Jungle Cruise - an abandoned ride?

[Datameister]

Yeah, it's a much bigger problem on the ROA, in fact. The animals there are lifeless and really don't do much for the experience. JC may not feature top-of-the-line AAs, but most of the animals are convincing enough to allow plenty of suspension of disbelief, if you ask me.

[DonDuck]

It would be nice if the more animals had movement, but not a deal breaker for me. The skippers really make this ride. I love the Jungle Cruise and always attempt to go at least twice during any visit.

[PA*]

I'll echo others in that it's the skipper, not the special effects that make this ride, and make each ride different. Day, night, different rides too. So the piranas may not be high-tech, but they sure made one kid jump out of his skin on one trip recently. Also, it is a relatively calm boatride that small children and older folks or those with neck/back problems can enjoy. You can't say that about Indy. Disneyland has attractions for everybody, and should stay that way. Jungle Cruise is a classic for good reason.

[techskip]

I do not have the time to properly devote to this now, but hopefully this evening I will re-post both the refurb concept and the character list. I know both are buried on here somewhere.

[Kritter]

I do not have the time to properly devote to this now, but hopefully this evening I will re-post both the refurb concept and the character list. I know both are buried on here somewhere.

yay!



You want to know what is an abandoned ride?

Snow White. What makes it less popular than all the other dark rides? Is it that it has the word "Scary" in it that children are not willing to ride?

[techskip]

You want to know what is an abandoned ride?

Snow White. What makes it less popular than all the other dark rides? Is it that it has the word "Scary" in it that children are not willing to ride?

I would say it has more to do with the focus of Snow White and less to do with the actual name.

[techskip]

Hopefully this won't hijack a thread here is the character list from the SG 2.0...

Female Characters

Mercenary’s Widow- Married at a young age to a debonair solider-of-fortune, she was dragged around the world from exploit to exploit. She and her husband eventually ended up in the jungle outpost of Adventureland. Suddenly, her husband dies of a rare tropical disease, leaving her alone and penniless at this rough outpost. The operators of the Jungle Cruise Trading Company took pity on her and allowed her to run a launch for the company. She is rather timid and not at all sure of herself. She sometimes becomes lost on the river and handles her firearm with trepidation.

The River Pilot’s Daughter- Born in Adventureland to a river pilot and his native wife she grew up in the jungle. After her mother died, she accompanied her father on all of his adventures and came to know every inch of the river by heart. Now grown, she has stepped into her father’s shoes and runs a launch of her own. She is very confident and outspoken, having to fend for herself in this rough environment. She is always up for danger and handles both her gun and boat with the upmost skill.

The Nurse- Originally sent into the jungle by the Foreign Office to help the colonial outpost, she stayed on after the outpost closed in order to open a clinic for local natives. After the Trading Company opened, she joined the crew and took up residence in the boathouse in order to have a central location. She runs her launch up and down the river to the various villages and outposts to minister to the health needs of the inhabitants. She takes on passengers in order to make ends meet and help out with the Trading Company’s business. She handles her boat well and is rather familiar with the river, but is a little stuffy, being a Briton out of her element.

The Mobster’s Girl- She was the girlfriend of a mobster back in the States, but ratted him out to the Feds. Frightened, she jumped on the first plane headed out and landed herself in the middle of Adventureland. She decided to make the best of a bad situation and passes herself off as an experienced pilot in order to get a job from the Trading Company. Although she is not really familiar with the river, she is gutsy and willing to take a chance, much to the chagrin and well-being of her passengers. She is of course a crack shot with her pistol.

The Stranded Survivor- She really can’t remember who she is. She was found by the natives and raised as one of their own. As soon as she was old enough she set out to find out who she really was. She was taken in by a family in Adventureland and through them learned how to read, write, and more importantly speak English. Having mastered the basic skills she convinced the Trading Company to let her run a launch in hopes of finding out what happened out there. She is continually searching for some clue to her past. She knows the jungle better then anyone, can speak a dozen native dialects, knows every local custom, and can track anything that walks, swims or soars. She can handle a boat decently but is an extremely bad shot and will only handle the gun in the most dire of circumstances.

