Adventure or Bust!

One of my favorite aspects of Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom is the Adventure Rovers for each of the VIP characters in the show. These customized Jeeps are not only personalized for each character, but are also packed to the gills with everything they "need" for a camping expedition.

Minnie's Rover, complete with bow and polka dots, is hauling a pair of picnic baskets, along with all the comforts a lady like Minnie would never leave home without. Look for hatboxes and trunks (adorned with stickers from Minnie's travels through Disney's Animal Kingdom), a vanity table and phonograph... even a bathtub with rubber (Donald) duckie, leaving a trail of bubbles as she goes.

Goofy's up next, and he's brought everything... including the kitchen sink! There's a fishing pole, lantern, snowshoes (just in case), golf clubs, tennis racket, tent, radio, pots, pans, broom, washboard, tea kettle, long johns, windsock, barbecue grill and more. The hood ornament on Goofy's Rover is an old bowling trophy, which occasionally tips back as the engine overheats and needs to blow off steam. Look closely at the hood of the Jeep... you'll see the Goof really is prepared for anything! That's the Flying Carpet and lamp from Aladdin. You never know what kind of wish you may need granting when you're lost in the jungle!

A beak leads Donald Duck's Adventure Rover, fully equipped for aquatic fun on this jungle expedition. He's got SCUBA gear, a raft, nets, paddles, inner tubes, an old-fashioned dive helmet, water skis and even a crow's nest (complete with crow). Donald's sailboat has seen better days, but he's patched it up and is ready to go!

Mickey Mouse brings up the rear of the parade with the largest Adventure Rover of them all. Leave it to the Big Cheese, though, to be the most sensible and frugal of packers. He's loaded up with just the things he truly needs - clothes, sleeping bag, supplies and some satellite radio equipment to keep in touch with his pals - allowing plenty of room for extra Guests to ride along.

Mickey's Rover is also completely inclusive. Rather than celebrating himself, it's a tribute to various members of the animal kingdom, from the golden lion hood ornament to the paint scheme in patterns of zebra, tiger, snake, lizard and insect. It's as if all the animals of the entire parade come together for the finale, rejoicing in the "Rhythm of One."

Art + Animals = Artimals!

In yesterday's article, we talked about some of the elements which make up Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Today, let's take a closer look at the artistry involved in depicting the wild animals throughout the parade.

The rickshaw taxis that carry Grand Marshall Guests are each comprised of a tree canopy carriage, "pulled" by a different animal. I particularly like the leaping tiger (above) and the crocodile (below). Notice, even the type of tree is different on each unit.

The drum units are equally unique, with performers sitting high on a camel or nestled into the back of a giant parrot. Look closely, and you'll realize these creatures are made to look as though they were hand-crafted from natural elements, like leaves, branches and tree trunks.

This aesthetic, combining natural-looking elements with vibrant colors, carries through the parade. It's similar to the way depictions of animals are treated in the rest of Discovery Island, where the animals are shown very realistically on the Tree of Life but interpreted artistically in human creations.

Another key design choice for Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade was influenced by the overarching theme of Disney's Animal Kingdom - people's relationship with the animal world. As much as the park is about animals, it's also about us. Supporting that idea, the parade performers are not hidden by the animal puppets or costumes. Instead, their faces are integral to the design, and they bring the performance of the animal to life with their expression and direct connection to the audience.

In no instance is that connection more direct than with the Party Animals, stilt walkers who have the ability to stride on over to a Guest along the route and interact. From a distance, we appreciate the artistry that turns a performer into a colorful moose, eagle, lizard, armadillo or lion. Up close, though, we realize they're just like us... human beings caught up in a rapturous celebration of the natural world.

Jammin in the Jungle

As some of you may be aware, I recently joined the team of contributors on the official Disney Parks Blog. My first post there, which went up earlier this month, celebrated the 10th anniversary of Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Taking another look at the parade after all these years gave me new appreciation for the details and craftsmanship found throughout the show.

