Disney is in the process of transforming its popular Jungle Cruise attraction after previous criticisms involving the ride’s portrayal of Indigenous peoples. As one of Disneyland’s first attractions, the Jungle Cruise has spent 65 years entertaining guests with its leisurely yet adventurous journey along some very engaging waters.
In recent years, Disney has seen fit to elevate the status of the iconic ride, and as such, a new film adaptation starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt is on its way. The release of Jungle Cruise may have been delayed by the arrival of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but Disney isn’t resting on its laurels. The delay has given the Mouse House the chance to prepare for the film’s eventual release, by tightening up some aspects of the actual theme park ride that prevent it from being as inclusive as it could be. Disney has long been known as a strong believer in the need for family-friendly entertainment and whether that comes via its films or its theme park attractions makes no difference.
Because it was first built in 1955, Disney’s Jungle Cruise has long been in need of some refurbishments. What was considered culturally acceptable in 1955 is a very long way from what is considered acceptable in 2021. In an interview with the official Disney fan club, D23, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Portfolio Executive Chris Beatty outlined some of the new changes that are earmarked for the Jungle Cruise attraction, one of which is the ride’s negative depiction of “natives.” According to Beatty:
It’s the Jungle Cruise you know and love, with the skippers still leading the way, and at the same time, we’re addressing the negative depictions of “natives.” So that’s one of the scenes we’re going to go in and change.
Sixty-five years ago, when the Jungle Cruise was first unveiled, very little effort was made to understand indigenous populations and how they should be portrayed at a place like Disneyland. Unfortunately, ridiculous stereotypes and harmful perceptions of indigenous populations have persisted for far too long, and Disney’s move to erase this sort of legacy from one of its most popular attractions will be a welcome improvement. At the same time, Beatty admits that there will be fans of the classic Jungle Cruise who may be concerned as to how these new changes will affect the ride overall. However, Beatty has reassured fans that the ride will still carry plenty of its original charm, without coming at the expense of any single culture, group, or even animal species.
Aside from the need to change things about the Jungle Cruise that are well out of date, Disney is also performing a bit of pre-emptive damage control with this latest move. When the Jungle Cruise film is finally released, the extent to which it finds success could indeed be related to the original theme park attraction. Having a ride that seeks to entertain people of all ages, races, and cultures without making anyone feel left out will only add to the film’s appeal and amplify the degree of fun that can be had at The Happiest Place on Earth.
Source: D23