The Actress- Born and raised on the stages of London, this beautiful lass always dreamed of being on the silver screen. She traveled to Adventureland after reading articles about the various celebrities that have come here to visit the temple ruins. She convinces herself that her job with the Trading Company is only temporary and hopes to meet someone with the connections to put her in the movies. She views her tours as an audition, always over acting and making everything as dramatic as possible. She is gutsy, but careless, and her over acting usually makes a bad situation that much worse. She can handle a launch decently, and uses the gun with the flare and bravado of a movie star heroine.

The Fashion Guru- Once considered the most fashionable dressmaker in all of Europe, she was forced to move to Adventureland after the Depression struck. At first she was able to make a living as a seamstress until that too failed. She joined the Trading Company in hopes of trading her wares with the local villages, possibly gaining some insight into the local customs and fashions. She is a fast talker, good with the launch and better with the gun.

The Debutant- Born into a life of wealth and privilege, she is one of the few who came to Adventureland of her own accord. Against the wishes of her family she struck out on her own in hopes of making it… on her own. She is fiercely independent and very strong willed. She convinced the Trading Company to hire her and take out a launch as a way of earning her keep. With every letter her father sends her a check, only to have it go up in flames as she tosses it into the fire. She can speak several languages and handles both the launch and the gun with elegant grace and charm.

[techskip]

Male Characters

The Tall-tale Teller- Born and reared in Adventureland, this crusty old river pilot knows the river like the back of his hand. He has seen a lot on his excursions and is more then happy to relate each and every adventure he’s ever had to his passengers. In fact, every time he comes across anything on his excursions, he is reminded of a previous adventure and lets his mind wander back to his previous exploits, usually at the expense of his passenger’s safety. He is extremely confident in handling his launch, even too confident at times. He has also been known to run guns and moonshine when business is slow.

The Mechanic- Born and reared in Adventureland. Although he is more then happy to take boatloads of tourists around the river, his main concern is keeping the Company’s launches in working order. He is a little slow, but knows boat engines inside and out and could repair a rusted out motor with dental floss and a bar of soap. He is generally liked by the other skippers, although his sense of humor is a little off. Fairly confident with both gun and boat.

The Swashbuckling Journalist- This extremely debonair gentleman came to the company from the British Daily Journal. He got into a scuffle with one of his bosses and landed a less then desirable assignment here in Adventureland. Being only a slightly competent reporter, he found that he had to take on a second job with the Jungle Cruise Trading Company. The Company was hesitant about hiring this cocky outsider at first, but his persistence paid off. He seems very popular with the female passengers but is self confident to the point of being vain, which often causes him to get into situations more serious then he can handle.

The Exiled Politician- He was once head of a small third world nation, but was overthrown by one of his top generals. Under the cover of night he fled for his life, traveling to the most remote place he could think of. Being a fast talker and used to dancing around the truth, he convinced the Trading Company to let him purchase a launch and take passengers in order to get by. Unfortunately he is one who has always been waited on hand and foot and has always had all of his needs taken care of by others. Therefore, he truly is not cut out or prepared for life in this harsh jungle. Being a mediocre skipper and constantly relying on maps to make it around the river, it is his fast talking ability which seems to, time after time, save his hide.

The Cowboy- He lost his ranch back in the States when the Depression struck. Finding no jobs to suit his unique skills he decided to try his luck in Adventureland. He read the ad looking for skippers and convinced the Trading Company to take him in. While his skills with the launch leave a lot to be desired, he is by far the best shot on the river and an expert at tracking animals. He is daring, seeking out danger and excitement with reckless abandon, usually at the expense of his crew.

The Cook- This happy go lucky fellow was once the proud owner of several fine-dining establishments, the Depression changed everything. He took the first steamer to Adventureland in hopes of starting with a clean slate. The Trading Company hired him on the spot hoping he would open a cafe in the boathouse to draw in more passengers. He politely declined what was more then willing to be the crew’s cook. He is boisterous and loud, with an amazing sense of humor, and is well liked by the entire crew. He can handle both gun and launch, but prefers to stay near the boathouse because he is easily lost and turned around in the dense jungle. He has been known to take on passengers when he occasionally ventures deep into the jungle to trade with the natives for spices. He may not be very knowledgeable about the jungle but he knows the best way to prepare almost any meal.

