By BRODIE H. BROCKIE

I don't remember exactly how old I was the first time I rode The Jungle Cruise. It was probably during my first trip to the Magic Kingdom, at the time the only park in Florida's Walt Disney World. I would've been around five or six years old. I remember being a little nervous to try it. I knew nothing about what to expect on the attraction other than what the attractionÕs name and the sight of the small boat with the striped canopy and the man inside holding a gun implied. As it turned out, there was little to fear in the ten-minute boat ride through the jungles of the world. Sure, there were robotic versions of deadly jungle animals, but all the way the boatÕs skipper kept telling jokes. He told jokes about the animals, jokes about the ride, jokes about the guests, even jokes about his jokes. The ride was hilarious and everyone had a lot of fun. The person who seemed to be having the most fun of all, though, was the skipper himself.

It took me almost 20 years to find out how right I was.

Brodie at the entrance to the world-famous Jungle Cruise.

PART ONE: EXPEDITION EXPOSITION

PART TWO: A RIDE OUTSIDE OF THE PARK

PART THREE: INTO THE CAVE OF WONDERS

PART FOUR: BECOMING PART OF A TRADITION

PART FIVE: A DRY RUN ON THE RIVER

PART SIX: BEYOND THE SEA

PART SEVEN: SUBMARINE SEND-OFF

PART EIGHT: SKIPPER BRODIE AND THE WORLD FAMOUS JUNGLE CRUISE

PART NINE: AND NOW IT'S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO ALL OUR COMPANY...

VIDEO OF PERFORMANCE COMING SOON!