue743.htm </ref>.
===Changes Since Opening Day===
Since it opened the Jungle Cruise has experienced a series of major and minor changes. The changes to the attraction include:
[[Image:JungleCruiseBoats.jpg|400px500px|thumb|A Jungle Cruise boat as they looked prior to 2000]]
*In 1971, the bullfrogs that were located in the Congo scene were removed <ref name= "widen"/>.
*The Jungle Cruise's original entrance sign was removed in 1991. The current entrance sign was added in 2000 as part of the FastPass instillation refurbishment.
===2021 Attraction Overhaul===
In January 2021, Disney announced that the Jungle Cruise would be updated to give the attraction "more humor, wildlife, and skipper heart" while also "reflecting the valuing the diversity of the world around us". In March 2021, Imagineer expanded on the upcoming changes, noting the for the first time the attraction would have a unifying storyline:
{{Quotation|For the first time, we are actually linking scenes together.
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>.}}
[[Image:JungleCruiseMonkeyBoat.jpg|thumb|500px|A family of chimpanzees aboard a wrecked Jungle Cruise boat. Photo: Disney|alt= Jungle Cruise monkey]]
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:
Siobhan "Puffin" Murphy- A birdwatcher from Dingle, Ireland, Siobhan grew up in the seaside town studying the puffins that nested nearby. She is also a distant cousin of Alberta Falls.
Dr. Leonard Moss- An acclaimed Canadian botanist who is known for photographing and cataloging every plant in the Novia Scotia peninsula.
Rosa Soto Dominguez- A Mexican artist who is close friends with Alberta Falls. Known to the art world as "La Rosa", Tubert stopped to visit Falls on her way back to Mexico city. She had hoped to paint exotic animals, especially rhinos, while visiting.
[[Image:BoatsBaitsBites.jpg|thumb|500px|The Boats Baits and BITES scene. Photo: Disney|alt= Jungle Cruise Boats Baits Bites]]
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]]'''
{{Quotation|In this new seasonal storyline of the attraction, the Skippers have grown homesick for the holidays, so they’ve added holiday cheer to the Jungle Cruise queue and boathouse with decorations that have been mailed to them from home (plus a few they’ve created themselves). The Skippers have also added a slew of new jokes to their tours that are the perfect way to get guests in the holiday spirit. Additionally, Jungle Cruise boats have been renamed with the holidays in mind, and if guests listen carefully, they may hear a holiday-themed radio broadcast playing in the background.<ref> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/10/jungle-cruise-goes-jingle-cruise-for-the-holidays-at-disneyland-park-magic-kingdom-park/ </ref>}}
The Jingle Cruise has subsequently returned every year for the holiday seasons from 2014-2017 season <ref> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/11/jingle-cruise-returns-to-magic-kingdom-park-today/ </ref> <ref> http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2015/11/attention-adventurers-jingle-cruise-returns-to-magic-kingdom-park-today/ </ref>.
==Attraction Plot==
===Queue===
The queue for the Jungle Cruse takes place in the office of the fictional Jungle Navigation Co. According to a sign in the queue, the company takes guests on riverboats which depart from the Adventureland Dock and take guests to the Zambezi River, Irrawaddy River, Schweitzer Falls and the Congo River. According to the backstory, the Adventureland Dock is itself located on the Amazon River. The company appears to be run by British colonialists.
[[Image:Trader SamFelix.jpg|thumb|400px500px|Trader Sam who is always willing to offer "two of his heads, for one of yours" on Skipper Felix Pechman XII in the Jungle Cruisetrapped skipper scene]]
====Queue Radio====
While waiting in the queue, guests hear Albert AWOL "the voice of the jungle".
<flashmp3>JungleCruise.mp3</flashmp3>
===Main Ride===
[[Image:pythonpython2.jpg|thumb|400px500px|A python on the Congo River. Photo: Disney|alt= Jungle Cruise Python Magic Kingdom]]
The Jungle Cruise features a live skipper and thus the script for the attraction is often unique. The description below does not give the skipper's dialogue; it instead focuses on the sights that guests see while on the attraction. For a list of jokes that the skippers on the Jungle Cruise often use see: [[List of Jungle Cruise Jokes]]
The Jungle Cruise begins with guests exiting the loading dock and entering the Amazon River. Here, guests they see giant butterflies, remnants of a safari, and Inspiration Falls. After traveling down the Amazon, guests transition to the Congo River. Here, the first thing guests see is the sight of pygmy war canoes on a nearby beach. Although the boats are empty, the sound of tribal drums beating in the distance can be heard as the boat continues on. After turning a corner, guests come face to face with a yellow and brown python, before the skipper decides to swing by camp to pick up supplies. When guests arrive at the camp however, it seems gorillas have overrun the campit. Near the bank of the water, a jeep is flipped over and cans and boxes are scattered all along the beach. Inside the tent, a group of gorillas are seen "playing" with various belongings. The father ape tries to put on a small helmet, as the mother ape sits nearby holding a baby. Also in the tent, two young gorillas are shown holding guns, which they are “innocently” pointing towards the boatsboat.
