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See Disney's new Jungle Cruise ride scenes without 'negative depictions' of native peoples

EW breaks down each new scene in the refurbished Disneyland ride.

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If you think Disneyland's Jungle Cruise revamp isn't a slam dunk, you're in denial .

Earlier this year, Disney Parks announced plans to alter various scenes in the classic attraction to remove select cultural depictions in an effort to better "reflect and value the diversity of the world around us." Now, the refurbished boat ride will welcome riders once again when it reopens this Friday (one day shy of the 1955 attraction's 65th birthday), with a new story line involving a band of explorers — including a birdwatcher, an entomologist, a wildlife painter, and a photographer — venturing into the ominous foliage as a pesky group of primates punctuates their journey with adorable hijinks.

Before the grand unveiling — and the July 30 release of the Dwayne Johnson-Emily Blunt movie based on the ride — take a look at EW's breakdown of all the changes you can expect to see while floating past the backside of water once again.

Glowing cobra orb

Things get off to a striking start as the new Jungle Cruise tour begins; The spot previously occupied by tribal ruins now contains a large cobra holding a glowing orb — complete with a new skipper joke: "A lot of people say it's pretty heavy; I say it's pretty light."

Barrel of monkeys

Next on the journey, riders will notice a bright new paint job on a few floating barrels just outside a classic scene that shows a band of primates rummaging through an abandoned campsite. This time, however, a revolver in one of the gorilla's hands fires a few rounds, with sound effects and splashes of water simulating a bullet cutting through the surface.

Pole position

In one of many attempts to remove insensitive depictions from the classic ride, Disney Imagineers revamped a controversial scene that previously saw a group of men — all people of color — being driven up a tree. The set now includes animatronic figures representing a diverse collective of explorers, including two women and others of different cultural backgrounds.

Hungry, hungry hippos

A placid scene where riders pass through a watery alcove populated by a family of hippos received a slightly more menacing makeover with the addition of wreckage from another Jungle Cruise boat. One of the mammals even lunges at the sinking vessel, suggesting a similar fate is in store for park guests.

Trimming the tribal ceremony

Another notable omission in the refurbished Jungle Cruise ride is a scene that shows a tribal ceremony involving a cultural dance. Instead of passing through a village populated by indigenous people, riders now float by a sinking boat overrun by curious chimps. Die-hard Disney fans will recognize the name of the ship, the Mekong Maiden, as the name of one of Jungle Cruise 's original boats that was decommissioned in 1997.

Attack of the butterflies

Immediately after the tribal dance scene, another segment saw travelers being attacked by tribal defenders. The action sequence now features another family of chimps ransacking items from the explorers' boats while swatting away a swarm of colorful butterflies.

Trader Sam's club transformation

The Jungle Cruise finale was as popular as it was problematic; riders exited the canal as a salesman, nicknamed Trader Sam, tempted them with memorabilia commemorating their visit to the exotic locale. Now, in his absence, primates have, once again, overrun a jungle gift shop in a fitting conclusion to the refurbished attraction's new story line.

Disneyland's Jungle Cruise ride officially reopens to the public on Friday, while the big-screen adaptation of the beloved attraction hits theaters and the Disney+ streaming service on July 30.

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NOW OPEN: The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland Resort

by Melissa Roden · July 16, 2021

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Today is the day that Disneyland fans have been waiting for.  The “newly-enhanced” Jungle Cruise is officially open. Get ready for a WILD ride. 

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

As we previously reported here at MickeyBlog, Disney Imagineers have created an incredible new backstory for the ride. You never know what comedic characters, safari adventurers and tour guides you will meet on their journey through the jungle.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Here’s a fun little detail to be on the lookout for.  The Jungle Cruise now has the distinction of having a cast member featured in the attraction itself.  Be on the lookout for a rhino that points you towards skipper Felix in a precarious position up a pole! 

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

For those of you that can make it to Adventureland to experience in person, Disney is bringing the attraction to you with a video that perfectly captures the sometimes perilous but always hilarious sojourn. Best of all, the the previous incarnations of the attraction, the quick witted skippers take center stage. 

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Check out the video below. 

Work is still being carried out at Magic Kingdom and is slated to be completed at some point over the Summer! 

Disneyland will also be hosting a Jungle Cruise ride and film tie-in on July 24th via livestream. You can find out more about how to tune in here.  

As always, readers are encouraged to keep following along with us for further Walt Disney World news and updates. 

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Jungle Cruise

Paul Giamatti, Dwayne Johnson, Jesse Plemons, Edgar Ramírez, Emily Blunt, and Jack Whitehall in Jungle Cruise (2021)

Based on Disneyland's theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travelers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles but with a supernatural element. Based on Disneyland's theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travelers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles but with a supernatural element. Based on Disneyland's theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travelers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles but with a supernatural element.

