The world-famous Jungle Cruise at Disneyland Park officially reopens on July 16, 2021, with new adventures, an expanded storyline, and more humor as skippers take guests on a tongue-in-cheek journey along some of the most remote rivers around the world. The new creative concept is original to Walt Disney Imagineering, just like the classic attraction itself.
Changes to this attraction also are underway in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort, with completion expected later this summer.
“We’re excited to be building on the story of the Jungle Cruise to include new adventures that stay true to the experience we know and love while adding more humor, more wildlife, and an interconnected story,” said Chris Beatty, an Imagineer who led the creative development of the enhancements. “As part of creative development, we’ve also introduced characters from around the world and took a thoughtful approach to ensure accurate representation of cultures in our story.”
All in the (new) details
Disney Imagineers have a longstanding history of updating attractions at the Disneyland Resort and Disney Parks. The expanded backstory centers around Alberta Falls, the granddaughter of the world-renowned Dr. Albert Falls, who is now proprietor of the Jungle Navigation Company Ltd. New scenes include:
- A safari of explorers from around the world finds itself up a tree after the journey goes awry
- Chimpanzees have taken over the expedition’s wrecked boat
- A Lost & Found location has turned into a Gift Shop run by Alberta’s longtime friend, Trader Sam
The Skippers remain an important part of Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise skippers incorporate plenty of gags as they narrate “wildlife” scenes for guests who have boarded a canopied tramp steamer, leaving civilization behind. Those scenes include:
- Ancient Cambodian Shrine with leaping tigers, lethal cobras and snapping crocodiles
- Jungle Cruise Safari Camp is a former camp overrun by “explosively” curious gorillas
- Indian Elephant Bathing Pool where bathing Indian elephants have their “trunks on”
- The African Veldt where angry hippos and hungry lions are guarding a “sleeping” zebra
- Schweitzer Falls, where skippers introduce guests to something they may have never seen before – the “back side of water”!
It’s literally a jungle out there
The foliage is designed to look as if it had been created by nature. Since 1955, the Jungle Cruise vegetation has evolved into its own tropical jungle with three levels: the upper canopy, the understory, and the forest floor. The “father” of the attraction’s jungle was a horticulturist and Disney Legend Bill Evans, who directed the landscaping of much of Disneyland in the 1950s.
The Magic Kingdom version of Jungle Cruise has remained open throughout its transformation.
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Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter @iamcg83