The Doc- This man of medicine is actually a veterinarian, a horse doctor to be exact. He lost his practice when he treated a horse that won a race, a race that authorities later determined was rigged. He came to Adventureland seeking a second chance. The Trading Company hired him as the crew’s doctor. Although he specializes in animals he can dress any wound, man or beast, and is extremely useful in the most dangerous situations. He doesn’t usually take out a launch unless there is a patient to attend to. Often times he will reminisce and tell his passengers about his past exploits, like saving the life of a stranded baby hippo. He is an expert with the launch, knows the river well and can handle the gun but prefers the non-violent approach to animals.

The Military Hero- He is a highly decorated solider who decided that after seeing the worst in life, he would seek out the best. He heard about the Trading Company through Col Blumbert, an old family friend. He ventured to Adventureland in hopes of seeking out the peaceful jungle’s quiet tranquility. He was hired before the Trading Company offered tours to the public. He prefers to be alone, transporting cargo, and only takes on passengers if he has to. He is brave and will face down any danger, no matter the odds. He is an expert with both the gun and the launch.

[techskip]

Male or Female Characters

The Botanist- Last year, he/she journeyed to the far off outpost of Adventureland as an assistant to famous botanist Prof. Seymor Greenstuff. There he discovered a very large cousin to the Venus Flytrap, large enough to consume a human. Unfortunately he found out about the plant the hard way. Determined to continue Prof. Greenstuff’s work he/she stayed in the jungle, but found that the prof.’s grant money soon ran out. Now he/she is stuck in Adventureland without any source of income. He/she convinced the owners of the Jungle Cruise Trading Company to let him/her run a launch for them, explaining that he/she knows a great deal about rare plants and many tourists are interested in the jungle plant life. His/her knowledge of local flora is also helpful in procuring fresh vegetables for the Company’s dinner table. Although he/she is not entirely competent at handling a boat, he/she is a fast learner and very determined. Even though he/she very much enjoys showing the passengers the exotic plants of the jungle, he/she is always on the lookout for the dreaded plant that ate Prof. Greenstuff.

The Accountant- At one time he/she was employed by the Bank of London., but was caught embezzling funds. Having to leave the country quickly, he/she ended up in Adventureland with no money and no experience except his/her accounting skills. He/she took a job at the Jungle Cruise Trading Company balancing the books and running the ticket office. He/she came up with the idea of giving free excursions in an effort to draw in business. This gimmick, unfortunately, put him/her out of a job. In order to make ends meet, he/she is forced to help out piloting passengers around the river, a job he/she is completely unsuited for. He/she is a pencil-pushing nerd and extremely excitable. His/her knowledge of the river is limited to what he/she has seen in the ticket register and the few maps lying around the boathouse. He/she regrets suggesting the free trip scheme and cannot wait for the day that the Company begins charging fares again.

The Failed Artist- He/she came to Adventureland for “inspiration” after failing miserably back in the States as a wildlife artist. He/she is seeking solace in the jungle atmosphere to revitalize his/her approach to art. In order to have a steady income, he/she decided to take a job with the Jungle Cruise Trading Company. He/she is an average pilot, but mainly uses the opportunity to get in touch with nature and pawn his mediocre paintings off on unsuspecting passengers. He/she is affable, but a little naïve and easily distracted. He/she will use the gun only in the most extreme situations to save his/her crew from the terrors of the jungle. In short he/she is the ultimate dreamer.

The Hypochondriac- Born in Brooklyn, he/she has spent his/her entire life holed up in his/her apartment, fearing the germs and diseases that his/her imagination creates. His/her doctor, tired of the incessant whining of his patient, advised him/her to leave the city to live in the warm humid climate of the tropics. Finding him/her self living in Adventureland and low cash he/she decides to buy a battered boat to ferry cargo up and down the river. When competing for business with the much larger Jungle Cruise Trading Company proves too difficult, he/she decides to join the company, even though he/she prefers not to be around those germ infested people that he/she must now ferry up and down the river. He/she is timid and hesitant and obviously not cut out for the job. He/she panics easily and uses his/her gun mainly for keeping those smelly animals away from the boat. He/she spends most of his/her time alone or in the infirmary, but the other pilots tend to tolerate him/her because he/she does keep the boathouse clean.

