Disney's Jungle Cruise will REMOVE 'negative depictions' of native peoples as savages and cannibals after 65-year-old ride was branded racist
The Jungle Cruise ride at Disney's theme parks in California and Florida, long criticized as as racist, is getting a makeover to remove what the company called 'negative depictions' of some cultures.
Disney said on Monday that the river boat attraction would be updated to 'reflect and value the diversity of the world around us.'
The Jungle Cruise, which first opened in 1955, has long been accused of having racist overtones in its depiction of some non-Western characters as savages and cannibals.
Disney's Jungle Cruise ride has long been criticized for its depiction of natives as savages and cannibals, including this portrayal of a man carrying shrunken heads
Disney said the ride would be updated to 'reflect and value the diversity of the world around us'
Disney said the plans to remove such scenes of 'natives' is not related to an upcoming Jungle Cruise movie starring Dwayne Johnson
The company will remove depictions of 'natives' that cast them as subservient or as savages.
The updated ride will include new scenes and a new story line, Disney said in a blog, though the company did not give a date for the launch.
'As part of this story update, we'll get to follow a Skipper and his passengers as their journey goes awry,' Imagineer Kevin Lively said in a Twitter video.
'In fact, the expedition will be up a tree after their sunken boat splits apart and chimps board the wreckage, with monkey business ensuing.'
Disney noted the changes do not relate to the upcoming Jungle Cruise film, which stars Dwayne Johnson and is scheduled for a theatrical release on July 30, Variety reported.
The ride will have no characters or tie-ins to the movie added, according to the outlet.
'This is not a re-envisioning of the entire attraction. 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,'' Chris Beatty, an executive with Walt Disney Imagineering said in an interview.
Disney's Executive Chairman Bob Iger also tweeted about the 'exciting' changes following the announcement.
Changes to the ride, which first opened in 1955, come after the company said in June it would overhaul its Splash Mountain ride
'The exciting changes we're making to one of Disney's most popular classic attractions, Jungle Cruise, reflect our commitment to creating unparalleled experiences that reflect, not only the best in storytelling, but also the values and rich diversity of our world,' Iger tweeted.
Fans of the ride remained ambivalent about the changes to the beloved ride.
'The only “people” who see racism in the attraction are hard core racists, and are too lacking in intelligence to realize it. Update, fine. Remove non-existent “racism”? Ridiculous,' tweeted @mikejt1954.
Another cautioned the company, saying those visit theme parks do so for the nostalgia and traditions.
'Adding enhancements is good, but in the amusement business, folks live on traditions; changes can sever emotional connection. Extreme caution advised. Always make decisions from the front line, not from behind the desk. Live the dreams,' @randy_senna tweeted.
Another fan claimed their first reaction was 'don't you touch my Jungle Cruise!'
'However this seems like more of an enhancement so I am cautiously optimistic with excitement. Disney did great with Alice and Peter Pan attraction updates in Disneyland,' noted a Twitter account named DisenyworldVacationer.
Disney fans took to Twitter to both praise and condemn the company for announcing changes to its Jungle Cruise ride
Others added they were 'in full support' of the Jungle Cruise's changes.
'We shouldn't uphold outdated depictions in the name of nostalgia. That being said, it would be extremely progressive of Disney to put The Rock into Jungle Cruise and every other theme park ride, just a full sweep across the board,' quipped @carlyewisel.
The changes follow a cultural reckoning in the United States over systemic racism that has led to overhauls of several television shows and movies.
Disney said in June that its Splash Mountain ride was also being overhauled to remove its associations with black stereotypes in the 1946 film 'Song of the South,' on which it was based.
The problematic movie has not been available on any Disney platform since 1986, when it was re-released for a 40th anniversary theatrical run, according to SFGate.
Fans remained mixed when the company said it would swap the ride's Brer Rabbit theme to substitute in The Princess and the Frog.
The entertainment giant last year also posted advisories on some of its classic animated movies, including 'Peter Pan' and 'The Aristocrats' warning that they contain outdated or stereotyped depictions of people of color.