  • Jaume Collet-Serra
  • Michael Green
  • Glenn Ficarra
  • Dwayne Johnson
  • Emily Blunt
  • Edgar Ramírez
  • 1.2K User reviews
  • 297 Critic reviews
  • 50 Metascore
  • 5 wins & 9 nominations

Skipper Frank Trailer

  • Frank Wolff

Emily Blunt

  • Lily Houghton

Edgar Ramírez

  • MacGregor Houghton

Jesse Plemons

  • Prince Joachim

Paul Giamatti

  • (as Quim Gutierrez)

Dan Dargan Carter

  • Sir James Hobbs-Coddington

Raphael Alejandro

  • Chief's Daughter

Sebastian Blunt

  • Society Guard

Mark Ashworth

  • Society Member

Allan Poppleton

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Dwayne Johnson & Emily Blunt Answer Burning Questions

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Did you know

  • Trivia Many of the puns Frank uses are taken directly from the Disney Parks attraction on which the movie is based. These "so bad they're good" jokes are one of the reasons why Jungle Cruise skippers are so important to the ride experience.
  • Goofs Prince Joachim knows where the trapped Spanish are located. There was no record of this because only Skipper knew where he trapped them.

Frank Wolff : If you're lucky enough to have one person in this life to care about, then that's world enough for me.

  • Crazy credits The bay in the Disney logo is seen to have the water glowing purple, and after the Disney logo fully appears the camera dives into the water and leads to the Tree of Life, which opens the film.
  • Connections Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: D23 Expo 2019 Extravaganza (2019)
  • Soundtracks Nothing Else Matters Reimagined by Metallica and James Newton Howard With featured performances by James Hetfield , Lars Ulrich , Kirk Hammett , Robert Trujillo Written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich Associate Producer and Engineer Greg Fidelman

User reviews 1.2K

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  • Jul 30, 2021
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  • Will 'Weird Al' Yankovic's song 'Skipper Dan' about Disney's Jungle Cruise ride be featured in this movie?
  • July 30, 2021 (United States)
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  • Kaua'i, Hawaii, USA
  • Davis Entertainment
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  • $200,000,000 (estimated)
  • $116,987,516
  • $35,018,731
  • Aug 1, 2021
  • $220,889,446

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  • Runtime 2 hours 7 minutes
  • Dolby Atmos
  • IMAX 6-Track

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How the ‘Jungle Cruise’ movie helped bring change to Disneyland’s ride

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A single Instagram post in 2017 caused a momentary panic in the Disney community.

Dwayne Johnson, standing in front of a Herb Ryman-drawn map of the initial proposal for Disneyland, stated that he and his production company were partnering with Walt Disney Imagineering — the secretive division of the company responsible for theme park experiences — to “reengineer and redesign” the Jungle Cruise ride, one of Disneyland’s opening-day attractions.

Updates to the ride were, of course, long overdue, as numerous scenes contained offensive tribal caricatures crafted through a colonialist lens . Johnson’s Jungle Cruise vision was unknown, and while the attraction, overseen by Walt Disney, had undergone numerous changes over six decades — most designed to add more humor and creatures — would a robotic Rock be on the horizon?

Not quite. Or at least not yet, as the combined box office and Disney+ grosses of the Johnson and Emily Blunt-starring film “Jungle Cruise” will likely determine the audio-animatronic possibilities at Disney’s parks around the world. For now, at least, nods to the action-focused blockbuster-hopeful with a mystical, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”-influenced tone remain subtle and of the more hidden, “Easter egg” variety in the Disneyland original.

Anaheim, CA - July 09: A view of an expedition's wrecked boat that was taken over by chimpanzees during the Jungle Cruise ride at Adventureland, Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Friday, July 9, 2021. The official reopening of Jungle Cruise will be 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 at Disneyland. What's new: 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. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Entertainment & Arts

Why Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise cultural changes aren’t just ‘woke’ — they’re necessary

The new Jungle Cruise shows Disney wants to be in the cultural conversation rather than an artifact or, worse, a representation of the ‘good ole days.’

July 18, 2021

“When you meet these behind-the-scenes heroes, it’s an extraordinary experience,” says Johnson of his time at Imagineering, before offering an ever-so-slight tease that more tweaks could be on the horizon. “Hopefully, there’s parts of our movie that might influence the ride just a little bit going forward.”

It wouldn’t be the first time Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise has taken inspiration from cinema. The original attraction was sprung from Disney’s own nature documentaries as well as the 1951 classic “The African Queen,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, which is also a clear influence on the big-screen “Jungle Cruise.” Starting Friday in theaters and on Disney+ premier access, audiences can see for themselves what a Johnson Jungle Cruise looks like in the Jaume Collet-Serra-directed film. If the ride is a leisurely, throwback antidote to modern thrill and special effects-laden attractions, the film aims to be exactly the opposite.

And this 2021 take on “Jungle Cruise” — rooted in the chemistry, bickering and exaggerated contradictions between Johnson’s cynical skipper Frank and Blunt’s idealistic botanist Lily — did present an opportunity to bring modern sensibilities to the Disneyland original.

