Skippers

The skippers are a broad group of characters from the Jungle Cruise. They are traditionally the roles of the cast-members assumed in Jungle Cruise attractions.

Description[]

"Skipper" is used to refer to riverboat pilots in the Jungle Cruise. Typically, these skippers are sailors of the Jungle Navigation Company. In most parks, the skippers are characterized as inept, incompetent and sometimes outright corrupt but with a sly and/or campy sense of humour. Their main occupation comes from guiding the JNC's, "Jungle Cruise" tours on the Rivers of Adventure. The skippers are typically shown wearing khaki clothing with fedoras, sometimes decorated with leopard-print bands and emblems of the Jungle Navigation Company.

Skippers[]

Admiral Bartholomew Wrongway: Wrongway was a guest skipper of the JNC in 1938.
Albert Awol: Albert Awol was a skipper who by 1938 became the voice of AWOL Airwaves on the Disney Broadcasting Company.
Al B. Lost: Al B. Lost was eccentric skipper of The Amazon Queen.
Babs:
Cap'n Kevin: Kevin was a capable skipper who was awarded the, "Dr. Albert Falls Memorial Award for Jungle Excellence" in 1928. Kevin had an apparent intimate relationship with the mystic JNC affiliate, Trader Sam.
Captain Daniel:
Col. Brody:
Charlie Allnut: Charlie Allnut was an avid boatsman in East-Africa during World War I. He would have some connection to the JNC's affairs, piloting their boat the Zambezi Miss alongside his wife Rose Sayer.
Felix Pechman XIII: This was a man from Silver Springs, Florida who was plagued with bad luck. He was hired around the year 1938 where he would lose a V.I.P. safari and be attacked by a black rhino.
Frank "Skipper" Wolff: Francisco Lopez de Heredia was a mixed-race 16th century conquistador who was cursed with immortality and a binding to the Amazon rainforest by the Puka Michuna tribe for the crimes of his superior, Lope de Aguirre. By 1916 he was a jungle navigation company, "Skipper" going by the name of Frank Wolff in Porto Velho.
Jack: The skipper who piloted the Mekong Maiden around the mid 1930s.
Jay Friesner: Friesner was a dock-crew skipper who was dubbed skipper of the year in 1938.
Jonas Brisbane: Jonas Brisbane was a skipper of the JNC who desired membership in the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, an international colonial organization. To impress the society, he pillaged the Amazon rainforest and showed off stolen treasures, captured creatures and the grave-robbed corpse of a witch-doctor. Brisbane was punished for his crimes by the resurrected witch-doctor who seemingly spirited him away.
Kungaloosh Kate:
Prof. Robert:
Richard Reyes: Reyes was a skipper at the Skipper Canteen who was named Skipper of the Year in 1938.^[1]
Skip Dockmonkey: Skip Dockmonkey was a jokester skipper for the JNC infamous for his negligence and disastrous accidents. Somehow, he rose up the ranks of the company and became manager.
Skipper Abigail: A skipper who won the 3rd annual All River Canoe Race in 1937.
Skipper Adam: Adam was a Jungle Navigation Company skipper at the Amazon River Base in 1938. He was known for (attempting to) maintain plants.
Skipper Alex: Recipient of the Dr. Albert Falls Memorial Award for Jungle Excellence.
Skipper Alice:
Skipper Amy: Recipient of the Dr. Albert Falls Memorial Award for Jungle Excellence Official Honorary Skippers.
Skipper Anna: Skipper Anna was victor of the 1938 annual poem competition with her poem, "Banana in the Savanna".
Skipper April:
Skipper Arthur: During the Holiday season of 1938, was mentioned over the radio as travelling to the North Pole.
Skipper Becka: Becka was victor of the 17th Annual Amazon 3,977 River Race.
Skipper Ben: Skipper Ben was a skipper at the Amazon River Base in 1938 and had a New year's resolution to, "Eat more".
Skipper Beth: Skipper Beth was a skipper in the 1930s who got lost in the jungle, leading to her asking Santa for a new compass.^[2]
Skipper Bill: The head of plant-studies at the JNC's headquarters.
Skipper Bob: A Wildlife Expeditions skipper who took, "Friends of the Jungle" Marc and Alice down the river one November and encouraged them to abandon crocodile-skin products.
Skipper Brennan: This was a skipper involved in the Disney film, "The Jungle Cruise".
Skipper Brian: Skipper Brian was a skipper at the Amazon River Base in 1938. He considered himself to be unfunny and was recipricantt of, "The Dr. Albert Falls Award for Jungle Excellence Official Honorary Skippers".^[3]
Skipper Carl: Carl was a skipper who got married in 1938. While originally he planned his bachelor party to be in the African elephant staging-grounds, it was instead moved to the Indian elephant bathing pool.
