Originally Posted By mainstfan5 I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but I think it's time for major changes to the Jungle Cruise. This ride is really, really out of date. The last several times I've been on this (over a period of many years), the spiel was embarrassingly bad and NOBODY laughed or even seemed to smile. I don't mean less-than-great, I mean the experience was pathetic. Everybody just sits there looking like zombies, listening to the 30-year old jokes being told by cast members with bad acting skills and unintelligible voices. This last time the woman skipper had such a shrieking whiney voice it was literally painful. I'm a long-time fan of Disney and Walt's original park (40+ years), and normally I'm really hesitant to change things. But this is really bad. There's no reason that some things can't be added without losing the spirit of the ride. Why not a slide down a mildly-sloping waterfall, or through some mild rapids? Why not actually get sprayed by the elephants? Why not some lifelike natives, shooting darts where air guns in the trees make you 'feel' the darts passing by (ex., the 'popping corks' in Philharmagic)? Surely SOMETHING can be done.
Originally Posted By mainstfan5 Have there been changes made in the past 5 - 6 years? I was there in 2000, and the only difference was an extra scene or two that the boat floats through. The ride still consisted of really old bad jokes and nobody laughing.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 While I agree that some modifications could be made..again I feel this is a classic so some temperance must be had...and without a doubt this is the one ride that is make or break on the captain, and how they sell it. right Wahoo ?
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 I still love this attration, if really depends on the CM if the jokes are funny. Sometimes it can be a little to dry, but it works.
Originally Posted By ChiMike I haven't had even close to a decent skipper at WDW since 2002. I seem to have better luck/enjoyment with the Disneyland skippers. While I vividly remember one good skipper from the WDW CP, I think the WDW CP might also contribute to the less entertaining WDW JC.
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden Our last trip in May we had a great experience. Our captain was funny and entertaining. It really does make it or break it.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but...<< Oh sweatheart, welcomed to TDLFAN territory. Just about every Disney apologist here hates me just because I dare expose the lack of quality and upkeep in regards to WDW. I am just delighted some other people such as yourself, do not let the pixie dust blind you with "magical" tales of fiction and can see WDW needs help badly. >> The changes made at DL should be added.<< Not only the changes made to DL's but also add some of the upgraded AA and improvements made to the HKDL version as well. >>While I vividly remember one good skipper from the WDW CP, I think the WDW CP might also contribute to the less entertaining WDW JC.<< True and I have to go one step further and say that I'd prefer if they reverted to the days of all-male skippers. Sorry gals, but everytime I have had a female skipper, the ride feels like Storybook Land Canal Boats more than an adventurous trek thru the jungle.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<True and I have to go one step further and say that I'd prefer if they reverted to the days of all-male skippers>> If you get all male skippers, I get all females back on the Canal boats.
Originally Posted By sherrytodd <<True and I have to go one step further and say that I'd prefer if they reverted to the days of all-male skippers>> No I have to disagree with this. The funniest skipper I ever had was a female. Everyone in the boat was cracking up laughing. I agree that the skipper absolutely makes or breaks the ride. If they are a bad skipper, I'd rather they just keep quiet and we can go through the ride in silence.
Originally Posted By mickey_ring Hoping for WDW changes always has risks... We may end up with a Jungle Cruise Playground, or a Nemo Cruise or a Stitch Cruise. Yikes!
Originally Posted By brotherdave I love the 'hokeyness' of the Jungle Cruise, and like a lot have said already, the Skipper can really 'make or break' your experience. As much as I love the original ride, I wouldn't mind seeing a new scene or animal now and again. I also wouldn't mind if the installed more life-like animatronics as well. Just leave the overall scope of the ride as it is. NO CHARACTERS! I once heard a rumor about Disney possibly adding scenes of characters from their jungle themed movies (Jungle Book, Lion King, Tarzan). If they were to ever do this, it would most certainly kill the entire ride. I would almost rather see it suffer the fate of 20K than see these characters added to it! Now, I wouldn't mind a ride or two based on these characters, as long as it stays in Fantasyland or Toontown. Even a whole new 'jungle land' added to the old 20K site might be a great addition if done right (and NOT another playground either!) In fact, a animated-based Jungle Cruise in FANTASYLAND might be a neat addition, but ONLY if done the right way. (My 'dream' Fantasyland would be to have separate dark rides and attractions based on just about every major Disney 2-D animated movie ever made. But, I stress, FANTASYLAND!!!!) Oh, well, just my 2 cents...
Originally Posted By dresswhites on both Jungle and Storybook, i have good luck with both male and female skippers. Actually with storybook i have usually had a better experience with a male narrating.
