The Hornbill is a character from the Jungle Cruise attraction at the Disney Parks.
History
Background
The hornbill is a great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) which built a nest on the rafters of the Jungle Navigation Company. It is shown to inhabit the boathouse's rafters where it is implied that the hornbill was trying to look for a safe spot with no predators chasing after it.
Development History
The scene featuring the hornbill and the crocodiles was one of the scenes designed by Marc Davis. Prior to 1995, the boats used to enter the jungle at the start of the attraction where a hornbill in peril of being eaten by crocodiles would be seen. Other animals seen in the scene were toucans and butterflies and the scene after that would be the ruins of an ancient Asian temple. At some unknown date between 1994-1995, the first two scenes were replaced with a new entry in the Jungle Cruise attraction to make way for Indiana Jones Adventure, thus the hornbill was relocated within the queue of the attraction as part of the refurbishment.[1] Additionally, this refurbishment also removed the scene where three toucans appear.
Despite the refurbishment, the lost element that featured a scene of a crocodile about to eat a hornbill still exists in the Tokyo Disneyland version, along with the trio of toucans as the first two scenes originally used in the California version of Jungle Cruise, despite the removal.
Appearances
Jungle Cruise
Disneyland
In the queue of the attraction, the hornbill can be seen nesting on one of the boathouse's rafters which can be seen overtop of the guests. It is seen watching guests who passing by its nesting spot on their way to board on the boats in the attraction.
Tokyo Disneyland
The original Marc Davis scene depicting a hornbill in peril of being eaten by crocodiles is the one that appears in the Tokyo Disneyland version of the attraction in both its original incarnation and its Wildlife Expeditions incarnation.
Magic Kingdom
In the 2021 revamp, the scene with Trader Sam and Chief Nah-Mee was revamped, entirely removing both of the tribesmen and replacing them with a gift shop, due to outdated cultural depictions of tribesmen from the attraction with Disneyland being the other one replacing the scene . The hornbill can be seen sitting atop Trader Sam's Gift Shop. Despite this, the respective Trader Sam and Chief Nah-Mee scenes is still used in the Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland versions of Jungle Cruise respectively.
Western River Railroad
A hornbill can be seen when guests board on the Western River Railroad attraction at Tokyo Disneyland where behind it is the Jungle Cruise attraction as the train passes through the Adventureland section of Tokyo Disneyland.
References
- ↑ ""Lost" Jungle Cruise". Meet The World (July 31, 2009).
