See Ya! Trader Sam Missing From Jungle Cruise Attraction

Since the announcement in late January of this year that changes would be coming to The Jungle Cruise, there were a lot of questions raised about what would come of the attraction. Though there were some hints in the announcement about new show scenes that would later be followed by information about a new character or two, some guests found themselves a bit worried about one of the attraction’s icons; Trader Sam.

Credit: Dennis D [ddindy]

Known as the Head Salesman of the Jungle, Trader Sam is presumably a South American indigenous man who guests encounter during their Jungle Cruise adventure. Standing along the banks of the river, he’s wearing an outfit of what seems to be salvaged [or plundered] items to include a top hat, striped skit, beaded necklaces and an umbrella. In his grasp, Trader Sam also has a selection of shrunken heads.

Guests wouldn’t be left wondering for too long though!

This week, just a few short months after the original announcement about changes coming to the attraction, guests on The Jungle Cruise noticed that Trader Sam had been removed from the spot where he’d been offering his deal [two of his heads for one of yours] to passers by for nearly 5 decades. Not only was the animatronic gone, but so too were any references to Trader Sam from the Skipper.

Though there has been no official word from Disney regarding the removal of Trader Sam from the attraction, we think it’s probably safe to say that he’s not likely to return. [At least, not the same version of Trader Sam that we’re familiar with.] The area where he once stood has been completely cleared of all props and covered, leaving us to believe that it may be the location of a new show scene. We also think that the change is likely due to Disney’s aim for more cultural sensitivity and diversity in the parks, which was part of the original announcement made back in January.

Whatever the reason, though the changes to The Jungle Cruise and removal of Trader Sam are unwelcome to some, we think it’s a step in the right direction. Though we know that change can sometimes be hard to swallow, it often brings new and exciting experiences. We think that’s exactly what Disney has in store with the updates coming to this attraction. . . . and we’re excited to see what exactly is in store!

From what we can gather, guests aboard The Jungle Cruise can expect to see changes like this one during their adventures in the coming months. This is in an attempt by Disney to update the ride while preventing or limiting downtime of the attraction. As always, we’ll keep an eye out for any new changes and let you know about them as they happen.