9 Wildly Fascinating Facts About Disney's Jungle Cruise Ride

Walt Disney wanted to incorporate real animals throughout the attraction, but that idea had a number of pitfalls. There wasn't enough space, for one thing, and the animals would require too much upkeep. A zoologist also explained to Walt that many of the animals that he wanted to include were nocturnal and would be sleeping when visitors rode the attraction. That's why mechanical ones are in use instead.