Rafiki leads the way on this Jammin' Jungle Expedition through the Discovery Island section of the park. His Adventure Rover, like those carrying each of the featured characters, is a highly-customized Jeep with lots of fun details, from the Anandapur stickers on the luggage to the vanity plate on the back of the vehicle.

The original procession which debuted with the park in 1998 was entitled March of the ARTimals. Following that rather esoteric display, one of the key goals for Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade was to introduce more Disney DNA and characters into the park. The show definitely maintains its own identity, though, unique to Disney's Animal Kingdom.

The parade becomes a celebration of animals, with designs inspired by the color and craftsmanship of the Discovery Island villagers. The Party Animals (stilt walkers) each give the impression of a distinct species, such as the tiger and crocodile pictured above, without being literal translations.


Larger creatures, like the elephant and giraffe below, are suggested by the forms of giant rolling drum units and elaborate puppet contraptions. The puppets for the parade were created in partnership with Michael Curry, the designer who produced the pieces for "The Lion King" on Broadway. That same type of artistry is in evidence here.

One of the most special aspects of Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade is the level of Guest involvement. Rather than a single Grand Marshall family, several groups of Guests get to ride along and join in the celebration throughout the parade. Some of the VIP Guests are carried in spectacular rickshaw taxis, which are among my favorite elements of the show. In the example below, the carriage for the Guests is formed by a series of canopy trees and their root system, while out front the whole works is pulled along by a depiction of a hippopotamus. Even the performer/driver gets into the act, dressed as an oxpecker bird on the back of the hippo!

Check back tomorrow. We'll explore more delightful details from Mickey's Jammin' Jungle Parade.

Campside Circle

While Mickey and the gang may be at the heart of Camp Minnie-Mickey, the biggest draw in this corner of Disney's Animal Kingdom has got to be Festival of the Lion King. The show was cobbled together from assets left over from the Lion King Celebration parade, which had run at Disneyland from 1994-97. Although it may have been a last-minute addition to give visitors to the new park something more to do, Festival of the Lion King quickly became a Guest favorite.

Audiences for the show gather around within Campside Circle, Camp Minnie-Mickey's assembly hall, to hear a tale spun by a band of travelers. As the tale unfolds through music and song, the story magically comes to life, filling the arena with animals and imagery. (photo below ©Disney)

The temporary show, built from recycled parade floats to fill an immediate need, has become an enduring classic. In fact, a new version of Festival of the Lion King was an opening day attraction in Adventureland at Hong Kong Disneyland.

Character Camp

Camp Minnie-Mickey isn't just a nostalgic reminder of the summer camps of our youth, it's also a place where the Disney characters love to go for hiking, fishing and all sorts of other outdoorsy fun. Just look around, and you're sure to spot some of them. Down by the stream, that's Daisy Duck leading the nephews along a nature trail. Huey, Dewey and Louie are no doubt working on another Junior Woodchuck badge.

Around the bend, Mickey and Pluto have cast a line into the pond hoping to catch some fish, while Goofy is more interested in catching some Zs! As for Donald, well... he got the boot. That's okay, pal. One time when I was a kid, I went fishing with my Grandpa and didn't catch anything but the motor of his boat!

When the characters aren't engaged in activities, they're happy to stop by one of the camp's Greeting Trails to say, "Hi!" and make some new friends.

Look closely, and you'll notice the kiosks at the end of each of the trails sport different designs. The original intent was that Mickey and the gang would appear under the Adirondack kiosk (where Minnie is pictured above). The woodland kiosk would be home to Pocahontas and Meeko. Characters from the "Winnie the Pooh" films would appear under the storybook kiosk, and the jungle-style kiosk (below) would be the place to meet characters from The Lion King or The Jungle Book.

Over the years, those other characters have found their own homes around the park, allowing Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale to spread out a bit. Of course, if one of them isn't around when you stop by, they're probably just out getting some well-deserved R&R.

