when did the Jungle Cruise get funny?

[huhwhat]

At Disneyland, long before The Jungle Cruise existed at The Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, I think the ride was meant to be a little more realistic and less humorous. I think the jokes evolved over time. Here's a representation of The Jungle Cruise in 1956, at least from Walt Disney Studios point of view. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUVIk6xS5qY

love it ! LOL at the guy shooting the hippo...could you imagine that today !

 

[MomofKatie]

love it ! LOL at the guy shooting the hippo...could you imagine that today !

We visited WDW in November, and our Skipper (she was really funny) had a gun. She didn't shoot it, though- she tried to throw it at them instead. It was the first time I remember seeing a gun included the spiel for a long time.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

In my experience, my enjoyment of the attraction is directly tied to the joke delivery of the captain, because some are definitely better than others and can make me laugh at jokes I know are coming and have heard several times. Eliminate the corny jokes, and there's not a heck of a lot to the ride at all, IMO.

Absolutely! I have had skippers who speak monotone the entire ride and sound like they are completely annoyed to have that job (a huge pet peeve of mine as I miss ever second of my Disney College Program and want to make them realize how awesome they have it) and then there have been those who have had me just rolling!

One of the things I noticed on our last trip was that it seemed some of the skippers may not get some of the puns. For example, the one about Inspiration Falls. The skipper says that the waterfall is called Inspiration Falls because it inspires you to go..... deeper and deeper into the jungle. That's funny because running water is supposed to make you need to go to the bathroom. That pause between "go" and "deeper" really makes it funny. I had two different skippers who screwed up this line, though. I don't remember what they both said, but I remember one saying, "Why is it called Inspiration falls? Because it inspires you to keep going into the jungle." Not as funny.

 

[teambraunlovesdisney]

We went on this last week and it had been about three years since we had been on this ride and I must say I LOVED it. This kid was spot on. The jokes were corny but I loved it. Laughed my butt off which was much needed after dinning with the BTG's at breakfast that morning. Me and another mother whom I did not know tag teamed it so we could each get our kids a Mickey waffle!

 

[foodrocksluver]

I agree that it all depends on the skipper you get. Half the time I feel like I want to take over because I KNOW I'd do a better job.

We had an amazing skipper named Kasey in December. I told her she was the best ever right before I got off the boat (I was sitting in my favorite spot, right in front of her) and she was so grateful to receive such a compliment. She was so good in fact that I went to City Hall and gave her a compliment for "being the best Jungle Cruise skipper of life!" I really hope they gave her a raise or something. She was just so fantastic.

Also, am I the only one who is beyond chafed that they changed Chief Nami's name (and of course I can't remember what they changed it to)?

 

[t_catt11]

Yep, it's always been this way. As a child, you were probably enthralled by the animals and/or ignored the droning adult.

 

[HallGirl]

One of the things I noticed on our last trip was that it seemed some of the skippers may not get some of the puns. For example, the one about Inspiration Falls. The skipper says that the waterfall is called Inspiration Falls because it inspires you to go..... deeper and deeper into the jungle. That's funny because running water is supposed to make you need to go to the bathroom. That pause between "go" and "deeper" really makes it funny. I had two different skippers who screwed up this line, though. I don't remember what they both said, but I remember one saying, "Why is it called Inspiration falls? Because it inspires you to keep going into the jungle." Not as funny.

The skippers aren't allowed to do bathroom humor, so they aren't supposed to say "go." Instead it's "travel."

Also, am I the only one who is beyond chafed that they changed Chief Nami's name (and of course I can't remember what they changed it to)?

He is Trader Sam. There's a story that in the script the skippers could make up a name for him. It read Chief (Name), so then the skippers would say Name (pronouncing the e).

 

[foodrocksluver]

He is Trader Sam. There's a story that in the script the skippers could make up a name for him. It read Chief (Name), so then the skippers would say Name (pronouncing the e).

Oh my gosh, that's great. Thank you for clearing that up for me!

 

[jagfanjosh3252]

Jungle cruise is my favorite attraction. I love it. I got to tell the jokes a few times since I know the whole thing by heart.

 

[imLissy]

They used to not have a specific script. They would get jokes from each other so a lot if them were the same, but it was up to the captain. It became the job for handsome twenty something men, and was a big deal if you got that position. Then, they kept pushing the envelope on sexual innuendo and the improv got shut down. Now, everybody goes off the same script. So you either missed some of the adult humor, thank goodness, when you were younger, or had captains that had less to say. It might be annoying to you now because since the script was implemented, there is no need to hire talent. Also, with no improv, they are stuck with saying the script over and over, and they lose their verve.

Ah, this explains why it was not funny today

 

[Radiorox]

I love the JC humour. It's cheesy and part of the nostalgia. Saturday morning, we had the FUNNIEST
skipper EVER! She was very animated, hit the deck a few times when she was 'scared' using was her foot to steer the boat during those harrowing moments. I think her name was Chris. Awesome!

 

[parkhopping]

I LOVE JC! My enjoyment of the jokes definitely depends on the skipper, though. Delivery and enunciation are everything. I can tell that the skippers do have some freedom with the script as there are certain jokes I hear on some rides and not on others.

The skippers aren't allowed to do bathroom humor, so they aren't supposed to say "go." Instead it's "travel."

I don't think that's true. I had a skipper about a month ago do this one right, with the pause between "go" and "deeper". I'm pretty sure it's the first time I've heard it, though - I was always curious about that line and why it never seemed funny to me! Now I get the joke...I think some skippers must simply misunderstand the delivery of this one.

 

[SeilerBird]

I rode the JC for the first time in 1959 and the puns were bad then. I love the puns and the ride. I rode one time with Marty Allen on board around 1969.

 

[dansdad]

was this always the intention of this ride?

Yup! For as long as I can remember.

 

[lucas]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZXehYg-Xnw

Cool!

 

[HallGirl]

I LOVE JC! My enjoyment of the jokes definitely depends on the skipper, though. Delivery and enunciation are everything. I can tell that the skippers do have some freedom with the script as there are certain jokes I hear on some rides and not on others.



I don't think that's true. I had a skipper about a month ago do this one right, with the pause between "go" and "deeper". I'm pretty sure it's the first time I've heard it, though - I was always curious about that line and why it never seemed funny to me! Now I get the joke...I think some skippers must simply misunderstand the delivery of this one.

It is true. Skippers are known to go off of the approved spiel.

 

[Floridagram]

Interesting Jungle Cruise link!

http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/disneyland/secrets/adventure/Jungle.html

interesting perhaps, but related to Disneyland, not Magic Kingdom

 

[maxiesmom]

It is true. Skippers are known to go off of the approved spiel.

Went on JC twice in December, and both skippers did the Go joke. I think maybe the change is not one they agree with. Saying Travel wouldn't make any sense in the context of that joke.

 

[HallGirl]

Went on JC twice in December, and both skippers did the Go joke. I think maybe the change is not one they agree with. Saying Travel wouldn't make any sense in the context of that joke.

I think that joke is one that has just been passed down from skipper to skipper, but there's not supposed to be that particular joke. When the skipper does the "ooh" and "ahh", that's the inspiration and the "joke". Just because a skipper uses a particular joke doesn't mean it's one they are allowed to use.

 

[fairestoneofall]

i like it when they take a little "freedom" with the jokes.

we had a skipper on our last trip that had us ROARING. it was pretty late in the evening and the boat was mostly empty. we think that one couple knew the skipper by how they acted. and we had another JC worker on our cruise too. anyway, he had us cracking up the entire time. i emailed a compliment about him after we got home.