A man in suspenders and a cap, left, and a woman on a boat in a dark river

The action-comedy adventure, filmed in Hawaii but located in a fictionalized Amazon, set out to course-correct some of the Jungle Cruise ride’s more uncomfortable aspects. Gone are implications of Westerners as superior colonizers, as well as grotesque depictions of Indigenous people as tourist attractions, attackers or cannibals. The villains here include an army of undead Spanish conquistadors who tried and failed to wield the jungle to their needs — namely, an attempt to raid a tree with healing powers.

“What we wanted to represent about the ride was that joy and nostalgia,” says Blunt. “It pierces your heart directly. But ... we want to represent it sensitively and respectfully.”

Over the last decade, Disney has been more aggressive about removing cultural stereotypes from its attractions. In 2017, Disneyland gave women agency in its Pirates of the Caribbean attraction by removing a bridal auction scene and reimagining a female “wench” as a pirate , and last year the company pledged to remake the “Song of the South”-referencing Splash Mountain into an attraction inspired by “The Princess and the Frog,” which stars the company’s first Black princess, Tiana.

Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in "The Jungle Cruise."

Review: Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt are fun, but not enough to make ‘Jungle Cruise’ see-worthy

You can’t see the jungle for the CGI in this action-adventure inspired by the long-running Disney theme-park attraction.

July 27, 2021

With a major Jungle Cruise-inspired film on the horizon, the timing was right to rethink the Disneyland original — known best for its animal vignettes, much of them crafted by Disney’s master animator-turned-Imagineer Marc Davis. The reimagined ride largely doubles down on slapstick-inspired scenes involving chimpanzees and monkeys getting the best of a prior Jungle Cruise expedition.

“From our talks with the Imagineers, what was so interesting is that they’ve been wanting to redo the ride for a long time,” says Beau Flynn, a producer on the film. “But it’s the most revered, and the most nostalgic, and no one would let them. Every generation wanted the same experience. So the Imagineers were like, ‘Thank God for this movie, because it gives the opportunity to make changes we’ve wanted to make.’”

The film has some clever solutions for some of the ride’s outmoded — and now removed — imagery. Spear-brandishing headhunters, for instance, are turned into a sly joke that plays with Western stereotypes. Screenwriter Michael Green (“Logan,” “Blade Runner 2049”), who joined the project in late 2017, said the filmmakers wanted to reframe some of the ride’s unsavory aspects, a benefit of cinema that one doesn’t get via the pure environmental storytelling in a theme park attraction.

The film’s natives are in a businesses partnership with Frank, and they too think their costumes are silly. “What we were able to do is poke fun at the tourist perception of a what a native is supposed to be, and then you realize the joke is on them,” Green says. “They’re more sophisticated and dignified than they were being credited for. There’s moments that played to that. They’re in on the scam.”

The film makes a number of additional progressive tweaks.

The character of Trader Sam, the tribesman who will trade “two of his heads for one of yours” was removed from the ride but lives on in “Jungle Cruise,” portrayed as a mysterious, entrepreneurial figure by Veronica Falcón.

And, in a moment sure to further the debate on how Disney handles its LGBTQ characters, the film contains a coming-out scene for Lily’s brother, MacGregor (Jack Whitehall), in conversation with Frank.

People participate in a tribal ceremony, dressed in ceremonial garb and surrounded by fire torches

While not exactly subtle, the moment is not specifically direct either, as MacGregor notes that he was ostracized from much of his family for his romantic interests leaning “elsewhere.”

“I suggested a bunch of things,” Green says, “and one of them was, ‘What if Lily’s brother is with her, and what if he’s gay?’ Everyone said, ‘That sounds interesting. Let’s see where that takes us.’ It was in every draft of the script, and every cut, where MacGregor tells Frank that the reason he’s so dedicated to Lily is because she’s the one who stood by him when he came out, and for that he would follow her into a volcano. It’s one of the things I’m very proud of. I don’t consider it an oblique reference.

“There’s no question about it,” Green continues. “If he has a romantic interest in a hopeful sequel, it will be with a man. If we’re lucky enough to get to make another one, we’d all like to see MacGregor have a romance.”

If characters in “Jungle Cruise” are broadly drawn, that’s very much by design.

Blunt’s Lily, for instance, is presented as a hardened adventurer, and the mysteries of Johnson’s Frank are played down until a surprise reveal late in the film. In the modern era of filmmaking, where every detail tends to be overly explained, those working on “Jungle Cruise” say there are lessons to be learned from theme park attractions, where audiences are escorted from scene to scene and fill in the blanks via our imagination.

“We wanted to make sure we were honoring the ride, making sure it wasn’t too dark, but making sure it was humorous,” says producer Dany Garcia. “It’s very similar to the history of the Haunted Mansion [attraction], where you have multiple points of view. It was the same way for us.”

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FIRST LOOK at the Reimagined Jungle Cruise Ride in Disneyland!

