So, I pulled out my collection of Disney News magazines the other day and found this fabulous cover art (by famed Disney artist, Charles Boyer) depicting the Jungle Cruise as it existed before Indiana Jones. To the right side of the picture, you can see the hornbill and two crocs at the first turn after the "rain forest."
"Old Smiley" (the oldest and laziest crocodile in these parts; he just sits along the river waiting for a handout, so please keep your hands and arms inside the boat at all times) is around the next bend to the port side, not far from the ancient shrine defended by an enormous spider.
The baboon family (Pat, Debbie, Bob, Daniel) are back at their old perch along the small waterfalls just before the African Veldt scene (they've since been moved to a spot just after the squirting elephant and before the safari camp invaded by gorillas).
The old thatched Jungle queue and ticket booth can be seen along the bottom right.
This great cover illustration appeared on the Winter 1981/82 cover of Disney News (Vol. 17, No. 1). At pages 8 and 9 of this issue, we find the following article on the Jungle Cruise which I felt compelled to share with you fine people.
These pages are large when you click on them, so you can read them more easily. Ah, it makes the fire inside burn for a hand on the boat throttle, a hand on the P.A. microphone and a boat full of guests!Thanks for joining me today in the Jungle.
I'd also like to take a moment, if I may, to thank...
...my legs---for always supporting me;
...my arms---for always being at my side; and
last, but certainly not least,
...my fingers and toes...
I know that I can always count on them!
---Mike
