I'm not sure if you heard the news, but Disney has announced that its world famous Jungle Cruise Attraction is being turned into a blockbuster movie.  Was there really that much of a demand to see the "backside of water" on the big screen?  Given their theme park movie track record, I can't wait to see which way this one goes.

More after the jump.

For the few people who don't know about the Jungle Cruise Attraction, (which I should note is in every Disney Magic Kingdom style park except Disneyland Paris) basically, it is riverboat ride through several major rivers of Asia, Africa and South America. Park guests board replica tramp steamers and are taken on a voyage past many different animatronic jungle animals. What makes the attraction so beloved is the fact that it is never played seriously.  Because, Walt Disney wanted each boat to have a skipper, who acts as "your captain, cruise director and dance instructor."  These skippers are basically corny stand up comedians who keep the ride light.  I should mention that there is a formal script to the ride with hundred of jokes (which can be found at the themed attraction website here).  But, the best Skippers develop their own jokes and routines.   I love this attraction because you never really know what you are going to get on your ride, which is pretty neat for an attraction that first opened in 1955.  Of course, the ride is only 15 minutes.  I'm not sure how high audience tolerance would be for two plus hours of  one liners.

Disney does appear to be going in the right direction.  They hired one the screenwriters from Shrek (Academy Award Nominee Roger S.H. Schulman) and David Hoberman and Todd Lieberma will produce (they just got nominated for an Oscar for The Fighter.)   Also on the plus side is the fact the movie will reunite Tom Hanks with Tim Allen in their first live on screen pairing.  (Do I really need to tell you that they are Woody and Buzz from Toy Story?) 

The strange things is that the Jungle Cruise it itself based on a movie.  First, there was  a 1955 Disney True-Life Adventure movie about a pride of lions (it's the part of the attraction where "The Lions are protecting the sleeping zebra.")  More importantly,  when designing the attraction, Imagineer Harper Goff said he based the attraction on the classic movie “The African Queen.” He referenced the African Queen frequently in his ideas; even his designs of the ride vehicles were modeled after the steamer used in the film.  So will the new movie be a comedic remake of that?  Will it be an original plot?  I can't wait to find out. 

But, let's face it.  With some notable exceptions, Disney has not had the best track record when it come to making theme park inspired movies. (Usually it works the other way, with the movie inspiring a great theme park attraction.)  Here are the movies I remember that have been inspired by Disney rides and attractions:

As you can see by those images, Disney has had more misses than hits when it comes to theme park ride inspired movies. But, when they have hits they knock them out of the park (pun intended). In addition to Jungle Cruise, we can also expect a new Haunted Mansion movie from acclaimed director Guillermo Del Toro and fan favorite Jon Favreau gave up Iron Man 3 (which is technically also a Disney movie) to do an upcoming Disneyland Magic Kingdom movie.

But what will be next: (speaking in my best Don LaFontaine movie announcer guy voice):

"In a World of laughter, and a World of tears, In a World of hopes and a World of fear. ts time we're aware its a small world after all"

Will Vinnie Chase actually get to star in Matterhorn?

Again, I can't wait to find out.

"And now, the most dangerous part of our journey- the return to civilization and those California freeways. Talk about a jungle!"

See you at the movies.