By Jess Landers 3 Comments

The Jungle Cruise ride in both Disney World and Disneyland has been undergoing quite a few changes .

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Tours Departing Daily

While Disney World’s Jungle Cruise has remained open during its refurbishment , Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise has been closed. The ride is set to officially reopen on July 16th , but we were lucky enough to get a special preview of the ride today and we can’t wait to share the updates with you!

In Disney World, we’ve seen Jungle Cruise updated with  new  scenes, new characters , and a brand new backstory .  We’ve also seen Trader Sam’s new Gift Shop “open” recently . Although the Jungle Cruise ride is slightly different between Disney World and Disneyland, we know that the updated storyline for both rides will be the same . Let’s take a look at what Disneyland’s ride looks like right now!

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Anyone Up for a Trip to the Jungle?

As you make your way into the Jungle Cruise queue, you’ll find a number of cool details all throughout the line.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

So Many Fun Details

Be sure to stop and check these out.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Jungle Cruise Details

There are all kinds of things to see.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

So Many Things Everywhere You Look

You never know what kind of corny jokes or hidden references you’ll find (peep the giraffe on the sign to the left).

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Always Look Around!

We have seen a number of changes made in the queue in Disney World , so just be on the lookout for smaller changes like that on these attractions.

Once we got through the queue, it was finally time for our adventure!

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Let’s Ride!

On the ride, you’ll still find many of the classic scenes (and jokes) you know and love.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

And, of course, no trip to the jungle is complete without a look at the backside of water.

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A True Wonder of the World

But, you’ll also find some updated scenes in place. In the scene with the rhino and the people trying to escape to higher ground, you’ll now find some of the new characters that are part of the Jungle Cruise’s updated storyline.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

These characters include Felix Pechman XIII, the animatronic skipper who’s followed by bad luck. A celebrated Mexican artist ( Rosa Soto Dominguez ), Japan’s preeminent entomologist Dr. Kon Chunosuke  — who is also a  member of the legendary  Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.), and more!

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

They’ll Get the “Point” In the End!

You’ll also a boat that appears to have sunk into the rivers of the jungle . Not the most ideal scenario.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Well That’s Not Good

There’s also a scene that has been added featuring the Mekong Maiden!

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

But, this boat isn’t carrying human passengers right now. Instead, it seems some other guests have taken over!

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Well, Hello There!

Perhaps one of the biggest changes that has been made is in relation to Trader Sam. It appears Trader Sam has turned the Jungle Cruise’s lost & found area into his very own gift shop (you know Trader Sam, he’s always looking to make some money and come out a head). 

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Trader Sam’s Gift Shop

There are all kinds of details hidden in this scene. You could probably just sit there for an hour trying to find them all. At the end of that area, you’ll pass by a monkey sitting on a camera and an elephant that conveniently sprays some water as you go past!

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Don’t forget to look for lots of other great scenes throughout the ride including the elephants spraying water…

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

…and this scene with some friends getting into a bit of trouble!

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

What Kind of Trouble Are They Getting Up To?

Check out the video below to see the Imagineers discussing some of the changes that have been made to the ride.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Jungle Cruise

Changes are still being made and some updates will continue to be made in the upcoming days. We’ll be sure to check for more updates and let you know what we find.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

So Much to See!

Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disneyland news!

Click here to see everything we know about the changes coming to the Jungle Cruise!

Want to learn more about disneyland check out the links below, dfb disneyland restaurants guide, disney genie and how to use it in disneyland, what you need to know about the theme park reservation system for disneyland and disney california adventure, closures and construction at disneyland, learn all about disneyland park, see what marvelous stuff you’ll find at avengers campus in disney california adventure, learn about pixar pier in disney california adventure, get all the details about the disneyland mobile app, everything you need to know about mobile order in disneyland, learn more about disneyland’s magic key program, full details about the holiday season in disneyland, full details about halloween time at disneyland, get some strange tips for disneyland, click here to check out lots of other dfb posts about disneyland, join the dfb newsletter to get all the latest disney news delivered right to your inbox click here to subscribe.

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of the re-themed Jungle Cruise ride. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy . Thank you for reading. — AJ

What do you think of Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise? Let us know in the comments!

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HURRY! 9 NEW Disney Loungefly bags are online at Amazon now!

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July 10, 2021 at 2:34 pm

Nothing earth shattering, looks the same, just more politically correct, less Disney. What about the underground temple journey thru the tunnel…? Any updates in there…? Or does California not have that leg of the voyage?

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July 10, 2021 at 3:07 pm

So in other words all the natives have been replaced by monkeys. I’m sure the actual natives of these jungles would be happy to hear that.

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July 10, 2021 at 4:25 pm

Wow, I don’t remember that gorilla at the end. Is that only in the DL version? I haven’t ridden that one in ages.

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Jungle Cruise

A young princess points to something exciting while the skipper shares stories with Guests aboard a Jungle Cruise boat.