The Huckster- This shifty character has worn out his/her welcome everywhere else he/she has been and suddenly found it necessary to spend some time in the far away outpost of Adventureland, as there is a price on his/her head. For the time being he/she is earning money by working for the Jungle Cruise Trading Company, but this doesn’t stop him/her from trying to hustle the passengers. Seems he/she would sell his/her own molars if the price was right. The company keeps him/her around because he/she somehow always manages to get a hold of those hard to locate parts and supplies. His/her knowledge of the river is somewhat limited, but he/she makes up for it with spunk and fast-talking. He/she appears collected on the outside although panic may be setting in on the inside.

The Photographer- This character has always dreamed of being a photographer for National Geographic magazine. Even as a youth, he/she would pretend to stalk wild animals and take pictures of them. Once he/she was old enough to strike out on his/her own, he/she headed for the remote outpost of Adventureland to realize his/her dream. He/she has found out much to his/her disappointment that photographing for such a popular periodical was not a lucrative as one might expect. Penniless, he/she applied for a job at the Jungle Cruise Trading Company, showing passengers around the river. After all he/she does know a lot about the wildlife found along the river’s edge, an attribute that would come in handy for animal seeking tourists. He/she enjoys the excursions into the jungle and sees them as an opportunity to build his/her portfolio of wildlife photographs. Unfortunately, his/her preoccupation with the camera and “getting the right angle” often distracts him/her from the job at hand, getting the passengers safely around the river.

The Downed Pilot- He/she is an amazing pilot and local hero. He/she was delivering airmail to outlying villages when his/her plane developed engine trouble and crashed in the middle of the jungle. Somehow he/she managed to walk away from the crash with minor cuts and bruises, spent several nights alone in the jungle, and was eventually spotted and rescued along the river’s edge. He/she is only working for the Trading Company in order to save up enough money to make proper repairs to his/her plane. He/she is extremely afraid of the jungle, especially at night, and usually recounts tales of the terrifying creatures lurking in the jungle.

The Translator- Once the proud translator for her majesty the Queen, he/she found him/herself in a very difficult situation when he/she was forced to translate an insulting comment from a visiting dignitary. The Queen, not wanting to let on to her distinguished guest that she heard the comment, promptly fired her translator. He/she can speak a dozen different languages, knows every local custom, and prides him/herself in being able to communicate with almost anyone. He/she is fascinated by anyone from a foreign land, hounding them with every question he/she can think of. He/she is somewhat out of place in a launch but very social and extremely entertaining. He/she is actually afraid of guns, won’t aim and even if he/she did, he/she is an extremely bad shot.

The Scholar- He/she is a traveling scholar attempting to write a research paper about life in the jungle. He/she has been educated by some of the most prestigious institutions, and believes he/she is all knowing. He/she has been known to make up facts about various animals, hiding behind his/her impressive credentials. He/she is famous, for getting his/her entire crew lost because he/she insisted that he/she was right and didn’t need to look at a map. Skills with both gun and launch are always called into question when he/she isn’t around.

The Archeologist- He/she traveled to Adventureland along with Dr. Jones. He/she only works for the Trading Company part time, earning extra money as a guide when there aren’t any new digs to work. He/she knows more about the sunken city then anyone else and can translate almost any inscription. He/she is excellent with a map, having been trained by some of the best in land navigation. He/she is confident with both launch and gun, but secretly afraid of getting lost or stranded out in the jungle.

The New Kid- He/she grew up listening to various expeditions on the radio. He/she has read every book, every map, every bio he/she can find about any expedition that has ever set foot in the jungle. He/she is an encyclopedia of knowledge, having memorized every fact, no matter how trivial, that was even remotely related to jungle life. He/she has guts, just no experience. He/she came to Adventureland for just that, an adventure. He/she is extremely nervous in front of his/her crew and usually fumbles whatever he/she was about to say. He/she can barely handle a launch, and is completely hopeless with the gun.

[techskip]

Boathouse Band Loop expansion- During peak season Indy uses Upper 1 of the boathouse to maintain their own line. Our band stage hasn't been used in a long time. It would require the removal of a branch but the area is already a natural extension of the band loop. With minimal work the band loop can be doubled in size. This would also allow extra time before Upper 2 is opened. I would also recommend re routing the line in the band loop because several areas are extremely narrow due to badly placed props.

