Disney releases new Jungle Cruise character backstories, confirms 2021 debut

Disney releases new Jungle Cruise character backstories, confirms 2021 debut

This past January, Disney announced they were updating the storyline to one of Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s classic attractions, the Jungle Cruise.

According to the Disney Parks Blog, as they continue to look for ways to enhance classic attractions and elevate the experience for all of our guests, they are “building on the story of the Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland park at Disneyland Resort and Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort to include new adventures that stay true to the experience we know and love – more humor, wildlife and skipper heart – and also reflect and value the diversity of the world around us.”

Recently, Disney introduced a fifth key, Inclusion, to their Cast Member training. For more than 60 years, the Four Keys were Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency. These Keys provided the foundation to Disney’s culture and guided their renowned approach to service.

“As we keep moving forward and working together to drive meaningful cultural change, we are introducing ‘Inclusion’ as a new key and will be rolling out the Five Keys globally across … [each] … segment,” read the statement to Cast Members.

Part of that inclusion is a reevaluation of some of their most beloved attractions including the Jungle Cruise. One of the scene changes coming to the attraction is where the safari party, consisting of two male explorers and three native guides, is chased up a pole by an angry rhinoceros. The new scene will now include a diverse group of people from all walks of life.

In addition, the attraction will introduce a new proprietor of the Jungle Navigation Company, Alberta Falls.

Alberta Falls, Proprietor, Jungle Cruise Navigation Company/Disney

• Alberta was born in 1911. Her mother, Sneh, was a world-renowned artist from India, and her British father, Albert Falls Jr., was an art scholar.

• Young Alberta was always considered a rambunctious “free spirit” who was most at home during the family’s summer visits to grandma and grandpa Falls in Adventureland. She climbed trees, swam in the river, and enjoyed a special bond with her explorer grandfather and her “adopted family” of skippers who enjoyed the fearless little girl’s adventurous nature.

• She began to accompany her grandfather on his trips around the world where she was introduced to renowned botanist Dr. Moss in Nova Scotia and then-budding artist Rosa Soto Dominguez in Mexico City. On one of their wild adventures to New Zealand, Alberta picked up a new travel companion, a kakapo flightless parrot.

• When Dr. Albert Falls vanished in 1930, Alberta took control of the company and vowed to preserve the reputation of the Jungle Navigation Company. Moreover, to ensure that her grandfather’s legacy would be remembered by people all over the world, she began to promote the guided tours that we know today as the Jungle Cruise.

The five new explorers, who have now been run up the pole by the rhino are:

Felix Pechman XIII

Felix Pechman XIII/Disney

Closest to the rhino is Felix Pechman XIII who recently left his home in Silver Springs, Florida, and landed a position as a skipper with the Jungle Navigation Company Ltd. In an unexpected turn of events, Alberta had no choice but to ask him to lead his very first boat tour with her VIP guests. Unfortunately, Pechman’s trademark bad luck has followed him to the jungle.

Dr. Leonard Moss

Dr. Leonard Moss/Disney

Above Skipper Felix is Dr. Leonard Moss, an acclaimed Canadian botanist. Having successfully photographed and cataloged every plant in the frigid Nova Scotia peninsula, Dr. Moss decided that his next photo excursion should be to a warmer climate.

Rosa Soto Dominguez

Rosa Sota Dominguez/Disney

Above him is the celebrated Mexican artist, Rosa Soto Dominguez. Known in the art world as La Rosa, she was on her way back to Mexico City from her latest gallery opening in Paris when she received a special invitation from her very close friend, Alberta.

Rosa looked forward to their reunion in Adventureland when she would also get to paint some of the exotic wildlife, especially given her fascination with rhinos. As luck would have it, she ended up a little too close and personal with one.

Dr. Kon Chunosuke

Dr. Kon Chunosuke/Disney

Next is Japan’s preeminent entomologist and a member of the famed Society of Explorers and Adventurers, Dr. Kon Chunosuke. He traveled to the jungle on a mission to find new specimens for his world-class collection of insects.

As an admirer of Dr. Falls’ legacy, Chunosuke was hopeful that this younger Falls would be able to lead the way to the legendary Myrmecoleon, also referred to as the “lion of ants.” Unfortunately, he has only been able to find butterflies, mosquitos, and a rhino.

Siobhan “Puffin” Murphy

Siobhan “Puffin” Murphy/Disney

Up top is Siobhan “Puffin” Murphy, who traveled all the way from the small island of Dingle, Ireland, to pay a surprise visit to her distant cousin twice removed on her father’s side, Alberta.

Siobahn was nicknamed “Puffin” because of her love for the puffin birds that nest in the rocks of her seaside hometown. Many believe that it was Puffin’s love of exotic birds that drove Skipper Felix to get a little too close to an oxpecker perched on a particularly grumpy hippo.

A Disney spokesperson told The Los Angeles Times, to “expect all scenes that feature unsavory depictions of indigenous characters to be updated.” The LA Times also said that “Disney is not waiting to see how audiences respond to the picture. Consider it an indication that Disney is aware that the ride’s cultural makeover is a necessity more urgent than what marketing calendars may allow. Additionally, a Disney spokesperson says the new figurines will not represent characters in the film.”

Recently Disney made changes to other attractions to reflect today’s attitudes including updating scenes to Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and an upcoming reimagining of Splash Mountain themed to “The Princess and the Frog” at the Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort.

Latest Posts