Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise 
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| The entrance of the Jungle Cruise. | |
| Magic Kingdom | |
| Land | Adventureland |
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| Attraction type | Boat Ride |
| Opening date | October 1, 1971 |
| Ride duration | 9:05 minutes |
| Fastpass Available | Yes |
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The Jungle Cruise is an attraction located in Adventureland
Contents
Attraction History
The genesis of what would eventually be known as the Jungle Cruise began with Walt Disney's True Life Adventures in the 1950s. Walt wanted to create an attraction for his Disneyland park that would take inspiration from the films series, particularly from the "African Lion" installment. 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, which featured 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.
During the Jungle Cruise's early stages, Walt Disney had hoped to use real animals in the attraction. 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. 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). Engineer Bob Mattey was responsible for the effects that made the animals move.
In order to landscape the Jungle Cruise, Disney turned to Bill Evans, who was in charge of gardening all of Disneyland. Evans used foliage from nurseries all over California, as well as displaced vegetation from the Santa Ana Freeway construction for the ride.
The Jungle Cruise opened with the rest of Disneyland on July 17 1955, to rave revues. Although the attraction was popular, one day Walt heard a guest say (referring to the Jungle Cruise), "we don't need to go on that ride, we've already seen it.” Horrified, Disney realized that he needed to update Disneyland's attractions in order to keep the attention of return visitors. To accomplish this, Walt asked Marc Davis to refresh the Jungle Cruise. Davis changed the tone of the attraction, making it a humorous trip as opposed to the danger filled adventure that it had previously been. To this end, Davis created the Indian Elephant Pool scene (which opened in 1962) as well as the African Veldt and Lost Safari scenes (which opened in 1964). At this time, the script for the Jungle Cruise was rewritten, giving it a much lighter (and pun dependent) narration.
Due to its popularity in Disneyland, the Jungle Cruise was an obvious choice for inclusion in Walt Disney World's Adventureland. Under the watchful eye of Marc Davis, Disney World’s Jungle Cruise featured more "sight gags", and a longer ride time then its Disneyland counterpart. Scenes including: Inspiration falls, the gorillas in the safari camp, pygmy war canoes, the Bengal tiger and the especially the Cambodian Ruins, gave Disney World's Jungle Cruise a unique feel. Construction began on the Jungle Cruise in the spring of 1969 and the attraction was ready for the Magic Kingdom's opening day on October 1, 1971.
Attraction plot
As riders leave the dock, the skipper introduces themselves and begins to tell corny jokes. The ride starts on the Amazon River. The first creatures guests see is large butterflies with wingspans from "12 inches up to 1 ft". The boat then passes waterfalls, at which point the boat moves to the Congo river. On the Congo, the boat passes and empty pygmy camp and an enormous python. The boat the continues up the river and passes another camp. This camp has been overrun by monkeys! The boat passes by and continues onto the Nile.
The ship begins on the Nile by passing through some bathing African Elephants. As the boat continues it passes an African field which features giraffes, wildebeests, zebras and a pride of lions. The boat then passes the final camp shown. This camp has several man stuck on a totem pole. Below them a rhino is trying to get up to them. Continuing on the boat passes two crocodiles and then narrowly avoids being doused by Schweitzer Falls. Riders will also notice airplane wreckage. This plane was added to the attraction in 19??. After passing the plane a hippo pool will appear.At this point on the ride, the pygmies once again appear. They are now dancing in a circle which means that they are ready to attack. The pygmies attack the boat until it goes behind Schwitzer falls. Which leads to the Skipper giving the famous "back side of water" joke.
The ride's final river is the The Macong River in Cambodia. While on this river the boat travels inside a temple. The boat then moves inside a temple, a departure from the Disneyland version which is all-outdoors. Ruins, treasures, shrines, a white tiger, cobras and monkeys are featured inside the temple. After the temple the boat passes an is the Indian Elephant bathing pool. The final scene shows Chief Namee who is willing to sell shrunken heads, "two of his for one of yours"
Queue Radio
These transmissions can be heard over the speakers in the queue line.
"Jungle Cruise bay this is Branco Beauty. We have run aground just south of the house. All hands are fine, we will wait til the tides change. Over."
"[Laughter] This is Jack. Hey look, you know that ship Enna T? We ran into a whole pool of hippos and upset the boat. We're doing fine but those hippos got the last of the Earl Gray. [Laughter] Mrs. Habberson's gonna be disappointed."
The next transmission is from Sir Reginald, who was waiting for Jack's shipment.
"Hello? Colonel are you there? Hello?"
"Yes Sir Reginald."
"Good, jolly good. I'm trying to find out about that shipment. They called me from the home office, said the supplies would be delayed by a full month, due to problems with the jungle shipping company."
At this point the transmission moves to Trader Dan, but will return to Sir Reginald afterwords.
[Static]
"This is Trader Dan reporting a tacky [static]. We just made it through but, but it was close. They're, they're armed with arrows, poison darts, repeat, hostile [static] are attacking. Stay clear of the river north of [static]."
Back to Sir Reginald.
"Now where was I? Oh yes, the shipment! We still require the Earl Grey tea, quinidine, mosquito netting and piano wire."
"I quite understand sir, I'll see what we can do."
"Good, jolly good, thank you Colonel, cheerio!"
"Jungle Cruise skippers this is Alligator Al. With all this rain Schweitzer falls is running at about a hundred-fifty thousand gallons per hour. Current's shifted and is real strong here, if you have to come this way lower the tag in at about eight degrees south. Otherwise you're gonna get real damp. Over."