Originally Posted By CMM1 While there certainly could be upgrades made to the Jungle Cruise in terms of AA's or other features (the funky Piranha at DL come to mind), how much is Disney willing to spend on a ride with a bunch of fake animals when they have a park filled with live ones? Granted, the Jungle Cruise is one of the original E-rides but given the number of higher capacity thrill rides has moved down the ladder to D or even C status at this point - a bit of a traditional anachronism which if more a favorite to either the very old or very young and a "between FP time killer" for most everybody else. It is true that a good skipper makes the ride better - perhaps the secret is "fresh" crews that aren't bored by the spiel - better someone who wants to play the role than a veteran bored skipper who just wants to get through their shift.
Originally Posted By mainstfan5 >> I am just delighted some other people such as yourself, do not let the pixie dust blind you with "magical" tales of fiction and can see WDW needs help badly<< Hold on. I wouldn't say that "WDW needs help badly". I had a great time on my recent trip, and it exceeded my expectations. But that doesn't mean it can't be improved... and JC is one are where improvements are needed. I just didn't see ANYONE having fun on this ride. >>True and I have to go one step further and say that I'd prefer if they reverted to the days of all-male skippers. Sorry gals, but everytime I have had a female skipper, the ride feels like Storybook Land Canal Boats more than an adventurous trek thru the jungle.<< Completely agree here. Haven't had a single female skipper that was even decent… all have been just terrible. I'm sure you must be able to find a good female skipper somewhere, but I think the theming is improved with male skippers. >>Just leave the overall scope of the ride as it is. NO CHARACTERS! I once heard a rumor about Disney possibly adding scenes of characters from their jungle themed movies (Jungle Book, Lion King, Tarzan). If they were to ever do this, it would most certainly kill the entire ride.<< That would totally ruin the experience; I'd rather leave it alone. There's no reason they can't keep it as a lifelike 'adventure' cruise, just add a few more fun moments like I described earlier, get a new spiel, and teach the skippers that they don't have to jabber on at 100+ miles per hour the ENTIRE time. I was ready to jump overboard.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss Since the JC is so dependent on the skills of the skipper, it would be great if those CM's were actually in the entertainment division, and have to go through auditions to win the part. Never gonna happen, of course.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Of course not. They would have to pay such "performers" more...especially if they belong to the Guild. However, you'd think if management cared one once about quality over cost...that would be a given.
Originally Posted By gurgitoy2 I agree that something needs to be done. Disneyland has a good balance now, but could go even further. I think the Magic Kingdom has a tougher time of it though, since Animal Kingdom is nearby. It's hard to really enjoy it if you've benn on the Safari... That said, it's still a good attraction, it just needs some plussing. I think by adding the new additions from Disneyland, as well as the finale from Hong Kong. Also, it would be good if they came up with several different spiels with different jokes. This way, the skippers could choose which ones they wanted to use on a given day...or they could rotate through them depending on their schedule. It would make for less boredom (at least in my opinion). More lifelike AA animals would also be a major plus...some of the existing ones still have very limited movements. There also has to be a new synthetic fur that can withstand temperature and weather conditions. Some of the animals need that!
Originally Posted By ChiMike >>Okay , ChiMike where the heck have you been hiding ??? Welcome back<< Thx. I've been around. >>It is true that a good skipper makes the ride better - perhaps the secret is "fresh" crews that aren't bored by the spiel - better someone who wants to play the role than a veteran bored skipper who just wants to get through their shift.<< That is certainly one way to look at it and I am sure that would be the case in a few situations. However, there was something to be said of a skipper who had "heard it all", a skipper who had so many trips on his belt that he quickly could size up his audience and play to them. That simply is a rarity on either coast nowadays. To me, on the WDW side, the WDWCP exacerbates the problem. Your point though is well taken. There is nothing like some eager new CM chomping at the bit to be a smart-alec skipper. I just think that is more the exception than the rule. Also, how many brand-new CMs are going to try to break script right out of the gate. CMs who had more longevity in the jungle are what allowed the ride to stay fun to some of the guests in the 80’s, 30 years after JC debuted. Will the same be said of M:S 30 years from now? Don’t get me wrong, a lot of reasons contributed to the JC having 60 min. waits in the 80s. A less savvy audience, out-of-town guests who didn’t visit the parks 5+ times a year, no fastpass ridership mentality, the 80 other things to do on property hadn’t showed up yet, etc…. More the reason to update the ride and have better standards put on the skipper (akin to trekkeruss suggestion). IMO JC needs an update more than POTC or even HM did. It needs a serious reworking, while staying true to the spirit brought on in the 60’s. I thought DL’s JC update was a great start. The Piranhas are fun, but certainly not enough. It’s ironic that Land is rumored to be going to a pre-recorded spiel when I consistently have better, more energetic, narrators on it than I do on JC. >>...it would be great if those CM's were actually in the entertainment division,<< Not exactly along those lines, but that was tried in the mid-90s in Disneyland and the results were played to very mixed reviews. I believe Koenig's second Mousetails book has info about it.