  • Water Rides

Head off to Adventure

Highlights of your unforgettable adventure include:

  • Ancient Cambodian Shrine Come face-to-face with leaping tigers, lethal cobras and snapping crocodiles.
  • Jungle Cruise Safari Camp Cruise past a former camp overrun by explosively curious gorillas.
  • Indian Elephant Bathing Pool Venture into this sacred pool where you’ll see bathing Indian elephants. Feel free to take pictures—they have their trunks on.
  • The African Veldt Behold angry hippos and hungry lions guarding a sleeping zebra.
  • Schweitzer Falls Be awed as you take in a true natural wonder—the back side of water!

A Classic Cruise

The original Jungle Cruise opened on July 17, 1955 at Disneyland Park. Based on Disney’s award-winning True-Life Adventure films, the attraction had a more educational tone. In the early 1960s, Walt Disney introduced more drama and asked animator Marc Davis to sketch some humorous gags. 

Over the years, more “wildlife”—and new wisecracks—were added. These updates, along with our talented skippers, make for fun surprises on every trip down the river.

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Jungle Cruise Hero

Jungle Cruise

July 30, 2021

Action, Adventure, Comedy

Join fan favorites Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt for the adventure of a lifetime on Disney’s Jungle Cruise, a rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton. Lily travels from London, England to the Amazon jungle and enlists Frank’s questionable services to guide her downriver on La Quila—his ramshackle-but-charming boat. Lily is determined to uncover an ancient tree with unparalleled healing abilities—possessing the power to change the future of medicine. Thrust on this epic quest together, the unlikely duo encounters innumerable dangers and supernatural forces, all lurking in the deceptive beauty of the lush rainforest. But as the secrets of the lost tree unfold, the stakes reach even higher for Lily and Frank and their fate—and mankind’s—hangs in the balance.

Rated: PG-13 Runtime: 2h 7min Release Date: July 30, 2021

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Now Streaming | Disney’s Jungle Cruise | Disney+

Now Streaming | Disney’s Jungle Cruise | Disney+

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The Cast of Disney's Jungle Cruise and Behind the Attraction | What's Up, Disney+

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Mystery Crate Featurette | Disney’s Jungle Cruise | Experience it July 30

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Cast Camaraderie Featurette | Disney’s Jungle Cruise | Experience it July 30

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Arrow | Disney’s Jungle Cruise | Experience it July 30

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Listen Up | Disney’s Jungle Cruise | Experience it July 30

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“How Nice of You to Join Us” Clip | Disney’s Jungle Cruise

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Action Side by Side | Disney’s Jungle Cruise

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Get Tickets and Pre-Order Now | Disney’s Jungle Cruise

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Imagine | Disney’s Jungle Cruise | Experience It July 30

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Hang On | Disney’s Jungle Cruise | Experience It July 30

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Big Adventure Featurette | Disney’s Jungle Cruise

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Jungle Cruise | Dr. Lily Houghton Trailer | July 30

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Jungle Cruise | Skipper Frank Trailer | July 30

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Jungle Cruise Trailer | In Theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access July 30

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Disney’s Jungle Cruise – New Trailer

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Disney's Jungle Cruise - In Theaters July 24, 2020

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August 26, 2019

Dwayne Johnson | Disney | Jungle Cruise | In theaters July 30 or order it on Disney+ Premier Access. Additional fee required. | poster

Join fan favorites Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt for the adventure of a lifetime on Disney’s JUNGLE CRUISE, a rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton.

Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) and Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt) from the Disney movie "Jungle Cruise".

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Updated Jungle Cruise Opens at Disneyland

Walt Disney Imagineers completed a major refurbishment on Jungle Cruise, which reopened to guests today at Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California. Jungle Cruise is one of the original opening day attractions from Disneyland’s opening on July 17, 1955.

The ride underwent refurbishments to become more politically friendly with its depiction and diversity of characters. This opened up the opportunity to improve several other areas of the adventures as well.

Jungle Cruise – the Updates

Here are some of the updates to the new version of Jungle Cruise:

Chimpanzees have taken over the wrecked boat of a safari expedition on the world-famous Jungle Cruise at Disneyland Park. (Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)

The new scenes, backstory, and updated animatronics aim to create an enhanced story and guest experience.

“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,” says Chris Beatty, a Walt Disney Imagineer who played a key role in 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.”

The safari expedition finds itself escaping up a tree on Disneyland’s upgraded Jungle Cruise ride. (photo: Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)

According to the new backstory, the team of explorers that set out for an unlucky expedition on the Mekong Maiden, are:

Chimpanzees have taken over the wrecked Mekong Maiden in the revamped Jungle Cruise ride. (photo: Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)

Major upgrades to original disneyland rides.

The Jungle Cruise isn’t the first original opening day ride to receive a major upgrade this year. In late April, Disneyland unveiled a refurbished Snow White dark ride that it now calls Snow White’s Enchanted Wish .

Updating rides and the park was always a vision of Disneyland’s founder, Walt Disney. He once famously said, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is no imagination left in the world.”