"This is Tropical Imports to all customers. The mail packet has arrived, along with the new shipment of canned goods, linens, ship's canvas and gunpowder. Mail and special orders are ready for pickup, again this it Tropical Imports announcing that this week's shipment has arrived. Feel free to tie up at the dock. Over."
"Attention all boats on the Irawaddy near Mandalay. This is the colonial portmaster. There have been reports of some disturbances in your area, please travel with caution."
"Recovery, recovery this is Macon Maiden. Come in please."
"I hear you Jack."
"Did Joss load already?"
"Yep."
"Good... I'm heading off to the outpost, wanna join me for a game of rummy?"
"Wouldn't miss it."
"See ya there. Oh, and watch out for those crocs as you pass Trader Sams. Hear they been biting hard."
"You got it - recovery, out."
"Macon Maiden, out."
Skipper Jokes
Leaving the dock...
I'm your Jungle Cruise skipper today. You know the difference between a Captain and a Skipper, don't you? The Captain goes down with the ship........
Wave at all the people on the dock.... 'cause you may never see 'em again. Of course, you've never seen 'em before, so you aren't gonna miss anything.
We're in the Amazon in South America, where things grow larger than life, such as the butterflies on our left and on our right. Their wingspans grow from 12 inches to a whopping 1 foot! Pretty big now, isn't it!
I'd like to point out some the exotic plants here. <pointing> There's one.... and there's one.... there's another one......
Coming up to deserted pygmy village....
Up ahead we're supposed to have a pygmy welcome party here to greet us. If you've never been to a pygmy welcome party, well let me tell you, it's one of the most absolutely...... deadest parties you'll ever go to. (passing the canoes) I don't know... I can't see 'em... canoe?
Gee, something must've scared 'em off. Wonder what it could've been... (seeing the python) OH! Goodness snakes alive! (nervously) Oh, oh... that's a python. Must be 24 ft. long and can eat up to 2 small children whole!! (looking at little kids) Yeah, they're friendly creatures out here.. because they can't get a crush on you.
Approaching trashed campsite....
Hey... wait a minute... that's my camp. I Congo home now! Kinda looks like gorilla warfare. And that's not funny... (pointing to jeep which is upside down) See my jeep? I had a little trouble getting it started this morning, but I don't know how they got it to turn over... oh well.
Hey, we're on the Nile and the Nile is over 4,000 miles. It goes for miles and miles and miles... and if you don't believe me... you're in de-nile!
Approaching safari.....
Well we've got another law in the jungle called survival of the fastest. See the low man on that totem poll? I told him that even though a rhinoceros weighs 2.5 tons, he can't outrun 'em. Oh, but I guess he'll get that point in the end.
There's danger around every corner here in the jungle.... and when you've been in the jungle as long as I have, aahh you begin to smell.... danger... not me! Oh no... not me......
This is crocodile country. These are 2 of our oldest here in the river... Smiley & Ginger. Smiley... he's over a hundred years old. Just likes to lay around the beach and wait for a hand out. You've gotta be careful around Ginger.... she doesn't bite, but she does snap.
Approaching falls....
We have other dangers like monsoons, rapids.. WATERFALLS! Everybody on this side, ya wanna lean in! (looking at other side of boat) You guys... jump out. Lean in! Lean in! C'mon... please.... Dive, dive.....
Passing crashed plane....
Well, this is how I landed my job here. Kinda plane to see. I took the crash course. Oh, by the way, I do offer a crash course in flying, if any of you would like to sign up if...er, when we get back.
Passing thru hippo pool... looking at passenger in back....
Oh, I'm sorry. Didja get a little bit wet? I betcha thought it was water too... well it'snot.....
Approaching native village.....
Uh-oh... this is not a good sign. When we shot to scare off the hippos, it also alerted the natives. And when they dance around in circles like this, it can only mean one thing... this is a bad place to be headed!
For those of you in the back, if you get an arrow, take it out... otherwise you'll be stuck with it....
Secret bathing pool of the Indian elephants.....
It's ok to stare, by the way... they've got their trunks on...
Hey look everybody! It's Chief Nammie! He's your head salesman here in the jungle. As you can see, business has been shrinking a little lately. He's got a great deal goin' on....2 of his heads for one of yours. Any takers? Aw c'mon! No matter what the size, you come out ahead! You know the old saying... 2 heads are better than 1 !
At the safari in tree....
That guy on the bottom.... that's my friend Ohantas. If he doesn't watch out, that rhino will poke Ohantas!
Going into the temple....
This could lead us to more danger. This could lead to a dead end. Or.... it might be like everything else, and lead us to another gift shop!
Fun Facts and Trivia
- The temple scene is not found on the Disneyland version of the Jungle Cruise.
- Harper Goff, an Imagineer suggested that the ride be based on the African Queen, a 1951 film staring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn.
- Each ship has a name:
- Amazon Annie
- Bomokandi Bertha
- Congo Connie
- Ganges Gertie
- Irrawaddy Irma
- Mongala Millie
- Kwango Kate (retired)
- Nile Nelly
- Orinoco Ida
- Rutshuru Ruby
- Sankuru Sadie
- Senegal Sal
- Volta Val
- Wamba Wanda
- Zambezi Zelda
- Ucyali Lolly
- Sankuru Sadie is the only boat to have ever sunk in the Magic Kingdom. It sank in 2004, but returned to service.
