Jungle Cruise – Page 3 – WDWNT Archive

WDWNT Fan Meets – August 1st and 2nd at the Disneyland Resort

WDWNT on July 22, 2009

I’d like to remind everyone about our upcoming fan meets at the Disneyland Resort on Saturday August 1st and Sunday August 2nd. First up on Saturday:

Come enjoy an evening of fun on Saturday, August 1st, with the WDWNT Network and Disneyland News Today staff at Disney’s California Adventure park at the Disneyland Resort. Among the fun and surprises, here is a schedule of group gatherings that will be a part of the unofficial fan meet:

4:00 PM – Meet outside the Blue Sky Cellar for distribution of “free gift” Group walk through the Blue Sky Cellar
4:30 PM – Meet directly in front of the Blue Sky Cellar to watch the Pixar Play Parade
5:30 PM – Group meet n’ mingle (and possibly some eating) at Bountiful Valley Farmer’s Market
6:30 PM – Meet for group photo and showing of MuppetVision 3-D in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot
7:15 PM – Meet for group ride on Mickey’s Fun Wheel in Paradise Pier
8:00 PM – Meet in front the former Orange Stinger attraction (Silly Symphony Swings construction walls) to watch Disney’s Electrical Parade

Then on Sunday:

Come enjoy an afternoon of fun on Sunday, 8/2/09 with the WDWNT Network and Disneyland News Today staff at Disneyland Park. Among the fun and surprises, here is a schedule of group gatherings that will be a part of the fan meet:

3:00 PM – Meet n’ mingle and group photo at Carnation Gardens on Main Street U.S.A.
3:30 PM – Meet for group showing of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland
4:15 PM – Meet for group ride on the Jungle Cruise in Adventureland
5:00 PM – Meet for group ride on Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square
5:45 PM – Meet for group ride through the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square
6:30 PM – Group meet n’ mingle (and possibly some eating) at the Hungry Bear Restaurant
7:30 PM – Meet for group ride on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country
8:00 PM – Meet in the hub on Main Street U.S.A. to view “Magical – Disney’s New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical Celebrations In the Stars”

You can R.S.V.P. (although not necessary to attend) and get more information on Facebook about the Saturday meet at this link or our forums at this link and the Sunday meet at this link or our forums at this link. These will be the first fan meets the WDWNT Network has done at the Disneyland Resort, and we hope you come by and enjoy the fun with us!

The World Famous Jungle Cruise Music Video

WDWNT on July 13, 2009

It looks like the very talented Weird Al Yankovic has produced yet another masterpiece, this time a song and video that I think all of us will enjoy. His latest single is titled “Skipper Dan” and revolves around Disneyland’s classic attraction, the Jungle Cruise. This song will eventually be released on his next album, believed to be on the way in 2010. Enjoy:

“Skipper Dan” by Weird Al

The World Famous Jungle Cruise Music Video

WDWNT on July 13, 2009

It looks like the very talented Weird Al Yankovic has produced yet another masterpiece, this time a song and video that I think all of us will enjoy. His latest single is titled “Skipper Dan” and revolves around the Magic Kingdom’s classic attraction, The Jungle Cruise. This song will eventually be released on his next album, believed to be on the way in 2010. Enjoy:

“Skipper Dan” by Weird Al

Jungle Cruise Skippers Ship Out to Tokyo

WDWNT on February 25, 2009

Here’s more information and background on the two Jungle Cruise skippers heading to Tokyo Disneyland according to the OC Register’s Around Disney blog:

Kevin Lively and Mickey Wright are two wisecracking men who take their craft seriously –- so much so that they’ve been vetted by Disney executives to represent the Anaheim operation at a Tokyo summit.

This professional conference –- Friday through March 6 –- will be a lot more entertaining than most.

Disneyland is sending Lively and Wright, two of its Jungle Cruise skippers, to Tokyo for a nine-day round-table forum on “jungle humor” with skippers from three other Disney theme parks.

The Jungle Cruise, of course, takes passengers in a boat around a winding, vegetation-shrouded river filled with animatronic jungle animals and spear-wielding residents. The skipper spouts off a continuous stream of corny jokes.

