Disneyland’s new Jungle Cruise ride to reopen

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(CNN) – Disney has finally returned to its jungle cruise after being criticized for years for the controversial portrayals of the attraction on Indigenous peoples.

In January, the company announced it would rethink the classic jungle cruise, in which a skipper transported visitors along a waterway while making jokes and funny comments. One of the sites visited by visitors involved a scene featuring “natives”, portrayed as primitive and threatening.

“As Imagineers, it is our responsibility to ensure that the experiences we create and the stories we share reflect the voices and perspectives of the world around us,” said Carmen Smith, Head of Development Strategies creativity and inclusion at Walt Disney Imagineering, in a statement.

On July 16, the ride will reopen at Disneyland in California, while the updated version at Disney World in Florida will be completed later this summer, according to a press release from Disney.

The announcement precedes the July 28 release of a film adaptation of “Jungle Cruise” starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.

The new additions include both new scenes and new characters, such as a safari group stuck in a tree, the company said.

“A feeling of inclusion”

The Disney team wanted to “bring a sense of inclusiveness” to the ride, while keeping it “classic,” said Chris Beatty, director of creative portfolio at Walt Disney Imagineering, in a video explaining the updates.

“We want to make sure that everyone who does the Jungle Cruise can see themselves in the characters and in this experience,” he said.

The merry-go-round is just one of a few Disney attractions that have been named for outdated racial portrayals in recent years.

One of the most notable issues was the famous Splash Mountain ride, which featured characters from “Song of the South”, widely regarded as the studio’s most racist film for its stereotypical portrayals of black people in the south of France. ‘pre-war.
Last June, the company announced plans to revamp the ride, taking inspiration from the 2009 film “The Princess and the Frog,” which starred Disney’s first animated black princess.

Top photo by Allen J Schaben / Los Angeles Times / Shutterstock

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