Disneyland Resort Update: Jungle Cruise and Snow White Refreshed
Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA
We’re back at the Disneyland Resort again today with an update that is both short and long. It’s short, because there are only two segments, but it’s long because there are nearly 150 photos. And the two segments make up two attractions that underwent significant refurbishment during the time that Disneyland was shut down due to the Coronavirus, leading to new looks when they reopened last year!
The Jungle Cruise
In Adventureland, the Jungle Cruise saw some new updates that removed the outdated portrayals of native peoples and replaced them with animal-based hijinks. The headhunters have been a part of the Jungle Cruise since its beginning, including the beloved Trader Sam. However, with Disney’s trend toward greater inclusion and shift away from negative stereotypes or imagery that could be perceived as negative, they were removed as part of the latest substantial renovation of the ride. Trader Sam himself has been removed, and the scene replaced with a curios hut that still bears his name (and still features little elephant Ellie, now next to an on-ride photo station). The attacking natives before the Backside of Water have been replaced but curious chimps analyzing a dropped shipment crate, while the dancing natives have been replaced with nothing. Instead, a crashed Jungle Cruise boat manned by mischievous apes barely floats in front of the scene. In addition, the hippo pool features more evidence of boats upended by the local wildlife.
There’s one newcomer that didn’t replace anything, though. At the beginning of the ride, before the Bengal Tiger, there’s a new giant cobra sculpture holding a glowing orb in its coils. It’s a photogenic and mysterious fixture that looks pretty neat!
In addition, additions in the queue and unload area also strengthened Adventureland’s slowly growing ties to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, or S.E.A., a Disney mythology that originated in Tokyo Disney Sea and has since spread its presence subtly across Disney properties around the world. I’ve always been a big fan of S.E.A., which is most prominently featured in the Tokyo Disney Sea Tower of Terror attraction with member Harrison Hightower and the Hong Kong Disneyland E-Ticket, Mystic Manor, with Lord Henry Mystic. Whether S.E.A. will ever be more substantial at Disneyland park via its own attraction remains to be seen, but the Easter egg references are still really fun to see.
Like previous politically correct moves, the changes at the Jungle Cruise definitely caused some controversy, with the typical “woke vs anti-woke” crowds holding their own opinions. But like similar changes that have occurred in other rides (most notably Pirates of the Caribbean), people will eventually get used to it, and the new scenes don’t detract from the story. If the natives had never been there, the wildlife troublemaking would have still fit with the general silliness of the Jungle Cruise.
Here’s a spread of additional photos through the entire ride, from the queue through the entire course and back to the loading station.
Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
When Disneyland closed Snow White’s Scary Adventures in January 2020, before the pandemic began, it had already announced that the attraction would be receiving extensive audio and visual upgrades and new scenes that would enhance the story and usher into the 21st century. Though Disney fans are always wary of changes, and their concerns weren’t helped by a ride rename announced at the end of the year, the newly christened Snow White’s Enchanted Wish that opened with Disneyland’s post-COVID reopening saw much of the ride intact, with a few select scenes enhanced or replaced with some impressively scenic elements.
Gone were the dark forest and the “scariest” of ride elements, though the attraction still retained its more intimidating character through the Evil Queen’s castle and dungeon and the dwarfs’ final battle against the Old Hag. But in addition to improved projections and more vibrant lighting, guests could also venture into the seven dwarfs’ mine (featuring scenes that recall Walt Disney World and Shanghai Disneyland’s Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coasters) and catch more details within Queen Grimhilde’s castle.
Most importantly, the attraction finally added the actual end of the movie, where Prince Charming awakens Snow White from her sleeping death with true love’s kiss. Previously, after the final battle that sees the Old Hag fall to her death, the ride would transition into a final scene that simply noted how Snow White and her prince lived happily ever after. Guests couldn’t help but notice that one particularly important detail had been completely ignored, comically enough.
While it’s a bummer to see some of the old scenes, such as the dark forest, leave, the added scenes look stunning, and the ride finally tells a complete story (something that fans have long joked about in the past). I think the new enhancements are a great fit for the ride, which still holds some of its “scary” parts but also looks more dazzling and enchanting. The exterior has also been brightened and given more accent colors to blend in more with Sleeping Beauty Castle, and while I prefer to previous aesthetic, I don’t exactly dislike this new iteration. It will just take some getting used to.
Here are more photos throughout the attraction.
That’s it for this update. We’ll be back to check out the Lunar New Year Celebration over at California Adventure, which began last weekend and continues through Sunday, February 13th. Yes, we’re getting back toward “normal” updates—for those of you remaining who have been waiting for us to run out of steam from our haunt and holiday coverage. Although that’s not to say we have more catch-up from last year’s Halloween events that we’ll sprinkle through from now to the summer!
Architect. Photographer. Disney nerd. Haunt enthusiast. Travel bugged. Concert fiend. Asian.
