History:
Of The Jungle Gnus Report

In the late 1980's- early 1990's, a Magic Kingdom Jungle Skipper by the name of Jeff Royal created a newsletter for any Walt Disney World Cast Members who were, or had been, or were at all interested in 'Jungle Skippers'. That newsletter, The Jungle Skipper Gnus, was witty, charming, somewhat silly and sometimes uproariously funny. It was also short lived, as Jeff went on to Guest Relations and left the rest of us to rot in the Jungle heat like so many bad papayas! (just kidding, Jeff!) The loss of the original Jungle Skipper Gnus was felt not only at the attraction itself, but also around Magic Kingdom West - from Tiki's to Thunder and from Mansion to Canoes (back when there were canoes-but that's a whole 'nother editorial...). Soon, however, there would be another...

A young Canoer-turned-Skipper (by fault of the seasonal closing of canoes), jilted by his college lover in the
Buckeye State (that's Ohio, for you native Floridians) decided to make Orlando and the Jungle his permanent home. An English major in college, he decided to seek the permission of the great founder of the original JSG to use the name to start a second newsletter, this one attempting to broaden it's scope to target all of the Magic Kingdom West from the outset. The second newsletter, The NEW Jungle Skipper Gnus borrowed some of its formula from the original, but met with lukewarm response in MK west after only a few issues. Time constraints and the manic depressive nature of the editor assured the cancellation of this second JSG before issue five ever made it to the drawing table. However, the small publication did yield some good information, a little positive feedback, and a date for the editor with the girl in MO-7 who guarded the copier.

The next logical step then for The Jungle Gnus Report was to take it online - hence The Jungle Gnus Report Online. The first issue is basically a web-based version of Issue 1 of the print series, which will now continue in the online rendition. The Jungle Gnus Report Online will, I hope , serve as sort of a long distant meeting forum for any and all Skippers and Former-Skippers to remember our Jungle roots, share our experiences, and see how everyone is faring. Who knows, maybe this'll even lead to some sort of Skipper Reunion!