Jungle Cruise: The Movie

Disney will be releasing the movie Jungle Cruise on July 30, 2021, in theaters and for a premium price on Disney+. The movie stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in the lead roles and is somewhat based on the Disneyland attraction.

Disney resisted the urge to incorporate the new movie into the classic ride. That wasn’t the case with Pirates of the Caribbean, which was updated to add Johnny Depp in multiple scenes based on his portrayal of Jack Sparrow in the movie series.

The Jungle Cruise movie is 2 hours and 7 minutes long. The movie’s premiere will take place at Disneyland on July 24, 2021.

(Featured photo and other photos by Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort.)

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Jungle Cruise

A sign saying ‘World Famous Jungle Cruise Tours’

Adventure Around Every Corner

Embark on a river cruise where dangerous beasts and dry wit abound. Board a canopied tramp steamer piloted by your trusty skipper, who will expertly navigate you through some of the world’s most treacherous waters.

Steam past lush foliage, butterflies and waterfalls on the Amazon in South America. Glimpse an abandoned camp overrun by curious gorillas on the shores of the African Congo.

Watch for angry hippos, hungry lions and “sleeping” zebras along the Nile and be on the lookout for a missing Jungle Cruise vessel and its helpless passengers. As the cruise continues down the Mekong River, you just might learn that the jungle always gets the last laugh.

It’s a 10-minute, 10,000-mile journey that you won't soon forget!

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9 little-known facts about the Disney theme parks, from a former Imagineer

  • I worked as a Disney Imagineer creating, designing, and constructing the parks for eight years.
  • The Dumbo ride is at all 6 Disney parks, and the opening-day rides at Disneyland are still running.
  • There are utilidor systems under Magic Kingdom and Epcot that transport people, food, and trash.

There's a version of Dumbo the Flying Elephant at all six Disney properties, but one has a special mechanism.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Dumbo the Flying Elephant is the only ride that exists worldwide at all six Disney properties.

But the ride at Florida's Magic Kingdom is the only one with "dueling Dumbos" — two side-by-side carousels. 

The rumors are true — there are 'tunnels' under Magic Kingdom and Epcot.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

"Utilidors" underneath Magic Kingdom and Epcot comprise full roadway and walkway infrastructure. 

But they aren't technically tunnels because they're not actually underground. They form the property's ground floor, and the actual park is on the second floor. 

The utilidors have multiple purposes, including covertly moving park employees, characters , waste, food, and merchandise. They're also used for emergencies.

Visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look at the utilidor system if they sign up for Disney's Keys to the Kingdom tour. When available , the five-hour tour costs between $129 and $149, but it's worth it if you love learning Disney secrets. 

Disney World's property in Florida isn't just made up of theme parks and hotels.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Walt Disney World in Orlando is home to thousands of acres of wetlands beyond the theme parks.

A wildlife-management-conservation easement protects the area.

Walt Disney originally envisioned Epcot as a fully functioning utopian city.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Epcot , or Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, wasn't originally going to be just a theme park. Walt Disney intended to build a community that incorporated urban-planning methods and embodied an ideal way of life.

The plans included a futuristic approach to living, commerce, transportation, and recreation. To make it even more futuristic, Disney envisioned it all housed inside an air-conditioned dome.

Walt died a few months into the process, and the plans for Epcot eventually changed.

The tallest Disney castle in the world is in China.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Out of the six Disney castles worldwide , Shanghai's Enchanted Storybook Castle, which opened in 2016, is the tallest at about 197 feet. 

The shortest one is the original Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland in California, which is 77 feet tall.

Disneyland wasn't originally supposed to be in Anaheim, California.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

In the 1950s, Walt originally proposed that Disneyland be located in Burbank, California, about 36 miles northwest of where it ended up in Anaheim.

As the vision of Disneyland grew, Walt set his sights on a larger plot of land, which was the main reason for the move.

The park opened on July 17, 1955, and the resort expanded to include Disney California Adventure Park in 2001.

Imagineers consulted with feng-shui experts when they designed Hong Kong Disneyland.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

While planning and designing Hong Kong Disneyland, Imagineers consulted with feng-shui masters and experts. The ancient Chinese practice focuses on creating spaces that achieve balance with the natural world.

Imagineers wanted to ensure a sense of harmony in their designs, so when you're strolling through the park, know that every building and walkway was placed with a bigger purpose in mind.

All of Disneyland's opening-day rides are still operating 66 years later.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Guests can travel back in time by hopping on the attractions that debuted when Disneyland first opened in 1955.

The original rides — which all still operate — are Jungle Cruise, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Mark Twain Riverboat, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan's Flight, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, King Arthur Carrousel, Autopia, and the Disneyland Railroad.

Tourists used to have to purchase 'E' tickets to ride the most popular attractions, and the term is still used to describe attractions.

jungle cruise disneyland youtube

Between 1955 and 1982, guests at Disneyland and, later, Walt Disney World, had to purchase separate tickets for each attraction they wanted to ride. By the late 1950s, the rides were broken up into five tiers — A, B, C, D, and E — based on their popularity.

