englanddg
One Little Spark...
Challenge 7 - Trashin' the Camp - @englanddg
Welcome to Hong Kong Disneyland! You have the Jungle Cruise circling around their "Tom Sawyer's Island". Then you have an entire Island themed to Tarzan. Well, not the entire island, Just the treehouse. This surrounding the Jungle Cruise has some serious potential. This can go way more then just Tarzan. What exactly you say?
Well, that's for you to decide.
I'm giving you an island. An entire island, around the Jungle Cruise. To do what you'd like to it. Theme it well, theme it different, just make sure it makes sense with the Jungle Cruise. Remember, a ton of this island does include the Jungle Cruise.
Mowgli's Isle
The Islands in Disney's Castle Parks have had an issue for many years...people don't see them as "must do's". Designed as "parks" to both distribute crowds, but also to provide a unique immersive experience that is "at your own pace" instead of the rest of the parks Wait and Ride styles, the challenges of getting to the islands (waiting for separate transit) as well as having a unique and attractive thing to do there.
I propose we get around this in Hong Kong Disney by integrating the ride with the Island itself, drawing the two concepts together and making for an even more unique Jungle Cruise.
So, the Jungle Book. Ruyard Kipling's "Jungle Book" is not only a literature classic, but has inspired multiple Disney films.
Lets start by looking at the whole history (according to Disney canon) of Mowgli.
The animated movie starts something like this:
"On one peaceful day in the jungle, Bagheera the panther hears the cries of something unfamiliar to him and the jungle inhabitants. He goes to investigate and finds an abandon canoe. Inside, he finds a basket with a human child, a "man cub." Knowing the man cub would die alone, Bagheera takes him to a wolf pack.
As the years past, the man cub was named Mowgli, gained the ability to speak with animals, and has become great friends with Bagheera. One night, the wolf pack learned that the notorious predator, Shere Khan, has returned to that part of the jungle, in an attempt to murder Mowgli."
But, there is some back story that the original animated movie didn't get into, but a later movie (Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book) did.
"He is the son of an Indian Jungle guide named Nathoo who was guiding a group of soldiers led by Colonel Brydon. He and his daughter Katherine (nicknamed "Kitty") are very close friends and show deep affection for each other. She gives him a special bracelet that had belonged to her mother."
"After his father is killed by Shere Khan, Mowgli and his pet cub were lost in the jungle and presumed dead."
(Source: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Mowgli)
Son of a Jungle Guide? Lost in the Jungle? Sounds like an adventure!
Mowgli's Isle would become part of the Jungle Cruise itself. Story elements of the Jungle Book would be integrated into the ride, and parts of Mowgli's story incorporated into the script for the river boat captains.
I should clarify, with the exception of a slight modification of the script, I do not propose that the Jungle Cruise be turned into a full integrated adaptation of the Jungle Book (a la "Living Seas with Nemo". Rather, the idea is to explain enough of the basic story of a missing child of a "fellow" tour guide on the Jungle Cruise ride that guests are interested in searching for him!
Halfway through the ride, the boat will dock on the island, and guests will be offered the option to debark and "search" for the missing child in a journey through the jungle.
So, as a result a certain percentage of the boat will debark, and the boat will fill up with people leaving their island experience.
The island itself will not contain rides, but rather will be a series of walk through attractions. Since these are not "rides", several small refreshment stands will be added to the island (more on that later). Each section will be musically themed, so as you enter it it has it's own "soundtrack".
The Island would be reworked into four distinct areas.
1) Monkey Ruins
2) Elephant Savannah
3) The Wolves Den
4) Baloo's
Guests will walk through a thick jungle and down a path. As they turn a corner at the end of the path they'll turn a corner and in front of them will be a large savanna. Here, they'll have the option to walk through the savanna and spot animetronic animals, and they may even stumble upon these guys!
Or even these baddies is the forested areas!
As they continue their search for Mowgli, and exit the savanna, they can go right and into the ruins of an ancient temple. Here they will be treated to a show!
Monkey Ruins
Animetronic monkeys and King Louie will be performing, telling jokes, and playing gags on guests. The King Louie animetronic will utilize technology similar to Turtle Talk with Crush to allow a hidden cast member to interact with the guests (telling corny jokes and setting up the monkey pranks) between automated song shows.
As the exit the ruins, they can go straight ahead (past the savanna) and see a series of caves which they can explore.
Wolf Caves
These are the caves of Mowgli's wolf parents and brother. While dark and potentially scary, they will come across a natural gem cave...
...underground streams and lake...
In certain places, lighting elements will be used to make it seem that shadows of Mowgli's family and brother are skirting through the caves. And, if guests keep a sharp eye, they'll see their first clue about Mowgli, as they see his shadow as well.
As they exit the caves, guests will see a part of the island that has previously been hidden from view, a large tree. They begin to hear music...
That's right, they've found...
Baloo's Place!
This is a walkthrough of scenes from the song. If you walk through at the right pace, the scenes will even line up to the animated movie, with animetronics of Baloo singing to Mowgli, and explaining the ways of life!
Directional audio techniques will be used so that the lyrics of the song play only in front of the animetronic you are viewing. The area, however, will have an underlying soundtrack without the lyrics playing so the song envelopes the entire area.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59h4bS4O-Rs
At this point, guests can stop and pick up a Man's Red Fire Slushee or a Prickly Pear ice cream from "Island Snacks" to munch on as they head back to the boat dock, where they will finish their "Jungle Cruise"
In summary, the core to the concept involves a more immersive and themed experience to the Jungle Cruise, encouraging Guests (by integrating with the ride and using the ride vehicles also as transportation to the island) to explore the Island in more detail.