Skipper Casey: Skipper Casey was a skipper in 1938 who worked in the Amazon River Base. They had a fear of the company's customers though they wished to overcome this.
Skipper Claire: Recipient of the Dr. Albert Falls Memorial Award for Jungle Excellence.
Skipper Dan: Skipper Dan was a frequently alluded to skipper, who may have been a failed actor/comedian.
Skipper Dave: Skipper Dave was a JNC skipper who was also a correspondent for the colonial newspaper, The Daily Gnus. Around the summer of 1936, he was amongst the JNC skippers competing to find, "Adventureland's Funniest Joke".
Skipper Dottie: A woman in 1933 who performed repairs on boats such as the Amazon Annie.
Skipper Doug: Skipper Doug was considered the resident gourmet of the Jungle Navigation Company.
Skipper George:
Skipper Gerry:^[4]
Skipper Greg: Greg was a skipper in 1934 who provoked a swan resulting in, "The Bird Incident of 1934".
Skipper Kim: Skipper Kim was a skipper of some status, active by 1938.
Skipper Phil: A skipper in 1937 who created models of airplanes.
Skipper Harper: A cartographer who worked in the JNC headquarters.
Skipper Jason:
Skipper Jennifer: A woman skipper and clown who worked in 1933.
Skipper Joe: Skipper Joe was victor of the 1935, "K.P. Rafferty All-Skipper Pun Championship".
Skipper John: Skipper John was an eccentric skipper who worked for the Jungle Navigation Company in the early half of the 20th century. He is a fictional counterpart to the real-world John Lasseter.
Skipper Jonathan: Victor of the 1937 River League Hose Run Big Derby.
Skipper Karl: Karl was once named, "Rookie of the Year".
Skipper Kaz: Kaz was victor of the, "Smiley's Chili Croc Cookoff" with their dish, “3 Bean Ginger Delight".
Skipper Lisa: Skipper Lisa was a JNC skipper at the Amazon River Base in 1938. She had the New Year's Resolution to read more.^[5]
Skipper Leilani: A skipper who won the 3rd annual All River Canoe Race in 1937.
Skipper Marc: The head of animal-studies at JNC headquarters.
Skipper Marge: Marge was a black woman skipper who repaired engines in 1937.
Skipper Mary Kate: Mary Kate was a skipper at the Amazon River Base in 1938. She had a low, "Passenger Return Rate" and had a New Year's resolution about wanting to improve it to 75%.
Skipper Mikee: This skipper worked at the Amazon River Base in 1938. He was illiterate with poor writing skills.
Skipper Missy: Skipper Missy was the sister of Albert Awol and an announcer for the Global Broadcasting Service in 1938.
Skipper Miquel: Skipper Miquel worked for the Jungle Air Mail Service with birds such as Amelia, Wiley and Flash in 1935.
Skipper Nico: The winner of the 1937 River League Bubble Gum event.
Skipper Pam: Recipient of the Dr. Albert Falls Memorial Award for Jungle Excellence.
Skipper Phil: A Skipper who built models.
Skipper Ron: Skipper Ron was a skipper at the Amazon River Base in 1938.
Skipper "Runaway" Robert: Skipper at the Amazon River Base. Robert was found to be slightly eccentric, stating his time in the JNC to be over 13 years. However, records show he was only a skipper in the year 1938.
Skipper Sammy:
Skipper Selena:
Skipper Shane:
Skipper Shaun: Shaun was winner of the 1937 Adventureland Film Festival with his film, "A Bigger Bote". In 1935, he moved to Hollywood and attempted to pitch a Jungle Cruise motion picture.
Skipper Shawn: Recipient of the Dr. Albert Falls Memorial Award for Jungle Excellence.
Skipper Shelly: A skipper who won the 3rd annual All River Canoe Race in 1937.
Skipper Steve: Recipient of the Dr. Albert Falls Memorial Award for Jungle Excellence Official Honorary Skippers.
Skipper Will: A skipper who illustrated menus for the Skipper Canteen.
Skipper Winston: Skipper Winston was a skipper, historically affiliated with the Jungle Navigation Company's, "First joke".
Skipper X: Skipper X was a food-critic for The Daily Gnus newspaper.
Skipper Zander: Zander was a skipper at the Amazon River Base in 1938. He had quit school but regretted this action during his career as a colonial skipper.
Walt Disney: An alternate-history Walt Disney is sometimes referenced as having been a skipper, typically adorned in a grey suit and white naval-cap. This fictionalized Disney has assorted connections to the Jungle Cruise and Jungle Navigation Company including being shown as a member of the JNC's founding families or being referenced as a JNC employee as, "W.E.D.".
Wayne Szalinski: An eccentric scientist during the 1980s-1990s who used a time-machine to transport guests back in time for river-rafting jungle tours of the Age of Dinosaurs.

History[]

Background[]

Development history[]

Skippers used to have the nickname of, "Jungle Bunnies".^[6]

Appearances[]

Disneyland[]

Jungle Cruise[]

The skippers are the tours of this attraction. Skipper Pechman XIII also appears in the African veldt.