“You can’t lose with cannibalism,” Lively said on picking the right note of humor for the ride. “I like when we have kids on board, because to them, the ride is 100-percent real.”

Lively, 23, of Fullerton has worked at the park since summer 2007. He said he likes working with kids — he helped direct childrens theater in college.

Wright, 58, of Lake Forest started in November 2007 after he got hired at a Disney job fair. Though he said his friends figured he’d be a natural when they found out he got the job, Wright struggled with the script at first.

“The truth is, I actually had a hard time with the spiel,” he said. “I have a little ADD and all the distractions were hard to deal with.”

He’s a pro, now though, as evidenced by his selection for the Tokyo visit.

In Tokyo, skippers from Disneyland, the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, the Tokyo Disney Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland will tour the park there and trade tips on the best spiels and practices for running the Jungle Cruise.

The trip is part of a promotion by the company that operates Tokyo Disney — it’s the 25th anniversary of that park. The company decided to fulfill 25 employees’ wishes this year. This conference is a result of Kenichi Ito, a supervisor for the Tokyo Jungle Cruise.

The competition began in January from among the 60 skippers. Feb. 6, the six finalists had to do their act before a panel of execs, including Pixar chief John Lasseter and Imagineering chief Tony Baxter.

The majority of the skippers speak English, but a translator will be available for those who don’t. Also, the skippers will get to experience the Tokyo Disney Ride in Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese.

The Disneyland Jungle Cruise is one of the park’s original rides — it opened with the park in 1955.

Two Disneyland Resort Jungle Cruise Skippers ‘Spiel’ Their Way to Tokyo Disney Resort

WDWNT on February 22, 2009

ANAHEIM, CALIF., February 16, 2009 – Earlier this year, Jungle Cruise skippers all around the world were preparing their funniest material for a chance at representing their respective Disney Parks in Tokyo this month. Since the attraction debuted at Disneyland in 1955, the skipper role has always been one of interaction and fun, telling the story of the Jungle Cruise through silly jokes.

As part of Tokyo Disney Resort’s 25th Anniversary Celebration, a total of eight Jungle Cruise skippers from Disneyland Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, Walt Disney World Resort and Tokyo Disney Resort have been chosen to represent their resorts during a nine-day excursion to Tokyo Disney where they will participate in a unique dream opportunity.

In conjunction with the milestone anniversary, the Oriental Land Company, the Japanese company that owns and operates the resort, made 25 dreams come true for Cast Members. The Jungle Cruise skipper dream is one of the most unique being fulfilled. The request came from Kenichi Ito, a supervisor for Jungle Cruise, who dreamt to have Jungle Cruise skippers worldwide gather at Tokyo Disneyland and create an occasion where they could exchange best practices and, of course, best jokes!

In Anaheim, Jungle Cruise skippers Kevin Lively and Mickey Wright were chosen as representatives of the original attraction.

At the Disneyland Resort, the competition began in January with 60 skippers. On Feb. 6, six finalists took to the jungle delivering their finest skipper antics to a panel of surprise celebrity judges including – Chief Creative Officer of Pixar Studios and Walt Disney Animation Studios John Lasseter and his wife, Nancy, Executive Vice President and Walt Disney Imagineering Ambassador Marty Sklar, Senior Vice President of Walt Disney Imagineering Tony Baxter, and Walt Disney Imagineering Senior Director and Concept Writer Kevin Rafferty.

Each finalist had one shot to deliver his or her spiel to the judges. Rain poured down throughout the skippers’ spiels making for a well-themed trip through the rainforest. Although conditions were soggy, the skippers were cool, calm and collected while delivering punch line after punch line.

“All the skippers were terrific, every single one,” said Sklar. “They were all able to use their own unique style during their performances to make the jokes funny every time. We had a tough time deciding the winners.”

The excursion takes place Feb. 27 through Mar. 6, and will include a two-day tour of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, Jungle Cruise skipper training on the Tokyo attraction, and the opportunity to present their personal spiel’s to the group.