Welcome to Hong Kong Disneyland! You have the Jungle Cruise circling around their "Tom Sawyer's Island". Then you have an entire Island themed to Tarzan. Well, not the entire island, Just the treehouse. This surrounding the Jungle Cruise has some serious potential. This can go way more then just Tarzan. What exactly you say?
Well, that's for you to decide.
I'm giving you an island. An entire island, around the Jungle Cruise. To do what you'd like to it. Theme it well, theme it different, just make sure it makes sense with the Jungle Cruise. Remember, a ton of this island does include the Jungle Cruise.
Mowgli's Isle
The Islands in Disney's Castle Parks have had an issue for many years...people don't see them as "must do's". Designed as "parks" to both distribute crowds, but also to provide a unique immersive experience that is "at your own pace" instead of the rest of the parks Wait and Ride styles, the challenges of getting to the islands (waiting for separate transit) as well as having a unique and attractive thing to do there.
I propose we get around this in Hong Kong Disney by integrating the ride with the Island itself, drawing the two concepts together and making for an even more unique Jungle Cruise.
So, the Jungle Book. Ruyard Kipling's "Jungle Book" is not only a literature classic, but has inspired multiple Disney films.
Lets start by looking at the whole history (according to Disney canon) of Mowgli.
The animated movie starts something like this:
"On one peaceful day in the jungle, Bagheera the panther hears the cries of something unfamiliar to him and the jungle inhabitants. He goes to investigate and finds an abandon canoe. Inside, he finds a basket with a human child, a "man cub." Knowing the man cub would die alone, Bagheera takes him to a wolf pack.
As the years past, the man cub was named Mowgli, gained the ability to speak with animals, and has become great friends with Bagheera. One night, the wolf pack learned that the notorious predator, Shere Khan, has returned to that part of the jungle, in an attempt to murder Mowgli."
But, there is some back story that the original animated movie didn't get into, but a later movie (Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book) did.
"He is the son of an Indian Jungle guide named Nathoo who was guiding a group of soldiers led by Colonel Brydon. He and his daughter Katherine (nicknamed "Kitty") are very close friends and show deep affection for each other. She gives him a special bracelet that had belonged to her mother."
"After his father is killed by Shere Khan, Mowgli and his pet cub were lost in the jungle and presumed dead."
(Source: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Mowgli)
Son of a Jungle Guide? Lost in the Jungle? Sounds like an adventure!
Mowgli's Isle would become part of the Jungle Cruise itself. Story elements of the Jungle Book would be integrated into the ride, and parts of Mowgli's story incorporated into the script for the river boat captains.
I should clarify, with the exception of a slight modification of the script, I do not propose that the Jungle Cruise be turned into a full integrated adaptation of the Jungle Book (a la "Living Seas with Nemo". Rather, the idea is to explain enough of the basic story of a missing child of a "fellow" tour guide on the Jungle Cruise ride that guests are interested in searching for him!
Halfway through the ride, the boat will dock on the island, and guests will be offered the option to debark and "search" for the missing child in a journey through the jungle.
So, as a result a certain percentage of the boat will debark, and the boat will fill up with people leaving their island experience.
The island itself will not contain rides, but rather will be a series of walk through attractions. Since these are not "rides", several small refreshment stands will be added to the island (more on that later). Each section will be musically themed, so as you enter it it has it's own "soundtrack".
The Island would be reworked into four distinct areas.
1) Monkey Ruins
2) Elephant Savannah
3) The Wolves Den
4) Baloo's
Guests will walk through a thick jungle and down a path. As they turn a corner at the end of the path they'll turn a corner and in front of them will be a large savanna. Here, they'll have the option to walk through the savanna and spot animetronic animals, and they may even stumble upon these guys!
Or even these baddies is the forested areas!
As they continue their search for Mowgli, and exit the savanna, they can go right and into the ruins of an ancient temple. Here they will be treated to a show!
Monkey Ruins
Animetronic monkeys and King Louie will be performing, telling jokes, and playing gags on guests. The King Louie animetronic will utilize technology similar to Turtle Talk with Crush to allow a hidden cast member to interact with the guests (telling corny jokes and setting up the monkey pranks) between automated song shows.
As the exit the ruins, they can go straight ahead (past the savanna) and see a series of caves which they can explore.
Wolf Caves
These are the caves of Mowgli's wolf parents and brother. While dark and potentially scary, they will come across a natural gem cave...
...underground streams and lake...
In certain places, lighting elements will be used to make it seem that shadows of Mowgli's family and brother are skirting through the caves. And, if guests keep a sharp eye, they'll see their first clue about Mowgli, as they see his shadow as well.
As they exit the caves, guests will see a part of the island that has previously been hidden from view, a large tree. They begin to hear music...
That's right, they've found...
Baloo's Place!
This is a walkthrough of scenes from the song. If you walk through at the right pace, the scenes will even line up to the animated movie, with animetronics of Baloo singing to Mowgli, and explaining the ways of life!
Directional audio techniques will be used so that the lyrics of the song play only in front of the animetronic you are viewing. The area, however, will have an underlying soundtrack without the lyrics playing so the song envelopes the entire area.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59h4bS4O-Rs
At this point, guests can stop and pick up a Man's Red Fire Slushee or a Prickly Pear ice cream from "Island Snacks" to munch on as they head back to the boat dock, where they will finish their "Jungle Cruise"
In summary, the core to the concept involves a more immersive and themed experience to the Jungle Cruise, encouraging Guests (by integrating with the ride and using the ride vehicles also as transportation to the island) to explore the Island in more detail.
Last edited:
