Hop aboard our trivia boat and check out these Disney Jungle Cruise facts, all about your favorite Adventureland ride!
Nothing beats a float down memory lane– and the vintage Jungle Cruise ride in the Magic Kingdom is a scenic way to travel back in time.
This classic Adventureland attraction is a true nostalgic trip for many Disney fans– especially ones who remember its debut almost 50 years ago. Originally a highly popular Disneyland attraction, this exotic riverboat ride sailed into the Magic Kingdom and quickly became a favorite among visitors to the Orlando resort.
It’s grown so popular over the years that it’s even inspired an upcoming movie!
Before setting sail this summer with Dwayne Johnson in his next blockbuster motion picture, take a minute to learn more about the ride that inspired it by reading these six intrepid Jungle Cruise facts.
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1. REAL-LIFE INSPIRATIONS
Photo by Mike Billick
If you enjoy the exotic Amazon setting of the Jungle Cruise, you have Walt Disney’s own True-Life Adventures to thank.
This nature documentary series produced by Walt earned many Academy Awards and was hugely influential– both in the scientific community and the entertainment industry. The installment titled The African Lion was so memorable that it became the inspiration for the jungle-themed boat ride.
Some of the vignettes along the Disneyland and Walt Disney World routes are actually recreations of specific scenes from The African Lion.
Another influence was the widely beloved 1951 film The African Queen starring Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn.
2. JOKES? NO WAY!
Photo by Cliff Wang
Whether you’re young or old, you’re bound to crack a smile at the many hilarious wisecracks made by the skippers. But if you rode on the Jungle Cruise when it was brand-new, you wouldn’t be laughing.
That’s because the boat tour was originally conceived of as an informative, serious endeavor that taught passengers about the artificial animals they were seeing.
Guests apparently didn’t find an educational ride very entertaining, so the tone was eventually overhauled, and generous helpings of humor were added.
3. A BOAT-LOAD OF BOATS
Photo by Cliff Wang
Yours isn’t the only boat that will be floating down the Amazon River. The Jungle Navigation Company has a whole fleet of vessels docked at its wharf — a dozen different ships, each with a different name. How many of them can you name from memory?
The 12 boats include Amazon Belle, Congo Queen, Ganges Gal, Hondo Hattie, Irrawaddy Woman, Kissimmee Kate, Nile Princess, Orinoco Adventures, Suwannee Lady, Ucayali Una, Yangtze Lotus, and Zambezi Miss.
Typically, the most boats out on the river at one time is eight. Don’t want the water to get too crowded!
4. WE FOUND THE OTHER HALF!
Photo by Laurie Sapp
Did you know that the crashed airplane stuck along the shoreline is part of a once-functioning Lockheed Model 12 Electra Junior? That particular aircraft was a popular transport model in the 1930s and enhances the time setting of your expedition.
Even more interesting is that the other half of that specific plane was once located within another resort park: Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Have any guesses where? It was actually part of The Great Movie Ride, being an integral part of the Casablanca scene.
That’s a wise way of saving money when designing attractions!
5. A CLEVER WAY TO SET THE SCENE
Photo by Laurie Sapp
Walt Disney himself was very involved in the creation of the Jungle Cruise in Disneyland, and many of his clever engineering tricks are also used in the Magic Kingdom version here in Orlando.
For instance, the river you’re sailing down isn’t its natural color: It’s purposefully dyed a murky brown. In addition to giving it a more natural look fitting of its jungle setting, the opaque water hides the boat’s track and other mechanical components in the water, so you don’t see them.
As for the exotic-looking plants, those are orange trees and other local flora planted upside down so the roots are exposed.
6. HOP ABOARD THE JINGLE CRUISE!
Jungle Cruise? No, Jingle Cruise! Photo by Julie de la Fe
A unique holiday tradition began in 2013 when the boats of Adventureland’s Jungle Cruise were covertly decorated to provide passengers with a surprise sail into Christmastime. Every year since then, the Jungle Cruise transforms into the Jingle Cruise.
Each of the festively ornamented boats –adorned with strings of twinkling lights and garland– carry temporary names like Mistletoe Millie, Poinsettia Sal, and Reindeer Ruby.
Plus, the expedition script gets overhauled to carry a Christmas theme. Holiday cargo has accidentally been scattered all across the area, and it’s up to you and the Jungle Navigation Company to find all the packages. Keep your eyes open as you sail down the river for brightly colored packages scattered along the shore!
7. SOMETHING NEW IS ON THE WAY…
Photo by Cliff Wang
The current renovations to the Jungle Cruise are just some of the many changes made to the beloved ride over the years that have kept it an enjoyable experience for passengers young and old.
With a new skipper animatronic, a more diverse cast of explorers, removal of negative stereotypes, and exciting new scenes, the Jungle Cruise continues to remain a key part of Adventureland even a half-century after its opening.
Hopefully, this Jungle Cruise trivia has helped you appreciate this underappreciated ride that’s given all of us a good guffaw. What’s your favorite joke you’ve heard while riding on the Jungle Cruise?
Think we missed any important or interesting facts about the Jungle Cruise at Disney’s Magic Kingdom? Tell us what you know over on our Facebook page!
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