I’m Lovin’ It!

WDWNT on July 24, 2008

A whole load of new refurbishments during September & October have been announced. There’s so many, that I’m just gonna bullet them bellow:

French Market – 9/2/08-9/19/08
Sailing Ship Columbia – 9/2/08-10/25/08
Conostoga Wagon – 9/2/08-????
Fantasmic – 9/2/08-????
Harbour Galley – 9/2/08-????
Big Thunder Ranch – 9/15/08-9/27/08
Pirates of the Caribbean – 10/13/08-????
Jungle Cruise – 10/20/08-10/22/08
Gadget’s Go-Coaster – 10/20/08-????
Burger Invasion – 9/2/08-????

It’s interesting to note that all 3 McDonalds locations in the Resort (Conostoga Wagon, Harbour Galley, & Burger Invasion) will be closed starting September 2nd, for an undetermined amount of time. Could this be the end for McDonalds at the Disneyland Resort?

Also, the Hyperion Theater refurbishment has been pushed back to start on September 29th, instead of September 2nd. We still have no information on when it will end, but it should be in time for the Christmas season.

Finally, I just want to remind everyone of the already announced refurbs:

Plaza Pavilion – 1/11/08-10/10/08
It’s a Small World – 1/22/08-11/28/08
Mark Twain Riverboat – 8/25/08-8/27/08
The Haunted Mansion – 9/8/08-9/25/08
Flik’s Flyers – 9/2/08-9/12/08
Sun Wheel – 9/11/08-????

Stay tuned to Disneyland News Today for updates on all attraction refurbishments. And for up-to-the-minute information on the various refurbishments, be sure to check our Attraction Refurbishments page!

Time To Turn Back Tiki-Time???

WDWNT on July 15, 2008

After months of hearing rumors that the Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management will be closing sometime in the near future to make way for a Stitch-involved makeover, a new wild rumor has hit the streets of the Magic Kingdom and has cast members in De-Nile (Attempt at a Jungle Cruise joke). Strong rumors now indicate that the original budget for the postponed major Jungle Cruise attraction refurbishment maybe heading across the way to fund the restoration of the talking audio-animatronics bird show to its original splendor. In short, the original Tropical Serenade show may return to the Magic Kingdom as part of a huge marketing campaign for the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort in 2011.

The planned campaign is going to promote the idea of guests experiencing renewed classic attractions and entertainment inspired by the resort’s past. Among the planned updates for the celebration are updates to Space Mountain, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, The Hall of Presidents, and the Enchanted Tiki Room at the Magic Kingdom; Journey Into Imagination and Illuminations at Epcot; and The Great Movie Ride and Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Also rumored at this time are a new firework show and updated Spectromagic parade at the Magic Kingdom.

While most of these changes are likely to not take place (as is the nature with rumors), a few of them will make the line-up in time for October 1, 2011. Be sure to stay tuned to WDW News Today as more info on these rumored changes becomes available.

The Happiest Cruise That Ever Got Laughs

WDWNT on May 29, 2008

The Jungle Cruise attractionÂ returned into service at the Magic Kingdom this past Memorial Day weekend with a few noticeable changes. The first thing youÂ should notice while aboardÂ is that most of the props and setsÂ throughout the attraction have been repainted and repaired, all looking practically brand new. Besides the general maintenance, some of theÂ audio-animatronics characters from the attraction are still missing or have been removed. The Tiger from the cave scene and Chief Nami (the man holding the two shrunken heads near the very end)Â were still missing from the attractionÂ as of earlyÂ Wendesday morning.Â WDW News TodayÂ will be sure to keep an eye on the attraction in the coming weeks, as it is believed that this was only the first phase of a larger refurbishment that thisclassic Magic Kingdom attraction will be receiving in the near future.

MintCrocodile’s DLR Update

WDWNT on May 23, 2008

Our friend MintCrocodile has some great pictures of the Indiana Jones Summer of Hidden Mysteries (which debuted today), & a couple of things from DCA that I want to highlight here:

A look at the special guide-map for this event