Disneyland to remove ‘negative portrayals of natives’ from jungle cruise – Orange County Register

The Jungle Cruise rides at Disneyland and Walt Disney World will receive major narrative updates to remove “negative portrayals of Indigenous peoples” as Disney continues to address diversity and inclusiveness issues in its theme park attractions.

Walt Disney Imagineering will update the jungle cruise scenes with the shrunken head merchant Trader Sam and a rhino chasing a tree safari party while adding a new scene with a half-sunk boat overrun by chimpanzees.

“Imaginers are constantly looking for opportunities to enhance their experiences, and when it comes to updating classic attractions, they use a very careful and thoughtful approach,” Disney officials said in a statement. “In this particular case, Imagineers created a storyline that builds on what people like the most while simultaneously dealing with negative representations.”

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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 reinvented rides are scheduled to open later this year. Disneyland plans to move forward with work on the Jungle Cruise attraction while the park remains closed during an extended coronavirus shutdown.

Disneyland is unlikely to return to full operation until spring or summer under state-issued COVID-19 health and safety reopening guidelines.

The Jungle Cruise rides updates follow changes to the Pirates of the Caribbean and an upcoming Splash Mountain redesign meant to cater for outdated cultural representations of Disney theme park attractions.

Disney Parks President 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 incorporate more diversity and cultural inclusion in existing attractions.

“We believe that a truly inclusive environment is essential to encourage ideas from all people to help us grow, innovate and create the best stories possible,” D’Amaro said at the expo.

Imagineering Director of Creative Development and Inclusion Strategies Carmen Smith said the latest Jungle Cruise attraction updates will address how Trader Sam and other indigenous peoples and their cultures are. represented in the classic boat ride.

“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,” Smith said in a statement. “With Jungle Cruise, we’re bringing what people love: the humor and spirit of our amazing skippers to life, while providing the necessary updates.”

Imagineering is constantly evaluating ways to make Disney theme park attractions respectful of the diverse world we live in, said Chris Beatty, Creative Director of Imagineering, at Disney’s D23 Fan Club.

“When you watch the jungle cruise as it is today, there are just a few scenes that don’t do that and need a refresh,” Beatty told D23. “But I want to make sure people know we’re not changing the whole jungle cruise. This is not to reconsider the whole attraction. It’s the jungle cruise that you know and love, with the skippers always in mind, and at the same time, we address negative representations of ‘natives’. “

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The revamped rides won’t tie into the upcoming epic action-adventure film starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a riverboat skipper and Emily Blunt as a fearless explorer. The stars of “Jungle Cruise” will not be represented on the rides, although subtle narrative nods are brought to the film.

Jungle Cruise updates will build on the story of the Disneyland attraction on opening day with new adventures that stay true to the story and pay homage to the culture of the skippers. More wildlife and humor will be added to the river trip with a new story following a Jungle Cruise skipper whose trip goes wrong.

“When we are considering making changes to a classic attraction, we focus on ways to ‘more’ experience it,” Beatty said in a statement. “The Jungle Cruise skippers bring irreverent humor to guests of all ages, and we are delighted to add to that legacy – 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 in a tree – including a photographer, painter, birder, and butterfly collector. Nearby, five chimpanzees have taken control of a half-sunk boat – splattering paint on the canopy of the roof of the tramp steamboat and releasing butterflies from a cage. A chimpanzee with a parasol sits on the roof of the boat while another takes the helm and the skipper’s microphone. Some of the new figures will feature animatronic movements.

“As part of this story update, we will be able to follow a skipper and his passengers as their journey goes wrong,” Kevin Lively, editor of Imagineer Story said in a statement. “It’s true, for the very first time, the role of skipper will not only be that of a lively, experienced and witty guide, but also represented by a show character within the attraction itself. In fact, the expedition will take place in a tree (literally!) After their sunken boat splits up and the chimpanzees board the wreck, along with some monkey stuff.

Lively, a former Disneyland Jungle Cruise skipper now Imagineer, worked on the Jingle Cruise cruise overlay, Disneyland’s Tropical Hideaway restaurant, and Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen restaurant.

The Jungle Cruise skippers will be expanding their repertoire of jokes with the new ride changes while keeping classic “bottom of the water” jokes and other gags in their routines.

David Marley, a former Jungle Cruise skipper turned history teacher at Cal State Fullerton known as Dr Skipper, loves the new story planned by Imagineering and believes the new scenes will provide a lot of new comedic material for his fellow skippers.

“Everyone trying to panic and yell about the PC police, wait until we have a chance to see it before you lose their minds,” Marley wrote on Facebook. “The jungle cruise at Disneyland has changed more than any original attraction. Change is good and keeps things fresh. If the jungle can be more fun and less offensive, let’s do it. Also, I firmly believe that the only thing that should be offensive in the jungle is the skippers.