Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise soft opened on July 9th with an updated new storyline. Here’s what to expect from this returning Disneyland classic. (The official return of the attraction was July 16th at Disneyland. Changes at Walt Disney World are in progress and debut later this year).
Here’s our video from the very first boat off the dock:
The new changes add a coherent storyline to the attraction. Throughout the queue, you can learn more about the characters you see in the ride. One of the most noticeable of the changes is the new Trader Sam’s Gift Shop scene in the attraction (Trader Sam himself is no longer in the attraction as he’s “Back in 15 minutes.”
But you’ll find new changes throughout the attraction (especially the 2nd half of the ride). In one scene you’ll find a boat is sunk in the hippo pool. After 66 years of trying, the hippos score a point.
The famous safari chased up a pole by a rhinoceros scene has been altered as well. The new party of adventurers are now the ones featured in the queue and new backstory.
Additionally, scenes that previously featured natives have been changed. Instead of spear throwers, there are now some chimps who have released a crate of fleas. And the native dance scene is replaced by a boat taken over by curious chimps that have opened the luggage and are creating havoc. Yes, there are a lot of new monkeys in this ride.
The Jungle Cruise attraction poster has been slightly altered. It may look the same at first glance:
But closer inspection shows that the explorers on the boat are the ones featured in the new storyline. You’ll see the photographer, bird watcher, bug collector, and artist:
And to celebrate the Jungle Cruise’s triumphant return on July 16, you can get a special Pineapple Split from the Tropical Hideaway. The Pineapple Split features DOLE Whip, blueberries, strawberries, Mandarin oranges, and is topped with a coconut-caramel sauce, crushed plantains, dried hibiscus, and toasted coconut. This special treat will be served in a Jungle Cruise boat souvenir container complete with a red and white striped canopy – while supplies last.
More About the New Storyline of the Jungle Cruise
Say goodbye to those nice people on the dock because we are going deeper and deeper into the jungle with major story revisions to the classic Jungle Cruise attraction at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom.
The Jungle Cruise has been a work in progress since the opening of Disneyland in 1955. First conceived as a true-life adventure with real live animals, the attraction morphed over time into a series of bad skipper puns and humorous tableaus. But what was funny to guests in the 1950s doesn’t always translate in the 2020s and beyond. Which has opened the door for Imagineering to adapt the existing attraction and add a cohesive storyline and some new scenes and jokes to help keep the attraction relevant for a new generation of visitors.
First the new backstory. An excursion of explorers including an entomologist, a bird watcher, wildlife painter, and a skipper set off into the jungle. Reports have reached the dock that their boat may have sunk. Of course, you are sent off to rescue them and find out what happened. (You’ll find out more about they by exploring items in the attraction queue).
Along the way, you’ll spot the unlucky party run up a tree by an angry Rhino. Just past the hippo pool, their boat has washed ashore. A playful, if goofy, group of chimps has assumed the roles of the various adventurers.
There are many changes large and small coming to the attraction. But one thing that has been removed are depictions of natives. In fact, one of the changes is a brand new ending scene. Although Trader Sam is explicitly called out in the backstory, he is nowhere to be seen and now owns a Lost and Found Gift Shop at the end of the ride.
So, a bit of the past will be swept away for a playful new story that helps tie the attraction together but still delivers the goofy jokes and animal puns you’ve come to love for more than 6 decades.
Meet Alberta Falls
Guests of Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom may recall seeing the name Alberta Falls as the owner of the Skipper Canteen restaurant, located in Adventureland. Well, now it’s been revealed that she’s also the “owner, manager, bookkeeper, and head mechanic” for the new version of the Jungle Cruise, initially run by Dr. Albert Falls (her grandfather).
So you can get to know her better, Disney release an “interview” with Alberta Falls. The interview retains the same humorous tone guests experience from Skippers aboard the attraction. And keep your eyes open for a reference to the Society of Explorers and Adventures (also known as S.E.A).
We’ve enhanced the interview image a bit and blown it up so it’s easier to read:
A variety of adventurers and explorers are part of an ever-expanding narrative that involves several attractions, restaurants, and bars in Disney resorts around the world. Some characters have been tied to Tokyo’s Tower of Terror, Hong Kong’s Mystic Manor, Magic Kingdom’s Skipper’s Canteen, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Trader Sam’s tiki bars, Typhoon Lagoon, and even Disney Cruise Line’s Magic and Wonder have references to S.E.A. members. The list of places and references is lengthy and there may be many that fans haven’t even discovered yet (or known what they were looking at even if they did find something).
But the granddaddy of S.E.A. treasures and the genesis of the fascination was the now defunct Adventurers Club in Walt Disney World’s dearly missed Pleasure Island. Guests could actually interact with great explorers and hear stories about their discoveries and adventurers. When the club closed, along with the rest of Pleasure Island, it was really just the beginning of the stories and artifacts being distributed and expanded throughout Disney Parks and resorts everywhere.
The Jungle Cruise updates certainly look like they follow in the footsteps of mysterious (if playful) adventures in other exotic Disney attractions around the world.
More on the Society of Adventurers and Explorers (S.E.A.):
The Beginners Guide to Disney’s Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A)
Imagineering Shares Additional Jungle Cruise Details
The Imagineering team weighs in on their various roles in the new project. This is an A-List team, so we know this project is a priority.
Walt Disney Imagineering shares a video of some of the “gnu” magic being added to the attraction:
As a legacy Imagineer who truly loves Disneyland and knows its history better than just about anyone else at Disney, we are thankful to see Kim Irvine on board:
And Kim isn’t alone. There’s a great team on this project:
A Gift For The Whole Family!
It’s time to give the family something to look forward to. Our travel partners at Get Away Today are here to help you with that by planning a future theme park vacation. There are all sorts of new theme park tickets and travel deals, including a 2 free days offer at Walt Disney World, hotel discounts, ticket deals to various theme parks: More details and to get a quote (HERE)
Let’s Hear From You
Have you had a chance to experience the revised attraction? Updates about Alberta Falls and the new deep backstory about the lost party of adventurers add some new joke material while removing others. Let us know what you think about the updates… An improvement to what was there before, or unnecessary change?
UPDATE LOG:
Updated 7/9/21 with reopening info and our video ridetheough! New photos on the way!
update 5/26/21 – reopening date added.
This article was first written on January 25th, 2021 and updated on March 23rd, 2021 with additional information about Alberta Falls and the Society of Explorers and Adventurers.
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