Photos: New mural debuts at Jungle Cruise, enhancements are complete

The changes scheduled for the Jungle Cruise attraction at Magic Kingdom are done, according to Disney, and the icing on the cake is the debut of the new mural.

Disney has been updating the storyline and sets at the Jungle Cruise while it remained opened and each adventure has brought something new as changes were taking place sometimes on a daily basis.

Disney Imagineers built on the story of the Jungle Cruise to include new adventures, adding more wildlife and more humor to interconnect the story. In addition to introducing new characters.

The new mural, and backstory, established Alberta Falls as the proprietor of theJungle Navigation Company Ltd. 

Alberta Falls came to Adventureland when she was 8-year-old with her mother Sneh Falls, an artist from India and Albert Falls Jr. an art historian from England. They visited her grandparents, Victoria Marie Falls, an adventuress in her own right, and her grandfather Dr. Albert Falls, a member of the famed Society of Explorers and Adventurers.

She would spend the summers with her grandmother, who helped keep the shipping company operating. Eventually, Alberts would go on adventures with her grandfather.

After her grandfather mysteriously disappeared, Alberta inherited the company. The business started to falter as the search continued for her grandfather and one option was to start offering “Jungle Cruises” to tourists visiting Adventureland.

Other enhancements of the attraction include a new streamlined-looking sign for the attraction.

A new map showing your journey and describing what you will see.

A place to rent your boat and be bait (that is to purchase bait).

Here is a look at the new characters on the expedition that find themselves up a tree:

Felix Pechman XIII

• Closest to the rhino is Felix Pechman XIII who recently left his home in Silver Springs, Florida, and landed a position as a skipper with the Jungle Navigation Company Ltd. In an unexpected turn of events, Alberta had no choice but to ask him to lead his very first boat tour with her VIP guests. Unfortunately, Pechman’s trademark bad luck has followed him to the jungle.

Dr. Leonard Moss

• Above Skipper Felix is Dr. Leonard Moss, an acclaimed Canadian botanist. Having successfully photographed and cataloged every plant in the frigid Nova Scotia peninsula, Dr. Moss decided that his next photo excursion should be to a warmer climate.

Rosa Soto Dominguez

• Above him is the celebrated Mexican artist, Rosa Soto Dominguez. Known in the art world as La Rosa, she was on her way back to Mexico City from her latest gallery opening in Paris when she received a special invitation from her very close friend, Alberta.
• Rosa looked forward to their reunion in Adventureland when she would also get to paint some of the exotic wildlife, especially given her fascination with rhinos. As luck would have it, she ended up a little too close and personal with one.

Dr. Kon Chunosuke

• Next is Japan’s preeminent entomologist and a member of the famed Society of Explorers and Adventurers, Dr. Kon Chunosuke. He traveled to the jungle on a mission to find new specimens for his world-class collection of insects.
• As an admirer of Dr. Falls’ legacy, Chunosuke was hopeful that this younger Falls would be able to lead the way to the legendary Myrmecoleon, also referred to as the “lion of ants.” Unfortunately, he has only been able to find butterflies, mosquitos, and a rhino.

Siobhan “Puffin” Murphy

• Up top is Siobhan “Puffin” Murphy, who traveled all the way from the small island of Dingle, Ireland, to pay a surprise visit to her distant cousin twice removed on her father’s side, Alberta.
• Siobahn was nicknamed “Puffin” because of her love for the puffin birds that nest in the rocks of her seaside hometown. Many believe that it was Puffin’s love of exotic birds that drove Skipper Felix to get a little too close to an oxpecker perched on a particularly grumpy hippo.

Chimpanzees take over an expedition’s wrecked boat.

The chimpanzees have also commandeered all of the items aboard the boat.

A Lost & Found location has turned into a Gift Shop run by Alberta’s longtime friend, Trader Sam. You can also get your cruise photo taken here.

And, when heading past the “gift shop” take a close look to the left of the hut and maybe you will catch the hidden mickey.