Jungle Cruise

The theme and idea for the cruise came after a 1955 True-Life Adventure about a family of lions, and the boats are modeled after the non-Disney movie “The African Queen”, which Harper Goff particularly loved. Bill Evans, responsible for landscaping DL and most of WDW, found “character plants” which could give the feel of exoticism in a jungle. By uprooting trees and replanting them upside-down, then growing vines on the exposed roots, Evans created new plant visuals, furthering the feel of the unusual. Imagineers originally dyed the water brown to prevent visitors from seeing the bottom of the “river”, which varies between three and eight feet deep. Although Goff and Evans can be credited with the creation and initial design of the ride, Marc Davis (of Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean fame) added his touch to two notable scenes, one of which truly has his signature on it. He added the wading pool of elephants, but more similar to his style, the rhinoceros chasing the explorers up the totem pole contains the caricature and humor that stamped Pirates and the Haunted Mansion with Davis’ style.[1]