Hippos

**The hippos** or **hippopotamus** (***hippopotamus amphibius***) are animals in the *Jungle Cruise*.

## Description

The hippopotamus is a semi-aquatic mammal native to Africa. Despite being herbivores, hippos are incredibly violent and effective killers, even having one of the highest human kill-counts of any animal. Hippos are the third largest species of land mammal on Earth, are fast runners, and contrary to popular belief can not swim but rather walk on the water's floor.

## History

### Development history

The Jungle Cruise used to utilize real guns loaded with blanks as a means of scaring off the hippos. Following the attacks on the two towers on September 11, 2001, Disney removed these guns from the Magic Kingdom and replaced them with realistic props connected to a gunshot on the P.A. system. Disneyland continues using blank-firing guns as a means of signalling other cast-members in case of emergency.

In the 2021 refurbishments, a sunken boat was added to the scene as part of the new narrative. This sunken boat was inspired by the sinking of the boat the  *Bomokandi Bertha* at Walt Disney World's Jungle Cruise in 2020.

## Appearances

### Attractions

#### Jungle Cruise

The hippos attack boats in the Hippo Pool. They are mentioned as only being dangerous while wiggling their ears before wiggling said ears and attacking the boats. The skippers chase them off either with gunshot or yelling. Also in the Hippo Pool is flotsam from the wrecked Kwango Kate. In the queue, Albert Awol has the line, "All skippers should take note of the following changes along *the Jungle Cruise* rivers:  first, it is no longer considered sporty to hold small children over the edge of the boat while traveling through the hippo pool .  Contrary to popular belief, this does not stop their ears from wiggling.  That's the hippos, of course, not the children". In Disneyland's boathouse is a map annotated by Dr. Albert Falls describing the danger of the hippo pool. A cartoon version of one of the hippos appears on the Guest Skipper cards.

#### Kilimanjaro Safaris

There are hippos in the *Harambe Wildlife Reserve*.

#### Skipper Canteen

There is an illustration of hippos within the pool in the menus. Additionally there is a book by Dr. Albert Falls titled, "Rockefeller, Hippo, Pet", seemingly referencing historic billionaire John D. Rockefeller.

#### Magic of Disney Animation

Hippos appeared on the Jungle Cruise film's poster.

#### Trader Sam's

These bars serve a drink called Hippopotomai-Tai which when ordered leads to skippers shouting out, "Two shots" to represent the two shots of rum in the drink and reference the gunshots of the ride. In sync with this, an effect is triggered which is made to look like gunshots are being fired at the ceiling of the bar. The menu description for this drink mentions the hippo pool.

At Trader Sam's Grog Grotto, one of Sam's house rules is, "*NO HARASSING THE HIPPOS!*". At Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar there is a smashed open gun-case reading, "In case of hippo attack break glass!". In Florida, the glass is curiously modelled after Maui, the mascot of Disney's Polynesian Village Resort while in California is resembled the Gill-Man from *The Creature from the Black Lagoon* (1954).

#### Tropical Hideaway

This restaurant offers souvenir sporks which depict the hippos.

### Film

#### Jungle Cruise

Frank Wolff's charlatanizeid attraction for the Jungle Navigation Company features crude mechanical hippos, reminiscent of those from the ride. A girl aboard the boat acknowleges how the presence of hippos in the Amazon is nonsensical.

### Video-games

#### Kinect: Disneyland Adventures

The hippos are obstacles in the first Jungle Cruise mini game.

### Paraphernalia

#### Jungle Cruise Adventure Game

Hippo Pods are a maximum-risk obstacle in this game.

## Trivia

* The skippers often assert that hippos are only dangerous when blowing bubbles and/or wiggling their ears. This is used for comedic effect in the context of the attraction where they are always blowing bubbles and wiggling their ears, and is *not* a real-life fact for in reality, hippos are always dangerous.
* The Hippo Pool is a typical example of *submechanophobia*, a phobia made popular by the internet which means to have a fear of mechanical objects (typically animatronics) submerged in water.
* The hippos used to have overgrown, crooked and sideways tusks which jutted outwards and from their lips.

## References

1. ↑ https://disneytips.com/guest-skipper-jungle-cruise-mc1/
2. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2017/11/review-jungle-navigation-co-ltd-skipper-canteen-magic-kingdom-radically-alters-menu/
3. ↑ https://mission-food.com/hippopotomai-tai/
4. ↑ http://www.mainstgazette.com/2015/08/management-is-not-responsible.html
5. ↑ https://wdwnt.com/2019/03/photos-tropical-hideaway-souvenir-hippopotamus-spork-now-on-sale-at-disneyland/