Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise

As a master story-teller, Walt Disney knew that the foliage of the Jungle Cruise was paramount to creating a believable jungle experience. Small, recently planted trees, bushes and shrubs separated by bare soil would not provide the experience or story Walt wanted to give his guests as they journeyed deep into the jungle. He wanted it to be lush, green and thick with plants large and small. In order to create such a landscape, he knew all of the seeds and foliage would need to be planted a year in advance of the park's opening day in July, 1955, as this would give the plants an entire growing season before guests journeyed along the attraction's winding rivers. To that end, he charged the firm of Evans and Reeves with the task, stating..."In this corner of Disneyland there will be a jungle. Grow a jungle. It has to look like the Tropics and like deepest Africa, and like Australia and Asia and the Amazon."

This makes the Jungle Cruise one of the oldest attractions in the park.