Off to Camp We Go

Camp Minnie-Mickey was a late addition to the menu at Disney's Animal Kingdom, conceived just six months before the park's April 1998 opening as a solution for where to place the famous Disney characters Guests would be expecting to see. While it may have been a bit last-minute, the area's design received the same sort of attention to detail in its storytelling as the other sections of the park.

Camp Minnie-Mickey is the place where the Disney characters go for summer camp. Here, it's summer all the time! The path to the camp takes us over a river and through the woods, along a babbling brook. It's a gentle glade that seems a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of Harambe (or Downtown Disney, for that matter).

Complementing Animal Kingdom's representations of Africa and Asia, Camp Minnie-Mickey brings a bit of North America to the park. The rockwork and animal motifs have been inspired by the Adirondack Mountains region of upstate New York.

The Adirondacks also provided inspiration for the architecture and ornamentation used throughout Camp Minnie-Mickey. It's a distinctive style unique to that part of the country, using rough-hewn elements such as stone and natural wood in the fabrication of everything from the community well (a cleverly-integrated drinking fountain) to a nearby snack shack.

The benches in particular were crafted in this Adirondack style. Each one is different and a work of art, using the natural curvature of the branches used to make them.

Camp Minnie-Mickey is a lovingly hand-crafted tribute to the Adirondack region and the golden summer camp memories of youth. Even in the more realistic camp details, though, you can find a bit of that hidden Disney. It's the finial atop the flagpole, the opening in the side of a birdhouse and the branching logo on the face of the trash cans. This camp may have its foundation in reality, but it's definitely a place where Mickey and the gang can feel at home.

Weekend Bonus: More Everest Details

Before concluding this week's look at Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, there are a few more details I wanted to share with you. The area around Expedition Everest is an incredibly rich storytelling environment, offering something new to see every time you look.

The Yeti Mandir (which we discussed in Wednesday's article) is a Newari-style structure, similar to those seen in Nepal. It was produced with the help of artisans from Kathmandu and contains one thousand carvings, statues and other depictions of the Yeti.

Facing the Forbidden Mountain near the exit of the attraction is a Tibetan mani wall. In Tibetan Buddhism, mani are stone tablets inscribed with prayers. They are often placed together as a form of offering to the spirits.

These tin signs advertise the Serka Zong Bazaar, which we visited on Monday. The architectural style of the buildings was inspired by structures seen in the Kali Gandaki region of the Himalayas. It's a combination of stone buildings, like the tea warehouse, and "rammed earth" construction, where moist dirt is placed in a box frame and pounded with mallets until it's hard as concrete.

Using earth-based pigments, the color of the buildings is packed with symbolism. Red on corners or around windows is thought to provide protection, while stripes on the roof represent the three spirit worlds. In the image below, the red building at the right is a gompa, a Buddhist prayer hall used for meditation. The building with the long stripes all the way down (created in the traditional way, by pouring paint down the wall from the rooftop) represents a wealthy family with ties to the monastery.

Many of the detailed environments which make up Serka Zong can only be seen along the standby queue for Expedition Everest. Here, though, even guests who choose Disney's Fastpass service get a bit of storytelling. Instead of passing through Tashi's Trek and Tongba Shop, they instead pay a visit to this smaller vendor, offering many of the things one might need for a journey into the mountains. Nearby, Fastpass guests also find a satellite display set up by the Yeti Museum, teasing the collection and inviting travelers to come and visit the real place.

For those who do wait in the standby queue, Tashi's Trek and Tongba Shop has more detail within its walls than anyone could take in on a single visit. If you're not completely distracted by the Serka Zong souvenir T-shirts or the plush Yetis (one of which is wearing Mickey Mouse ears!), take a look to your left. Here, you'll find not only the register and additional items offered for sale, but also signs that Tashi actually lives in his shop. There's a cot and stove, some folded magazines he's been reading, and a trunk of personal items under the bed.

If Tashi is in on the occasion of your visit, be sure to say "Hello," and order something from the menu. A cup of delicious tongba is only 100 rupees. Be sure to ask for a bamboo straw, so you can have the true local experience!