The Jungle Cruise is one of the most popular attractions at Disneyland, a boat ride that takes visitors through a jungle scene filled with animatronic animals and humorous commentary from the tour guides. However, in recent years, there has been criticism of some of the outdated and offensive elements of the ride. As a result, Disney announced in January 2021 that they would be making changes to the Jungle Cruise at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
One of the biggest changes is the removal of certain scenes that were considered racially insensitive. These scenes depicted African natives as uncivilized and primitive, reinforcing harmful stereotypes. In one scene, a group of natives were shown trying to climb up a tree to escape an angry rhinoceros while another native was shown hiding in a tree as if he was afraid.
Why Was This Scene Removed?
The removal of these scenes was part of Disney’s ongoing efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity in their theme parks. The depiction of African natives as primitive and uncivilized perpetuates harmful stereotypes that have been used to justify colonialism and racism for centuries.
Many people feel that it is important for Disney – as one of the largest entertainment companies in the world – to take responsibility for their role in perpetuating these harmful stereotypes and work towards creating more positive representations of different cultures.
What Other Changes Were Made?
Aside from removing racially insensitive scenes, Disney also added new scenes featuring female characters who are shown taking on more active roles. In an interview with D23, Imagineer Kevin Lively explained that “we wanted to make sure that we give [the female characters] some new opportunities to show their stuff.”
In addition to these changes, Disney also made updates to some of the existing animatronics on the ride to make them more lifelike and realistic.
- New Scenes: One new scene features a group of explorers who have been chased up a tree by a rhinoceros, with one of them struggling to get down.
- New Animatronics: The animatronic animals on the ride have been updated to be more realistic and lifelike, with improved movements and more detailed features.
- New Storylines: The ride’s script has been updated to include new jokes and commentary that reflect a more modern sensibility.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the changes made to the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland represent an important step towards creating a more inclusive and diverse theme park experience. By removing racially insensitive scenes and adding new scenes featuring female characters in more active roles, Disney is working towards creating a more positive representation of different cultures.
As visitors continue to enjoy the Jungle Cruise, they can now do so knowing that they are experiencing an attraction that is not only entertaining but also responsible in its portrayal of different cultures.