Lately, Disney has announced quite a few changes in an effort to make its properties more inclusive (and less offensive).

The company recently pulled several films including Dumbo and Peter Pan from its Disney+ kids profiles, citing negative cultural depictions as the reasoning.

But Disney isn’t stopping with its movies. Disney Parks are looking to phase out offensive content, too. Last summer, the company announced it would update Splash Mountain, a ride filled with characters from the notoriously racist film Song of the South. The redesign will scrap Brer Rabbit and Co. completely, replacing them with characters from The Princess and the Frog.

And the next ride headed for a redesign? Disney’s Jungle Cruise.

Jungle Cruise may not be as splashy (ha) an attraction as Splash Mountain, but it’s one of the longest-running; it was part of the grand opening attractions of Disneyland back in 1955.

Originally conceived as a more educational/historical attraction, Jungle Cruise today chugs along as a symbol of goofy humor, as the skipper of your boat takes you on a pun-filled tour. 

Unfortunately, the ride has also become a symbol of Disney’s racism and cultural insensitivity. The current setup and “story” of Jungle Cruise relies heavily on inaccurate portrayals of Native people, reinforcing stereotypical “savage” imagery.

What Will The New Jungle Cruise Look Like?

It appears that Disney will be removing the “enemy Natives” plotline of the ride, and replacing it with a “cruise gone wrong” story. 

“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,” Disney’s Chris Beatty told D23. “At the same time, we’re addressing the negative depictions of ‘natives.’ So that’s one of the scenes we’re going to go in and change.”

Jungle Cruise concept art featuring a rhino chasing a group of people up a tree
New Jungle Cruise concept art, via Disney Parks

Beatty said while the negative cultural depictions will be scrapped, the humor of Jungle Cruise will live on.

“We’re keeping a lot of the classic jokes that the fans know and love, like the backside of water. But it will give our skipper some new material to play off of. So that’s exciting for them. They were really excited about having some new source material,” said Beatty.

You can check out the video below for more about the Jungle Cruise updates.

Source: Disney Parks Blog