Native hut in the lagoon- The old design was more authentic to the show. Because the lagoon is smaller now and the boathouse is closer I would recommend building a larger hut or several huts as a "village" and placing them closer to the catwalk.

Toucans- During the last refurbishment the toucans were moved into the rain forest. The problem with the current location is that they are extremely difficult for the guests to see. If they were moved across the river to the other bank, possibly near the Indy dock it would be easier to see and it would provide Skippers with the option of butterflies or toucans.

Archways- The long corridor alongside Indy's exit is completely void of wildlife. In an attempt to prevent guests from viewing the Indy exit a bamboo planter was installed. I would highly recommend making several archways of the same design as the ones currently installed in the Sunken City. A combination of these archways and various toppled columns would extend both the rainforest and the ruins... creating the desired effect of the Jungle itself slowly reclaiming the land. These archways could also serve as a home for more wildlife. Small old world monkeys, snakes, iguanas spiders and macaws could all be created with basic movements using the air technology currently deployed in the Tiki Room. This would also provide a home for several crocs.

Bob- Bob looks great from Indy's exit however from the boat it is extremely awkward to look behind you and up just to catch a fleeting glimpse of the monkey idol. If he is turned around and lowered, possibly near one of the new archways, it would be visible from both Indy and Jungle.

Crocs- I would add another croc snapping on the other side of the boat as well as two crocs on the right bank. It would be an impressive animation trick if they could duplicate how crocs slide into the water, that splash and the subsequent snapping would really bring the temple to life.

Elephant Pool- The Elephant pool is absolutely amazing, The only addition I could think of is possibly 3 to 5 elephants on the left side (1 or 2 adults and some calves). If you added animation on both sides it would give the impression of navigating through the herd.

Gorilla Camp- Simply put, add a loading dock on the left side of the bank. Place various cargo on the dock that provides a ricochet effect. It is far more dangerous and unnerving when shots appear to be fired over your heads.

African Veldt- The entire placement of the animals just looks odd. I know that the Imagineers wanted to add a drinking Giraffe. If they moved the giraffes to the left side of the river (on the island near the large turnout) they would be able to add the drinker. I would also move the Zebras around and mix them in with the Gnu. If there was a budget, add more Gnu, they usually number in at a million or more with a couple thousand Zebra mixed in. It would be possible with 3 or 4 more Gnu to give the appearance of the herd crossing the river. In the wild a Giraffe will only drink if it is completely safe from lions and even then only if 2 or 3 others are standing guard. To have Giraffes eating from the trees, one drinking, and several Impala along with a zebra or Gnu would really be a sight. It would completely immerse the Guests in that scene.

Trapped Safari- The trapped safari is probably one of the most memorable scenes. The only addition I could think of is moving the hyenas over slightly and adding a baby rhino attacking some of the safari’s gear.

Hippo Pool- C curve has a blind spot that prevents you from seeing the trapped safari once you have entered the hippo pool. Imagineers talked about adding a sunken boat. I believe it should be cut in half, half on one side of the curve and half on the other. They could add a smoke effect to the smoke stack. I would also recommend floating debris in the water and various pieces of the boat and cargo strewn about on the banks. This is a great opportunity to make the pool “dangerous” and also explain the loss of the Mekong and the Maggie.

Native Village- Add more spears with skulls on them. Make the entrance more forbidding. Place Natives on both sides of the ambush and add blowguns. IF they are able to duplicate Indy’s air cannon effect it would enhance the entire scene. They should also have 1 or 2 natives on top of S.Falls to explain why it is so important to see the "backside of water".

Piranhas- Take out the shrine or enhance, carved stone, similar to various Incan and Mayan ruins. The jaguar is the "big cat" of the area. Add a jaguar on the right bank near the second rock on the right side, simple motions. If the budget allows you could also add cubs on the left attempting to "fish". The jaguar(s) would really add to the effect of being in the Amazon. The Jaguar is one of many symbols of Mayan culture, having a combination of stone carved shrine and actual cat(s) would completely immerse guests in that enviroment.

This is a combination of a submission and conversations with WDI and fellow Skips past and present. It's why I feel the way I do about the 50th refurb. Portions are sprinkled on other threads but I was unable to track it down so I went back to my original submission (MS Word still on my PC).