"E"-ticket rides were the most coveted attractions, and though Disney got rid of the system, the term is still used to refer to the major, top-tier attractions at the parks.

Modern rides such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway would be considered "E"-ticket attractions. 

This story was originally published in October 2021 and most recently updated on February 29, 2024.

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  • Main content

The Story Behind How Disneyland's Serious Jungle Cruise Ride Became Filled With Puns

Disneyland's Jungle Cruise is known for its corny jokes, but the opening day attraction was once a very different ride.

Disneyland jungle cruise

Disneyland ’s Jungle Cruise is one of its most iconic attractions. It was there on that July day in 1955 when the park opened , and it’s still there today. Many might be of the opinion that barring the occasional refurbishment and update the Jungle Cruise has received , the ride is largely the same as it was when it first opened, but that’s not actually true. While the basic concept, of floating down the exotic rivers of the world has remained unchanged, the tone of the Jungle Cruise is very different now than it was at the beginning.

Today, people know Jungle Cruise as the funny ride where Cast Member Skippers fire puns and one-liners off at guests one after the other. They might not all be winners, some are groan-worthy, but jokes and the Jungle Cruise have been inseparable for decades. That said, they weren’t always part of the ride. The Jungle Cruise was originally presented as a serious ride with the presentation closer to that of a documentary than a Disney cartoon.

Disneyland’s True Life Adventureland 

Jungle Cruise is often celebrated by fans, alongside the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean , as one of the most popular Disneyland rides that have a story and concept that are entirely original, not based on a Disney movie. But in the case of Jungle Cruise, that’s not entirely accurate, as there is a Disney movie, in fact, an entire series of Disney movies, that inspired Jungle Cruise and all of Adventureland.

While lesser known today, one of Walt Disney ’s first forays into live-action filmmaking was through a series of short and long-form documentary films known as the True Life Adventures. These films combine wildlife photography with some sort of fictionalized story that allowed Disney to bring his unique form of storytelling to the natural world. These were incredibly successful, netting Walt Disney nearly half of the 26 Oscars he won in his life. 

This was where the entire concept behind Disneyland’s Adventureland was born, and it was what Jungle Cruise was supposed to recreate. Walt originally wanted the Jungle Cruise to be full of actual animals, not animatronics, before it was determined that animal sleep schedules and general welfare would not be conducive to the confines of an attraction (Disney would need the massive scale of Walt Disney World in order to create Disney’s Animal Kingdom and make this particular dream of Walt’s come true.)

So while the animals would not be real, the presentation was originally designed to be just that. Skippers were originally designed to educate the riders as much as to entertain them. There was the occasional joke and the presentation wasn’t entirely stiff, but humor wasn’t the focus.

Imagineer Marc Davis Brings Humor To The Jungle Cruise 

The Jungle Cruise was a big hit when the park opened in 1955. For a theme park that wouldn’t open a roller coaster for four years, it was the E-ticket attraction before the park actually had E-ticket attractions. However, the story goes that Walt Disney overheard guests saying that they had no interest in re-riding Jungle Cruise because they’d done it before. The attraction would see incremental improvements throughout the 1950s, but it was a major overhaul in the early 1960s that had the most to do with the Jungle Cruise becoming the attraction it is today.

Marc Davis would be the man put in charge of designing the overhaul, and with it, we would see the first scenes of a distinctly comedic bent on Jungle Cruise. Walt reportedly wanted to add humor to the ride, which is specifically why Davis was chosen.

Davis was part of the Imagineering team that had been working on the nearby New Orleans Square attractions around the same period. Davis is credited as being one of the key people behind the decision to add humor to the Haunted Mansion , and he also designed several of the more lighthearted moments in Pirates of the Caribbean.

A new scene showing elephants in a bathing pool would be added in 1962. A sequence where a rhinoceros has chased several people up a tree would follow in 1963. These added a much-needed bit of humor, in Davis’ opinion, to the Jungle Cruise.  

There was never a moment when the Jungle Cruise narration transitioned overnight from serious to funny. That change appears to have happened gradually over time, seemingly due to the Cast Members themselves changing up the spiel. Having said that, the fact that the Jungle Cruise narration needed to be more humorous due to the funnier parts of the ride certainly appears to have influenced the Skippers into fashioning more jokes.

The Modern Jungle Cruise

Jungle Cruise Cast Members aren't generally seen as "performers" in the way that those singing and dancing on stage are, but for a few minutes at a time, the spotlight is certainly on them. The Skippers' comedy has become so well known that's an oft-repeated myth that Steve Martin got his start in comedy performing as a Skipper. It's not actually true, as Martin worked in the magic shop.

Today, there are so many jokes that it’s impossible to hear them all in one trip, giving Jungle Cruise much of the re-rideability that Walt Disney wanted. Skippers are basically given a list of jokes they can use, but have the freedom within that list to say what they want, so each ride is something a little different.