Skipper School[]

This was an interactive live-show performed when the ride was being refurbished.^[7]

Main Street Cinema[]

The JNC is indirectly referenced in a posting from the Disneyland Casting Agency. Said posting asks for jungle skippers to assist in Jungle Cruise services and to apply under, "T. Sam" (Trader Sam).^[8]

Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar[]

The employees of this bar are referred to as, "Skippers". There are also several photos, letters and other references to the Skippers in Trader Sam's possession. One of the drinks is called the, "Skipper Sipper" with a description saying it will unfortunately cause those who drink it to join the ranks of a skipper.^[9]

Tropical Hideaway[]

The JNC skippers can be seen from the terrace of this dining-service. The menus will have, "Skipper's Tip" suggestions.^[10]

Hong Kong Disneyland[]

Horrors of the Amazon[]

JNC skipper Jonas Brisbane was the protagonist of this attraction.

Jungle River Cruise[]

Skippers serve as the tour-guides for this attraction.

Jungle River Cruise: Curse of the Emerald Trinity[]

In this overlay, the skipper stole one of the three jewels of the Emerald Trinity from the Temple of Immortality. Before they can escape with the jewel, the deities within the Canyon of the Gods reclaim the jewel and attempt to kill the skipper who makes a narrow escape.

Jungle River Cruise: Pirate Takeover![]

In this overlay, the skippers ran tours attacked by pirates.

Tokyo Disneyland[]

Jungle Cruise: Wildlife Expeditions[]

The skippers are tour-guides of this attraction. Here, they have more of an ecological focus and have three magical medallions called the Tiger of Courage, Elephant of Wisdom and Monkey of Cleverness

Skipper's Galley[]

This dining-service is named after the skippers. In the backstory, it is a dining-service which was opened by a Jungle Cruise skipper.^[11]

Walt Disney World[]

Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar[]

Jock Lindsey's flight-log mentions being taken to see Schweitzer Falls by a skipper, likely in the 1940s.

Jungle Cruise[]

The skippers are the hosts of this attraction. Skipper Pechman XIII also appears in the African veldt.

Jingle Cruise[]

In this overlay of the attraction, the skippers where khaki-coloured Santa hats. In the backstory, the JNC transported a large amount of holiday decor for its bases as the company's skippers are homesick during the holidays. This cargo was scattered throughout the jungle due to a cargo plane mishap.

Magic of Disney Animation[]

The fictional film, "The Jungle Cruise" had Skipper Lassetter and Skipper Brennan on its cast-list.

Shrunken Ned's Junior Jungle Boats[]

This attraction was themed to being a training-service for future skippers run by the Jungle Expedition Skipper Training School.

Skipper Canteen[]

This restaurant is named after the skippers and themed to being the JNC's headquarters.

Virtual Jungle Cruise[]

A CGI male skipper representation of Dr. Wayne Szalinski from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) appeared in this attraction as skipper, dressed in a blue shirt and pith helmet. Using a time-travel, "Gizmo", he brought guests to the time of the dinosaurs only to lose his device along the rivers, and race to get it back before the guests died in the KT Extinction event.

In other media[]

Film[]

Jungle Cruise[]

The skippers are the inspiration for Frank Wolff in this film.

Paraphernalia[]

The Enchanted Tiki Room & the Adventurous Jungle Cruise[]

Thurl Ravenscroft portrayed a skipper in this vintage recording.

Jungle Cruise Adventure Game[]

Guests assume the roles of skippers in this board-game.

Printed materials[]

Disney Parks Presents: Jungle Cruise[]

Skipper John is narrator of this book.

Skipper Survival Guide[]

Video-games[]

Kinect: Disneyland Adventures[]

The skipper Al B. Lost is the guide for players in the Jungle Cruise mini games.

Trivia[]

It should be noted that the employees of Disney Parks portraying the skippers are often grossly underpaid with their income not supporting basic living-conditions, and their work requirements often involving poor work-conditions.^[12]^[13]^[14]^[15]
Like other Disney parks employees, it is customary for the skippers to point using two fingers. This is as many depictions of Walt Disney in the parks had to edit out his chain-smoking, making it appear as if he was using a two-fingered point.
Actor Kevin Costner once worked as a skipper.
Skippers are one of the few instances of cast-members in a Disney attraction being central to the property's story and iconography. The other most notable instance would be the bellhops in the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
Regular jokes about personal details are sometimes made about the skippers' respective histories. This includes:
- Being employed by the JNC after crashing in the Congo aboard a plane.
- Being, "In-laws" with the gorilla troop.
- Having lost an expedition to the Umbala Tribe.
- Partaking in cannibalistic meals with Trader Sam and Chief Nah-mee, often eating his family-members.
Various skipper jokes have been misogynistic. This includes:
- Complaining about woman drivers in California.
- Suggesting men leave their mothers-in-laws on the boat to be fed to crocodiles.
- Mentioning training the piranhas to be trained as woman-eating.
- Suggesting men ship their mothers-in-laws into the jungle as a JNC service.

As a publicity stunt for the Jungle Cruise film, actors Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt acted as, "Guest-skippers" for the Jungle Cruise with Jack Whitehall feeding them dialogue.^[16]
The Universal Studios attraction Jaws also had skippers, possibly as an allusion to the Jungle Cruise.