As the boat travels on pass the camp, guests enter the Nile River. Here, they pass by African elephants who "trumpet" as the boat passes by. Further on, guests see gnus, giraffes, zebras, impala, and vultures in the distance. The boat also passes by lion’s den, where a pack of lions are shown eating a zebra. After taking a sharp turn past the lion’s den, guests see the "trapped safari skipper scene". Here, four men on safari Skipper Felix Penchman XIII and his passangers Dr. Lenoard Moss, Rosa Soto Dominguez, and Dr. Kon Chonsuke appear to have left their boat and been run up a pole by a large wild rhinoceros. Past the safaritrapped group, guests come across a beach which features two large crocodiles (named Old Smiley and Ginger) who hiss as guests pass by. [[Image:JungleHippo.jpg|thumb|500px|A hipppatamous on the Jungle Cruise. Photo: Disney.| alt= Jungle Cruise hippo]] Past the crocodiles and straight ahead, guests see the beautiful Scenic Falls. Passing the falls, the boat then takes another sharp turn, before it enters the hippo pool. Here (with the sound of crickets in the background) guests navigate past some hippopotamuses, which pop out of the water on either side of the boat. Although the hippo’s initially pose a threat to guests, the skipper fires a warning shot which keeps the hippos at bay. In the hippo pool scene, guests can also see the back half of an airplane (the front half of the plane is was formally used in the [[Great Movie Ride]]).
Just past the hippo pool, guests come upon the headhunter village. Here, the sound of the native drums can once again be heard in the distance. Along a nearby beach, a canoe full of skulls can be seen in front a small hut, which houses three warriors jumping around with their spears. Nearby, a smaller hut houses three drummers who have seemingly been making the beats that guests have heard in the background.
After surviving the village, the boat is attacked by Zulu warriors. Seven men hide in the bushes along the shore with their spears raised. Although the sound of whizzing spears can be heard overhead, guests survive the attack, and soon find themselves passing under Schweitzer Falls. The Falls mark the transition between the Nile and Mekong (formally called the Irrawaddy) Rivers.
As the boat enters the Mekong River, guests find themselves heading into ancient ruins. On either side of the boat, crocodiles watch closely as the riders pass by. As guests enter a temple, the boats pass boat passes by a statue of the Hindu God Vishnu. Inside the crumbling temple, relics depicting scenes of Hindu mythology surround guests, and for a brief moment the boat passes by a tiger who growls menacingly. Just pass the tiger, a python stares intently at the boat as it passes by. Traveling deeper into the ruins, guests hear the soft sound of xylophones in the background. Two pythons sway to the music, as the boat passes a mound of treasure, as well as giant spiders (similar to the ones that were formally found in the [[Haunted Mansion]]).
After exiting the temple, guests find themselves in the Elephant Bathing Pool. While elephants squirt water around them, the boat narrowly misses getting sprayed. Just pass beyond the elephant bathing pool; guests pass Trader Sam, who sells shrunken heads. The skipper usually comments that Sam is willing 's Gift Shop (which the salesman seems to "trade two of your heads for one of his"have repurposed from the Jungle Navigation Co.'s Lost and Found. After passing Sam, the shop guests arrive back at the dock and unload.
==Fun Facts and Trivia==
*The Jungle Cruise has the lowest elevation of any attraction in the Magic Kingdom <ref> https://hayliesthoughts.wordpress.com/2014/11/01/the-jungle-cruise/ </ref>.
*Marc Davis' original plans for the Jungle Cruise expansion called for a scene in which a gorilla hit a crocodile in the head <ref name= "widen"/>.
* Another planned scene (designed by Marc Davis) that was never used would have featured a baboon family standing on a rock formation <ref name= "widen"/>.
*The sound of bullfrogs can be heard while guests travel the Amazon. This is because the attraction originally called for featured Audio Animatronic frogs in this location <ref name= "widen"/>.
*Walt Disney originally wanted to use the squid from the film ''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'' in the Jungle Cruise <ref> http://www.disneyhistoryinstitute.com/2012/02/how-could-i-have-missed-this.html </ref>.
'''* Kwango Kate was retired in 2000.'''
'''Orinoco Ida was originally going to be named Orinoco Ola, thus making it an alliteration like the other Jungle Cruise boats. This early name can be found in the list of Jungle Cruise boats found in Marty Sklar's preopening Nomenclature booklet <ref> the referenced booklet can be found here http://disney-park-historical-docs.tumblr.com/post/154571182673/wdw-nomenclature-part-two </ref>.
==References==