The Jungle Cruise has continued to see regular updates, with the most recent Jungle Cruise refurbishment removing some of the attraction elements that haven't aged as well as others since the 1950s and '60s. We can expect changes to the ride to continue over time, but the attraction's focus as one of the more humorous parts of Disneyland seems all but assured to continue.

The jokes on Jungle Cruise are intentionally terrible, which, for many, makes them even funnier. Still, not everybody appreciates the humor. Emily Blunt apparently didn't love having to hear Dwayne Johnson deliver endless puns on the set of the Jungle Cruise movie . For others, however, the jokes are what keeps them coming back. 

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Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

Dirk Libbey

CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian, Dirk began writing for CinemaBlend as a freelancer in 2015 before joining the site full-time in 2018. He has previously held positions as a Staff Writer and Games Editor, but has more recently transformed his true passion into his job as the head of the site's Theme Park section. He has previously done freelance work for various gaming and technology sites. Prior to starting his second career as a writer he worked for 12 years in sales for various companies within the consumer electronics industry. He has a degree in political science from the University of California, Davis.  Is an armchair Imagineer, Epcot Stan, Future Club 33 Member.

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COMMENTS

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  11. New Jungle Cruise Experience Will Open at Disneyland Park July 16, with

    If you've missed the back side of water, hippos that wiggle their ears and skippers with a pun for every river bend, we have exciting news! Jungle Cruise will reopen July 16, 2021 at Disneyland park, with an updated experience that welcomes new characters from around the world plus even more of the humor, wildlife and skipper heart that makes this classic attraction a favorite.

  12. NOW OPEN: The Jungle Cruise at Disneyland Resort

    The "newly-enhanced" Jungle Cruise is officially open. Get ready for a WILD ride. As we previously reported here at MickeyBlog, Disney Imagineers have created an incredible new backstory for the ride. You never know what comedic characters, safari adventurers and tour guides you will meet on their journey through the jungle.

  13. Jungle Cruise (2021)

    Jungle Cruise: Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. With Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Edgar Ramírez, Jack Whitehall. Based on Disneyland's theme park ride where a small riverboat takes a group of travelers through a jungle filled with dangerous animals and reptiles but with a supernatural element.

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  15. Behind-the-Scenes Look at Newly Reimagined Jungle Cruise Attraction

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    While Disney World's Jungle Cruise has remained open during its refurbishment, Disneyland's Jungle Cruise has been closed. The ride is set to officially reopen on July 16th, but we were lucky enough to get a special preview of the ride today and we can't wait to share the updates with you!. In Disney World, we've seen Jungle Cruise updated with new scenes, new characters, and a brand ...

  17. Jungle Cruise

    The original Jungle Cruise opened on July 17, 1955 at Disneyland Park. Based on Disney's award-winning True-Life Adventure films, the attraction had a more educational tone. In the early 1960s, Walt Disney introduced more drama and asked animator Marc Davis to sketch some humorous gags.

  18. Jungle Cruise

    PG-13. Runtime: 2h 7min. Release Date: July 30, 2021. Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy. Join fan favorites Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt for the adventure of a lifetime on Disney's Jungle Cruise, a rollicking thrill-ride down the Amazon with wisecracking skipper Frank Wolff and intrepid researcher Dr. Lily Houghton.

  19. Updated Jungle Cruise Opens at Disneyland

    Disney will be releasing the movie Jungle Cruise on July 30, 2021, in theaters and for a premium price on Disney+. The movie stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in the lead roles and is somewhat based on the Disneyland attraction. Disney resisted the urge to incorporate the new movie into the classic ride. That wasn't the case with Pirates ...

  20. Jungle Cruise

    For assistance with your Walt Disney World vacation, including resort/package bookings and tickets, please call (407) 939-5277. For Walt Disney World dining, please book your reservation online. 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time. Guests under 18 years of age must have parent or guardian permission to call. Embark on high adventure on a hilarious ...

  21. I Worked As a Disney Imagineer

    The original rides — which all still operate — are Jungle Cruise, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Mark Twain Riverboat, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Mad Tea Party, Peter Pan's Flight, Mr. Toad's ...

  22. The Story Behind How Disneyland's Serious Jungle Cruise Ride Became

    The Jungle Cruise was a big hit when the park opened in 1955. For a theme park that wouldn't open a roller coaster for four years, it was the E-ticket attraction before the park actually had E ...

  23. Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Bar

    Themed to Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and the Disney Treasure's own Periscope Pub, this steampunk-esque ceramic planter depicts a heart-quickening face-off between the giant squid and the Nautilus. Future guests will be able to bring this gilded conversation piece into their home to serve as a capsule for Disney Cruise Line memories.

  24. Adventureland Day At Disney World Was INCREDIBLE

    Adventureland Day at Disney World 2024

  25. Jungle Cruise

    Jungle Cruise | Disney #youtubeshorts #viral #trending