Jason Chandler

**Jason Chandler** is an unseen character from *Big Thunder Mountain Railroad* and the unbuilt Disneyland expansion of *Discovery Bay*.

## History

### Biography

Jason Chandler was an inventor who was a member of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, an Italian secret-society of aristocratic globetrotters and colonial explorers. By 1851, he was society secretary under president Vitale Robustelli. Chandler would go on to become good friends with contemporary Barnabas T. Bullion, a gold-obsessed colonizer and mining-magnate. Prior to 1880, the two went on an expedition to the golden city of El Dorado.

By around 1880, Chandler was elected president of the society. He assisted Barnabas T. Bullion in mining the stolen land of Big Thunder Mountain in Arizona though passively insisted he stop after consulting with one Madame Zarkov at the *Museum of the Weird*. In 1882, Jason went on a riverboat expedition in British Columbia where he was seemingly attacked with gunfire.

Following the year 1907, Chandler and French aviator Captain Brieux mapped the regions of the Mekong river together. They did so from Brieux's airship, *The Hyperion* and also annotated several legendary flying beasts on said map. This map was made officially for the Society of Explorers and Adventurers and prior to 1928 was hung in the estate of British colonist member Dr. Albert Falls.

### Development history

Jason Chandler was originally created by imagineer Tony Baxter for his attraction *Big Thunder Mountain Railroad* and a proposed Disneyland expansion called *Discovery Bay*. Chandler was conceived and originally presented as a miner for the Big Thunder Mining Company who created a drilling-machine. However, Chandler and his fellow miners disappeared using said machine when it caused an earthquake, resulting in them being presumed dead.

In actuality, the miners struck gold and stole it, using it to create the steampunk futurist colony of, "Discovery Bay" outside of San Francisco. Here, Chandler would have joined forces with various scientists and inventors to innovate their respective fields. This expansion was ultimately cancelled though came to some fruition via *Discoveryland* in Disneyland Paris. During a 2013 refurbishment of Big Thunder in the Magic Kingdom, Chandler was completely reimagined as president of S.E.A., against imagineer Tony Baxter's original intent.

## Jungle Cruise appearances

### Skipper Canteen

In the secret room of the skipper canteen is a map of, "Legendary Flying Beasts of the Mekong river and the surrounding territories" by Jason Chandler and Captain Brieux of the Hyperion airship. This map portrays several creatures including the dragon-form of the dark-fae Maleficent from *Sleeping Beauty* (1959), chinese dragons and a phoenix.

Also in the Skipper Canteen's mess-hall, the characters of the Dreamfinder and Figment can be heard attending the establishment. These two characters were originally conceived for Tony Baxter's Discovery Bay as denizens of the bay, though Dreamfinder was known as, "Professor Marvel". The Nautilus which Chandler would have salvaged in Discovery Bay's storyline is featured on a map made by Captain Mary Oceaneer. As there is no fez belonging to Chandler in the canteen, it is unknown if he himself ever attended meetings in the estate of Dr. Albert Falls.

### Tropical Hideaway

On one of the walls in the Tropical Hideaway is an oar with a plaque reading, "***J. Chandler**, Elaho River, 1882*". Said oar has bullet-holes in it, implying an Chandler was shot at during this expedition.

### Other connections

#### Adventurers Club

Chandler was affiliated with Madame Zarkov who would become a member of S.E.A. member Merriweather Adam Pleasure's successor organization, the Adventurers Club.

#### Disneyland Railroad

The Disneyland Railroad would have connected to Discovery Bay. Additionally, the dinosaurs from *Primeval World* would have been relocated to Lost River Rapids, a rapid-ride inspired by the *Lost World* subgenera.

#### Jungle Cruise

The crest used on Chandler and Brieux's map featured the tribal mask which used to adorn the Jungle Navigation Company's Amazon River Base. The Mekong river is also a feature used on the Jungle Cruise.

#### Plaza Swan Boats

Another element of Chandler and Brieux's S.E.A. crest were the figureheads of the Plaza Swan Boats.

## Other appearances

### Television

#### The Discovery Bay Chronicles

Chandler would have been portrayed by actor Pete Reneday in this series.

### Disney Parks

#### Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

In the Magic Kingdom's Big Thunder is a letter send from Chandler to Bullion.

#### Big Thunder Trail

There is luggage addressed to Chandler on this trail being moved by the, "*Western Expeditions and Delivery* service". The wagon is located outside of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, the land where Discovery Bay would have been.

#### Soaring: Fantastic Flight

Chandler's signature as S.E.A. secretary is on Camellia Falco's membership certificate.

## References

1. ↑ https://jungleskipper.com/sea/attractions/skipper-canteen#&gid=1&pid=legendary-flying-beasts-of-the-mekong-river-description-c105