The Jungle Cruise rides at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will undergo major storytelling updates to remove “negative depictions of native people” as Disney continues to address diversity and inclusivity issues in its theme park attractions.
Walt Disney Imagineering will update Jungle Cruise scenes featuring shrunken head dealer Trader Sam and a rhino chasing a safari group up a tree while adding a new scene with a half-sunken boat overrun by chimps.
“Imagineers are constantly looking for opportunities to enhance experiences, and when it comes to updating classic attractions, they employ a very careful and thoughtful approach,” Disney officials said in a statement. “In this particular case, Imagineers created a storyline that builds upon what people love the most while addressing negative depictions simultaneously.”
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Imagineering has not yet determined when work will begin on the Jungle Cruise attractions at Disneyland in Anaheim and the Magic Kingdom in Florida. The reimagined rides are expected to open later this year. Disneyland plans to move forward with work on the Jungle Cruise attraction while the park remains shut down during an extended coronavirus closure.
Disneyland is unlikely to return to full operation until spring or summer under COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines issued by the state.
The updates to the Jungle Cruise rides follow changes to the Pirates of the Caribbean and an upcoming makeover of Splash Mountain intended to address outdated cultural depictions in Disney theme park attractions.
Disney parks chairman Josh D’Amaro said during a keynote address at the virtual International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Expo in November that the company plans to integrate more diversity and cultural inclusion into existing attractions.
“We believe that truly inclusive environment is critical to fostering ideas from all people to help us grow, innovate, and create the best stories possible,” D’Amaro said during the expo.
Imagineering Creative Development and Inclusion Strategies Executive Carmen Smith said the latest updates to the Jungle Cruise attractions will address how Trader Sam and other native people and their culture are represented in the classic boat ride.
“As Imagineers, it is our responsibility to ensure experiences we create and stories we share reflect the voices and perspectives of the world around us,” Smith said in a statement. “With Jungle Cruise, we’re bringing to life more of what people love — the humor and wit of our incredible skippers, while making needed updates.”
Imagineering constantly evaluates ways to make Disney theme park attractions respectful of the diverse world we live in, Imagineering Creative Executive Chris Beatty told Disney’s D23 fan club.
“When you look at the Jungle Cruise, as it is today, there are just a couple of scenes that don’t do that and needed a refresh,” Beatty told D23. “But I want to make sure people know we are not changing the whole Jungle Cruise. This is not a re-envisioning of the entire attraction. It’s the Jungle Cruise you know and love, with the skippers still leading the way, and at the same time, we’re addressing the negative depictions of ‘natives.’”
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The revamped rides will not be tied to the upcoming action-adventure epic film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a riverboat skipper and Emily Blunt as an intrepid explorer. The “Jungle Cruise” stars will not be depicted in the rides, although subtle storytelling nods will be made to the film.
The Jungle Cruise updates will build on the history of the opening day Disneyland attraction with new adventures that stay true to the story and pay homage to skipper culture. More wildlife and humor will be added to the river voyage along with a new story line following a Jungle Cruise skipper whose journey goes awry.
“When we consider making changes to a classic attraction, we focus on ways to ‘plus’ the experience,” Beatty said in a statement. “The skippers of the Jungle Cruise bring irreverent humor to guests of all ages, and we’re excited to be adding to that legacy — along with a new animated skipper figure — by celebrating their adventures and influence.”
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Concept art shows a culturally diverse group of boat passengers stuck up a tree — including a photographer, painter, bird watcher and butterfly collector. Nearby, five chimps have taken over a half-sunken boat — splattering paint on the rooftop canopy of the tramp steamer and releasing butterflies from a cage. One chimp with a parasol sits on the roof of the boat while another has taken over the helm and the skipper’s microphone. Some of the new figures will feature animatronic movements.
“As part of this story update, we’ll get to follow a skipper and his passengers as their journey goes awry,” Imagineer Story Editor Kevin Lively said in a statement. “That’s right, for the first time ever, the skipper role will not only be that of a live, experienced and witty guide, but also represented by a show figure within the attraction itself. In fact, the expedition will be up a tree (literally!) after their sunken boat splits apart and chimps board the wreckage, with monkey business ensuing.”
Lively, a former Disneyland Jungle Cruise skipper turned Imagineer, worked on the Jingle Cruise holiday ride overlay, Disneyland’s Tropical Hideaway eatery and the Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen restaurant.
Jungle Cruise skippers will expand their repertoire of jokes with the new changes to the ride while keeping classic quips about the “backside of water” and other gags in their routines.
David Marley, a former Jungle Cruise skipper turned Cal State Fullerton history professor known as Dr. Skipper, likes the new story line planned by Imagineering and thinks the new scenes will provide plenty of new comedy material for his fellow skippers.
“To everyone tempted to freak out and scream about the PC police, just wait until we get a chance to see it before you lose your mind,” Marley wrote on Facebook. “The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland has changed more than any other original attraction. Change is good and keeps things fresh. If the jungle can be more fun and less offensive then let’s do it. Besides, I firmly believe that the only thing that should be offensive in the jungle are the skippers.”
The revamped backstory of the Jungle Cruise ride will also dive into the mysteries of Disneyland’s Mekong Maiden and the Magic Kingdom’s Kwango Kate — tramp steamer boats that were decommissioned on each coast.
The Jungle Cruise rides in Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland will not be changed. There are no current plans to make changes to the Trader Sam’s locations at either the Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort, according to Disney officials.
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